V18-212 Review

The Crate V18 212 combo features a single-channel, Class A design with gain and master volume controls, 3-band EQ, and spring reverb, making it one of the most versatile little amplifiers around.

Features:	7.7
Sound:	9.3
Reliability:	9.3
Impression:	9.3
Overall rating:	8.9
Users rating:	8.7
Comments:	20

overall: 8.8

Reviewed by: MoroneSaxatilis, on december 05, 2008

Price paid: $ 179

Purchased from: zZounds

Features: I have no idea what year the amp was made in. I play everything from AC/DC to Hank Williams, and this suits it just fine. It is one channel, class A, no effects loops, no headphone jack (could use one). I use this in my bedroom, and it can be quiet enough for you to enjoy it, or loud enough to deafen your neighbors, it has plenty of power. The Crate V-18 112 and 212 are both tube amps, the 212 has two twelve inch Crate speakers the 112 has one. It's pretty simple to operate- volume, gain, bass, treble, reverb (nice), middle, on/off, standby. // 7

Sound: I'm using an Epiphone SG Special with this. Done laughing? Ok, good. This this absolutely howls now. It suits most styles I play, it grabs AC/DC and Led Zeppelin in a great way. The amp sounds great, it's got the type of sound that made you pick up a guitar in the first place. If you are looking to melt faces, you will need a pedal, as you wont be able to get those death metal screams without one. But as a stand alone amp, the sound is excellent, expecially for the price- from deep, bassy crunch to higher gain crying, the amp sounds simply wonderful. I have read it is a bit bassy, and I have to agree, it is, but there's a not for that, and it's under $ 200, stop whining about it. // 10

Reliability & Durability: This amp is MUCH larger than I expected, it has real Crate speakers in it, not knock offs. It's heavy, not too heavy to gig unless you are a girly man, but if you are putting it in a bedroom you'll need some room for it. It's built quite solid, and while I have not had to test out it's construction, thank goodness, it seems it will hold up very well. It's not flimsy in the least. // 9

Impression: I love this amp right out of the box. I have been playing for about two years, picked up the guitar when I was a kid, dropped it, now I'm playing again for two years straight. On a budget, I don't think you could do better than this amp unless you go used. I have a Fender Frontman, and trust me, if you think you are getting good sounds out of that, you're kidding yourself. Try this amp out, the sounds for the price are simply outstanding, you'll fall in love, call in sick to stay home and play (as I am today), and notice it will make you sound better. The sound this makes is COOL and that's what guitars should sound like, cool. AC/DC sound? Almost perfect (*and without a pedal). Led Zeppelin sound? Great. Buy this amp. // 9

overall: 9.5

Reviewed by: eyebanez333, on december 02, 2008

Price paid: $ 199

Purchased from: Musicians Friend

Features: This amp is OK in the versatility department. The cleans are amazing, but since it is a one channel amp, metal tones are almost, if not completely out of the question without a stompbox. Has a 3 band EQ. The gain gets a little muddy at the top end, but you can get some really crunchy tones if you dial the master volume back. The spring reverb is good to about 5, then it just gets to be too much. I bought this amp to use as a practice amp to take back and forth from my house (I play with a couple different groups so moving my half stack around gets old really quick). This amp is fairly loud, especially for 18 watts. Definitely loud enough to practice with a full band, and although I haven't yet, I don't see any reason that you wouldn't be able to gig with this combo. The amp is open-backed. I wish it had another channel, and an effects loop would be nice. Overall, a very nice tube amp for the price. // 9

Sound: I use a Ibanez ART100, SZ320, and RG3EX1 with this amp (all passive pickups). I play rock and metal, and this amp works well for clean and slightly overdriven music, but I use a stompbox to get into the metal. Distortion is the only thing that this amp is lacking in my opinion. The cleans are crystal clear, even at high volumes. The only time I would call this amp noisy, is with the gain cranked to 10. Just a little too muddy and inarticulate for my tastes. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I would definitely depend on this amp. I would use this on a gig without a backup. there's a video on YouTube of a guy throwing this amp around, and then plugging right into it and playing. Amp has yet to break down on me (knock on wood), and I've had it for almost a year now. The construction of the amp seems to be very solid and I imagine it can take some abuse. // 10

Impression: As I said above, I play rock and metal. This amp works well for the most part, but if you play metal I would not buy this amp unless you have/plan to buy a nice stompbox. I have been playing guitar for 4 years now and this was my first tube amp. I also own a Marshall MG100HDFX and a Peavey Windsor half stack. If this amp were stolen, I would definitely buy another one, especially for $199. The only complaints I have about this amp I already mentioned: it could use better distortion, another channel, and an effects loop. But for $199, I'm not complaining one bit! // 10

overall: 8.5

Reviewed by: T-man08, on may 14, 2008

Price paid: $ 355.5

Purchased from: Woodwind and Brasswind

Features: This amp is pretty basic when it comes to features. It is a class A tube amp with two tubes. It just has the one channel with a gain control, volume, tone, and a re verb control. This amp is 18 watts but it is very loud. I expected it to be loud from what I heard but did not think 18 watts could have so much volume. // 7

Sound: I know Crate amps have a bad reputation for quality but this amp sounds very nice. I play it using a ESP EC-1000 deluxe running through a Boss metalcore pedal for when I want to play some really heavy stuff. Also it adds the extra channel so I can Switch from clean to distorted. The cleans on this are very nice, after all it is a tube amp, it should have good tone. the distortion is very good but only up to the point of hard rock, maybe some types of metal. if you want brutalness you should add a pedal. the reverb on this amp is nothing to die for, I only use it in a handfull of playing types, I like how it sounds while doing sweep picking. // 9

Reliability & Durability: The is durable, the one little problem I have with it is that is a fairly heavy and amp and they only have the one handle at the top. makes moving it somewhere somewhat awkward, especially going down or up a flight of stairs. I've bumped it around a few times, hit it into walls. it's going to take a lot more than that to do anything to this amp. There is a youtube video of a guy chucking a Crate V series tube amp over his shoulder and the amp still plays after. If that's not durable I'm not sure what is. // 9

Impression: I play many things on this amp from soft and mellow to down right brutal and it all sounds good(very heavy stuff is with a pedal). this amp also plays very nice at lower volumes which is nice because I mostly play it in my bedroom but can still be played with a gig. nice amp to have for jamming with some friends. this is definately something I would replace although I might go for the single speaker because 2 is very loud. other tube amps may be better than this but this amp has a nice price tag, nice value. my friend couldnt believe I got it for under 500. // 9

Comments

[fretsonfire74]

Nice review. And wow, someone included a price :eek:

[High_o]

some guy chucked his amp over his shoulder to test whether it would still work? sounds a bit silly. although, this is the interwebs, where people think lol wut its hilarious

[Tyler Durden]

I saw that video as I am considering the 33W version, it actually sounded better after the guy tossed it and plugged it back in!

[Guitar}Zero]

the v series gets good reviews across the board. I have a v3112 and love it.

[guitarNbass]

I have the same guitar as you!!! It's very nice!

Peace, brother.

[Pyrofretnic]

Anybody got a link to the video? Sounds... interesting.

[Rogue Hermit]

the only problem i see is the single channel. if i wanted to buy another amp, i'd go for something a little higher end than crate. but decent review.

[Zenith Lead]

^^^ yes it does.
The review says its a classic tube and he still got it for 355. I thought tubes were some expensive shit?
i havent gotten too into amps so i dont really know these things. I should though..... i'll have to work on that....

[lemon_lime123]

actually its 200 on mf right now but back ordered...

[lemon_lime123]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-z_qNNcVz8

[lemon_lime123]

is the link to the video...

[SkAsupafly]

i think i might buy this amp. does anyone own a v33?

[smolincher]

hay man, I saw this amp at the local shop....Price is good...Just wondering if this would be loud enough for jamming? or would the V33 be better...and, is the V33 stocked with 2 12" speakers?

[smolincher]

is this amp loud enough to jam with? And I mean LOUD!

[archeolus]

is it loud enough to gig with?
roughly how many watts in solid state amps terms

[goodgravy13]

ya it is loud enough for small gigs and to jam with. For the 18w version it is roughly comparable to a 75w solid state and for the 33w version roughly 130w solid state.

[archeolus]

sweet! thanks dude

[butcherer]

Made In China

[alittlegrit]

Why do people knock epiphones? I have a Strat, Les Paul, Paul Reed Smith, and others but my main guitar these days is my Sheraton 2 for home and gigging. I play it straight into a fender blues junior and the tone is awesome. the other guitarist plays a les paul into a fender blues deluxe (vey nice tone) and my tone is just as sweet. The sheraton 2 is a great guitar but the other epiphones i have picked up feel and sound good too. just because they dont cost alot doesnt mean they are not good guitars. My freind spent 3500 on a new les paul and i almost throw up thinking about it. it is nice but not that much nicer for 5 to 10 times the amount. If you like to play epiphones are great. Anyone that feels that playing a cheaper guitar is embarrassing, should be embarrassed. Not because they are playing a cheap guitar but because they are petty.

[MoroneSaxatilis]

I didn't mean to knock epiphone in the review- it's that I own the SG SPecial, which is like the budget version of a budget version, and IMO is not that good. If you buy the cheapest version of any company's guitar you're going to get what you pay for.