I see Crate's Problem with the Palomino V32

[Enzo]

When our kid was about 5 years old, he walked into the room and said something, and everyone laughed. It was cute. Unfortunately, he then proceeded to walk into a room and say the same thing every time he entered, hoping to get a big reaction again. But it was only funny the first time.


Somehow I am reminded of that...

[DrGonz78]

Who are you guy's talking about...?

[Jazz P Bass]

Why, we are speaking of the incomparable SGM.

[soundguruman]

Why, we are speaking of the incomparable SGM.

You can put a one year, three year, lifetime warrantee on a turd.
You can also put the turd in a different box, with an "Ampeg" name badge; to convince people it's a nice turd.
But, in the end, it turns out, it's just a turd.

[DrGonz78]

SGM we know you secretly love Crate amps more than anything in the entire amplified world!! I am surprised you just like to bad mouth them so you can secretly collect them all for you own private garden collection. Saying the same thing over and over get's pretty boring dude. Your jig is up buddy we know your true secret now!!

I think we should send him a care package... Flowers and all... I will ship you a spare Crate 1200H chassis if you need some more flower pots...

[Steve A.]

a

Why tack solder the wires to little leg stubs? I would remove the old resistors, clean the holes, and solder the wire right into the hole. They are plate through holes, you can solder them right as we see them in the photo.

I was going to say that myself but you beat me by almost 3 1/2 years. I just tried doing that trick on a Fender pcb which does not use plate through holes and it did not work good at all. Without the copper through the holes the traces can be lifted if you try to replace a 1/4W resistor with a 1/2W one. (I did not have that problem with all of the Crate V18 amps I had worked on experimenting with mods.)

Steve Ahola

[rockon1]

After rehousing my V32 combo I did this bias mod too. 75 ohm resistor seems perfect. The bias idles at 100% now. bob

[soundguruman]

[QUOTE=rockon1;332881]After rehousing my V32 combo I did this bias mod too. 75 ohm resistor seems perfect.

Crate bias adjustment tool

Always wear eye protection, when biasing amp...

[rockon1]

[QUOTE=soundguruman;332884]

After rehousing my V32 combo I did this bias mod too. 75 ohm resistor seems perfect.

Crate bias adjustment tool
[ATTACH=CONFIG]27289[/ATTACH]
Always wear eye protection, when biasing amp...

Wow I guess you really like Crates. Interestingly enough the US made Palomino V32 is better built than most amp's in its price range. Note the though board solder joints, off the main board jacks and metal shaft Alpha pots. In 10 years of ownership (and gigged) its never given me a problem. Now please go p*ss in someone else's cornflakes. Bob

[g1]

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Ill wager a fin SGM gets an alert any time there is a post regarding Crate. An interesting hypothesis to test, anyway.

[bnwitt]

Wow! Somebody really hates Crate. Could it be a fired former employee? Nothing wrong with the V32 that wasn't wrong with the Vox AC30. And they both have great tone. Many classic amps had short comings due to the maker's goal of profitability. A good amp tech can fix these minor issues. A poor tech or hack just blames the manufacturer. SGM, you aren't doing yourself any favors being such a Crate hater. Plus, no one in here gives a rats pituty about hollow words that are just meant to insult rather then educate. We're all here for learning not snake oil or vitriol.

[The Dude]

I've had a Crate VC3112 that I use for rehersal and pickup gigs since shortly after they first came on the market. It gets used more than my larger main rig. The only thing I've done is replace a defective EL84. It's also one of the best sounding combo amps I've ever owned.

[rockon1]

Ive bought amps costing 3-4 times as much as the V32 that I didnt like 1/2 as much. Also owned a few Crates and it seems Crate up the anti with the early V series as far as construction goes. It was right before the sell out to Loud Technologies. I owned a couple of VC50's and they ,though older, aren't made quite as well. They are still great sounding amps and with a little care work fine for a long time. Here's my rehoused VC50. Bob

[soundguruman]

[QUOTE=rockon1;332885]

Wow I guess you really like Crates. Interestingly enough the US made Palomino V32 is better built than most amp's in its price range. Note the though board solder joints, off the main board jacks and metal shaft Alpha pots. In 10 years of ownership (and gigged) its never given me a problem. Now please go p*ss in someone else's cornflakes. Bob

Oh yeah. Crates make great flower planters, door stops, and boat anchors.

[soundguruman]

[QUOTE=rockon1;332885]

Wow I guess you really like Crates. Interestingly enough the US made Palomino V32 is better built than most amp's in its price range. Note the though board solder joints, off the main board jacks and metal shaft Alpha pots. In 10 years of ownership (and gigged) its never given me a problem. Now please go p*ss in someone else's cornflakes. Bob

Oh yeah. Crates make great flower planters, door stops, and boat anchors.
"artificial reef" has already been suggested.