Members trailsofsin Posted January 3, 2006 Members Share Posted January 3, 2006 I'm looking to get in on some solid state brutality and am considering going this route. I know that the GX-130C is based on the VH-140C, and seems to be considered to be pretty close to the Ampeg, but can be had for lower prices. So.... are the two close enough, or is there a significant difference tonewise? I'm assuming the real difference here is in the quality - the Crate is probably made with cheaper parts and corner-cutting workmanship, which I guess would effect the sound quality to a degree as well as reliability. But is it a huge difference? I should mention I'm looking at the head versions, not combos, and I'm not too worried about clean or mid-gain tones, just Suffocation-esque distortion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JonathanD Posted January 3, 2006 Members Share Posted January 3, 2006 i've never played the crate gx-130, but I've only heard great things about the ampeg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trailsofsin Posted January 3, 2006 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2006 Yeah, I know the ideal thing to do would be to play them both, but I've never seen either one in a store, nor do I know anyone who has one, so I'm out of luck there.If anyone's ever played both, I'd love to hear their thoughts. Experiences with one or the other would be cool too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bumble Posted January 3, 2006 Members Share Posted January 3, 2006 Is the Crate still in production or is this an old model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Highgrade Posted January 3, 2006 Members Share Posted January 3, 2006 The Crate GX130C has bad reviews here on HC while the AMPEG has great reviews. I'd go with the AMPEG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JiroJan Posted January 3, 2006 Members Share Posted January 3, 2006 tried both, i got an ampeg...but i lost intrest in death metal stuff so its up for sale if your interested. 2x12 combo w/ celestions $400+shipping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trailsofsin Posted January 4, 2006 Author Members Share Posted January 4, 2006 The combo is tempting but I'd really rather go with a head. And no, the Crate is no longer in production. I don't know how long they made it, early 90s I think.Bump for the night crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EC-E Posted January 4, 2006 Members Share Posted January 4, 2006 never played the crate, but i got a vh140c. for suffocation type tone, it's perfect. it also does dying fetus perfectly too (both bands used it obviously). best solid state head ever made. the cleans are suprisingly pretty decent too. i think completely scooped it sounds like fetus, mids on about 3 it gets that suffocation grind like on Pierced and Despise the Sun. i've been planning selling mine but i dont know if i will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RaceU4her Posted January 4, 2006 Members Share Posted January 4, 2006 I have them both. They are both equal beasts, dont go by the reviews on here. if you like one you will like the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trailsofsin Posted January 4, 2006 Author Members Share Posted January 4, 2006 Cool. What about the Ampeg SS-150? Anyone with any experiences with that one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rushtallica Posted January 4, 2006 Members Share Posted January 4, 2006 Originally posted by JonathanD i've never played the crate gx-130, but I've only heard great things about the ampeg I put out a pretty bad review (on the forum -- not the review section) after the first time I tried it out, but I tried a little better guitar/pups a second time and ended up with the impression that it's a really good amp for death/extreme types of metal, but I can't really see that tone working that well for much else. But the notes sounded really thick on that amp, so it seems like it'd do leads pretty well for a SS amp, too. I didn't check out the cleans but hear they're supposed to be decent, as well. Overall for a SS amp, I think it's pretty good. Looks like they still have that head at the Tulsa, Oklahoma Musicgoround store for $350 and can ship it: http://www.musicgoround.com/gear/inventorydetails.asp?id=396351 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hotcakes Posted January 4, 2006 Members Share Posted January 4, 2006 Listen to the newest Pig Destroyer for an idea of how the Crate sounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Metal|Boy Posted January 4, 2006 Members Share Posted January 4, 2006 Cannibal Corpse used it too for awhile. Especially on live shows where both guitarist had them (!). I think that 350$ for a head is too much. I got mine with 2x12 box with celestions for 340$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RaceU4her Posted January 5, 2006 Members Share Posted January 5, 2006 i got my gx130c in mint condition on ebay for 140 bucks and i see them all the time on there for around that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trailsofsin Posted January 5, 2006 Author Members Share Posted January 5, 2006 Yes, I've seen them on ebay now and then, usually half the price of the VH-140C. I know to some degree you get what you pay for, but I'm not gigging and don't care about owning a Crate, which I know some people might be reluctant to do based on the reputation of their other amps. Anways if they're close enough and I can get one cheap, I may indeed go with the GX-130C. Still mulling it over. Thanks for the comments guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EFEXED Posted March 4, 2021 Members Share Posted March 4, 2021 I have an Ampeg VS 140 C that has a problem with the volume balance between the "Chorus" mode and the normal mode. The normal signal is about 20% compared to the "chorus" signal. There is a gain control located on the chorus PCB. But in order to even use the amp it needs to be set on "10". There is something going on in the chorus board I believe. I have tested the (2) power amps and they are both equal in output. Has anyone else had this same problem with either the VS 140 C or the SS 140 C? Thanks for any help!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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