Crate V Series Clips

[FuzzOff]

Been searching for some V-series clips...Anyone have some? Also wondering how V-30 cabs changed the character of this amp?? Anyone have any experiences to share?

Thanks!

 

[Kewlpack]

I just picked up a Palomino V32 (blonde version of the V series) and it's got tremendous tone. I don't have any demos - but it's superb.

 

[FuzzOff]

For anyone who's interested, I located a clip of the Palomino V32...

http://www.indyguitarist.com/soundclips2/crate-palomino-32.mp3

I also read on a forum that these amps are made by AMPEG? Can anyone confirm or deny?

 

[retro]

AFAIK they are made by Crate, for Guitar Center which is St. Louis Music Inc. same as Ampeg.

I agree with the guy at the end of the clip they really do sound a lot better in person. I was in a GC to get a amp box for shipping and saw an old Ampeg in one of the amp rooms and walked in as a guy was hooking up a Tele into the smallest Palomino...I was stunned by the tone.

 

[FuzzOff]

Originally posted by retro
AFAIK they are made by Crate, for Guitar Center which is St. Louis Music Inc. same as Ampeg.

I agree with the guy at the end of the clip they really do sound a lot better in person. I was in a GC to get a amp box for shipping and saw an old Ampeg in one of the amp rooms and walked in as a guy was hooking up a Tele into the smallest Palomino...I was stunned by the tone.

Yeah I got ahold of one for the first time last nite. The clean channel is truly fabulous. Gain channel sounded ok, but it was through a tone tubby. Wondering how different it would be through my Mesa cab with V30s

 

[retro]

Yeah I only heard the clean...which was stellar IMO. Would be interested in knowing more about the gain and if the V30's change your opinion.

I never go to GC but maybe I should go play one myself, I'm curious now.

It was cool you found a clip to post...thanks.

 

[hasserl]

Nice sounding amp! I have played one of these and I agree that it is a fantastic value. It is very difficult to capture a lot of the tone with a simple setup like he is using, adapting the SM57 down to an 1/8" mini stereo and into the sound card.

Considering the set up I think the clips sound very good.

 

[Kewlpack]

BTW, the Palomino V32 works great with the Boss GT8 via 4CM - really nice saturation from the poweramp stage.

The overdrive channel is classic rock flavored. Definitely usable and you can drive it further with a stomp easily.

Love this thing.

 

[FuzzOff]

Ok guys, feel like it's my civic duty to update you on my experience. I bought the V30H Head home and plugged her into my recto cab. I was getting some fabulous tones, especially on Ch 1 by pushing it hard. No it's not a Bad Cat (played one the same day) but you can't deny the bang-for-buck ratio here.

Well that's the good news on the V30H. The bad news. It got hot. REALLY hot. Hotter than a Desperate Housewives pool party. The faceplate actually was actually hot to the touch, causing a recoil at longer than a few seconds. Not cool at all folks. It turned my little studio room into a prison hotbox.

A couple of people on the HC reviews complained about the same thing. I didn't notive the combo I demoed getting so hot, so it could be an issue with the head.

I guess it's plan b...Peavey Classic series.

 

[Kewlpack]

The combo (v32) does get hot. I believe it has to do with the way they box everything in so tightly. A vent fan would have been helpful...

Anyone ever had any failures because of heat??

 

[fr8_trane]

Are the palomino amps discontinued? I cant find "palomino" or V32/V16/V8 on the Crate website.

 

[hasserl]

The old Vintage Club series amps had a lot of heat realted failure issues. I liked the sound of those amps too, but they were pretty flimsy.

 

[Kewlpack]

Originally posted by fr8_trane
Are the palomino amps discontinued? I cant find "palomino" or V32/V16/V8 on the Crate website.

I think the Palomino V series is custom built for Guitar Center (I don't know for sure). It's essentially a Blonde/Vintage looking version of the standard V series.

Check Guitar Centers for info.

 

[fr8_trane]

The old Vintage Club series amps had a lot of heat realted failure issues. I liked the sound of those amps too, but they were pretty flimsy.

OK, so what about the newer V series? These seem to run hot as well.

 

[FuzzOff]

Yeah I think the bigger question is will the heat cause failures. That I don't know. I just don't like to take chances, given this would be my only gigging amp, no backup.

I have never seen an amp get as hot as the V30H. While I don't have any personal experience with the long-term reliability, common sense tells me that just can't be good for the amp.

 

[EdMan57]

My V30H runs pretty hot,as well...but no more hot than either my Mesa/Boogie MKIIC+ 60 watt head [no internal fan] or Bedrock 1600 50 watt head.I usually point a small fan at the back of the chassis on my tube amps to keep things cool.Btw,I really dig the tone and feel of my V30H through my Celestion G12K-100 loaded Trutone Custom 1-12 cabinet.
Ed

 

[Five Horizons]

Damn... the secret's out. These amps are killer and I LOVE the look on peoples faces when I tell them it's a Crate

I'm an EL-84 amp junky and this is one of the best I've heard. It is the only thing I can plug into in Guitar Center and instantly know it was right for me. The cleans are bell like and chimey, the overdrive is roaring vintage Marshall and the best thing is never expecting it. The boost channel works very well for lead.

If you guys want to hear a V32 Palomino in action check out www.myspace.com/farewelltofairbanks. I think "Redirected" really showcases its clean to mean versatility and it was done with a Shure SM57 mic, a Pro Analog Dual Drive (for a lead boost) and a Fender Tele-Sonic guitar.

 

[Lex Luthier]

Pretty cool amp for the $. I tried one with a tone tubby speaker and it sounded real good.

 

[rockon1]

Originally posted by hasserl
The old Vintage Club series amps had a lot of heat realted failure issues. I liked the sound of those amps too, but they were pretty flimsy.

I have 2 of them-VC50H 50 watt heads. I picked them up for 179$ a piece. Talk about "Bang for the Buck!" I wired in a fan on one of them with an external switch. Put a piece of clear plexiglass in the front of one in place of the grill. Very cool as you can see the entire amp now from the front.At any rate if Im pushing it hard I turn on the fan. For bedroom levels its not necessary. They sound great thru a 2x12 V-30/G12H-30 cab. If you can get past the "stigma" of a 90's Crate I highly recommend them.

 

[hasserl]

Originally posted by rockon1
I have 2 of them-VC50H 50 watt heads. I picked them up for 179$ a piece. Talk about "Bang for the Buck!" I wired in a fan on one of them with an external switch. Put a piece of clear plexiglass in the front of one in place of the grill. Very cool as you can see the entire amp now from the front.At any rate if Im pushing it hard I turn on the fan. For bedroom levels its not necessary. They sound great thru a 2x12 V-30/G12H-30 cab. If you can get past the "stigma" of a 90's Crate I highly recommend them.

It is basically an AC30 w/ an additional gain stage, and IIRC a Marshallish tone stack. A kick ass rock & roll amp!