customer reviews
64 People rated this product :
7 out of 10
4 People wrote reviews
10 out of 10
"The Crate Powerblock 150. A lot in a little for a lot less."
Feature:
I'm giving it a 10, because it offers every feature that I need an amp to provide. The back panel is especially handy for running to the house,
and the amp lacks nothing that I would use. I love the size of the thing! Working shows, I carry a small Anvil case about 18" wide X 14" high X 14" deep that carries my Powerblock, my processor, power supplies, cords, tools, and 3 microphones! I took a JBL 12" monitor cabined and gutted it, replacing the speaker with an 8 ohm guitar speaker, and I've got great sound, plenty of headroom for any nightclub show, and I could carry the whole rig in the front seat of a Volkswagen with me...if I wanted to!
Quality:
I've been using this little wonder out on all my shows, as well at the house....practice 3-4 hours a day. I use it to practice, because I need to nail the tone that I want to get out in front of the people later. It
hasn't even burped. It doesn't get hot, and it's pretty quiet too. I don't care for the C R A T E lettering across the front, but I'm more than willing to tolerate it considering what the thing is giving me back! I'm going to get another one, just in case, but judging from how the first one's working out, I may not use it much. I'm probably close
to being a million mile touring player, and I have no reservations about this amp and road work. I kind of expected to hear (CRATE??)...ALOT, but frankly, everyone that's heard this rig has raved about the tone and great sound.
Value:
In my opinion; this product is worth much MORE than the suggested LIST price. MUCH MORE! It sounds great when used properly. It is rugged, convienient, handy, simple to operate, light, adaptable, and well thought out. This is only my opinion, mind you, but; I believe that it blows those that would copy it out of the water on quality alone! Knowing what I know about this item, I would have paid whatever I had to to enjoy the features and convienience that it gives me.
Desirability:
I think that it looks great EXCEPT for the C R A T E letters 3" high across the front! Other than that, "It's a streamliner."
Sound:
I use this amp with a Digitech GNX3000, and I'm getting great tone. I've been running it with the gain between 1/3 and 1/2, treble and mid at 1/2, bass at 3/4, and volume at 1/2. Typically; I run the overall volume of the Digitech at about 1/4 to 1/3. I'm using a Tradition Jerry Reid Signature Tele (Nashville style Tele) as my main working guitar. This little rig generates alot of stage volume. I'm a busy pro player, I have to cover several styles well, and I have to be really picky about my tone. Using the Digitech, this amp is delivering the goods just the way that I need it to. I've worked with the same guitar through a custom rebuilt blackface Twin Reverb, and a Matchless, and while it doesn't "glisten" quite as much as the two amps listed above,
it does blow an old Peavey Stereo Chorus that I have out of the water...as far as tone is concerned. It is focused and accurately reproduces what the processor sends it.
Ease of Use:
This amp plays well with others. It works great with my GNX 3000 right through the "front door!" It has an effects loop as well. I've tried a couple other processors with it and had good results too. It's super workable for me. I have quite a few guitarists approach me at shows, and they all seem surprised to see what I'm using. Most of them think that I'm just running through the house system. I get alot of "WOW!!" You're getting that tone with THAT??" I cover several styles of music in my main band, and I have to nail the tones. I can get everything from Rory Gallagher crunchin' blues, to Billy Gibbons, to George Marinelli, to Brent Mason...and lots more.
Support:
I used to know one of their factory reps that sadly, has since passed away. He was a great guy, and he was quite helpful to me in any way that he could be. I took some Crate stuff on the road a time or two, just so when Craig called me I could say that I was using it. This amp is DIFFERENT!! I wish he was here now...he wouldn't have to pester me about using it! I've never had any of their stuff break, so I don't know how they are now. I think that the company that does my tech work is their authorized guy in my area. If that's the case, NO WORRIES!
Overall:
I could use any amp that I want on our shows. I've played alot of very expensive stuff, and frankly some of them do sound "a little" sweeter. With the processor that I use, the "social caste system of amplifiers" means very little in the end run. A large company based in Arizona makes a similar sized amp with digital processing onboard. When I saw the onboard "DSP," I walked away. The'll never get the tone with that thing that I get with my rig. NEVER! Also; I know a few world class Techs. While most of them are quite slow to sing the praises of transistor amps, they can't argue with real tone. I've heard a lot of their stories. They all agree that less is usually more. I do to.
Submitted: 11/7/2006
Style of Music: Traditional Country, New Country, Classic Rock, Oldies, Blues, R&B, Soul, Lite Jazz.
10 out of 10
"REMEMBER: This is not a head, this is a Power Amplifier. And the best one on the market, at that."
Feature:
The product came with a case. Don't get me wrong, the thing's tiny, but the case does make it even easier to transport.
Quality:
I've been using two Crate PowerBlocks for two years to run two 400w speaker cabinets. It is absolutely mind-numbingly loud. They've never overheated, surged, or dropped in desired volume. When I have my distortion/modulation effects at full, the two PowerBlocks and their speaker cabinets are too loud for even the medium venues in Los Angeles. I still haven't even heard them at 10 without hearing protection. (I stand behind them and wear hearing protection.)
Value:
This product is easily worth $300 in my eyes, making it an absolute steal at $200. This is one of the most overlooked products in the music industry today.
Desirability:
I've had compliments on my poweramps on many occasions. The PowerBlocks are just tiny bricks on top of my cabinets. People ask "THAT little thing is your head?" What people don't realize is that the power amp is -usually- just a small brick inside a cab head. These have no processors, just the power amp, and are therefore much smaller than a head. The funny thing is, they're even more powerful than ANY one head I've ever heard before in my life.
Sound:
The sound of the amp is absolutely what you want it to be - it DOESN'T fuck with your tone. It AMPLIFIES it. All you other reviewers who gave this product a bad score, you bought this product for the WRONG reason. This is not a guitar processor or a head, this is a power amp. If you want to use effects, you buy pedals. Why buy a head that already has effects if you're like me and already spent over $5,000 on pedals? All you need, if you have pedals, is a POWER AMP. That's ALL this product is.
Ease of Use:
If you already have speaker-rated and instrument-rated cables, which any self-respecting musician would, this product is plug-and-play. Again, this is not a product to be used to adjust your tone in anyway.
Support:
N/A - My PowerBlocks have never needed servicing.
Overall:
I doubt I will ever replace the PowerBlocks. They simply don't deteriorate or break. I take care of them and always move them in their cases. Even my kids will be able to use these bricks.
Submitted: 5/31/2006
Style of Music: Alternative Metal
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