Crate FW120h

This has almost everything you could want. The cleans are awesome (very clear and bright), as is the overdrive (very warm and SRV-sounding; andding a clean channel to the mix gives you a great classic rock tone), and the high gain channel is evil (think somewhere between Slash and Dimebag). It only needs about a hair more volume to be perfect.

I got this amp new this year (2008). I use this for the metal band I play in, but you can coax ANY style of music out of this amp. From the first time I plugged into one to test it out, I tweaked and screwed with every knob I could to test out it's playability, and it more than pasted. I manily use my two modded Hamer's (a Vector with Alnico in the bridge and a Sunburst with a Duncan Pearly Gates in bridge, and a Dimarzio Air Norton in the neck) thru this beast and it really sings no matter what I'm playing.

The only flaw is the Noise. It is very noisy when you're not playing, but it was nothing a Noise Gate couldn't take care of.

Has given me any problems yet...

haven't delt with Crate directly yet....

Overall, this is a great amp at an awesome price (especially for a soild-state). It's warm, loud, versatile, and reasonable. Great for practice, gigs, and recording (so far I've only done click tracks, but they all sound good) and for beginner and pro alike.

Amp is a late 2007 build. Its is a 3 channel head w/DSP and built in tuner on front.(clean,overdrive,and high gain). I bought it new from MF, It comes with a 3 button footswitch. Two buttons for channel switching and one button for turning the DSP effects on and off. Solid state 3-channel with DSP. Has an effects loop that requires a crate Y cable to use. Also has an 1/8 input jack on front for a cd in. At 120 watts This head is loud! I bought this head to use with my Crate GT412 cab. Loaded with Celestion seventyfive-80s. My other amp is at the techs (Crate VC-6212) getting a new power transformer. As soon as I get my tube combo amp back this head is goin by the wayside until needed again as a back-up. IMO the DSP FX are worthless. I'm sure you could get some decent sounds from them, I just didn't bother with them much, I just used the stomp boxes in front of it instead.

I primarily use my Jackson DXMGT with EMG Hzs. It seems to be a good metal head. Clean channel sounds very clean and sparkly. Overdrive Is very warm and with plenty of crunch. High gain Is just crazy. Perfect for leads and rolling up with the gain produces a very nice chugga. The 1/8 cd in seemed a bit noisy but very handy for jamming along with an mp3. The Overdrive and High gain channels when left on and not playing are VERY noisy. Probably the loudest fuzz and feedback I have ever heard. Its a pretty simple fix though. Just switch it to the clean channel and it is super quiet.

Havent had it very long so I don't know about reliabilty. It has a 5 year transferable warranty so reliabilty is not a concern ATM. I'm sure gigging without a backup should be no problem. I bought this as a backup/ practice amp so I'm sure it won't get used much as soon as I get my 60 watt Crate tube combo back.

Crate customer support.. I would say excellent. My other amp Crate Vintage club 6212 Just blew a power transformer 3 weeks ago. I took it to an excellent tech in Orland Park, IL. I bought that amp new in late 2006 and it was manufactured in 2000. Crate's warranty is 5 years from date of original purchase. And they honor that! So keep your bill of sale.

I don't see how you would lose it? Honestly how drunk would you have to be to lose an amp? If it were stolen They apparently needed it worse than I did. Turn it into the insurance and get something new. I bought this as a backup because it was cheap. It sounds pretty good so that is a bonus. It does not have a headphone jack But honestly who needs a headphone jack on a 120 watt head? Buy a pocket pod or something similar for that matter.