opinions on the Crate V50 112 amps?

[phil325]

there's a sale on musiciansfriend for these tube amps and i wanted to ask if anyone has any experience using these with your LP's. i've been to GC a few times and i can't seem to find it to test it out so i can't say myself how these sound.

any opinions on the tone and should i get it? also tried youtube to see if anyone has posted them up using a lp but i may have missed it

[bobv]

I played a friend's V50 and it's an awful lot of amp - big heavy 2x12 doesn't seem like it could be controlled in a small bar - but the 1x12 might be just the ticket.

 

I still love my Crate VC3112 (30 watts, class A, one 12" speaker) but it does have an issue of a slight tinkling/rattling noise that sounds like a large tray full of champagne glasses and it did benefit from a speaker swap. Very chimey sound - the clean channel is very nice and the dirty channel is just enough. More gain than a Fender Hot Rod Deville but not anywhere near a Mesa Boogie. The Crate, with EL84's, sounds a lot like a Peavey Classic 30 or 50. The 30 watt configurations are usually Class A and the 50 watters just squeeze more power out of the same tubes by using a Class AB design.

[phil325]

yea the v50 112 on the website is a 1x12 class AB tube. i've read alot of reviews suggesting speaker replacement. i may just spring for this amp and keep the original speaker/tubes for a bit and see where to go from there. if i do decide to swap out those parts, are there particular brands of tubes and speakers to look at? i'm looking for that fender tone (can't really spring for a REAL fender tone atm) i'm trying to get that mayer tone which sounds amazing. granted he has gear that cost more than my car (a bmw mind you) but a tone i desire nonetheless.

 

i've heard about RCA blackplate tubes and actual amp modkits on ebay for the v33 and v50's as well like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Crate-V33H-V50-Preamp-Modification-Parts-Kit-Pics_W0QQitemZ150307964263QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item150307964263&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Murph]

I'm a Boogie guy.

 

Mesa.

 

But, if I was on a budget, the Carvin Nomad/Bel Air will kill the Crate stuff. And Peavey Classic crap. Been there.

 

If my Blue Angel was stolen, and I couldn't find another, and couldn't afford a LSS, or a Stiletto, and had to choose between a Crate, a Peavey, a Marshall, or a Carvin.

 

I'd go Carvin.

 

Murph.