Crate Powerblock

[Blind Ambassador]

Anyone else here ever get one the Crate Powerblocks? I bought one a few years ago. It's not the greatest sounding amp, but it does the trick in a pinch. I found it to be a handy backup/practice amp. The fact that it's the size of a football is pretty cool too. Even the tone is still a bit "solid-state-ish", it reacts to being pushed like a tube amp. Not the worst piece of gear to have laying around.

 

[94Tremoverb]

I've heard a lot about these breaking, and seen a couple of dead ones myself (not repairable economically, if at all for a typical guitar-amp tech), which means they are not really suitable for a backup because you then need another backup in case the first one goes out. I also think it's probably the worst-sounding amp I've ever heard, aside from most digital modelers. It has a horrible artificial harshness to it no matter what you do with the controls. I could never understand why anyone liked them - apart from the small size and weight, and that they're really cheap, I really can't see the point. I'd rather carry an old-school solid state amp like a Peavey or something as a backup, it may be bigger and heavier but at least it sounds OK and won't break.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[Blind Ambassador]

I've heard a lot about these breaking, and seen a couple of dead ones myself (not repairable economically, if at all for a typical guitar-amp tech), which means they are not really suitable for a backup because you then need another backup in case the first one goes out. I also think it's probably the worst-sounding amp I've ever heard, aside from most digital modelers. It has a horrible artificial harshness to it no matter what you do with the controls. I could never understand why anyone liked them - apart from the small size and weight, and that they're really cheap, I really can't see the point. I'd rather carry an old-school solid state amp like a Peavey or something as a backup, it may be bigger and heavier but at least it sounds OK and won't break.

Just my opinion of course.

Like I said, it's not greatest sounding amp. I'd say the tone is on par with a solid state Peavey (at least the ones I've played), not any worse. When you have limited space to deal with (gigging in a Honda Accord, space is tight after you load in the half stack, pedal board, 2 guitar cases, merch box, mic stands, some your bass players gear, girlfriend, etc etc) and there isnt much room for another amp, the size makes it a good option in my opinion. As for it breaking, bought it about 4 years ago at least and it still works fine. I dont use it that often though, so I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[MrMarkIII]

Ignore the less-than-optimum pre-amp and use the line-in jacks on the back panel. Running a modeler into these yields better sound than going into the front.

 

[94Tremoverb]

I tried that with my V-Twin (which is my normal backup, but it does require going through the PA or finding some other amp to run through), and it still sounded awful, so I thought it must be more to do with the power section than the preamp. It just seemed to have this harsh, artificial hard sound that was very fatiguing on the ears to listen to. (I'm actually trying not to imagine how bad running a modeler through it would sound, because I think those also have that same sort of effect anyway!) I do admit, the Powerblock is smaller and lighter than the V-Twin though .

I'm not sure which Peaveys you've tried but the really old ones (1980s and older) are actually very good-sounding, providing you don't try to overdrive them. I've got a Backstage Plus which I use by choice sometimes, because it's small, light and sounds great. It is a 1x10" combo though, so if space is really at premium it wouldn't do.

Each to their own! As with all backups, you carry it because it will get you out of a tight spot, not necessarily because you like it... I still carry a spare battery-powered overdrive pedal as a last ditch fall-back, which you can run through literally anything if you have to, even the PA in a pinch (and pray it has enough EQ to make it sound less than dreadful!).

 

[cvansickle]

Red Iron Amps was at the Nashville Amp Expo this past August. They were demoing their buffer, and the rig included a POD and a Crate Power Block. The tube-based buffer made a huge difference! I played the rig with my Charvel San Dimas, and it was one of the best hard rock/metal tones I've ever heard.

 

[Gtr_Pkr]

These aren't bad amps if you can get past the fact that it's a backup amp. They are becoming a little more rare too.

 

[94Tremoverb]

They are becoming a little more rare too.

Yes... every time one dies and isn't economical to repair, they get a little rarer! I had another one a couple of weeks back. In all honestly I just couldn't recommend an amp like that to anyone, no matter how small, light and cheap it is.

 

[Turumbar82]

i had one for a year. I ran my digitech modeler into it and used it in a band situation. It worked for that purpose well. It never gave me any problems. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones.

Typically I wince at anything Crate.