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Bought a new amp earlier this week; a Crate Palomino V32H 30 watt, all-tube head.
These amps are discontinued, and Guitar Center is blowing them out. I picked mine up for 299.00, and my bandmate went and picked up the last one in the state yesterday. He already had the combo version, so we knew what they sounded like.
How does the head version sound? Even better! He has the matching 2x12 cabinet on order, so for last night's practice, I brought my Heritage 2x12 cabinet over. It sounded absolutely divine.
I own two boutique amp heads, and this isn't on the same par as those. But for 300.00, this baby is a steal. Forget every amp you ever heard that has "Crate" on it. This thing is in a league all of its own. In fact, the only place it says "Crate" is on the serial number sticker.
The original runs of these were made in the USA. THis last run was made in Vietnam, but the general consensus on the various forums is that there is no real difference.
It has two channels, a clean and an overdrive. It has usable clean headroom, and gets super crunchy on the overdrive channel. Oh, and this baby is LOUD.
It has three 12AX7 and four EL84 tubes, in a claimed Class A configuration. SOme have disputed that it is not true Class A, but whatever. It has a distinctive sound.
I am debating about picking up the matching 2x12 cab. I'll probably wait and hear how my buddy's sounds before doing so.
This is a fun, fun amp. Who knows if it will last for 20 years, but I am going to play this puppy until it explodes.
Here's some crappy pics:
I strongly recommend picking one of these up if you can find it. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Mark my words, this thing is going to become a collector's item.
- E.
These amps are discontinued, and Guitar Center is blowing them out. I picked mine up for 299.00, and my bandmate went and picked up the last one in the state yesterday. He already had the combo version, so we knew what they sounded like.
How does the head version sound? Even better! He has the matching 2x12 cabinet on order, so for last night's practice, I brought my Heritage 2x12 cabinet over. It sounded absolutely divine.
I own two boutique amp heads, and this isn't on the same par as those. But for 300.00, this baby is a steal. Forget every amp you ever heard that has "Crate" on it. This thing is in a league all of its own. In fact, the only place it says "Crate" is on the serial number sticker.
The original runs of these were made in the USA. THis last run was made in Vietnam, but the general consensus on the various forums is that there is no real difference.
It has two channels, a clean and an overdrive. It has usable clean headroom, and gets super crunchy on the overdrive channel. Oh, and this baby is LOUD.
It has three 12AX7 and four EL84 tubes, in a claimed Class A configuration. SOme have disputed that it is not true Class A, but whatever. It has a distinctive sound.
I am debating about picking up the matching 2x12 cab. I'll probably wait and hear how my buddy's sounds before doing so.
This is a fun, fun amp. Who knows if it will last for 20 years, but I am going to play this puppy until it explodes.
Here's some crappy pics:
I strongly recommend picking one of these up if you can find it. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Mark my words, this thing is going to become a collector's item.
- E.
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