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I am currently in search for an affordable all tube small combo and the only options I could come up with were an epi, the Crate V1512 and the Fender Blues Junior (if you can suggest any other companies in that price range please do). Recently I was offered an insanely good deal on the Crate from a friend who owns a dealership, the dealer price 10% which means that I can get the crate with the hemp cone tone tubby speaker upgrade for less cash then the blues junior. What do you guys think about this amp? I am thinking about getting it and then switching out a pre amp tube to lower the gain as the clean tone is a bit worse then the fenders and it has slightly more distortion than I need. So basically what do you think? Am I being stupid or is this a good amp?

thanks, Eli

Good amp, my old rythymn player used the 30 watter....good cleans amp; overdrive. Sounds like a good deal.

I have the older Crate VC-20, with a 12quot; speaker and 20 watts. I was surprised how good an amp it really is. Yes, I changed out the preamp tube for the same reasons, too much gain- mine is just a one channel, I also put a Celestion G12H30 in it, and it keeps up with my 60 watt tube Marshall!

thanks, thats pretty much what I though but I just thought I would ask around to keep myself from being too impulsive (my collection of stompboxes and small bank account attest that I have this problem)

oh and do you guys have any advice on what tube to use to lower the gain and improve the clean tone? Ive used tube amps for a while but don't know much of anything about tubes.

Try to replace the 12 AX7 preamp tube with a lower gain tube. If you do a search on the forum you should find it easily.

Here is a link that might help from : localhost/thetubestore.com/gainfactor.html Good luck........Joe

Crate and Ampeg are both made in St. Louis. Same company now. I like the Ampeg Jet J-12T. Has verb and trem. Good 2xEL84 amp. I've played the 30 watt version of the Crate and liked the clean channel a lot, the gain channel so-so. I like the gain of the 15 watt Ampeg better. I tried 3 Blues Jr's and they all buzzed like an angry mosquito.