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Crate, or no amp at all.

Owen Bacon

Owen Bacon

Jul 27, 2015
278
216
Oregon
#1
As said in a previous thread i'm trying to get a new amp(Via craigslist) I was looking at some acoustics and ampegs but they either got sold or weren't in my price range. The only things that are in my price range and meet my specifications are crates. Now I've heard good things and bad(This forum seems to hate them) things about crate. So should i get one or should I just wait? I live in a smaller town so bass amps don't come up to often and I would like to have one now. What do you guys think I should do?
 
#2
If it sounds good to you, and you gain the inspiration from the equipment that you are looking for, then go for it!

Im pretty close to test driving a Crate BX810E thats listed for a negotiable $200. Im fairly certain itll be a waste of time/money/space, but im going to try it out anyway. Its closely modeled to an SVT810E but its ported, so im thinking itll be a low end nightmare. Ill have no idea until i try it out.

If it sounds like garbage, dont buy it. Thats my best advice. I ended up with a lot of sub-par sounding gear because it was cheap, NOT because it was a good deal. There is a BIG difference. I ended up having to sell all that cheap stuff at a loss just to get rid of it, or just throw it away.
 
#4
Without searching, I feel I can safely say that this forum will probably give you an honest assessment of Crate gear, though it looks like you already have one of their amps, so you can side with your own established opinion.

I played a BX100, which appears to be what you're talking about...since I had to look at your previous thread to find out, and it was a serviceable tool. It wasn't fun to transport. It kept up with a rock band, barely, but it did. The fact was, it worked.

Is there better stuff out there? Yes.

Is there better gear that'll you'll be able to pay $100 for and be able to gig with? Maybe? Good luck finding it, though.


If you decide to wait, you need to ask yourself what you're waiting and holding out for. If nothing else, I would imagine that if you pay $100 for that combo, you should be able to sell it down the line for $100 and recoup your investment.
 
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#5
Are you planning on playing in a band soon? You have to ask yourself, "Why am I so desperate to get a bass amp right now?" Personal enjoyment is one thing, but if what you buy does not cut it for a band and you join one soon, guess what? Got to buy something louder! On the flip side, if it is purely for inspiration, I really can't say that is a bad idea. I bought items just for inspiration too - sometimes it is worth it. If you have no other reason, but to "keep up" with your friends, then pass on it. Save your money and get something better.
 
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#8
Marko 1 said:
Guitar Center *used* delivers at a reasonable cost, and you should be able to find lots of reasonably-priced cabs with an on-line search.
Click to expand...

30 day trial period. If it sucks or is broken, guess what? drive to your local Guitar Center and return it. You are still out the shipping if the unit is running just fine, but it is better than being stuck with a heavy paperweight with no value to it...
 
#9
I still have a Crate BH-350, it an honest 350 watt amp, still use it for band rehearsals, depending on how efficient your cabinet is, it will do fine in a lot-ta bar gigs, one down size is it is somewhat heavy, and you should get a4 space rack case, as it will generate some heat when pushed hard, also it has a tube in the preamp, and I found that the reissue Tung-Sols 12AX7 does a good job for me, can't speak about the other models, as this is the only Crate that I have playtime with
 

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