Crate power block

[mikeandronda]

Well I have an old 50 watt Laney tube head that I have had to replace the tubes in twice and now have to replace again.......The amount I have spent on tubes has exceded the price I have payed for the head. It was a decent head but now Im thinking about buying a new head. I give lessons for a living and Im spending 25-30 hrs weekly playing and I figure at this rate In a yr or two I will have to replace these tubes again so I am thinking about the Crate power block as a replacement. At under $200 its affordable and if it has a decent sound it might be an answer Im looking for. If I ever gig again then I would replace the tubes in the Laney it has the sound I like at high volume........other option would be a combo amp.....Anybody here have anything negative or positive to say about the power block?

 

[Brad_C]

I found that crate amps are good for a while and then slowly give out, but instead of buying an amp for full price I look for stuff in the abck of music stores. recently I bought a dean markly amp 60 watts new for 200 bucks canadian. I found this amp in a back of a store, check for amps in the back of stores that seem old. you will be surprised whats there.

 

[amra]

First let me say that I am not a big fan of crates. In fact, out of all the crate amps I have heard people play through, I have only heard one that sounded good.

Even though, in your situation (giving lessons and putting lots of hours on an amp) solid state is probably a much better choice than a tube amp - I still wouldn't go with a crate. I think you could keep your tube head for special occasions, and get yourself a modeling amp head (Line 6 Spider, Flextone or Behringer V-AMPIRE or V-Tone) to use with your cab. It would work perfect for lessons, because you would have a whole pallet of sounds at your fingertips. This is a perfect example of when a modeler acutually makes more sense than a tube amp.

 

[metalj]

I think for lessons, a crate, line 6, whatever will do exactly what you need. I wouldnt think you would need any effects for lessons, unless your lesson was on effects and how to properly use them.

Just a dry clean and distortion is all you need for your student to be able to clearly hear you.

I think your smart for considering a solid state amp of some sort for the amount of hours your teaching. why put anymore wear on your tube amp if you dont have to. save it for a gig, or jam with a band.

weather or not the crate will last is really a shot in the dark as when you buy anything. I have a crate head (gfx120)that ive used and cranked for close to 10 years at rehersal. It sounds the same today as it did 10 years ago. I dont love the sound, but it served its purpose for practice and it only cost me $299 brand new.

I think the crate combos is what you need to worry about for not lasting, due to all the vibration. But if your just giving a lesson im sure you wont be cranking at full volume so it wouldnt be an issue. Plus that power bock is very portable.

good luck.

 

[heroics321]

It's not bad, has some gain, doesn't get fizzy like some other Crates. The St. Louis rep claims it will push a 16ohm cab, but don't count on it. Other than that it's a pretty solid little amp if you already have a cab.

 

[mikeandronda]

Thanx

Thanx for the info guys.........Im gonna go out to stores in my area and see if I can dig up a deal on something I like, if not I may go with one of these......Amra, I use the Boss gt-6 so I dont really need a modeling amp.I will go solid state for this.....I do only use clean and distortion so I guess for lessons I just need somethong that will push sound through my cab. Theres nothing like tube sound so if I start jammin more seriously (with a band) again I will purcgase the tubes.........

 

[gitrguy87]

I owuld definitly go with what Brad C said. I found a Fender Ultra Chorus in the back of a Sam Ash. Pretty kicken amp.

 

[barlee]

I bought a Crate power block as a backup after my tube amp went down halfway through an out of town gig without another band on the bill (had to join the other guitarist in his '62 Ampeg 1-15" Gemini... not ideal). Got a "technically unused" one off eBay for $80 buy it now (guy bought it as a backup, plugged it up once, band broke up and he didn't need it). It saved my ass last week at an outdoor gig when my Blues DeVille became finicky after a few songs... I have 4 amps but who wants to lug 2 around all the time? This thing is so small it's great. It sounds okay, but considering WHEN it comes into use it sounds like heaven.

Myself, for giving lessons or just practicing at home or even smaller gigs, I use a VOX Pathfinder. Why burn up tubes, like you said. Plus, I think the VOX sounds pretty good... $99 usually new at guitar center, cheaper on eBay when kids get bored of the beginner setup they got for Christmas.