Today my 14 year old Crate gx1600 head died. So it's time to buy a new one. Any thoughts? I was thinking about looking into combo setups, like the 5150 or the avt275. I like the avt because it has a tube pre-amp, but hate the built in effects( i have a gt-6 for that garbage). Anyone have any experiences or suggestions.

i own the first 5150 head, and it slays, i might change the preamp tubes cause theyre not to my tast but other than that it has monster gain and a very unigue tone, and you wont find a tube amp head that good for that cheap, mine was less than 1000 brand new! one down fall is that its got no reverb and not a 100% clean channel, but the originals have more gain from what im told. if you need a clean channel and reverb they have the 5150 II which is better for clean stuff. and tom from porphyria got a powerball, i heard there pretty fucking heavy too...if you got the cash to shell out.

Very cool. I was thinking about just switching to a combo 2x12 setup, then I woud'nt have to drag round the head and cab. I've seen the 5150 combo's for $890.00. I was also looking at Wizard and Bogner stuff, but I dont have 3g to spend at this point.

suck ass weekend for equipment, I woke up this morning walked into the living room and puked all over my gt-6.

what happened to the crate? it's probably fixable.
What are you looking to spend and what do you play?

Started out just crapping out at high volumes. The input plug was also a problem, the vibration from the amp would cause the plug to vibrate and cut out, which I think started causing other problems. Weird thing is the line in still works, Which to me means the main amp section of the circuit board is working.

Probably just a conection issue, cheap fix. if you don't plan on having it fixed, I'll buy it off of you for parts. I want to try making an amp.

"It's like a death.... in the family!..."

-Type O Negative

Mike get the Line 6 vetta 2x12 if yer gettin a combo.

Tell me about Line 6 people, just talk about them, because I've heard from different sources that a) they are horrible, and b) they are some of the best solidstates out there and are digital masterpieces.

ya, everybody is different obviously, but for what they are (solidstate amp modeling) they do well for a broad spectrum of stuff...I think in Mikes case it would be his best bet, but at the same time it wouldnt serve my needs.
Ive heard people say things too, and my guess is they are tube only people, which I understand, but I played one and it definitley sounded more tube than any other solid Ive heard.
besides that, they are masterpeices for recording IMO.

awesome, thanks man

I went out amp shopping today and picked up an Ibanez tone blaster 100 head. ( I heard good and bad things about them). It sounded really good with my guitar, and was super cheap. $299.00. I figured I could use the rest of what I was going to spend on lapdances and plastic bottles of vodka.
So to sum up this weekends spending.
1. -299 new head.
2. -600 puked on gt-6.
3. -700 strippers and plastic bottles of vodka.

Total: $1001.00
I suck on a whole new level.

if you put an exciter on that amp it could make it sound VERY close to a tube amp, i know someone who has that setup

is that made by aphex?

theres a bunch of companies who make em aphex is just one...theres bbe too thats probly the best for the money

yikes!
how? what? nein!