Have any reviews for Crate?

M

MegadethLP

New member
Anyone have any reviews of Crate compared to Marshall? I was think of getting a new Amp and was either going to go with a Marshall MG100DFX or a Crate half-stack GT1200H/G412SL. I haven't played too many Crates, so I want to know how they compare to Marshall. Specifically how much hiss/buzz Crates give off, and anything else you could tell me.

Thanks.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

Both, IMO are pretty poor.

if you are looking for a cheap SS amp head/cab, go to guitar center or MF, and pick up the B52 Solid State head...sounds much better than either the Marshall or Crate.

I've got a basically brand new one (head) here at the house, I'm selling ...bought it on a whim, unfortunately I'm selling the amp combo I used to run it through... and I don't have room for a 2x12 or 4x12 cab anyway

But for SS it's pretty good...not as good as the old 80s Marshall or Randall RG SS heads..but much better than the newer stuff out there.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

They both suck, straight up. I've heard decent things about the B-52, and also the Line 6 Spider II halfstacks would sound better than the Crate or Marshall. Also, look for a used tube head on eBay or look at the two B-52 tube heads, and get something like an Avatar cab. For the price of those halfstacks, you can get a better tube combo, quarterstack (2x12 cab), or halfstack.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

I had tried the Marshall MG100DFXH and the Crate GT1200H side by side sometime ago and I think the Marshall MG100DFXH sounded better. I did not compare them to any tube amp because I didn't think they would sound as good. However, you really have to play with the controls to get the sound you want, and I think the MG100DFXH is more versatile in that regard.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

Unless you're specifically looking for solid state, you can get lots of good tube amps better than those off of fleabay for the same price or a little bit more. If you like Crate stuff check out the new V series stuff. I've only heard the tiny V8 (fantastic) but the V32 gets great reviews.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

i have heard both and the crate is way better.

my two cents is that you should go with a crate GTX212. they are waaaay less buzzy than a GT. they sound better cause of the digital reverb they have.
Mind you that i went to England and heard one of the GT1200 half stacks back to back with a all tube VHT deliverance. ok so the Crate didnt sound as good as the crate but the crate rocks. it sounds real good. i am gonna get the VHT but i was totally gonna get the crate. its around 500 bucks and does alot.

here is a site that is totally devoted to the crate and has sound clips.

http://www.jfrocks4.com/tech/index.html

this might piss some people off but man if you cant play then a boutique tube super dooper amp wont do crap. if you can play you can make a SS sound great. trust me.
i was in a store and heard some kid grind out thrash cords sloppily on a VHTcl the other day and the first thing that came to mind was how crappy the amp sounded with him playing.
check out the crate and see for yourself cause you might not like it.

i just think it does Marshall better than Marshall
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

If you are going Crate, make sure it has tubes. Even then, there are only a handful I find "good".
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

I owned both of those amps you're cormparing, I was never very happy with the Marshall so I only used it on it's clean channel. The crate I liked a little bit more...

Anyway, Crate has a few affordable and very nice tube amps you might want to check out. The V-30 with EL84's is awesome.

Rock On ~ kac
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

tone? said:
http://www.jfrocks4.com/tech/index.html
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but this guy is a complete moron. Have you read his tech pages on "getting the brown sound"?

For a self proclaimed "pro" he sure doesn't provide much in the way of accurate information for us pee-ons who don't know anything :laugh2:

lesse...now I gotta go scoop my mids...buy one of those active Tone zone pickups, and a maple body strat and drill all kinds of extra holes in the neck to make it fit. :chairfall

EDIT: ooops...my mistake...stay AWAY form active pups like the Tone Zone, and instead go for a good PAF like the Duncan JB :D
 
Last edited:
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

I remember i walked into a recording studio with acrate and the guy threw me out. then i bought a randell and he still threw me out. now im saving for a traynor ycv 50. hopefully i wont get thrown out.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

I like my Crate GFX212, the clean sounds good the gain channels are not the best, they are better than most solid state I know except maybe line6. I want a tube amp now but they are the best for beginners I would go with a 60 watt with one twelve inch speaker though.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

I lurk here a lot but I felt I had to chime in. Crates are not that bad. It seems people are so stuck in the 80s when Crates really were lousy. I've heard some really nice sounds out of newer Crates.

I even had a Crate back in the day and hated it, but the new ones are pretty good. I had an old 80s Marshall ss head 3315 and it was dry and really bad. The MGs sound pretty much the same.

I think a lot of hatered for Crates are the same people who just hate SS. Tubes are cool, but jeez some of the sound just as bad if not worse then some of the new ss stuff out there.

Which brings me to a point. I have noticed some really nasty angry guitarists on BBs lately. Tubes or you're an idiot mentallity. LIGHTEN UP! Its just music, love you expensive amps and tubes and just be a little more open minded to others who might want something else. :)
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

Tube amps are better in most cases but Solid state will work if you are on a budget and know how to play. I get buy with the crate but really want something else but I am only 21 so I can wait and save, I just love to play and dont really care too much about gear but nicer is nicer.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

I'm sorry but this guy is a complete moron. Have you read his tech pages on "getting the brown sound"?

For a self proclaimed "pro" he sure doesn't provide much in the way of accurate information for us pee-ons who don't know anything
Click to expand...


JeffB,

you are totally correct that this guy cant play for beans and is a moron. But the sound is pretty darn good. i think he is completely pulling everyones leg by trying to teach them Halen, but that is not my point.
i just think that the amp sounds real good for a SS and you dont need a tube amp to sound great. your great playing will do that for you.

i heard a Marshall AVT compared to the crate and the crate kicked its butt to my ears.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

Thanks to everyone who replied, but i'm still not sure what to get. I definitely need try B-52s out. Never played one before. But anyone know anything about the Marshall MG100HDFX/MG412 half stack? Cause that's the direction i'm leaning towards now.
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

I gotta go out on a limb on this one...........I have to agree with Helldogg, nobody here ever started on a Matchless or a Plexi, and everyone's tone quest has to start somewhere. If anybody, regardless of age, wants what the SS amps have to offer, then so be it...(you know, Dimebag used SS amps!...as does BB King...)

I love my little "glorious bulbs of tone", but they are expensive and harder to maintain than SS amps....fact of life. It seems that sometimes we take for granted (myself included) the "holy grails" of tone, and often overlook the fact that some people just want to simply play.....

So, for the original poster, MegadethLP...the Marshall MG100HDFX is actually a pretty decent amp, it does exactly what it was designed to do and offers some really killer options.....however, don't believe for two seconds it is actually a 100w Marshall and try not to push it too hard......:) ..happy playing

Sorry for the rant, but I still believe anything you can plug a guitar into is better than a loaf of bread!...(err...something like that)

Jeff Seal
 
Re: Have any reviews for Crate?

Hahaha, yeah. I've been playing for a little over three years and have been wanting to get more serious into guitar. Not serious enough to dish out $1,000+ for an amp, but almost. I just want something decent to play in my room, but if I needed to play a small gig, it would be good to go.

I actually had a MG100DFX, but took it back because the headphone and CD jack didn't work. And at the guitar center I bought it at was all out of the same amp, so it would take them a couple weeks to get a new shipment. But I liked the Amp for the 3 weeks I had it.... didn't play it over 4, but what I heard, I liked.

As of right now, I thinking about just saving a 200 more bucks and springing for the Marshall MG100HDFX half stack.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Z
I'm beginning to think that autopilot gets better as we age
Replies
2
Views
189
zionstrat
Z
P
Secret Agent for HSH middle pickup?
Replies
6
Views
758
Artie
Artie
Phantasmagoria
Another NAD. The one I've been waiting for
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
2K
Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria
Ibanez RG Genesis guitars...
2
Replies
27
Views
935
EmiAba
EmiAba
playas
Do Orange amps generally have a very particular voicing?
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
El Dunco
El Dunco
Back
Top