Over at the TDPRI, someone pointed out that Musician's Friend is selling a number of the Crate V-Series amps quite cheaply--$150 for an 18-watt 1x12 amp and $200 for a 50-watt 1x12, for example.

I've been ignoring these because I already have a Li'l Dawg D-Lux, a Gibson GA-5, a Traynor YCV20WR and I'm planning on building the Weber Pennebaker as soon as it comes out.

Nonetheless, the Crate V50-112 looks really appealing. It's a 2x6L6 amp and I'm wondering if it wouldn't be just what the doctor ordered for a cheap, clean amp. I've got the crunchy stuff covered with my other amps, but I've been on a quest for a really nice clean tone for a while. I really like the cleans on Li'l Dawg and the Traynor, but I'd love to get something that's just squeaky clean.

I have absolutely no need for a 50-watt amp, but that's what volume controls are for, right?

Does anyone have any experience with the V50 or any of the other V-Series amps?

TIA

Cassady

They seem to be discontinued. Great prices. Worth the risk for under $200.00

Ever since Loud Technologies bought out St. Louis Music, I understand that long-term reliability has been a major issue with Crate. I'm not saying don't buy it, I've been tempted myself... but caveat emptor.

Maybe Crate is ditching some of these because they overlap the new Blackheart line of low wattage tube amps.

I own a crate v-15 and used to own a blues jr...if that tells you anything, consider looking for one of the older v-series...very good and usa made...and a lot better stock speaker...

Here is what I have heard. The 50 is CRAP but the 33 and the 18 are pretty good, a mix between vox and marshall. That is just what i have heard.

Well, the current ones are CIC. Now I don't mind Chinese guitars so much these days, they've kinda figured out how to correctly make a guitar neck.

BUUUUT, they've still got a ways to go in the amplifier department.

almost bit on a v-33...why I dont know, just the price...wanted a head for a half stack i have sitting around, really dont need either, so....I still haven't had a chance to crank my new, old seymour duncan 84-50 2/10s so Im satified with what I have... actually the old crate v-15 is great for the living room...

Thanks for the replies, folks.

So far, I'm managing to not order one of these amps, though it is sorely tempting. The amps I have do just fine and sound really good; I'm hoping that Weber releases the Pennebaker soon so that I can have a great clean amp and not just a really good one.

That 50 watt Crate sure looks nice for 200 bills, though.

Cassady

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but I do have a Crate Palomino V-32 chassis mounted in a '70s Earth cabinet (w/4 Sunn 10's). It uses 4 EL-84s and sounds super in clean or overdrive modes. The Palomino has the very same chassis layout as the V50. The Palominos are quite popular, and people raved about the clean channel. I believe they are discontinued though. I'm not familiar with the rest of the Crate line.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4861/earthpalomino1ys4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)