I have my a Digitech 2112 SGS , that has two 12ax7 tubes in the processor, to go into two VHT Valvulators 1's (w/ one 12ax7 tube each ) going into my Crate Power Blocks to give me a 100% tube dynamics and articulation.You have to use a Y cable to use the effects loop of CPB to drop in effects. I happen to use a BBE 482 Sonic Maximizer and Hush / Rocktron Super C in the effects loop, just in case that I play somewhere with questionable electrical wall outlets.Many guitarist think that I am still using my old tube amps and are surprised it's a Class D amp .I have a pedalboard with old Digitech multi effects, the RP-12, RP-1, with a Decibel Eleven Loop Expander to add a EHX Ravish pedal, MXR 10 band Eq, Boss GE-7 band Eq, Behringer AM100 Acoustic Modeler, Seymour Duncan SFX-1 Pickup Booster and the 2112 SGS .It has a gain, three Eq knobs ; low, mid and high with a level knob . Those knobs are excellent to zero in on your sound .I have my gain knob set at 3 o'clock, that way I can lower the guitar's volume knob down to 7 to get some good clean tones to pull off some good clean SRV, Hendrix, good natural Acoustic guitar, and use my Acoustic Modeler and Sitar simulator with perfect .You can achieve some great Overdriven Blues , great Hard Rock, Hair Metal, Metal, Speed Metal and Thrash sounds, but your going to need a multi effects unit or pedals to take you there into heavy distortion territory .But on its own, you can get a ZZ Top or semi light AC-DC crunch with amps gain knob .If I play songs with an acoustic passage between distorted tones, those CPB's let's the morphing capabilities of the 2112's patches, seamlessly fade into the other programs like a high quality studio edit with the staggered delay and reverb .

This amp is less that six pounds, small , it can power two 4x12 cab or two 2x12 cabs .The back has an effects loop( works only with a Y cord) an RCA jack, three output jacks ; on mono jack at 8 ohms and two right and left Jack's for stereo at 4 ohms .

Just set all the knobs at 12 o'clock and adjust according to your Sonic needs.

The Crate Power Block is built like a tank and should last a long time with out any issues.

Ever since people have reviewed on the Internet about this amp, the price has gone up . At first release, the CPB sold for roughly $200.00 USD .When the company went out of business, many retailers blew them out the door for only $99.00 USD .I got my first CPB, here at zZ Sounds, in 2007, for about $ 115.00 w/ shipping.Today, they are selling up towards $ 220.00 USD or more .

Since they have gone out of business since late 2007 / early 2008 , I never had to deal with their Customer Services.

The ease of use, its basic power amp usage and ease of transportation make this amps main selling points .

Professional gigging musician and Guitar Teacher .

Neo Classical Metal, 80's Hair Metal, Blues, Classic Rock, Thrash and Speed Metal.

As I stated before, this amp really behaves much like a tube amp. The breakup and overdrive sound very natural and the tube-like feel and response only increases as you push the volume. The tone stays warm and realistic. It'll have you believing there are tubes somehow crammed into it. Though the amps controls only include gain, volume, and a 3-band eq, tone shaping can be quite the journey. Turning any of these knobs affects a change that is FAR from subtle. And, no matter where you take it on the eq (scooped-mid tones, beefy mids and lows with rolled off high-end) the sound is always very pleasing and makes you want to keep playing. The gain would not be considered to be high-gain by modern standards. However, there is still a good amount of gain on tap and, with a strong pickup in your guitar, you can easily push this little powerhouse into Motorhead territory. The amp also remains clear and allows the true tone of the guitar to come through. It really responds to every guitar I have in a different way, becoming a chameleon of sorts.

I have always tended to enjoy a simplistic setup. I don't want to waste time turning dials endlessly. I just want to plug in, find my sound, and play! This amp is built just for that purpose. But not only for that purpose. If you want to just use it as a power section and run your favorite preamp pedal or multi-effects/modeler into the effects loop, it's perfect for that scenario as well. I ran a REVV G4 pedal into the loop and it absolutely destroyed! There's also a second volume control on the back that is dedicated to the effects loop. Also, I should add this amp is VERY quiet. Even with the gain dime'd there's no hiss, squeal or unwanted feedback.

This amp couldn't be simpler to use. Run your guitar straight in or connect your pedalboard. Either way, you're gonna get great tones with ease. It's certainly strong enough to power multiple cabs and sounds equally great through a variety of speakers. My favorites tend to be V30's, G12t-75's, or the old Marshall Heritage. It sounds and feels wonderful through all of those.

I have owned two of these and have had no issues with either. I have giged plenty with it as well so it is definitely road-worthy. The heavy duty metal enclosure is solid as can be. The unit never gets hot, even with extended use. You never feel as if you have to baby it from fear of something breaking.

I have owned and still own a good selection of higher-end amps (Mesa, Fryette, VHT, Marshall, Laney, Randall) and to be honest, I play this as much as any of my "big boy" amps because it simply sounds as good as they do. The prices and availability of these can fluctuate because they haven't been made in years. But, if you can find a clean one at a decent price, snatch that thing up! They really are worth the current $100-$200 going rate.

I've owned quite a few Crates over the years and I have only really had a problem with one (my old Crate Stealth). Of course, other than this Power Block, I have only really ever owned the older, St. Louis-made amps.

This Power Block is just fun to use. Something that can't quite be defined about it. I have a lot of great sounding amps but I still get drawn back to this one regularly. Something about the simplicity and how quickly I can get to my sound that keeps drawing me to it. Matter of fact, I'm gonna go play through it right now...Go find you one, don't buy into all that Crate-Hate that goes on around the internet.

Musician of 30 years, many live shows, constantly in the studio.

Hard rock, metal, punk, stoner

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.

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. :-)

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.

I don't think that there is a better value on the market.

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.

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.

50 years playing guitar/40 years performing

Very Progressive Blues/ Progressive Southern Style Rock (Dixie Dregs with vocals)

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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."

Full time working pro guitarist. Former touring musician

Traditional Country, New Country, Classic Rock, Oldies, Blues, R&B, Soul, Lite Jazz.

Guitarist playing part-time professionally. I've been playing over 35 years.

I've played r&b, blues, light rock, funk, praise and worship (Godspel) and jazz.

Good array of sounds, form clean to chunky/heavy. You can get fairly close to Dimebag Durell's BASIC solid state sound. Probably good for all kinds of musical styles. I play reggae with it, but I also use it to record my rock and funk ideas on my Roland recorder. Good stuff!

My only complaint about this unit is it has NO REVERB!

Simply plug in your ax, and tweek it for all it's worth. With a little time, you can find your ideal tone with ease.

Near bulletproof design, no breakable moving parts, rugged, and only about 5 pounds...and you can use it to bash in the head of the club owner who "forgot" to pay you for the gig...

I bought mine for $200. While it's not a tube amp, and not my first choice for an amp at all, it DOES THE JOB MORE THAN EFFICIENTLY. It's even great for a backup amp, since it also has an xlr line in jack in the back...

So far, no need to contact Crate. This thing is almost problem free...!

Small thing, big sound. and not a bad idea from the Crate company to make it in the first place (As I write this, I just finished a gig with it!)

Rock, reggae, funk guitarist/vocalist for 15 years

see above.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

N/A - My PowerBlocks have never needed servicing.

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.

Active Musician / Audiophile

Alternative Metal