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Crate V33 Class A 33-Watt Head
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Another great Class A offering from Crate in a small-form-factor head.
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Searched Crate V33 Class A 33-Watt Head in Reviews
Great Class A tone and full features in a small fo 
| Sound |
Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I have a wide variety of guitars--my main guitars are Ibanez RGs with Dimarzio Super 3 Bridge and various middle/neck combinations. I've played just about everything through this
amp--Ibanez JEM and RG guitars, Les Paul, Strat, Tele--just like the V5 combo, everything I play through this amp sounds pure and true. This is a two-channel Clean/OD head--the clean channel has a volume knob and the OD
channel has level and gain controls. The Boost and Presence buttons work on both channels. I played this head through my 16-ohm Carvin 4 x 12 with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. From the factory the overall tone of the amp was pure, but a little on the dark side. The tube complement is 3 x ECC83 and 4 x EL84 tubes. I replaced the preamp tubes with some Chinese Ruby Silver Select tubes that I know tend to be bright. Once these tubes were in the amp really came alive. The tone is brilliant and like a true Class A amp it takes any pedal board really well. In my opinion, this amp really doesn't need pedals but nevertheless has an effects loop if you have a post-gain modulation effect you can't live without.
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| Reliability |
As a true "Class A" operation amp, it tends to get a little hot--If I were gigging it without a backup, I'd bring a fan to keep it cool. Haven't had any issues with it, though.
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| Customer Support |
Never dealt with them. All my Crate products have been solid.
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| Liked about it |
Great Class A tone.
Channel Switching.
Effects Loop.
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| Didn't like |
Stock tubes sound a little dark--easily fixed.
Tends to run a little hot
No footswitch included--easily fixed.
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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5.0 |
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internal use: spec82 spec386
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