Crate Vintage Club 30 questions.

[JacobTM]

So, I'm browising around for smaller tube amps, and this used gear place near me just got a Crate Vintage Club 30 in. I've played this amp before, and thought it was pretty good sounding. Naturally, before I do anything, I'll go and play this specific amp and see that it sounds alright.

But does anyone out there have any experience with it? Being that it's Crate, I'm ratherworried about reliability issues. Is there anything crazy with the tubes that make it tough to fiddle with them? Anything weird about the speaker that'd stop me from changing it?

Thanks alot,
Jacob

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: Crate Vintage Club 30 questions.

I've got a friend whose been using one for a couple of years now, gigs with it once or twice a month, no issues with reliability so far and he's pretty hard on his equipment. I've heard these can chew through preamp tubes pretty quickly but I personally think that's because they come with very cheap tubes, throw in a set of JJ's and the amp is fine. Based on what I've heard I think they are equal to the peavey classic 30 in overall tone, not a bad amp considering you can pick them up used for around $250.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Crate Vintage Club 30 questions.

I've got a friend whose been using one for a couple of years now, gigs with it once or twice a month, no issues with reliability so far and he's pretty hard on his equipment. I've heard these can chew through preamp tubes pretty quickly but I personally think that's because they come with very cheap tubes, throw in a set of JJ's and the amp is fine. Based on what I've heard I think they are equal to the peavey classic 30 in overall tone, not a bad amp considering you can pick them up used for around $250.

I have a Crate Vintage Club 50 and man..that amp is a KILLER! I put some JJ tubes in it and it absolutely screams. It's one of the best amps I've heard in that price range..if not the best....definitely the best thing that Crate has put out...pretty much ever in my opinion

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: Crate Vintage Club 30 questions.

I have a Crate Vintage Club 50 and man..that amp is a KILLER! I put some JJ tubes in it and it absolutely screams. It's one of the best amps I've heard in that price range..if not the best....definitely the best thing that Crate has put out...pretty much ever in my opinion

The latest Clapton DVD concert I picked up has quite a few of the players going through the crate vintage club 2x12 50 watters, great sounding amps!

 

[psy]

Re: Crate Vintage Club 30 questions.

I played one for some years. Quite reliable. Had 2 minor problems: a loose contact caused buzz, the power jack got loose the day before I sold it.

All in all it's the best sounding amp I ever heard

 

[Sirion]

Re: Crate Vintage Club 30 questions.

I have one two. Same problems as psy, but otherwise it works great. The only thing is that by itself it may get a rather nasty upper mid icepick spike, but this is solved by using a tiny tad of compression.