Crate Excalibur head... Anyone try one?

[Thor Von Clemson]

The other guitarist in my band plays a Crate Excalibur head through a large Ampeg 4x12 cab. It sounds pretty good at low levels but whenever we practice he is completely lost in the mix. Our drummer is very loud and I play through a 5150.

Do any of you have any experience with these amps? I am assuming his amp is not going to cut as well as mine because ones a tube and the other is a solidstate.. or something like that anyways. Another problem is we have to crank his amp to 6-8 on the volume knob to hear him whereas I have not had to turn my amp up past 3.... maybe 4 for a gig. Again, I am assuming it's because of the tubes.

He picked up the amp and the cab for $300. I am sure it was a good deal but something is going to have to change with his rig, especially when we start gigging. Problem is he just got a divorce and has little/no money.

I am thinking a good tube amp would work well. He has a low end digitech pedal he wants to use so maybe a tube poweramp would help?

Any advice?

[jgcable]

Hmmm... where do I start.
The Crate Excalibur is a low end SS amp.
The 5150 is regarded as one of the best (and most powerful) high gain metal amp ever made.

The Crate Excalibur is just a slightly pumped up practice amp.
The 5150 was built specifically for live use.

I could go on and on and on.

Its like comparing a Ford Focus to a Cobra SVT.

[jgcable]

Now.. to answer your question. Tell him to sell the Excalibur and the cabinet and pick up a used 5150 combo. Done.

[Thor Von Clemson]

Ya I figured the amp was kind of a lost cause in this situation. I was more looking for advice on what he should get so we can at least hear him. I see Crate Blue Voodoo and Carvin MTS heads on ebay frequently. I believe the Blue Voodoo heads are tube. I bet an MTS with a boost in front of it would get him what he needs but I am open to suggestions.

Anyone know the going rate for a used Crate Excalibur head?

[jgcable]

Ya I figured as much.

Anyone know the going rate for a used Crate Excalibur head?

Check the completed auctions on Ebay. That will give you an indication.
He can pick up a used 5150 combo for around $500.00 pretty easy.
There are alot of other high gain tube amps for around that price too.

[Racerx2k]

Yeah, I play an Exacalibur head, and am quite pleased with it. I rather disagree with JG, as I like my Excalibur, and HATE 5150s. I personally think they sound lifeless.
My amp cuts through just fine, against a loud drummer, and the other guitarist's marshall half stack, and I don't think I've ever really had to get it past 4, except for one gig, where we had a P.A. only for vocals. Even then, I only had it turned up halfway. I'm guessing part of his problem is how he's running it. The bass on mine is really pulled back, as is the highs, and mids are cranked, as it seems these things are voiced more for metal, and I'm using it for a rock situation.
Don't get me wrong, I know this amp isn't the be-all-end-all of amps, but it isn't as bad as some might have you believe. However, I still miss my Laney 100 watt AOR, and may pick one up in the coming months. I'll still keep the Crate for backup purposes, as it's been rock-solid and has never let me down.

[Racerx2k]

Ya I figured the amp was kind of a lost cause in this situation. I was more looking for advice on what he should get so we can at least hear him. I see Crate Blue Voodoo and Carvin MTS heads on ebay frequently. I believe the Blue Voodoo heads are tube. I bet an MTS with a boost in front of it would get him what he needs but I am open to suggestions.

Anyone know the going rate for a used Crate Excalibur head?

I've seen them, in the local shops, for around $150-$250. Got mine in on a trade. Honestly, when I tried mine through my Laney cab, I actually had people gathering behind me (as I found out, halfway through the demo), looking to see what amp it was, cause they liked the tones.

[jgcable]

Yeah, I play an Exacalibur head, and am quite pleased with it. I rather disagree with JG, as I like my Excalibur, and HATE 5150s. I personally think they sound lifeless.
My amp cuts through just fine, against a loud drummer, and the other guitarist's marshall half stack, and I don't think I've ever really had to get it past 4, except for one gig, where we had a P.A. only for vocals. Even then, I only had it turned up halfway. I'm guessing part of his problem is how he's running it. The bass on mine is really pulled back, as is the highs, and mids are cranked, as it seems these things are voiced more for metal, and I'm using it for a rock situation.
Don't get me wrong, I know this amp isn't the be-all-end-all of amps, but it isn't as bad as some might have you believe. However, I still miss my Laney 100 watt AOR, and may pick one up in the coming months. I'll still keep the Crate for backup purposes, as it's been rock-solid and has never let me down.

A 5150 will abolutely 100% shit all over teh Excalibur. I am not saying it doesn't get good tone. Personally.. I like the Crate Flexwave distortion model. Its very ear friendly. All I am saying is that it isn't even close to being able to stand up to a 5150 live.

[buzzsaww]

Could have him tweak his EQ a little but for the time being? That might help a bit.

[zeegler]

The best he can do for the time being is to crank the midrange and bass all the way up. That might help him cut through a little better.

[Racerx2k]

A 5150 will abolutely 100% shit all over teh Excalibur. I am not saying it doesn't get good tone. Personally.. I like the Crate Flexwave distortion model. Its very ear friendly. All I am saying is that it isn't even close to being able to stand up to a 5150 live.

Hey, all I know is any time I've plugged into a 5150, I really hated it. Just seemed real blah, to me. And based on the reviews plenty of people give them, I was really expecting something great. I actually walked away, appreciating my Excalibur even more. So, no offense, but I find the 5150 to be shit.

[jgcable]

Hey, all I know is any time I've plugged into a 5150, I really hated it. Just seemed real blah, to me. And based on the reviews plenty of people give them, I was really expecting something great. I actually walked away, appreciating my Excalibur even more. So, no offense, but I find the 5150 to be shit.

Well, you are certainly in the minority. Maybe the 5150 you tried was defective. I can't even say it might not have been tweaked correctly because all you have to do is go for basic settings on the 5150 and it sound great.

[jgcable]

Hey, all I know is any time I've plugged into a 5150, I really hated it. Just seemed real blah, to me. And based on the reviews plenty of people give them, I was really expecting something great. I actually walked away, appreciating my Excalibur even more. So, no offense, but I find the 5150 to be shit.

One other thing. This just shows you how subjective tone is. The most important thing is that you like the way your amp sounds. If the Excalibur works for you that is all that matters. I am just saying that SS amps have a tough time cutting through a live and loud setting especially if there is another guitar player with a kick ass tube amp.

[Racerx2k]

Well, you are certainly in the minority. Maybe the 5150 you tried was defective. I can't even say it might not have been tweaked correctly because all you have to do is go for basic settings on the 5150 and it sound great.

See, that's what I thought, with the first one I tried. But, since then, I've tried several, different ones, and just didn't dig what I heard. I remember seeing Nugent using one, on a reality show, and thought "Oh, well, hell, if Nuge likes it, it's gotta be cool", but then he played through it, and it was just "eh".
You ARE right, though. Tone IS subjective. However, I have never had any problem cutting through any mix with mine, even with our other guitarist's Marshall blaring right along with mine. Eh. To each his own, right?

[StukaJU87]

You are judging Ted's tone, that you heard on a reality show, through a TV speaker? :ROTF: Ooooofaaahhh ...