Crate BV120H Blue Voodoo

switchable clean channel and distortion channel, seperate eq, reverb, FX loop. 10 for having more features than I really use. Came with a footswitch for (if I remember correctly) changing channels, turning on/off the reverb. I bought just the head and I run it into either a marshall 1960B 4x12 with 75 celestians or a Peavey 4x12 (model??) loaded with sheffields.

I use a Roland GT5 plugged straight into the head on the clean channel. Basically the amp is there as a power source. The clean channel has EQ knobs and they give my sound a final shaping after the GT5. Plus I use a touch of the amps reverb.
As a stand alone: This amp can generate plenty of distortion which to me is a bit too low ended and gets lost in the mix. No need to scoop the mids because the amp seems to do that naturally, at least mine does. Use an EQ in the FX loop to shape the tone better. Lots of tube hiss therefore requires a gate. The clean channel is very loud, much louder than the distortion channel. I like the clean sound from this amp. Each note is somewhat bell-like. Clean will break up when turned up loud. Reverb sounds good but I only use it set on about 2 or 3.

I've blown some kind of fuse in the unit on 2 occasions in the same year. This fuse is only rated for 1 watt so my tech tells me. I might void the warrenty and up this to a higher watter. I'm not a techy so I can't describe it much more than that. This is on the distortion channel only. It doesn't really change the tone per se but the output is basically cut in half.
Other than that seems very durable. Gigged with it many times without a backup. That could be an illusion caused by the sheer weight of this thing. Heavy!!

Never personally dealt with them.

I wanted an amp like this when I was looking for a new one. For the money you can't beat it. It has way more features than comparable Marshalls etc. Of course the sound has to be the ultimate judge and this amp sounded fine to me. Yeah the distortion channel is a bit muddy for my taste but I can very easily fix this by using an EQ in the loop. Right now I use this amp as a power amp but if my GT5 takes a dive, I can simply use the amp as a standalone and get through the gig. If it matters to you, Marty Freidman of Megadeth uses these heads. If this amp died, got stolen, whatever, I think I'd start from scratch and shop around again but I would have this amp on my list. A great value for the buck.

I've had this head for about 2 years now. I play the matching cab with the vintage 30's in it. Great features for the price 2 channels, effects loop, etc... This amp screams with power. It's not lacking in any way. You could play anywhere from a hole in the wall bar, to a large arena.

I use this amp with a Les Paul and a lone star strat. The distortion absolutely screams! It is a distortion for people who like it heavy so if you play old rock, blues, country, etc., it's not for you. I play stuff that ranges from The Deftones to Pearl Jam, and everything in between so it works great for me. The only complaint I have is the clean channel. It's nice, but it lacks that warm sound that you can get out of a marshall, but I rarly play anything that's totally clean so it really doesn't matter that much. The clean is a little better with the strat than with the les paul

never had a problem with it.

haven't had to deal with them.

I just bought a Blue Voodoo 120 watt head for use with a cabinet of 4 30 watt celestions. I purchased it about two hours before a show, took it to my jam pad, tweaked it for about 10 minutes and it ended up working great. The dual channel features are nice, as is the effects loop, although I didn't end up using either. This thing sounded great just going straight in with no effects. The clean channel didn't sound quite as good as the dirty one but I rarely play totally clean anyway.

I'm using an Ibanez strat with stock humbuckers and got a punishing distortion that was warm and clean. Sounds cut through nicely and there was great sustain and natural harmonic feedback; it was the best live sound I've ever had, way nicer than the "75 Marshall 100 watt tube head I was using before. I took it in the studio and cut 7 songs two nights later and it worked just as well there.

I've only had the thing for four days so I can't say yet.

Can't say.

I've been playing for 15 or so years and only recently discovered tubes. I'm never going back to solid state again. Tube amps let your hear nuances you don't get otherwise, and this amp is a monster. I haven't played through every major amp there is but I doubt if you could even come close to beating this one for the money.

This amp kicks all kinds of ass! I play everything from Pink Floyd to CCR to Led Zeppelin and occasional blues. I have found this amp to have everything I need and then some. I didn't think I needed all of the power though, and felt a little intimidated before i plugged it in. But the volume controls were very smooth and even, not at all like my dad's old 100-watt marshall or the Fender Performer 1000. I really like the idea of switching the effects loop on the footswitch.

I play an late 80's or early 90's Stratocaster with a Seymour duncan Hot Rails mini humbucker in the rear position. This amp is much better sounding than I ever could have imagined! On the clean channel, I put the Low at about 2 o clock, the mid at 3 o clock, and the treble at eleven. And it delivers a warm clean sound to die for, perfect for blues or anything you desire. The distortion is beautiful and reminds me of a Marshall and compared to one, it drowns any Marshall in tone!!! Even with all that power it sounds great at low volumes. I'll hang onto this for life!! And by the way, go for the Celestions, they rock!!!

Perfect! I haven't had any Problems and don't expect to.

Haven't had to deal with them yet.

I would definetely buy it again! It is the nicest amp I have ever played!! I love the sound of the 6L6 tubes and wouldn't touch a thing! If you're thinking of buying a Marshall, save the Bucks and get the Crate, it kicks ass!!!

Across the front the knobs are Main: Presence, Reverb 1, Reverb 2 Channel 2: Volume, Low, Mid, High, Gain Channel 1: Volume, Low, Mid, High. There is a parallel effects loop that can be turned on and off either by the footswitch or the front panel. The effects loop also has a low or high output selection. There is a line out (never used it), two speaker jacks, and an impendence switch (8 or 16 ohm) on back as well as the effects loop. Mine is a 100 Watt model (all tubed 4 GT6L6B's and 4 GT12AX7's), and not the blue 120 Watt one, but the front says BV-120. 52 lbs.

I play an Alvarez Classic 2 (strat style) with a Dimarzio Super 3 Humbucker in the bridge. The distortion on this thing is to die for!!!! I've searched the world over and for $550 I've never seen a thing like it! Clean channel is playable, but as mentioned below, it's not the most stellar thing I've heard. But the clean does stay clean and doesn't break up. The distortion can go from a scratchy rhythm, loud chunky rythm, metal madness, soring lead, and even grunge. Unbelieveable!!! Only give it and 8 because of clean channel

I've only had it a week, but it was shipped to me in nebraska from georgia no problem. I'm not worried about it breaking or falling apart. It's made real durable. I'd gig without a back up, just maybe keep some tubes with me once they start to get a little older.

5 year transferable warranty that you don't have to register for! Never used their customer support, but I've got a local crate dealer who's real cool, and don't anticipate any problems.

I tried out other heads like some marshall valvestates (the 8100 and VS100RH) but both sucked! This thing is killer. I don't think I'll need another amp, just more cabinets :) Don't waste the money on a Marshall or Mesa if you don't have it, cos this thing sounds better than some models twice the price. Others have mentioned problems with mushy distortion and stuff, but mine is nice and tight, really fat! BUY IT!

Features covered above, very simple setup. I don't like the fact that you can only swith effects loop and channel with the footswitch, but I can live with it. There is more than enough power here. I don't play out yet, Im still looking for a band(!) but it has more than ample power I'm sure to get over a drummer and a hyperactive bass player. Overall, I am happy with the simplicity, clean, distort, go!

I have four guitars, a '94 Explorer with Duncans, a 7vwh Jem, a UV777PBK, and a BC Rich Ignitor. I play what I guess could be called metal (or meatl, as its so frequently misspelled in these reviews). I am currently using the standard cab until the Celestion Vintage 30 cab I have ordered comes in thanks to an extremely cool storeowner. So, I think the sound quality will be vastly improved with the straight cab and Celestions. Still, the thing sounds damn good. It is a little harsh, even when compared to my old GXT-100, but seems to round off some of those highs at higher volumes. I can get a lot of sounds out of it, simply because the tone controls are very powerful. The mids can be sucked out or fattened up at will here. Mine usually floats around two or three, but the amp just sounds huge. It fits my style perfectly, with a little twiddling I can go from Cannibal Corpse to Morbid Angel to Slayer or even a Vai or Petrucci type of tone. Very versitile. The low end is tight at low volumes but can get a little floppy up above three or four. Again, Celestions with their great low end rolloff should help with that. Is it noisy? Well, a little bit when I push the gain past eight. The distortion is not as much brutal as it is mushy at ten. It sounds cool at high volumes, three or more, but is pretty hissy. I don't care for the clean channel. It is too piercing for me as my old GXT-100 blows it away in this department. Still, I didn't buy this amp for its clean tone! Cleaning up the gain channel is fairly easy with the volume control on my guitar. But I do give the clean channel points for lots of headroom. Overall, very cool. I can't see much use for another amp for me. A 9 only because of the less than stellar clean channel.

Haven't had it long enough, only about two weeks. Still the dealer I bought it from is extremely loyal and cool to get along with.

Well, Crate is pretty slow. My dealer has placed three orders for me, one for a footswitch, one my old GXT and the Celestion cab. All took at least two weeks. Well, maybe this isn't really that slow, I don't know. Still, if the amp broke down on me which I hope it never does I shudder at the thought of being deprived of my amp for so long...

I have been playing for over five years now. I saw no need to even try Marshall or Boogie since the Crate was so affordable and I can get any sound I want out of it. Tube amps are going to be a little noisy (unless its a Bogner or Egnater for three grand) and I have no trouble with getting a noise gate or anything. I plug straight in except for my Bad Horsie wah and Whammy II pedal. I also use the Crate GFX100 in the loop, but that's it for now. Most of my money is tied up in guitars!!! If it were stolen or lost...I would probably get it again.

I love this amp. Years ago i had a marshall jcm 800 30 watt head, It was power with EL34s good sounding amp. But i have to say that my Crate BV120 amp is better on sound and the way it is buit in my book. This amp comes with 6L6s as you no. But i'm running GTE34Ls power tubes in it now and in the pre amp four GT12AX7s. This amp sounds so sweet with the EL34s tubes. I do not like 6L6s power tubes. I can make this amp sound like a Old marshall plexi if i want too. In my book the Crate BV120 amp Is the very best in can get. For any one who wants a new amp Ck. out the Crate BV120 head you will lt alot and later on go With s good EL34 power tube if you want too. O to say about power of this amp this kicks hard with 6Lss really well But with the GTE34Ls power tubes it kick even harder. Yhis is one Load amp. The more you crank it up the better it sounds. That is all i need to asy about this amp. Thanks Crate for the very best amp you can get. Mark

My guitar that i play with is a Ibanez. This guitar has very good feel and sound for rock blue you name It is a great guitar. It suit my music style very well, For has noisy not bad at all. I love clean channel alot being i have EL34 power tubes it is very clean. The more you crank it the better Sounds

I had to put this amp the shop i think three times, But is was not alot to it. The support very very good. Ha Crate has the best warranty out there a big five year warranty

I have been playing about too years now. At the time for a new amp i really wanted a Marshall amp, But i played a Crate BV120 and it was all over with.

This amp is the shit. I am the same guy that reviewed the Carvin MTS3200 a few days back, I sent that back and waS supposed to go on a big amp testing spree, when I heard that one of my local small music shops had just got one in. I had tried the BV60 head before, and I thought it sucked ass, but I just said "Fuck it, I'll go try this out and see." Man, Am I glad I did that. If your a metalhead who loves simplicity like me, this amp is for you. It has two channels, dual reverbs, 4 6l6's and 4 12ax7's and 120 watts. It has seperate EQ's for each channel so you don't have to worry about a midless clean (If your a metalhead ).

I use an Ibanez S540LTD with a DiMarzio "Super Distortion" in the bridge. Man, with that pickup and that amp, you'll get the tightest fattest fuckin' distortion that ever lived! The amp is not noisy at all at high volumes. Don't get me wrong, this amp is not just a metal amp, that sucker has the lushest, roundest clean tones and sweetest reverb, it didn't distort when I put it high (and my band plays loud, AAHHH!) I usually set my clean channel with bass around 2 o'clock, treble around 11 o'clock, and whatever mids it takes to warm it up. The distortion on this amp is just MAMMOTH!! Really tight!

Haven't had it long enough,bro.

Haven't had problems yet.

The sound is all that matters. The simplicity is an extra bonus!

Update of an earlier rating. Others have described it well.

Clean channel great, clean till about 7. Loud as hell, with 2 4-12 cabinets, it could fill Shea stadium. Butttttt, and heres the hitch. The lead or distortion channel is too muddy no matter how you adjust the controls. It's so muddy that it gets lost in the music, it's still loud, but unrecognizable. Even with the tube substitution to 12AT7 in preamp it still sucked. I rated this a 3 only for the clean channel.

Didn't have long enough.

Crate was really helpful in trying to solve my dilemna and their lead tech Jay put in alot of time trying to help. Hats off to crate. Also, the Music and Arts centers in the Baltimore/Washington area, were very helpful. They eventually returned the head for a full store credit after all tries failed. I don't know which company decided to let the head be returned, but it was a great gesture. Of course I ordered another Crate amp the same day a BV-6212 and it is fantastic. Anyway, it's nice to know that customer satisfaction is still a priority with these 2 companies.

No I would not buy it again, but I have bought from the 2 companies since.

This amp is great for classic rock. 2 completely separate channels, right down to the reverb. Effects loop w/ pad for rack mount effects as well as stomp boxes. This amp has all the features I need and more, (POWER), all the power any one needs, with 4 6L6 and 3 12AX7A fuses, who could ask for anything more? Not me, would'nt trade it for a marshall, I have friends with marshalls who would like to do just that!!!

Like I said, classic rock band, 3 peice, so I need all the punch I can get. The clean channel is sparkling clean at half volume (if you can stand the volume), the second channel can pick up were the first one lets off and get dirty, or really crunchy, whats your flavor? If you want metal, you got that too. Massive metal, no problem. I play a YAMAHA RGX612A through my BV, and what a team, they seem to accent each other perfecly.

Its a little early to tell, I have only had my BV for 6 months, so maybe I could better answer that question in a few more months. But as far as a back up, no way, I trust this amp, its AMERICAN MADE, can't get any better than that!!!

I have never had a problem, but if I did, it has a 5 year unlimited warranty, to bad it does'nt include the tubes, oh well, some things are to good to be true!!! The place that I bought my BV has a service center next door that services CRATE amps, and the service man, a good freind, has never had a BV amp in for anything other than fuses being replaced.

No, I would not buy another one, how would I explain that to my wife, it took to much sweet talking to get this one. The only thing that might be its downfall is that its big, but thats the price one has to pay for great sound. I compared it to marshall, close but no cigar; mesa boogie, close but not enough punch; fender, close but not enough crunch; peavey, oh well they were out to lunch. The only thing I wish it came with was a person to carry it. I purchased the full stack, but only play out with half, the other half is just for a keepsake, if you know what I mean. If you have plans of purchasing a BV, consider celestian speakers in your cabinets, its a little more expensive, but well worth it!!!