ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

Have I lost my mind?!

 

4/17/2000 9:18 AM

Scott

Have I lost my mind?! I was in a music store the other day and played a Crate Vintage Club 50 with 3x10's. Is it just me, or do these things actually sound good?! Nice, round clean channel with just enough oommpphh and a drive channel that went from a bit o' grit to wide open JTM 45 without the ears bleeding. Anyone else out there have a good experience with these amps? I know that tone preference is subjective, but do I need to have my head examined? Maybe book an extra session with my therapist? I mean, it's a Crate!

 

4/17/2000 12:29 PM

Lee M.

In my opinion (worth what you pay for it), a lot of the hoopla around boutique and vintage amps is because the player knows it's supposed to sound good so he thinks it does. The converse it also true.   Recently one tone con-a-sewer (sorry I can't spell French) admitted to liking a Marshall Valvestate. Should he be banned from the guitar tone hall of fame? No. He should be given a reward for admitting that he liked a mostly s.s. amp knowing he might face ostracism and eternal damnation.     If you like the Crate (and I've heard others make similar comments), more power to you. I think the big knock against the mass market tube amps (Fender Blues & Hot Rod series, Peavey Classic, etc.) it that the construction is not roadworthy, not that they don't sound decent (or would with better speakers and tubes.)     Anyway as I always say, everyone's entitled to his own stupid opinion. And this is mine.     Lee

 
 

Sunday

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4/18/2000 12:13 PM

Stephen Conner

quote: "In my opinion (worth what you pay for it), a lot of the hoopla around boutique and vintage amps is because the player knows it's supposed to sound good so he thinks it does. The converse it also true."     I agree 100% - and I liked the Valvestate too. I actually bought the Valvestate 2x12" cab to use with my 50 watt tube head. The speakers are called 'Marshall Gold Backs' and they have a great mellow tone, like Greenbacks only cheaper. I think they are the main reason why the Valvestate stuff sounds good.     Steve C.

 

4/18/2000 9:16 PM

Ken McGill

I was wondering when someone was going to   throw an opinion on these cabs and speakers.   I bought one of their 4 -12 VS412A cabs for   my 50watt small box head. I was doing one of   those "Have I lost my mind" things.It sounded   good, was a good deal and probably one of the   easiest 4 -12 boxes to haul around that I   have had the pleasure to schlepp.I was considering   changing speakers eventually but so far its   been sounding great. Dimensionally it fits   perfect under the head as well.     If it makes sense and sounds good who cares   what the R.O.W.thinks.     Enjoy whatever you play through   Ken

 

4/18/2000 9:20 PM

Rebel420

quote: "I agree 100% - and I liked the Valvestate too. I actually bought the Valvestate 2x12" cab to use with my 50 watt tube head." I'll tell ya what cabs I liked, wished I hadn't sold... it was a JCM800 2-12" cabinet, that was not like a 4-12 cut in half, but rather looked like a small 4-12 cab, it was slant front, the top speaker was on the right side, and the lower speaker was on the left. Nice, light and sounded pretty good. I THINK they were part of the 'mini-stack' series, and were the size of the 4-10 cabs they sold. It matched up [pretty well with the BF bassman head I had at the time... ahhh the thigs i wish i didnt sell!

 

4/19/2000 2:53 PM
Bruce	quote: "I'll tell ya what cabs I liked, wished I hadn't sold... it was a JCM800 2-12" cabinet," My slightly smaller version that cabinet with a pair of Celestion Vintage 30s is my favorite 2x12' cab!!   Just the rihgt size and weight for just about any normal gig with a 25-50 watt amp.   Bruce

 

4/20/2000 8:16 PM

Tony Leach

You know I went to a music store the other day and was playing thru one of the newer Marshall 2x12 combos (not sure which but it had lots of gain). I wasn't really impressed but it wasn't bad. I looked beside that amp and saw this funky green colored 2x12 amp and thought yea right. But I plugged in and turned a few knobs and WOW did it sound really good! It was a Trace Elliot amp. I asked the guy to tell me about it and the first thing he said was it's all (dare I say it) TRANSISTOR! I was amazed that it sounded so good. I really really thought it was a tube amp from the way it sounded. If I woulda had the $$ I would bought it on the spot.     Tony

 

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