Is A Gorilla Amp Just An Overpriced CRATE?

Now it is worth twice as much money.

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I had a Crate RG80 back in the (90's?) which had actual Telefunken preamp tubes on the tube side (solid state side was less than useless) and when put it through a Celestion-loaded Randall or Marshall cab sounded like a million dollar record. So I wouldn't compare Crate to Gorilla as I don't think Gorilla ever had Telefunken tubes in them. But the Crate wasn't roadworthy and had some built-in FX that started to fail and couldn't be taken out of the circuit, so to the dumpster it went. I still have those tubes, however.
 
CRATE is pedestrian gear.



I read an article that postulates that Crate is the Nickelback of amps... lol

reportedly-inspired-by-wooden-crates-seen-by-st-louis-musics-gene-kornblum-at-houseware-retailer-crate-barrel-the-first-amp-from-crate-was-a-20-watt-solid-state-offering-with-controls-for-gain-bass-treble-and-volume.jpg


Personally, ​​​​​​I get a laugh when people come in here and try to say 80s and early 90s Crate is good stuff -it's feature rich affordable entry level gear designed to compete with Peavey's revolutionary modularly built SS gear of the era - it's great for getting into music affordably, but I've never seen heard any Crate from the 80s and early 90s I would prefer over other most any other option...

Their most regarded amps were from the late 90s -but they were rebadged or reworked classic Ampeg guitar circuits designed by the Ampeg team and built overseas -there are many of those amps that are on a way better level than the earlier Crate stuff they built their reputation of being meh....

but once again, it was the gear we could afford in the 80s as kids starting to learn how play -every start up band I ever knew started first on Peavey and Crate combos -and they hold a fond place in my heart for that.
 
In all actuality, the original Crates and Crate IIs were not horrible amps. There is enough power to get well above the drums, decent reverb, very portable, and a decent pedal platform. One of the better budget amps at the time. But yes Peavy, Randell and other solid-state amps of the era blow them out of the water.
 
In all actuality, the original Crates and Crate IIs were not horrible amps. There is enough power to get well above the drums, decent reverb, very portable, and a decent pedal platform. One of the better budget amps at the time.

is that the late 70s and early 80s you speak of?
 
I read an article that postulates that Crate is the Nickelback of amps... lol

reportedly-inspired-by-wooden-crates-seen-by-st-louis-musics-gene-kornblum-at-houseware-retailer-crate-barrel-the-first-amp-from-crate-was-a-20-watt-solid-state-offering-with-controls-for-gain-bass-treble-and-volume.jpg


Personally, ​​​​​​I get a laugh when people come in here and try to say 80s and early 90s Crate is good stuff -it's feature rich affordable entry level gear designed to compete with Peavey's revolutionary modularly built SS gear of the era - it's great for getting into music affordably, but I've never seen heard any Crate from the 80s and early 90s I would prefer over other most any other option...

Their most regarded amps were from the late 90s -but they were rebadged or reworked classic Ampeg guitar circuits designed by the Ampeg team and built overseas -there are many of those amps that are on a way better level than the earlier Crate stuff they built their reputation of being meh....

but once again, it was the gear we could afford in the 80s as kids starting to learn how play -every start up band I ever knew started first on Peavey and Crate combos -and they hold a fond place in my heart for that.

My bass player in high school had one of these. I swear it was 50lbs.
 
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