Univalve and Crate Palomino

MattPete

MattPete

New member
I know these two amps are at two completely different price points, but does anyone have any experience with the Univalve (or BiValve) or Crate V16 Palomino amps? I'm looking for a tube amp that won't wake up the neighbors, has a good tone, but also has good flexibility (i.e. not a one trick pony).
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

I've only played the Palomino in the store & liked it alot, but for flexibilty, it's tough to beat the Univalve.

It'll take just about any tube under the sun for all different flavors....grab a used one with a tube stash & you'll be playing Mad Scientist/Tube Swapping Genius before you know it :bigthumb:
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

I have a V32 and I love it. I looked at the V16 but I wanted an amp with a little more output and a little more clean headroom.

The V16s are still quite loud.
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

Robert S. said:
I have a V32 and I love it. I looked at the V16 but I wanted an amp with a little more output and a little more clean headroom.

The V16s are still quite loud.
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Exactly! The V16 will still wake the neighbors. they are quite loud.

Also i will be watching this thread closely because I am 99% sure that the univalve will be my next amp. I have serious GAS for one.
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

Univalves are very cool amps.

The knock seems to be guys think they're way bright. I like Teles, so maybe that's why I didn't find this to be true.

With the right tube mix & the right speakers, you can get any sound you want.

I dig them!!!

Check this link: http://www.univalve.net/forums_new/

Good place to find a used one with tubes too !! :bigthumb:
 
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Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

I use the v-32 and it's good amp especially with a speaker upgrade....I put a Mojo 12H30 in mine and the tone is similar to a Matchless, very articulate & complex.
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

I'd say the Univalve will "Wake up the neighbors" for sure. In my opinion it's not a bedroom amp and I don't think it was designed for that, although THD's literature seems to be suggesting this. I ran it though an Avatar Cab with a Vintage 30 speaker and a G12H Speaker and it was way too loud for my townhouse. The built in attenuator isn't really designed to bring that amp down to living room volume. The attenuator is pretty much useless for anything other than shaving off a little volume. Yes it has the roll channel, but I never found it inspiring.

For me, it's a very bright amp and it's very unforgiving. What I mean is every little mistake is magnified. Playing the Univalve for me is like walking a tite-rope. I can't just relax, play my 3 chords and sound like a rockstar. Also, there's a certain harshness to the univalve, that I couldn't dial out or make go away with tube swaps.

I did try a used Univalve recently through a 4x10 Marshall cab and it sounded pretty good. This was at a guitar shop and I was able to crank it. I'm pretty sure it had the stock EL-34 tube in there.So who knows, with the right cab, it can be a cool amp, but not really a bedroom amp IMO. I couldn't get it to sound good with pedals, did tons of tube swapping, blah blah blah. For the life of me, I don't know how they got their soundclips to sound so good. That's what sold me on the Univalve. I'd say try one firstl!

For now it's in my closet along with the Avatar cab. At home I play a Reverend Goblin with pedals. But I'll keep the Univalve for the future. You never know I may love it someday.
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

Mkf411 said:
I'd say the Univalve will "Wake up the neighbors" for sure. In my opinion it's not a bedroom amp and I don't think it was designed for that, although THD's literature seems to be suggesting this. I ran it though an Avatar Cab with a Vintage 30 speaker and a G12H Speaker and it was way too loud for my townhouse. The built in attenuator isn't really designed to bring that amp down to living room volume. The attenuator is pretty much useless for anything other than shaving off a little volume. Yes it has the roll channel, but I never found it inspiring.

For me, it's a very bright amp and it's very unforgiving. What I mean is every little mistake is magnified. Playing the Univalve for me is like walking a tite-rope. I can't just relax, play my 3 chords and sound like a rockstar. Also, there's a certain harshness to the univalve, that I couldn't dial out or make go away with tube swaps.

I did try a used Univalve recently through a 4x10 Marshall cab and it sounded pretty good. This was at a guitar shop and I was able to crank it. I'm pretty sure it had the stock EL-34 tube in there.So who knows, with the right cab, it can be a cool amp, but not really a bedroom amp IMO. I couldn't get it to sound good with pedals, did tons of tube swapping, blah blah blah. For the life of me, I don't know how they got their soundclips to sound so good. That's what sold me on the Univalve. I'd say try one firstl!

For now it's in my closet along with the Avatar cab. At home I play a Reverend Goblin with pedals. But I'll keep the Univalve for the future. You never know I may love it someday.
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I think you'll see this story more than anything. Don't know, I'm in the minority, but I really like these amps. Yeah, it takes tweaking but to me, that's part of the fun & character of the amp.

Oh and I used Marshall 4x10 cabs too......

That said, I don't think you'll hate the Palomino....very sweet amp in its' own right.

That might be the seller for you:

Palomino = great tone out of the box

Uni = versatility with the tube swaps, but also requires some work.
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

I agree with everything Terry said. The Palomino gets some great tone out of the box with minimal tweaking, but the Univalve is definitely more versatile. I've never bought one or the bivalve because I hate buying tubes and experimenting with that kind of stuff (I'm more of the "set it and forget it" guy).

I've never played much with the V16 Palomino, but I remember liking the V32 a lot more and that's actually the amp I used on my band demos when the Fargen Epic 30 DC was out for modifications/repairs. The V32 is still my backup amp! Only issue may be that it needs to be opened up a little bit to really let the overdrive breath, so depending on your volume limitations and tone expectations, it may not work for you. The Univalve would be better at lower volumes (only one tube means less wattage).
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

The Univalve was my first tube amp.

It's a fantastic learning tool, but yeah....tube swapping gets addictive & expensive. And it can be a lot of fun.

My favorite was running an EL84 w/a YellowJacket, a 12AX7 & a 12AT7....fully cranked & the attenuator just used to tame it a bit.

The 6V6 ran really well in it too.

It's a tweakers delight & would be a perfect 2nd amp. Something to have around when you're in the mood to mess around a bit.

It can be a loud 15w if you want it to be, but using a 6V6, 6K6 or EL84 will help keep things in check.
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

So, the consensus is that the Univalve may not sound good at television levels? Does the Palomino need to be cranked, or can it sound good at more moderate levels?
 
Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

The Uni sounds "BEST" cranked.....it can be heard/played at tv levels, but like almost all tube amps, those tubes gotta get up & run.

I've only played the Palomino in the store for a short while....to me, EL84s sound best when being punished.

Ever think of a TECH21 Trademark 60 or maybe a Vox Valvetronix ?

They sound good at any volume & have headphone jacks.

If it HAS to be a tube amp, my personal choice would be a Univalve. Way too much versatility for me to pass up.

Buy a used on with tubes....if it turns out not to be for you, you'll get your money back.

Not too sure on the resale of the Palomino....people see Crate & cringe (even if they did get it right with this line :bigthumb: ).
 
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Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

I tried a Palomino V16 today, and I was so impressed that I bought it on the spot. This thing is has some tone! I have a feeling that with an attenuator and a seperate cab loaded with different speakers, this can be pretty versatile.

As far as metal goes, this has enough oomph for Van Halen's Fair Warning (the mids aren't quite voiced the same, so it won't give you that brown sound). Also, it has some nice Vox-y cleans.
 
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Re: Univalve and Crate Palomino

12H30 & JJs all around will make that bad boy SMOKE !!!

CONGRATS & enjoy....That's a nice little package of an amp :D
 
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