My first tube amp for $250

[sgiven]

On Wednesday I bought my first decent amp and I wanted to brag about it. It's a Crate V33-212. A 33W class A tube amp with 2-12" speakers.

List price $650
Regular price $450
MY price $250

I was actually saving my money to buy it at $450 when it went on sale. Awesome timing. Now I just have to wait for it to arrive. It was shipped earlier today.

My Washburn "Bad Dog" practice amp just wasn't doing it for me anymore.

Anybody have one of these? Or any of the Crate V series?

Anybody in possession of a time machine that could make it be next week for me? I'd really appreciate it.

[Budda]

im not sure on reliability, but i've read from people who've tested it that it has a nice tone to it!

for that price, i wouldnt sweat it! congrats! :)

[Hamm Guitars]

That's an incredible price! Is it new? If so where are you getting it and are there any more?

[zdogma]

They sound great, actually. The reverb is lousy, and the speaker could use an upgrade, but the cleans are great and it has a nice fat overdrive tone. Not super loud, but that may be the speaker. Tube access is very difficult if you want to replace the tubes.

The real downside on these is the reliability, it lasted less than a week before it went belly up (internal electronic belly up, not just tubes) I'm not sure if that was just a fluke. I bought it for a member of the wife's family and it was a bit of a pain in the butt, but no money lost.

I hope you have better luck.

[Tarl]

I have two of the older (made in the U.S.A) V series 50 watt amps. They are great amps for the price and mine have been very reliable. If the new ones are anything like mine you will have an awesome amp with some minor upgrading. Mine have the Tone Tubby speakers and I know the new ones do not offer that option any longer, I also believe they are being made in Vietnam or China now, not that theres anything wrong with that. Upgrade the tubes to some quality ones (I like JJs and put them in both amps) and get a good speaker in there and you will have tone to die for. Use the remaining money you saved to upgrade and save the parts for spares or to sell. I'm sure you will enjoy it. Heres a couple of tone tips (if they react like mine). Mids are everything on these amps in shaping your tone, don't be shy with them especially if you are playing in a band situation. Some folks say the bass is not enough for them on these amps, I run mine between 8 and 10 all the time. I also use an EQ pedal with my Tele to get a bit more bottom with it. These amps also sound great attached to an extension cab.....I always use a 2x12 with mine. Enjoy it and post us some pics........
:rockon:

[sgiven]

Budda - I read the reviews on it and it seemed like the best for the money (at $450). But I was hoping to try one before I bought it. Then it went on sale and I decided to grab it while I had the chance. Like you said, I figured I couldn't really go wrong at that price.

Hamm Guitars - Brand new, I ordered it from Musiciansfriend. I don't think they have any left at the moment. It used to say "in stock"
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-V-Series-V33212-33W-2x12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=487056

zdogma - That sucks, I hope it was a fluke. There is a warranty so I'd be covered for something like that, but yeah, it would be pretty inconvenient. I'll post more when I finally get to try it out.

[sgiven]

Tarl - I've heard that the newer models don't quite live up to the older American made ones but they're still supposedly very decent. Thanks for the tips, After I play with it "as-built" for a while (and apparently make sure that I don't have a lemon and void my warranty), I'll probably be looking to do some modifications. I checked out those tone tubbies and they're a little $$$ but we'll see.

[Tarl]

Tarl - I've heard that the newer models don't quite live up to the older American made ones but they're still supposedly very decent. Thanks for the tips, After I play with it "as-built" for a while (and apparently make sure that I don't have a lemon and void my warranty), I'll probably be looking to do some modifications. I checked out those tone tubbies and they're a little $$$ but we'll see.

In my mind new tubes are a must in most new amps and the first thing I usually do. The Tone tubbys are great but pricey speakers. A good celestion or eminance would be a great upgrade and a lot less expensive. Hope you have good luck with the amp......I'm sure that you will be smiling with the first chords you play on it. I see on the Musicians friend site that all the V series amps on on sale, 5 watt for $99, 50 watt for $199 and 18 watt for $149 , if I remember correctly, good deals for anyone looking for an affordable tube amp.

[zdogma]

Budda - I read the reviews on it and it seemed like the best for the money (at $450). But I was hoping to try one before I bought it. Then it went on sale and I decided to grab it while I had the chance. Like you said, I figured I couldn't really go wrong at that price.

Hamm Guitars - Brand new, I ordered it from Musiciansfriend. I don't think they have any left at the moment. It used to say "in stock"
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-V-Series-V33212-33W-2x12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=487056

zdogma - That sucks, I hope it was a fluke. There is a warranty so I'd be covered for something like that, but yeah, it would be pretty inconvenient. I'll post more when I finally get to try it out.

I'll be interested to hear if your luck is better. As I say, it really sounds nice.

[al3d]

250$ US will be about 270$ Canadien...+ taxe and UPS brokerage 400$. not to bad realy for a tube amp. Does buying in the US void the warranty?

[erikm5150]

axemusic.com here in Calgary also has them on a "blowout" sale.
The prices aren't as low as the ones in the states, but with shipping it probably evens out...

[55dollarbill]

Just makes sure that if there are any problems that you catch them quickly while it's still on warranty. My Fender Twin Reverb exploded about a month after I got it. Two tubes were shot, there was a wire that needed re-soldering and something else, I forget what it was though. But after this everything is smooth sailing and it sounds great. If you're lucky there won't be any bugs, but don't hesitate to ask if you think something is wrong! :wave:

[buckaroobanzai]

I have one...I paid about $400 for it though.....

I have added an Eminence Governor speaker which made it a bit louder. I also upgraded the tubes to JJ's and then put a 12AT7 in the first preamp socket to tame the gain down a bit. It's a pretty good blues/rock amp now. I go to jams with a Tele, a Bad Monkey and the V18, that pretty much covers it.

[Budda]

dont forget to look at WGS for speakers :)

[sgiven]

I haven't had a chance to update this until now but I did get my amp. It took about 5 days to ship.

It sounds awesome but LOUD. I cant get it up to distortion levels without risking eviction and/or permanent hearing loss. I'll just have to get a decent pedal.

Heres a picture of it with my guitar for perspective. I think they go well together.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a103/sgiven/Picture078-1.jpg

[Tarl]

Very nice....congrats!!
:banana:

[Budda]

a decent pedal wont quite get you the same sound though.

invest in an attenuator, enjoy cranked tube goodness :)

[sgiven]

I checked out some attenuators, they cost more than I paid for the amp. I might start saving up for one. It would be cool to hear what this beast sounds like when its really cooking.

It never ends does it? after I buy the attenuator, I'm sure there will be something else I just need to have. I need to make more money. :)

[Budda]

it doesnt matter what you do, there will always be something else.

i dont need an attenuator, i need a band!

[Hamstrung]

axemusic.com here in Calgary also has them on a "blowout" sale.
The prices aren't as low as the ones in the states, but with shipping it probably evens out...

I just took delivery of the V18 212 which cost $249.99 + 5% GST. (same price as the V50 but I already have a 50 watt Carvin tube amp). Free shipping from Axe for anything over $199 anywhere in Canada. Came with a neatly packaged free T-shirt!
Great amp and surprisingly loud with a nice British style distortion. Great deal for anyone wanting to get into tubes at a good price.

[KHINGPYNN]

I actually like thes amps straight out of the box... sure there are many upgrades that can be done but it kind of defeats the purpose. Crate built a nice tube amp for a great price that stands on it's own merits... to bad the line has been discontinued.