Another Crate first in guitar amplification. This is a 150-watt RMS stereo guitar amp in an amazingly compact package. If you have a modeling guitar preamp/processor, you can use the PowerBlock to amplify your programmed tones for a gig. The PowerBlock runs in stereo or mono, so you can use it to run to a single 8-ohm enclosure, or 2 x 4-ohm enclosures, in stereo! If you want to use your pedalboard and have a great distortable single channel amp to power it, the PowerBlock gets it done. And you can use the PowerBlock with the headphone jack for silent rehearsal.
If you want to plug in a CD player or drum machine, the PowerBlock features RCA inputs on the back. The balanced line out has a level control to DI your sound to the "house" in a live situation. The single triangular blue LED indicates that the PowerBlock is on. The included padded gig bag, allows you to carry it or hang it from the shoulder strap, depending on the other gear you are taking with you.
The switch-mode supply and Class D power section provides lightweight, excellent tone and great power. The anodized aluminum housing assures cooling to the unit while it is in use.
Once again, Crate is bringing you a really cool new product designed by players for players. There is nothing else like the Crate PowerBlock!
zZounds is an authorized dealer of
Crate products.
What Our Customers Are Saying About zZounds
"zZounds offers a combination of low prices and quality service unmatched by any of their major competitors." - customer on April 26th, 2012
Sound:
THIS AMP SMOKES!!!!! There is not a doubt in my mind that trading my excellent sounding Delta Blues/15" for this amp was the correct decision. It is less than 5 pounds and with the GT112 box it is still only around 35 pounds and the amp velcros inside the cab in a protective gig bag. BIG SOUND/tiny package.
Feature:
For what this amp was designed for it is excellent. A single channel, very powerful, pick responsive. versatile amp. Gain/Bass/Mid/Treble/Level. If ya want reverb and a single channel amp wait until 2006 since I heard through the grapevine that digital revrb is coming on a future model. That's just hearsay but..... What this amp is for is to be used with a pedal board or a bunch of stomp boxes. I use a Bass pedal board since I don't like a whole bunch of sererate pedals. With a properly set up pedal board this amp cannot be beatern by anything out there with no apologies to all of you tube heads because I am a tube guy too but I am getting older and tube amp weight too much and have too much "extra cost" in maintaining a good sound by buying tubes regularly especially if you prefer the fat class A sound like I do. This amp is pick responsive alomst like a tube amp. AMAZING HUH? You could ask for more unless of course you expect a lot of bells and whistles with you amp. For the price of this amp buy all of the bells and whistles you want and stick them on the floor. Turn them on and off at you will and then at the end of the night when you are all worn out from giving it all to your audience. Carry this light amp out to your vehicle without straining anything and go home. :-)
Quality:
The quality odf this amp and the GT112 boxes is excellent. I would perfer that the boxes were made from plywood but at $200 bucks each they have held up well and are very well made.
Value:
I don't think that there is a better value on the market.
Manufacturer Support:
This company understands what the word service means and stands behind their products with about the best warranty I have seen from any other than a custom $$$$ amp builder.
The Wow Factor:
It is a very sexy and beautiful "chunk" of aluminum heat sink with knobs of the front. Built like a tank and very dependable so far. It has excellent feature like a headphone out for private practice, rca stereo input/ 1/4" effects loop/ balanced line out with a level control, What more do you want? I probably won't ever use anything else.
Overall:
I do not plan on ever using anotheramp. I am going to replace my pedal board with a newer version and maybe buy a couple more of these wonderful amps.
Style of Music: Very Progressive Blues/ Progressive Southern Style Rock (Dixie Dregs with vocals)
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"The Crate Powerblock 150. A lot in a little for a lot less."
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.
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!
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.
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.
Manufacturer 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!
The Wow Factor:
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."
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.
Style of Music: Traditional Country, New Country, Classic Rock, Oldies, Blues, R&B, Soul, Lite Jazz.
9 of 10 people
(90%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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Really. It's not a problem for us. In fact, we'll thank you
for the chance to live up to our lowest price guarantee!
It's fast and easy
Just tell us where you saw the lower price - another
website, an email offer, your local store - and we'll send
you our lowest price offer in a matter of hours.
Simply click the Seen it for less? link
Next to the item you want, or give us a
call at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637).
A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.
