Crate CA60D

I use the amp mainly to amplify my violin, sometimes for my acoustic guitar and for vocals.
It's versatile and practicle enough for any rehearsel or performance where you don't want to take tons of gear with you.

I use the LR baggs violin pick up (sounds great actually).
The amp makes it unnecessary to bing along my lrbaggs para di preamp. The sound remains to be rich and full.

I wouldn't use it for studio recording sessions though.
The amount of hiss is acceptable in a live environment but not on a record. But of course there'd be far less hiss when I used the preamp.

there's nothing wrong with it

It's perfect for rehearsels and jam-sessions.
Great sound and no fuss.
All effects you are really going to need are at hand.
Beautiful violin and guitar-sound and really great vocal sound.

However, I don't use the Crate when I take the trouble to bring along my preamp and my pa-system.
Also wouldn't use it in a studio-environment (see above).

Bought in 2004. I needed an amp that had line out, plus 2 input channels, plus phantom power, with separate EQ and FX on each channel. I play both banjo (w/ piezo pickup) and dobro (with clip-on mic that needs phantom power) in our band, and was also tired of having to set up a pair of floor pre-amps every time. Tube amps were out of the question because I live off grid, with only solar and wind power. 120ac is run on off-grid inverter power....too much power consumption and buzz. My amp rarely gets cranked loud -- it's more a 'personal monitor' and double pre-amp/phantom power unit for our acoustic band. It's also lightweight, and small. For me, it eliminates miles of "spaghetti" on stage.

NEEDED FEATURE -- the power cord does NOT stay in place in the cavity in the back of the amp. While carrying it, the cord falls out and gets stepped on while I drag it behind me like a tail. Grrr....drove me nuts. I finally put a velcro loop around the cord, and stuck a piece of self-adhesive velcro to the back on the amp to hold the cord while carrying.

Frankly, when I went shopping I had already eliminated Crate from consideration. I have an older, cheaper, Crate amp that I HATE.....buzz, hum, and bad, very colored sound with lots of mid. When shopping I tried out Marshall, Genz-Benz, SWR, Behringer acoustic amps in the same catagory (2 chanell, separate EQ, phantom, etc.), and didn't even try the Crate. The store owner suggested --- 'just give it a try, it's at a completely different quality level than your old Crate.' 30 minutes later, I was still jammin' Jimi Hendrix on the banjo at the store on the Crate, and was convinced. They didn't have the new Peavey 2-ch acoustic amp in stock at the time so I couldn't try it. I liked the sound of the SWR strawberry blonde better, but it has only one channel so I couldn't consider it.

Fine so far (almost a year). 2 major beer spills on it so far and still OK. 1 cigarette burn. One minor rainstorm. Lots of dust since I live on a dirt road....another reason I don't want a tube amp.

never contacted.

This thing is a far cry from my cheap old Crate, but with a higher price to match. Still a solid bargain -- I'm glad the store owner suggested trying it. High quality throughout, nice woodwork, and having external FX loop and 1/4" plus XLR out plus output level control to the board is awesome. I wish the 2nd chanell had 3-band EQ like channel 1 (it only has 2 bands), and wish ch. 2 had the notch feedback filter too. I still prefer the SWR's sound, but a 2-ch SWR (california blonde I believe?) was almost a grand....I'm a poor boy.

Eventually I'll sell this Crate and go with a 2-ch rack mount system for preamps, FX, and main. But for now, this thing is exactly what I needed at a good price. I'll never disparage Crate's quality again.....it's also a very attractive looking thing, solidly built, plus small and light.

Bought mine in 1999 and use it with an Ovation Standard Balladeer.
I find I have problems with feedback. When I *do* get the level to a point that it doesn't feed back it sounds fine. Like an amp should digital or tube. Of course, I have a tin ear (due to lack of experience) so I'm probaly not the most reliable source to base the purchase of an amp.

I usually use a clean setting for acoustic blues. No high gain distortion (I have my Strat for that kind of stuff).
Even though I've experimented with some of the built-in sound fx I really don't use them much. The only reason I give this category a 9 is because I could see how the fx might be useful to others.

Good. I don't get to play through it as often as I'd like, so it hasn't shown any real wear.

Don't know. Haven't had to deal with them.

For what I use it for (home use only) I'd say it seems to be a nice amp.

Bought the CA60D new in 2002. Our band plays Rock, Country, R&B, Funk and Punk. Basically, we sound like your favorite band. The amp has two channels. I use the second input for vocals, and Alto Sax use. Sounds excellent! It was also important that the Amp I purchased had a 'line-out' as I plug into a board. Currently using the amp in our basement studio, but will be bringing it out on the road to play small bars (mic'ed) and coffee shops. It has a chorus, reverb and shape options, also A Digital Processor that adds effects like small, large hall, and various delay effects. The CA60D also allows you to turn off the tweeter for a less polished sound (for our rock songs). A button allows you to choose between 'piezo' or 'active' pickup.

I haven't experienced any noise! The ground button on the back eliminated a slight buzz. I've noticed that my acoustic guitar (63 Gibson J-45) comes through really heavy on the bass (the old J-45's are known for their bottom end), when turned up past 5. Plus Im running a LR Baggs I-Beam pickup in the guitar, which is super sensitive. I've had to run an LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI to notch out some of the lower end. The Amp does have a notch option built in, but it doesn't eliminate as much as the LR Baggs (great product).
The DSP options are very cool, but I find that I have to hit the strings pretty hard to activate the digital effects.
That said. In the studio, you can shut your eyes and listen to the sound created by the Crate and have NO IDEA where it's coming from. It really fills the room. It's amazing actually.

So far so good. It is heavy (38 lbs)

Haven't needed them.

When I shopped around for an amp, I sat in a room with a Fender Acoustisonic Jr, a Trace Acoustic 50, and the Crate. The TA was way over priced, and my guitar/pickup combo just didn't have the fur I was looking for. The Fender is a cool amp, but it tended to feedback at the lower end quite a bit, especially at mid volume. The Crate was MY amp the moment I plugged in and hit my first chord! I firmly believe that an amp will sound completely different for every guitar/pickup combo. Since my J-45 is so base heavy, and the LR Baggs I-Beam active pickup is so sensitive, it took the right amp to complete the family. My Brother In Law plays a Dobro with a different pickup. The Crate doesn't sound as nice with his set up. BEFORE YOU BUY,TEST DRIVE WITH YOUR GUITAR!