Crate V1512 vs. Fender Blues Junior

[schecterplayer]

I am currently shopping for an affordable low power tube amp for playing all sorts of stuff especially Hendrix and other classic rock. I have so far found two amps that seem to fit the bill very well, the Crate V1512 and the Fender Blues Junior. It would be great if people who have played both could just make a quick post saying which one is best and why. I am also open to suggestion on other brands, Crate and Fender are just the only comparable ones I have found at the price. My guitar is a Shecter 006 Blackjack with Duncan JB/59 and a coil tap. Any input would be appreciated, thanks

Eli

 

[jeremy]

Re: Crate V1512 vs. Fender Blues Junior

i have actually ab'd those two amps and i think that the fender has a thicker tone but the crate has more gain. i prefered the fender but i dont use all that much gain.

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Crate V1512 vs. Fender Blues Junior

Well, I am a Fender guy, but beyond any bias (pun intended) my first amp years ago was a Crate, and I owned a Crate keyboard amp. Both developed serious defects with very light use (I only played at home back then). I also used to work in a guitar store, and Crate amps would ship to us new from the factory with the speakers falling out of the chassis and various features not working at all. My advice: Stay away from Crate. Crate is aptly named.

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Crate V1512 vs. Fender Blues Junior

Get the Fender and a good overdrive and you should have a good woorking tone........Joe

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Crate V1512 vs. Fender Blues Junior

I've never played the Crate, but the B.Jr. is a great little amp. You should be very happy with it.

+1 to the overdrive pedal.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Crate V1512 vs. Fender Blues Junior

Definitely A/B them. I use an all tube Crate (VC5212) and have never had a problem. The new VFX5212's ar eawesome sounding. I think the problem folks have had with Crate is with the transistor models. They do a good job with tube amps.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Crate V1512 vs. Fender Blues Junior

I'd take the Crate V1512. Played one today, and fell in love. Played for 45 minutes in the store in fact, I just loved it. The cleans are SUPER clean, and it has a TON of gain for a (relatively) inexpensive amp.

 

[claytonc]

Re: Crate V1512 vs. Fender Blues Junior

a couple months back I went through the same thing looking for a bedroom amp that didn't suck. I would look for the crate V1512 with the Tone Tubby speaker. It is a hundred bucks more, but sounds SO MUCH better!! The poor Blues Jr. doesn't compare.

I was long skeptical of Crate amps, but the V series are miles and miles better than the typical Crate.