Crate B150 Head

Crate Model B150 SOLID STATE BASS HEAD, by SLM (I think the first two guys beneath me are a bit confused); made sometime in the 80's, features: power switch, bi-amp balance knob, bi-amp frequency knob, master volume knob, limiter threshold knob, limiter attack knob, effects loop assign button (post/pre), presence knob, 6 knobs of equalization, contour button (in/out), gain knob, 2 input jacks (-6 db & 0 db). On the back of the amp are: low & high bi-amp jacks, line out level knob, unbal. jack, bal. jack (P.A. style), effects loop footswitch jack, line in & line out jacks, & 2 speaker jacks (all 1/4"). This thing is covered with a gray fuzzy type fabric (like a Fender M-80 of the same vintage), & is very light compared to how loud it is (single transformer inside). It has a 5 digit serial number on the back, & mine is only 4 numbers (0****), so I think it's a fairly early example of this head. Silver plastic "CRATE" logo screwed into the front of the amp. It covers the different styles that I play (punk, rock, metal, country, surf, rockabilly, etc.), but does sound a bit "sterile" (i.e. solid state). Foe what I paid for it, it works out well. 2 channels, but no channel switching as far as I can tell. No headphone jack. Seems to have enough features for my taste (I don't need to much stuff though). I'm between bands right now, but it seems to be loud enough to play w/ a drummer & guitarist, hard to guage when no one else is around! All the knobs on it don't seem to make the amp sound much different in my opinion (I'd rather have more power).

I use an '84 Fender made in japan jazz bass, an '84 Fender made in japan precision bass, an old Kramer Striker bass, & an SX jazz bass that I picked up as a parts bass for $25. All have stock pups except the kramer, which has emg's (the good ones from the 80's). They all sound good through this head (clear but sterile). Theres some scratchy pots, but the head itself is quiet when I'm not playing through it. No distortion at high volumes, the "gain" knob is actually a second volume knob (you need to turn up the master vol, presence, & gain knobs all the way to get it really loud). With all 3 on high, it's loud! No distortion though. This would work in a band setting, for practice & live gigs. I just wish it had a tube pre-amp. Maybe you need a footswitch to activate the gain?

Very reliable, but if it blew I'd probably just toss it (cost more to fix than finding another used head). I'd use it w/out backup, as I always do with live gigs (I don't know anyone that brings a spare amp/head to a gig). Never broke down as long as I've owned it, but I just wank around in my basement these days, so a road trip may be a bit different. I'm pretty confident with stuff like this.

Bought it used off craigslist for $50, so I wouldn't bother.

I bought this off craigslist for $50 to give my old 70's Kustom head a break. It works well for what I got into it, and I've played through lots of stuff (still miss my old ampeg svt). Been playing 20+ years, & owned enough stuff to fill a pawn shop. I love picking up stuff cheap & trying it out. No my favorite head by far, but it gets the job done. If you can pick one up cheap I'd buy it. Wouldn't give it a second thought if it was stolen, but Crate is not my favorite brand by far. If I could get one for the same price, I'd definately buy it though. They are good heads for the money. Perfect for a beginner or someone on a budget.

Rock solid tone a very nasty bit of kit!!! Tough on the road with excellent build quality

3 F/Switchable Channels with FX Loop. If you don't use the FX loop you can switch it to a Solo boost function instead very cool.
6 Band EQ shelving
Presence (EEK) and and bottom end boost (UGH) which is great!!
150 Watts tube power, unbelieveable headroom i actually prefer it to a Mesa Dual Reccy

More than capable for professional use in big venues bit of an overkill in pubs me thinks

Good tight distortion especially in the low and low mids its an ideal metal amp, really rib cracking when i cranked it, it rumbled my guts and made me feel a bit ill.
A bit noisy if the gain is up a high and around things like TV's ( that might be my guitar)
Low gains with high mids are very rich and warm and the clean channel is smooth and very polished

Rock solid no beef here

No need for back up, i used to use a 70's Marshall Jmp amp without backup so that says alot and this Crate is modern and brand new!!!

I've heard Crate support is very good other than that i dunno

I've been testing the Tube amp market for a while, having only owned solid state amps before, and it wasn't until recenly i came across Crate on the web and went to try the BV150 and up to then i had settled on a Peavey 5150. It sold itself to me.I walked in the shop and it stood right out and looked really menacing with its 4x12 and tubes glowing through to mesh, its the best value head for money overall of its calibre
Absolute Metal!!!

basically everything that other guy said =P.

I use the amp every saturday/sunday at church, I usually just play around with a lot of different sorts of music.. the amp isn't too flexible though.

The amp's a bit strange, if you turn it up; it seems that you lose some bass, or the bass just goes crazy on ya.

Why doesn't the head have a second channel??? It's annoying to change amps to get disortion. The EQ is incredibly helpful, it lets you vary your sound pretty well.

The head needs:
-2 channels
-Reverb

I use the B150 through a 2x15 with a Fender MIM strat.

I play a lot of Creed/Our Lady Peace/Metallica and all of those good stuff, but mainly praise music.. it fits pretty well (cept for Metallica of course)

The amp is very quiet, unless you turn the gain all the way up. The sound can't vary very well.. you're pretty much stuck there.

The clean channel can be disorted at high volumes.. all the settings I tried would do that.

How brutal is the disortion you ask? THERE IS NO DISORTION =P

This thing is sturdy, it hasn't ever broken down on me (I've been using it for 6 months but our church has actually had it for a couple of years) No backups needed.

It hasn't broken down.

I wouldn't buy it again, I want an amp that gives me more variety than this one.. but this is a nice head.

And once again.. this amp needs: 2 channels and reverb (a personal favorite of mine)

150 watts @4 ohms, 6 band equalizer, limiter, presence, two inputs, one output, two speaker jacks, effects loop, gain control, footswitch jack (I don't know what for), line in, contour switch, and a bunch of other cool stuff.

I play a Samick 5 String with active pickups, and a Hartke 410xl cab with 4 comp Pyle subs. This puppy will put out. You have to work with the equalizer a bit, but it sounds really good once you get it figured out. Somethimes I run a zoom peadal with it, just to warmup the sound using the chorus.

Solid state, solid cabinet, good quality construction. The pots get a little dirty, and so do the input/output jacks, but not too bad. Haven't had a problem with it yet. Plus I bought it used!

Never dealt with the company. I guess thats a good thing.

Good amp, will keep up with a 100 watt guitar halfstack, but what do you know, its 150 watts..... If it were stolen, I don't think I could find another one to buy (Very hard to find(I just cam across it)). Very good Crate quality, sound, looks, and power. I would recomend this to anyone; just so you can find it.