Crate Vintage Club combo users.

[IanBallard]

I owned an old Ampeg 100w head from the early 70's that was having problems and my friend took it under his wing and repaired it. At some point I needed a tube amp and asked if we could trade--since he became attached to the Ampeg--and he gave me an early 2000's Crate Vintage Club 60. He said one speaker was questionable but it works great and sounds amazing to me. Clean tones are thick with the gain up and bright if the gain is turned low and the crunch channel KILLS! Definitely a sleeper for a $400 retail price. Two EL34's for power 3 12AX7's and one 12AT7 for preamp. Pretty cut and dry, classic "British-esque" stuff and honestly the speakers are pretty good to my ear.

Anybody else use these guys?

 

[marvar]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I have a VC20, 1x12, after replacing the speaker with a G12H30, and selected tubes all way around, that lil sucker screams for days, It really sounds awesome into a 4x12, too.
But, it isn't TOO loud, just loud enough!

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I'm thinking about getting a 4x12 cab for it. Not sure what speakers would be best, since the clean channel is a hint boomy at high gain levels and the crunch channel is a hint bright. Maybe something middle of the road like a AlNiCo Gold set?

 

[RealtyViking]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I have played the VC2112 (20w 1x12), VC3212 (30w 2x12), VC5310 (50w 3x10) and VC5115 (50w 1x15).

I bought the VC5115, which is the perfect amp for me, and hate that I passed on the VC2112 at the time. I tried to buy it a week later and the owner stated that he was not going to sell the amp after he started to play it again. I still have dibs on it.

Had a Mesa and two Marshalls before I found "my amp." I still have the Crate and I am always looking for others at the right price.

Still considering a bypass extension jack for a 2x12, but I really like a perfectly original amp.

 

[thespricket]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

(that's a fender logo I put on the front there. it looks way cooler than the CRATE logo, eh? I also had to install a new handle on top)

I've got a VC30 112. I got it used for like $300, I think. I dig it, the clean channel stopped working about a year ago which is sad. But I've been getting great sounds out of just using the dirty channel with the gain set very low. It's a really loud amp, I don't think I've ever actually used it with the volume past 12 o'clock. With the volume knob at 9-11 o'clock and the gain at 9 o'clock I get great clean sounds that crunch up greatly when I play hard or use my two dirt pedals. I'm also quite partial to the reverb.

It's my main amp, I usually just play it in my bedroom at a really low level. That just kills the clean sound, but when I open up the volume knob it really comes to life.

However, I may end up getting a different amp when I move into a small apartment. It seems like too much of an amp to own. Then again, I may not. I may just put a new speaker in it.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I've always heard good things about the Crate Vintage Club series. When I have the opportunity to buy another tube amp, if I can't afford what I want I may look into these. I've never really heard anyone who knows anything about tube amps bash the VC series.....unless that person was a thrashmettleblasterkid kind of dude.

 

[RealtyViking]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

If we are posting pictures:

Here is my Crate Vintage Club 50 watt 1 x 15"!!!

 

[Spudman]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

Got my VC5212 new in 1995. I used it all the time gigging and it always sounded good. A little loud but good. I've also loaned it for back line equipment and all the players like it. I still have it but now prefer something with a little less output so that I can turn it up.

Here is mine behind my Classic 30

 

[RealtyViking]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I owned an old Ampeg 100w head from the early 70's that was having problems and my friend took it under his wing and repaired it. At some point I needed a tube amp and asked if we could trade--since he became attached to the Ampeg--and he gave me an early 2000's Crate Vintage Club 60. He said one speaker was questionable but it works great and sounds amazing to me. Clean tones are thick with the gain up and bright if the gain is turned low and the crunch channel KILLS! Definitely a sleeper for a $400 retail price. Two EL34's for power 3 12AX7's and one 12AT7 for preamp. Pretty cut and dry, classic "British-esque" stuff and honestly the speakers are pretty good to my ear.

Anybody else use these guys?

When looking for a VC5212 I found a VC6212 in need of some work at the right price and took it home as a project. Needed a good cleaning and I decided early to keep it stock if at all possible.

This amp uses (2) EL34s, (4) 12AX7s and a 12AU7 as a tube rectifier. Control layout and looks are similar to Mesa. If the Vintage Club 30 and 50 are similar to a Vox AC30 I would say that the Vintage Club 60 is an interpretation of a JTM50 with huge gain.

My unit had a OT wire that was shorting inside the chassis and needed to be shortened and shrink wrapped to resolve any future issues. The speaker wires had been changed by the previous owner for a different set of speakers and had to be redone to correct the ohm rating. There where multiple rattles that needed to be sorted out and missing screws replaced. The baffle on my unit and the reverb unit still produce some rattle, but it is only noticeable when all else is quite and at certain frequencies. I installed all new tubes which made a huge difference in sound. Once I sort out the remnant rattles I can really give this thing a workout as it drives me crazy.

My initial findings are that the VC6212 is not as forgiving as the VC5115 I have, but it cuts through better when playing with others and has a whole different sound. Need time to tune this amp in to taste as the settings are plentifull and the OD can get out of hand. The effects loop boost on pedal is nice.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

If we are posting pictures:

Here is my Crate Vintage Club 50 watt 1 x 15"!!!

Nice!

Years ago, I was playing around with getting a new amp and a friend at the music store sent this same amp out with me to a gig. I was pretty hesitant, since Crate to me at the time meant solid state buzz-saw for tone. But I was VERY impressed. For some reason I ended-up getting something else, but have always thought about getting one of these ever since. My Traynor Custom Blue 50 combo is pretty much the exact same thing (but with a 12" Vintage 30), so it would probably be pointless. Still, there's this blonde Crate VC combo sitting down at the pawnshop that's been there for a year or two and it may walk home with me eventually if I can talk them down cheap enough...

 

[Wattage]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I have a VC20, 1x12, after replacing the speaker with a G12H30, and selected tubes all way around, that lil sucker screams for days, It really sounds awesome into a 4x12, too.
But, it isn't TOO loud, just loud enough!

I had one, my bass player has it now. Great little amp, great!

Also had the 2x12 50wt, can't for the life of me remember why or when I sold it but it kicked ass. Sounded like a cross between a Marshall and a Vox to my ears. Fragile input jacks, got to be careful not to bang them around too much.

 

[Scatterwound]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I have and use a VC 508:smack:..USA made I bought I think 10 years ago...Great little amp for me....

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I was wrong about the specs. Turns out it's 4 12ax7's with a (gold lion) 12au7 for the effects loop buffer. The original tubes were 30w 6l6gc's but were swapped for 25w ELX EL34's. There's a lot of noise and microphonics and my amp guy said the preamp tubes might need replacing.

The speakers also need an upgrade.

 

[bamhvac]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I know this is an old post but :cool2:I have started a facebook page dedicated to Crate Vintage Club users. Please feel free to join us. :cool2:

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I've had a Vintage Club 50w 2X12 for years and love it. Just switched out the speakers for a pair of Warehouse Green Berets and love it even more. Excellent amp for the money. Too bad they stopped making it.

 

[RealtyViking]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

Here is my VC6212 after a major service and cleaning. Wish I had taken "before" pictures as the amp was a train wreck when I purchased. Needed power tubes, bias, half the screws where missing, speakers mis-wired, baffle board was broken, bad casters, loose handle, foot switch did not work, scratchy pots, corroded jacks, smelled like an ashtray...

Works like a dream now.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

Here is my VC6212 after a major service and cleaning. Wish I had taken "before" pictures as the amp was a train wreck when I purchased. Needed power tubes, bias, half the screws where missing, speakers mis-wired, baffle board was broken, bad casters, loose handle, foot switch did not work, scratchy pots, corroded jacks, smelled like an ashtray...

Works like a dream now.

wheres the input jack?

 

[RealtyViking]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

wheres the input jack?

Front left are high and low inputs jacks.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I have a VC20, 1x12, after replacing the speaker with a G12H30, and selected tubes all way around, that lil sucker screams for days, It really sounds awesome into a 4x12, too.
But, it isn't TOO loud, just loud enough!

This is a great amp, do not sell it. My bass player owns my old one and I want it back. I also owned the 50wt combo which sounded fantastic but was a bit temperamental at times. I had to have the input jack fixed a few times, it tended to crack where it was wired in.

Seriously thinking of grabbing a V32/33 head if Jet City doesn't release a 4xEL84 head of their own soon.

People dog a lot of Crate stuff and rightfully so it a bunch of cases but the VC line has always been pretty damn good.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Crate Vintage Club combo users.

I might pick one up, they have that 60 watt 212 combo for $300 locally.