Crate BT350

[lowend1]

Picked up one a couple months back and I love it. Some of what I read says that it was built alongside the Ampeg stuff and used some of the same components. Can anyone confirm? Was the BT350 based on any Ampeg model, or was it a new (at the time) Crate design?

[Oren Hudson]

At one time, SLM owned and made both Ampeg and Crate and both were made in the same factory. As for as components, anything's possible, but I'm not sure about that part. I have an '82 ish BHX 220 with 2-15 cab that is a quality build and sounds great.

[jastacey]

The BT-350 is somewhat similar to the older design of the SVT-3, the SVT-3 had/has several preamp tubes, the BT-350 only has one preamp tube, the BT-350 has a very large heatsink, I don't know about the SVT-3 .... I have a BT-350 and it's a good sounding amp for the 350 watt power rating at 4 ohms, not many amps around with a tube preamp in that power rating

[Gubna]

I bought an amp via evilbay this summer... they positioned it as a prototype of the BR3 Ampeg. However, today, after researching it by contacting the St Louis Music Co... it's the prototype of this BT350. Looks exactly like it, except it has no logo, and has chickenhead knobs. Sounds alright, but I think I probably paid too much. Someone at SLM gave me the name of the guy who built it, but I'm not going to bother him now that I know what this is.

[christw]

I miss my BT-350. It was my poor man's Ampeg. It sounded great, put out loads of power for my acts at the time, and was indestructible. I wish I had another one, minus the weight!