Info on old Crate head?

[211dave112]

Hi. Recently bought an old Crate head to use at practice and wondered if anyone could shed some light on it as the usual searches have proved rather fruitless! It's a Crate BX440H and looking at the design i'd say 80's/90's but i could well be wrong with that. Just wanted to know what the general consensus was and if there's things |I should look out for as far as reliability goes. Not that I'm too worried over it, only got £50 in it and it sounds pretty good for a cheap amp to leave at the practice space.

[zillo]

I've got one that I've had for years. I like it..it's loud and the bottom end is huge compared to my workingman's 400.

Do a google search, and you'll be able to find a PDF of the manual to download.

[211dave112]

Originally Posted by zillo

I've got one that I've had for years. I like it..it's loud and the bottom end is huge compared to my workingman's 400.

Do a google search, and you'll be able to find a PDF of the manual to download.

just got the manual, thanks.

It's pretty bass, usually find myself dialling the low end back a touch. The contour switch is normally on as well, and at around 12 o'clock.

[211dave112]

and here http://www.bazaar-world.com/guitar-a...-MADE-BY-AMPEG the guy claims they were made by Ampeg? surely not :S

[Jerrold Tiers]

Both Crate and Ampeg were made by St Louis Music before the buyout by Loud Technologies.

Now, they are both made by Loud, assuming they still make Crate.

"Ampeg" was and still is, a "brand name" and not an independent company. Has been like that ever since Everett Hull sold the company a long time ago. The companies that made Ampeg made other stuff too. Sometimes in the same factory, sometimes not.

If that is "Crate made by Ampeg" to you, so be it...... You could also say that "Ampeg was made by Crate", or that "both Ampeg and Crate were made by SLM", etc, etc........ depends on how you look at it.

SLM made them in the same factory, and also in different factories, depending on just when you are talking about, history wise.

[meatwad]

Originally Posted by Jerrold Tiers

You could also say that "Ampeg was made by Crate".......

I've heard it put that way before.

[211dave112]

Originally Posted by Jerrold Tiers

Both Crate and Ampeg were made by St Louis Music before the buyout by Loud Technologies.

Now, they are both made by Loud, assuming they still make Crate.

"Ampeg" was and still is, a "brand name" and not an independent company. Has been like that ever since Everett Hull sold the company a long time ago. The companies that made Ampeg made other stuff too. Sometimes in the same factory, sometimes not.

If that is "Crate made by Ampeg" to you, so be it...... You could also say that "Ampeg was made by Crate", or that "both Ampeg and Crate were made by SLM", etc, etc........ depends on how you look at it.

SLM made them in the same factory, and also in different factories, depending on just when you are talking about, history wise.

good info, i would guess there are many other brands you wouldn't necessarily put together that work in a similar way.


anyone else got any info on these heads?