Crate G130CXL Head

This is a 2 channel solid state amp from around 1991 i think. It has reverb, chorus and an eq, level and gain for each channel. It is quite loud on both clean and gain channels. I have used it a bit playing metal against loud drums and it keeps up. It has a tendency to feed back with high gain pickups when cranked up but there is a -6 db input that solves this without hurting your sound too bad. Has stereo outs but just mono in. The new low end crate stuff does not compare to this amp in any way. pretty standard no frills loud amp.

Clean channel is great. Very loud and clear. I run a v-amp2 through it and it sounds good. I did this for the first few weeks I had the amp without really trying the gain channel. Now I use the amp's gain all the time. Sounds great from practice to stage volume. Killer for metal tones, especially speed metal. I play mostly speed/black metal. I use a wide range of guitars with seymour duncan, carvin and emg pickups. When used with a quiet pickup(single coil carvin), the amp is really quiet. Both the chorus and reverb sound great. I prefer them to the v-amp effects.
This one will not please a tube amp person but is first rate at what it does. If you are trying to be dime, you'll need a pedal in front of it but the head has plenty of gain for most metal stuff. For the price I don't see how you could get a much better metal amp

The amps case is heavy duty...the rest of it is not really. The previous owner had apparently had problems because I could tell someone had opened the thing up. A couple of days after having it shipped to me it died. My friend fixed the soldering on the plugin for the cable that connects the preamp to the amp board and I am back in business. I wouldn't drop this one down the stairs and expect it to still work though.

I wouldn't even think calling crate. the amp is 15 years old.

I have been playing metal for about 20 years. I picked this amp as a loud clean channel to run a simulator through however the gain rocks. I'm really glad I didn't just grab a powerblock instead. I'd definitely buy this again. in fact I might grab another exactly like it if I find one.

this amp made in 91, but i brought used from a pawn shop in 05. solid state, 2 channels, separate eqs, fx loop, chorus, reverb, stereo speaker outs, wish it had a headphone jack for silent practicing! very easy 2 use, very flexible!

i have a few les pauls and a strat(don't really use strat unless need for certain sounds, luv les pauls). This amp sounds awesome!!! Definitely a rock/metal amp. the clean is good....very good. The distorted channel is awesome. no distortion pedal is need (although I use a bluesdriver to push it harder). Alone this amp can rock with the best of them. So what if it's solid state, it'll still rock with the best of them. Best of all is the chorus; better than any chorus pedal i've ever heard. it's gives an already great amp a fatter, dimensional, more lush tone...just freakin' sweet!! I don't use the reverb at all (not a reverb person). with everthing said, We have a winner!

This is where it falls apart..... it hasn't been real reliable since i got it. when i first got it, it played for one day, next day it went out on me. sent it off to crate to fix...it took them 7months before i got it back. i don't gig every weekend but when i go gig i'd use it 80% of the time. After 8months, it going out on me again. It's a great amp but i don't want to have 2 send it off to get it fixed every few months. It may just be mine but if it takes so long to fix an amp because your backed up from repairs, then what does that say about the reliability of your products?

Whenever i called about the amp i was alwayz told that no one has touched it, that they were backed up and they never gave me an idea when my amp would be worked on nevertheless when would it be ready and they charged me $97 scrillaz and months later it does the same thing! I'm giving them 1 more chance to fix it before i drop them from future purchases!

been playin' for 15 years and have various amps. if it was lost or stolen i'd be pretty p'ed because i'd never find another one. i love the chorus of this amp, and it's distortion i can rock out with no worries. it's my stand alone amp, which i use it for backup, ( just brought 2 marshall 100mgdfx full stacks). Don't get me wrong the amp is great and i'd pull it out in a heart beat but i love my marshall and they give me my sound. i use the crate for smaller gigs (where space is limited) and at my church. it's hands down one of the best solid state amps made....period. Although the problems with the amp's reliablity, overall this amp is a great buy and would recommend it to any guitarist!

the amps is really versitile for me good for death metal stuff,not the best amps i own but a great example of good SS technology.played it at rehersals sounds goo
130 watts SS
200 watt celestion loaded cab i think its the upgraded version of this amp packege all for $295 wat a steal!!!

use many ibanez emg 81 and 85 loaded guitars and normal pick ups as well.clean channel distorts a little but its no big deal.the distoriton is awsome i dont use all of it or need to crank the amp all the way sounds killer the way it is.

no problem with this at all works great

no probs here either

its good for death metal and ppl who cant waste lots of $$$$ on a tube ampas for me its my sewcond back up rig aside from my laney 300watt cab/ada mp1,bbe 482,alessis microveb,and marshall power amp.

My G130CXLH was manufactured in 1991. I purchased it brand new, and it has been very reliable. I play in a brutal death/ thrash metal band, Lord Blasphemer/ Chicago. I like the "true stereo" aspect of this amp, wether you use the chorus or not. Being the only guitar player in the band, most sound guys are set up to mic two guitar amps. I like to have them put one mic on the right speaker set, and another mic on the left speaker set, and run them through the pa in a true stereo setup.

I play a 1986 Jackson Kelly (San Dimas s# J1982) I also have a 2004 Jackson (Fender) Dinky. In addition to the Jacksons, I have a 1990 BC Rich Virgin Platinum series. All guitars run stock pickups, the 04 dinky has EMGs. There is plenty of gain, sustain and metal punch. Notes can be distinguished individually even at breakneck speeds. As long as you pick it cleanly, it doesn't matter how fast you go, the notes jump from this cabinet. Very audible. I do have the upgraded celestion package, and from what I understand, this is an improvement over stock. I personally have not heard the stockers, so realisticly, I cannot comment. Concerning the clean channel, I have noticed you can just keep turning this thing up. The sound is bright, and it just grows. (Minimal distortion.) I love the idea of not using any pedals. Plenty of distortion with a real natural sound. I've tried pedals, and I like the onboard clipping better.

It is the only amp I take with me to shows, and I have never (fortunately) had a problem at a gig. I have cleaned up some cold solder joints. Also, I recently replaced two high wattage resistors on the rear board. They were litterally vibrated to pieces!!! (A testament as to how loud this unit is.) After 14 years of use, though, that is negligable amount of maintenance.

They did offer 5 year electronics and 3 year speaker warranty, however, I did not have any issues with the amp until long after these lapsed. I am a technician, so I fixed it myself. (Cold solder joints, damaged resistors.) The place I purchased it from did offer a repair shop for post warrany repairs. I think, 65 dollars an hour.

I've been playing for 19 years and this is my only amp, period. I imagine after 14 years, I would move on in the event that something happened. There are many products out there, and I've always wondered about owning a Marshall. Then there is a whole other group of cool amps. Remeber Peavy VTM? 5150? And what about VHT??? I've heard really good things. This is one of "those" amps. Crate obviously hit a homerun, I can't understand why they didn't make this product longer than they did. I suppose there are different sounds for different folks. Maybe people aren't looking for BIG gain, BIG sustain, and BIG bright clear sound? But then again, maybe they are. If you do get a chance to try one, do so. Tone is very personal, when it comes down to it...

I bought it in 1992 or 93. Two channels, chorus, reverb, separate EQ's. Best running at 4 Ohms stereo. Footswitch for channels or chorus.

I have had a number of guitars with this amp, now I mainly use a custom 7 string with Rio Grande humbuckers. The clean sound is very average. Not bad, but not as good as say a Tech 21 Trademark 10 practice amp. It doesn't do gritty in between rock sounds very well. The chorus was very good when it worked, lush and deep. Way better than a Boss pedal or my Whammy chorus effect IMO. Accutronics reverb is average, I don't use it.

The head has great solid state distortion however, if that's your thing. I believe this is the same head on Cannibal Corpse's album "The Bleeding," and that is pretty much exactly what my head sounds like. Very satisfying SS distortion. Is it a VHT? No. When I use it, I run it through a Recto 4 12 cab- it sounds very good for my purposes.

The jack went out on me- that is the problem when people say it loses volume, in and out, etc. Also had a problem with the soldering to the ground. $40 to fix both, no big deal. Otherwise no problems. The chorus is out but oh well it has seen many many hours of playing time. The 4 12 cab I bought with the amp blew out and was worthless IMO.

They honored the warranty when the cab blew out. It is long gone now, however. I recently called Crate to ask a impedence question about the power amp and they were fast, courteous and helpful. No complaints here.

Excellent value. I have been very pleased with it. Other Crates don't have the same distortion, I don't know why, but this seems to be a special model head for them. I had a friend play a number of different Crates over the years and he says none match mine (G130CXL), but maybe they are better now. You don't need a distortion pedal, which is nice. An outboard graphic or para EQ is always helpful on SS amps, try it and you will be glad you did. If I could find another one like it I would buy it, I bet it would be incredibly cheap too. I really can't say anything bad about it; it has been a good friend to me.