Crate BT-100 115 Combo

the hardware features have already been mentioned in the other reviews...so i"ll move on to the "real world" experience with the amp.Good enough amp for the size and money. Very flexible for use in different venues and styles due to the adjustable xlr line out( in a big gig, you WILL need to line to the PA), built in tuner and switchable octaver and distortion.

I'm currently using active epiphone and ibanez and passive 94 fender squire in classic and newer rock gigs ranging from medium size to outdoors.The amp allows enough versatility to create passable sounds from Steppenwolf RHCP to Nickleback....and Motown to hip-hop..damn versatile, in fact, when you consider the cost.But, it's NOT a Trace Elliot, or SVT,or SWR workingpro 700...
Heavy??? Try lugging aroun a Trace 8X10 cab.
Wheels needed????( Maybe you need to get a second wheelchair to set the amp in and tow it around behind you)
As bass amps go , this IS small to be gigging with and therefore I at least use a 4X4 block of wood to tilt it back with or set it up on my amp stand so I can hear it next to the 2Nd guitar player with his half stack......and I line to the PA..the amp becomes my stage monitor.
It needs a horn ( adjustable) to help out with the definition on the upper ranges.

I'll find out soon enough, because it sits in the trailer between gigs with the winter temperature extremes and when I use it, it's been CRANKED!! So far no trouble since new about 20 gigs ago....but again, still new.
The little CRATE emblem looks like hell ..bouncing in the trailer with the other equip....shoulda got a cover...too late now.
I DO use it without a backup...but primarily because I have enough goodies in the bag that if the amp blows during a gig I can go direct to the PA and hear my bass through the stage monitors

Too soon to tell

Been playing since "67...you do the math.
Probably get something else..good for the money, but a little low on raw power for my taste.And it needs a horn.
But still a fantastic deal on features for the money.

I beleive this model was made in 2005. It was a floor model at guitar center and did not include the foot switch. The music I play (punk rock) doesn't really require me to switch to distortion or octaves. The speaker is rated at 150 watt rms and the power amp outs out 100 watts. There is also a limiter to keep the amp from clipping. The coolest thing about this amp, it has a built in tuner on the top and a mute button to keep you in tune at all times. 2 channels- one clean, one distortion, activated by push button on amp face. (don't know if foot switch activates it or not.)Distortion channel has three level controls Gain, Shape, and Level. Includes distotion and octave effects, octave is activated by leveling knob. Has 4 E.Q. knobs. Amp also has cd input and headphone jack.

Now for the back of the amp, Includes external speaker out to connect to a 4 ohm ext speaker. Footswitch input, which I don't have. An effects loop send and return inputs. Amp has Xlr line out with volume control and switch to go from pre/post eq. Cool feature is ground lift switch to reduce hum when run to P.A.

One thing I wish this had is the parametric eq. One bad thing is the "rugged handle" on top is held on the amp with plastic feet, they broke. Amp is fairly heavey, needs casters.

I use a Fender Jazz bass with passive pickups. I play pick and hand methods and this amp picks up everything extremely well. Sound Quality is second to none. I tried an ampeg, carvin and swr amp with same wattage, this amp won hands down. Tonal quality is superb. Even though this amp is rated 100 watts rms I believe it may be louder than that, either way this amp rocks the casba. I haven't yet tried it with an extension speaker, but I'm sure it works well. The amp has had a slite buzzing, there is no fan, I haven't been able to figure it out. When no instruments are plugged in, no buzzing. It maybe time for a new instrument cable. Cuts throught the guitarist's half stack also playing on 6, me on 8 volume level.

Amp has thus far been dependable. I have used it extensively at an 8 of 10 volume level.(loud as hell) I would use this w/o a back up mainly because I'm broke. I have no doubts on the dependability of this amp. Very solid, No fan makes me concerned that it would blow up. After about 4 hours of use, amp did run hot. But, I don't think I would play a 4 hour set.

Have not yet contacted crate personally but the website is very handy. I was able to print a user's manuel and it came with settings for different music generes. i.e. rock setting, country setting, jazz setting, etc...

Out of the 10 years I've been playing I have had different amps running my fender. I have also owned a german made bass (name withheld, not so great) and an American made bass (name withheld, not very good either). Amps I have used Peavey, Acoustic, Crate, Carvin, Ampeg, SWR, all have good amps especially carvin and ampeg if you can afford them. This Crate has been nothing but good and with minor upgrades like casters and steel handles, I have no doubt that it will hold up. I would have like to have tried an Ashdown, I have heard nothing but good things about them. If this Unit was stolen I may try to find another one especially for what I paid for it. But, I would like to try ashdown.

All the standard eq features + distortion and octave. The real treat here actually turned out to be the tuner on top. Its a small addition that I ended up being very thankful for.

Not nearly as loud or beefy as I would like. This is probably my main complaint. I am totally left in the dust by my guitarist's small 60 watt amp.

Only two problems have been the handle coming a little loose and a little crackle recently when I adjust the master volume knob. I have owned it for a year and a half.

I have been playing for about two years. I play a spector euro 4 (very nice bass). I am actually going out tonight to upgrade to a better amp because this is FAR TO HEAVY FOR ITS VOLUME (a severe hastle I forgot to mention earlier.) This thing weighs a friggin ton and if i'm gunna lug something that heavy around i expect it to be much more powerful.

It is a great amp for any kind of music especially rock/heavy metal as it has a distortion setting!! on a bass amp unbelievable!! There is also and octaver for those of you who dont know what that is it is a setting which creates an extra sound that makes two sounds come out the amp one is you and the other is artificial so you can have the amp play an extra octave below while you play your tune. IT also has an inbuilt tuner on the top.

As i said before it is best suited for rock as it has some either very light distortion but can get very heavy by turning up the gain. It is not too bad for in say a house as even turned down a way the sound is clear but niether does it become distoted at loud volume.

I would definitly use it in a gig without backup as it is so tough and reliable it has never broken down or needed to be looked at.

I have never dealt with Crate and i have never needed it repaired the warranty is 12 months not the best i admit but it doesnt need it anyway. The only problem i have ever had was when i bought it and sound control gave me too switch pedals instead of one pedal and set of caster/wheels

There is nothing extra i would want for this amp. if it were lost i would definitly buy another as there is nothing to hate about it and everything to love about eg. the quality of the sound it always gives no matter what you do to it.

15" speaker rated at 4ohms, 150W
built in limiter (some manual control of this would be nice)
Built in chromatic tuner a cool feature, however it could track better.
footswitch included for channel select and octave off/on

Front panel:
Input, pad and tuner mute
Distortion channel with gain, shape, and level
channel select switch
Clean channel with level, 4-band EQ
Octave effect
Limiter active LED indicator
RCA CD input
Headphone jack
power switch with LED indicator

Rear panel:
XLR balanced line out with level, ground lift, and pre/post EQ select
speaker jacks
footswitch jack

Specifications:
Output Power Rating: 100 watts RMS @ 2% THD, 4 ohms, 120 VAC

Size and Weight: 26-1/2" H x 21-1/2" W x 16-1/2" D, 69 lbs

I use the amp with a Precision bass for country and rock. It suits me fine for rehearsal and if necessary DI'd into the PA at the gigs. The speaker tends to lose definition and starts to break up a bit and sound farty at higher SPL levels, so the DI is a very useful inclusion for gigging. The amp itself is loud enough for me to play with a good tone while rehearsing with a drummer and two guitarists both at full-tone volume on good tube amps. I keep the high and high mids cut a bit for a warmer, vintage tone. I don't use the distortion channel and octave effect much except when I'm messing around on my own, but some cool sounds can be acheived with these. The channel switching is very versatile: when the front panel channel switch is depressed the footswitch switches between the Distortion channel and the Clean channel; when front panel channel switch is in the out position, the Clean channel is always active, and the footswitch turns the Distortion channel on and off, allowing you
a blend of both channels.

It works like it is supposed to so far. I have not had this amp for very long, so I will not contribute a rating in this category.
My gig back-up is whatever PA we're using.

Good warranty. 5 years on electronics, 2 years on speaker, 90 days on meters. Warranty is transferrable. Again, I have not had this amp for very long, so I will not contribute a rating in this category.

I've been a musician for 23 years and own a variety of guitars, amps, drums and recording equipment. I regulary play and gig with electric bass, electric and acoustic guitar and drums.

This amplifier is an inexpensive, feature rich amplifier with a decent tone for not much money. It is not the holy grail of bass tone, but it gets the job done. If you are playing in a hard rock or other VERY LOUD band, it might not make the cut on it's own. You may need an extension cabinet or to DI it into the PA.