Crate Palomino V32 112 Combo

This is a huge step for Crate which made an attempt with previous all-tube amps with much disappointment. Higher quality switches than previous models and better finish throughout. I played mic'd, but in the back is a full array of inputs and outputs for those that don't. It has more than enough power for my use. One evening I realized our sound guy did not mic my amp up. No one seemed to notice. I have yet to use the overdrive section simply because I use stomp box pedals. I tend to like amp designs that are subtle. I think gold and cream color makes the amp look cheap and gaudy moreso than vintage, but in the end it's the inside that counts.

This thing is awesome! I use a Custom 32 PRS, Fender Nashville Tele, Japanese Custom Shop Satriani Ibanez. I've previously played on a Roland 100 W steady state and a Marshall 50 W tube. This thing punches out a fuller, cleaner, and more gorgeous sound than any of the other two. I can finally hear the textures of my PRS come out in stunning detail. I use a stomp box distortion (Full-Tone) and it comes out nice and clean.

I have always been reluctant to buy Crate because of reliability, but I have seen the same amp used by our church youth band for a year without a single hitch.

Never used it.

For the price, there's nothing like it. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's probably right there in between a Fender (because of the performance and so far reliability) and a Mesa Boogie (because of the value).

The V32 has 2 channels but unfortunately does not have seperate EQ's for both. It is 30 watts of class A tube power which is more than enough!! It comes with a celestion speaker in it from the factory and 4 el-84 power tubes which really sound great. The 84's give it a great warm tone and break up very nicely but still retain clarity. I use this amp for all applications...at home, gigs, band practice, recording....

I used both a Fender double fat strat and an Ibanez SZ w/ duncan distortion pick ups through this amp. I used the fender when i'm playing blues and jazz through the clean channel or with slight overdrive w/ the volume turned down just a little bit. I use the SZ w/ a boss metal zone pedal on through the clean channel. This amp sounds amazing for either application. Ive always been a fender guy but this amp blew me away. I never thought I'd own a Crate but this amp is great, it really surprised me.

Haven't had any problems with THIS one. The first one I got was very noisy. It crackled really badly when I was not playing so I brought it back and it was replaced. The new one is much quieter and seems to sound a little better. I'm guessing is probably had a faulty pre-amp tube but I returned it anyway just in case it was something more serious.

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I've been playing for about 7 years. If it were lost or stolen I would definitely replace it. I love the tone of the amp on both the clean and overdrive channels. I do wish the amp had a seperate EQ for both channels but no biggy. My only other complaint is that it doesnt have a precense button on the footswitch but hey atleast it comes with a footswitch.

Purchased new. Yes I bought a CRATE, I cant believe it either.
Blond tolex, gold trim,reverb, boost, class A...BLA BLA BLA....try one.

Use it with my telecaster and my Warmoth...simply amazing. Through an SM57 into my recording interface....amazing tones. Think Peavey classic 30 with way more balls. A very versatile piece of equipment...a lot easier to move than my 4x12. EL84's are stellar. Forget the fender hot rod...this hooptie Crate will eat your fender. .

Good so far although the plastic cheap ass nut on the jack for the foot switch lasted about ten minutes...replaced it with a metal one...all good.

No DeAlInGs WiTh CrAtE

A great rig...Highly recommended. Still can't believe its a CRATE.
Man el84's run hot, you could cook bacon on this thing when its warmed up. Anyway..I really love this amp. The dinks at the boutique store wont admit it but this amp is as good as anything out there. The build quality or something may be better on a 2500.00 amp but the tone ain't. Im not saying this thing isn't built like a tank cuz it is. Lost or stolen...Not on my watch...Semper-Fi

Class A amp, which means tubes run at full throttle all the time.

Do you know what year the amp was made in? 2005

Is the amp versatile enough for you and the styles of music you play?

I'm a rock blues guy, perfect amp for that

How many channels? CLEAN, OVERDRVE, BOOST on both !! with a BOOST FOOT SWITCH !! o yeah baby

Does it have channel switching? YES

Effects loops? YES Headphone jack? NO

What features do you wish it had? SEPERATE EQs for each channel

Are there features you never use? NOPE

Where do you use this amp? Skanky Bars across USA

Does it have enough power for you? YES, 30 watts

What guitar and pickup styles are you using it with? P-90s, humbuckers and singles

How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)? Great for ROCK BLUES/CLASSIC ROCK

Is it noisy? NO

On what settings, and in what environments?

I've got a tone dialed in that just BLOWS me away. I've never had a amp that sounded this good. I've had a lot of amps, always looking. I like the fender deluxe hot rod, but the overdrive is nothing great. With this amp, the overdrive is amazing. I have no desire to use other OD pedals with this amp, none can come close to this OD tube tone. Plus, I can use the BOOST for extra UMMMPHH

What kind of sounds can the amp make? To me, its got its own sound. I've had the marshalls (DSL) and the Fenders (many many)this amp has that OD growling tone that tubes get at max power, but at lower volume. I'd probably say its a British OD tone. I've never been a fan of CRATE. But, they sure have a great product here.

Is the clean channel distorted at high volumes? The clean channel does break up some at higher volume, which i like. I also like the presence switch on this amp. Its the first amp where the presence actually works.
I like to use the OD channel, about OD=11pm
with some delay amd reverb. i really don't care for the reverb on this amp, i like fender reverb. I think this reverb has too much feedback (delay type feedback). so, i use a seperate reverb and delay pedal.

I love this amp....I highly recommend you try one.

it deserves a 10

I tried the CRATE V30, it didn't thrill me like this one (different speaker).
How brutal is the distortion? The OD is the best i've ever herd on a amp.

don't know

i've sent emails asking about BIASING this amp. they responded quickly saying that because the amp is a CLASS A, it doesn't need to be biased when changing power tubes. WOW !! an added BONUS

How long have you been playing? 15 years

What other gear do you own? MANY MANY, always looking for a great tone. I've come to conclusion that i like 1x12 tube amps. the 212 and 410 are just not tight enough for my taste. Its difficult to get BITE from the bigger amps.

If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else? I'd buy one again. Actually, I want an extra incase they stop making this one.

what do you love about it? THE OVERDRIVE TUBE TONE

What do you hate? NOTHING, Except the reverb is not my favorite.

Did you compare it to other products? O yeah...

Why did you choose this one? I like 1x12 amps, I like tube amps, I like great sounding tube amps that can be driven at lower volume.
Anything you wish it had? Seperate EQ's
Anything else you'd like to share? hmmmmmmm
yeah, BUY ONE or TRY ONE !!

2005 Model. 2 channels? not really, it is a switchable gain stage bypass. The FX loop is a great feature on a Vintage style amp. Now the feature that makes this amp besides the great tone is the switchable mid boost. The 10db boost works great for a lead boost.

The lack of two separate EQ sections or two true channels is the only limitation.

I like this amp with Humbuckers. I like the drive channel with the gain set at 6 which is what I call the sweet spot. It has great over all tone and rivals some amps that are 3 times the money. The clean channel is really touch sensitive and great for blues because it does break up just a bit. I don't need a lot of headroom on an amp like this because I have other amps with clean channels that don't break up at all.

The speaker lasted all of about 3 minutes before I yanked it and put an Emimence Tonker I had laying around in it. Great improvement over the stock speaker.

I don't know yet.

? Never had to deal with them yet. I probably never will because I will fix any problems myself.

I've been playing guitar for 32 years and own lots of guitars and amps. If it were stolen my insurance policy would replace it.

I love the tone and the switchable boost! Hate the lack of two separate EQs! Over all it's a great sounding amp for what I paid you can't beat it.

Most of the folks on here have already talked about the features- so check out the other reviews. OTHER REVIEWS CLAIM THAT THESE ARE EL34 POWER TUBES. I JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM CRATE THAT THEY ARE EL84 POWER TUBES INSTEAD. Perhaps the confusion comes in the fact that this amp sound sextremely "glassy". It feels like it has that Matchless sparkle to it. I know some people will wanna tar and feather me for comparing a Crate to a Matchless, but it is what it is. It feels like a Class A glassy amp- a description synonymous with Matchless.

I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to gear- I'm always searching for the next big thing to make me happy with the way I sound. Unfortunately, I keep looking for different guitars and amps but the answer is at the ends of my hands. But having said that, this amp has a nice glassy sound to it. It compresses nicely and it has the class A sparkle that I'm into this month. lol.

Here's where I'm a little concerned. The amp feels sturdy and the knobs feel secure and strong, but some of the switches on the chassis are little plastic push buttons that look like they're DESTINED to break or malfunction. They don't stick up, so it's not a matter of breaking them off, it's just that they're flimsy and weak and I had to ask myself if the CORE of the amp's sound is going to be good enough when those switches break and don't offer their designed purpose of versatility anymore. Additionally, when I test drove it in a quiet room in the store, the amp had a hella rattle at higher volumes. It sounded like I'd hung sleigh bells across the face of the amp. I might end up converting it to a head to use with a 2x12 cab anyway (Avatar makes a nice 8ohm cab with a Vintage 30 and a G12H30 that has gotten glorious reviews) so the rattle may not be an issue for long. But in the meantime, I'll go in with a scrwdriver and tighten down whatever I can find. Maybe I'll stick a sock in there or something. :)

Immediate response to my email about the tubes in the power section. And it's late at night. That's impressive.

Like I said, I'm a gear nut and I use gear more to accessorize my nuerotic lack of confidence than as a tool to make art. So I've been through a bunch of high end gear over the last several years and have spent more money than my wife appreciates. But after the TopHats and the ToneKings and the Vettas and the Boogies, it just comes down to what a guy can be happy with. I'm extremely happy that I've found a likeable tone (for this month) in an amp that cost me $1600 less than the last amp I used to find peace in my playing. It's a sickness that guys have (GAS) but this amp is great for it. Quality tone at bargain prices. If I could be sure that this amp would hold up under hard use, it'd get 10's across the board. At least check it out. If it were lost or stolen, I'd think God wanted me to spend money elsewhere. And besides, by the time it got lost or stolen, I can only assume that I'd be ready to move on anyway.

I bought this amp about 1 Month ago. I play Classic Rock, Blues, Jazz, and just about anything that suits my ear. I have been playing for 35 years. I have had just about every amp you could imagine. While in the music store, the salesman asked me to try out this new line of Crate amps. The minute I played my first note, I was hooked. A 30 watt Class A tube amp that has the balls to fill any venue. This amp has class. It has a clean channel that sounds better than any Fender I've owned and an overdrive channel to die for.

I play this amp with a Gibson 335, Les Paul DC with P90's and a 57 Strat. Every guitar has it's own sound with this amp. This is your basic nuts and bolts amp. It sounds go great, you want to play it straight without pedals (well, maybe a tube screamer on the Clean Channel). In all of my years of playing, I have never loved an amp as much as this. If I found the need for more power, I would buy a second one.

Can't comment on that. My amp did not come with a manual and ST. Louis Music got one out to me immediately. It was encouraging.

So far, So Good.

As I said earlier, I love this amp. It sounds incredible. For those of you who are looking for a true sound, this is the amp for you. Just raw, unadulterated Class A Tube sound. No better sound in the world. If This amp was ever stolen, I would not think twice about getting another.

My good friend had a marshall DSL 40, which he loved. When he heard my V32, he went and traded the Marshall the very next day for the V32.

I just bought a brand new Crate Palomino V32. This amp has all the features I need. Is this actually a two channel amp? it uses the same Treb, mid and Bass controls for both the clean and overdrive which by the way both sound awesome, but anyway.
I am more used to the presence as a dial not a on/off button but seems to be effective non the less, for my tastes it does not make it too glassy. I got the amp home and found that the boost button not working... I have to take it back to Guitar Center and trade it in for a new one...

Dare I say the clean sounds as good if not better than a Fender's... I was thinking about getting the Fender Hot Rod Deville... tested it out and love the clean so much I was going to just get a pedal. My main concern when looking at amps is to get a great clean channel.
While in my limited play time on the V32 so far I think the reverb is better on the Fenders, eg. Hot Rod Deville twin amp and the 65 reissue reverb, however I like the clean sound better on the Palomino. I find it different, unique.
I like that with the settings I usem when I switch from clean to overdrive I dont have to re-adjust the eq's since they share knobs for that.
The Over drive on this thing is what sold me...I would deal with a pedal but if I dont have to, why should I. IMO I think this amp's overdrive sounds kinda like a marshall, I have not heard a lot of marshal amps to be fair, but the ones I have heard I think this compares... I bet, like the JCM800, 900 and like 2000 sounds much better, but for what I need this amp for it suites me fine. Sorry to be all over the place, just typing as I think of things lol..
I play a fender american strat deluxe plus and previously was playing through an american Fender Princeton Chorus 2x10. The sustain on this amp is so much better through the V32. I dont know how I lived without a warm overdrive like I am hearing now. hehe I sound like Hendrix now, not just like a person trying to play Hendrix.

I can not answer regarding reliability as I just got it... It does run a bit hot, prob because it being a Class A idling high, shrug..
But regarding the boost not working which is a downer, I got the floor model and prob was beat on a bit, I am talk to the guy regarding getting a new one when exchanged.
It seems like it is built well otherwise, strong handle and in general feels well made not cheap. It is light also weighing in at 44lbs.

I have not dealt with them yet but will prob call them to check the bias levels.

I have been playing guitar for 13 yrs. I like playing Hendrix, rock and roll and blues. I find this amp fitting me extremely well as I think both the clean and overdrive sound great. I rate this clean up there with Fender's. Over drive I dont think I can make a good comparision for readers, but I like what I hear and it sounds good to me.
Pros: Awesome tone sounds, better than anything I have heard (not saying too much), lightweight 44lbs. Class A which if you believe the hype is the move. I personally like the tubes all warm ready for me to hit my power chord lol. Looks really nice with beige look gold trim and wicker looking front. Can be connected to a speaker cab.
Cons: Presence button not dial, although does seem to make too much of a impact so far. Should have presence button on the foot pedal so you can change on the fly. runs really hot, dial get warm when you play for a bit, dont know a lot about tube amps as this is my first, but think that the heat might damage the tubes. knobs are nicely labeled, but the level indicator is not all that clear. Has a line out but not a mic out looking thing for recording or to go to sound guy.
All in all the sounds is tremendous, which is the only thing that matters to me, I am happy to find a clean and overdrive in an amp that I really enjoy using.
Please email mail me with comments regarding my post and anything you wish to add.

This amp was made in 2005. It is a Guitar Center special issue. Mine has the "blonde" tolex with gold accent pieces. The controls are on top. It is pure class A tube power, rated at 32, very loud watts. It has two channels, clean and overdrive. It comes with a two button footswitch, to switch between clean and overdrive, and a really cool boost feature, which adds a good amount of eq when engaged. It has an awesome effects loop. It has a spring reverb, which is the best I have heard. I use this amp for practice and jamming, more than enough power to keep up with anyone, and would be perfect in a small to medium club venue.

I am a Gibson player. I have tried them all, but always come back to the Lester. This amp is well suited for humbuckers. I play classic rock, and throw in some newer stuff occasionally. This amp and a Les Paul are unbelievable. The amp is extremely quiet, and has a broad range of tonal capabilities. The overdrive is just as good as a Marshall DSL 100. I have one and find myself playing the Palomino more. The clean channel will break up evenly at mid-settings, and displays harmonics that are unbelievable. The overdrive is brutal. It is not Bogner or Mesa Boogie brutal, but if you want that, slap an SD-1 in front of the overdrive channel.

I have had this for 2 weeks, and have never written a review before. It certainly seems reliable, and my local amp guru checked it out and stated that the craftsmanship was excellent and neat. It comes with Groove Tubes. Personally, I always have a spare, but that is just my opinion. It seems extremely durable and is easy to carry. About 44 lbs.

Dealt with them to verify the bias, and they actually seemed glad that I called and showed interest. Warranty is standard 1-yr.

I have been playing now for about 10 years. I am in my mid-40's and this amp does everything I want. I honestly had many makes of amps from Line 6 to MesaBoogie Dual Rec. The boogie was unbelievable, but had to run it too loud to get that earth-shaking tone. It was a great amp, just not a good fit for my needs. I will never part with my DSL, but the Palomino is good looking, sounds great, and is built well. Please, I know that Crate has had a certain rep, but they have hit way above the mark on this one, and you will owe it to yourself to get one or at least try it out. I would buy again in a heartbeat.

8
This is basically the V30 with a face-lift and better speaker. In my opinion, after comparing the V32 side-by-side to the V30, the V32 has a bit more gain without blemishing the tone. Also has a new name: The V32 Palomino. Only thing I would change is altering the footswitch to include a "presence" button to access the "presence button" on/off while playing live. The presence acts exactly like the "loudness" buttons or switches that you'd find on home stereo equipment of old. It not only adds clarity but low-end punch as well. I'm very pleased that they didn't include digital effects that can be found on the older models such as the black tolexed 50watt amps. All Class-A circuitry is outstanding on this model. The amp actually looks like one the of the best "boutique" looking amps I've seen to date. Only problem I foresee is that it runs a little hot. Not a problem for those of us that just have it sitting level. But tilt it back at an angle with an angled amp-stand and the heat has a problem finding the small air-hole located next to the handle at the top. More ventilation would have been nice. Runs on 4xEL34's and 4x12X7's. Love the gold jewel light too. Goes well with the gold "boutique" look.

10
An actual 10... I haven't given a modern amp a 10 ever, in my book. Some of you may think this is crazy to say, but only crazy in theory, not in living proof. This is probably the best all-around tube amp that I've played through. I've owned well over 10 amps this year. Everything from Marshall DSL50's and DSL100's, Soldano HR-50, V-Series 2x12 50watt, Marshall TSL100's(which I can't stand), Vintage Fender Deluxe Reverbs, Vintage Supers, Peavey Classic 50 4x10 combo, JCM800 & JCM900 heads. I've never been a Crate fan. The name just doesn't ain't got the vibe for me that Marshal and Fender have. Or, until now, near the tonal qualities I have to have both live and in the studio. I gotta tell ya though, this new V32 Palomino when I run it through a Marshall Greenback cab & Marshall Vintage30 cabs is the best amp I've ever owned for my live rig. All of the amps I mentioned above are in most cases "one-trick ponies" for live gigs. Either one's incredible for rhythym, or just incredible for lead tones. I was having a hard time getting incredible tone for both. This V32 has it for both. Now I finally have an amp that I don't have to carry a seperate Fender amp for punching to clean. I mostly only play Les Paul's and Strats, sometimes a tele. I don't even have to adjust the EQ when foot-punching either channel live. All I do is back my volume off a bit on my guitar and I'm in business. I know, I know....this sounds unrealistic for a modern amp, especially Crate. I'm a vintage lover with vintage needs deep at the core of the tone, throat, and delivery regardless of the level of distortion or lack-thereof. This amp covers it. After owning it for a month, the tubes are breaking in nicely especially at the volumes that I play at(I'll be putting JJ's or NOS tubes in very soon). You talk about loud? It honestly reminds me of some of the best Marshall and Soldano gain tones I've ever played. I always favored lower watt amps due to being able to open them up with increased tube saturation. Sounds every bit as loud as my 50watt amps, probably on a slight decrease in db's. The sustain is incredible. I've run vintage and modern Les Pauls and Strats through this and I'm pleasantly suprised every time. Nuff Said....

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I am aware of the first V30's that came out a couple years back having an over-heating issue. At least that was the concensus from Guitar Center. Although I can't trust a word most of thier salespeople say. One store here in town in particular had gotten a number returned for repair and all V30's had the same diagnosis from the factory. So we'll see. The tubes also seem to run a bit hot for just a few EL34's and 12AX7's. I actually removed the "Ventilation Plate" from the top of the amp and it seriously increased the flow of air. Mine runs much cooler. Shouldn't have any issues.

10..so far
I was so impressed with the early V50 & V1512 models of old that I ordered the speakers and replaced some of my vintage amps with a couple just out of curiosity. St.Louis Music owns Crate, Ampeg, etc. They were always very helpful and concerned that I was satisfied with their support.

After being a lover of Vintage equipment it's taken me a long time to lower my pride and endorse anything other than Marshall and Fender both instrument and amp-wise. I'll always use my "old faithfull's in the studio. After 20 years of playing, for my live sound this amp makes me excited every time I see it. You gotta test-drive these Palomino V-Series amps for yourself. I bought my first V-Series 3 years ago after my arm was nearly twisted-off by a friend who I kept telling me to try one. Shortly after that I noticed Billy Gibbons and Joe Walsh using these exclusively in concert. Who can deny both either of their tones. I also witnessed several other players using the V-Series amps at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Concert including Robert Randolph jr. Anyway, I'm obviously sold on this. Check it out yourself.