VTX212B Review

VTX212B's three-channel operation offers stunning tonal flexibility. The Clean channel features a low-gain FlexWave Evolution 5 preamp, providing sparkling clean tones. The medium-gain FlexWave circuit in the Rhythm channel adds just a little distortion and crunch.

Features:	10
Sound:	8
Reliability:	7.5
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	8.6
Users rating:	5
Comments:	13

overall: 10

Featured review by: jblittlefield, on august 06, 2008

Price paid: $ 299

Purchased from: American Musical Supply

Features: The VTX212B features full 3-channel operation with independent gain level and tone shaping circuits for each channel. The DSP section has 15 Multi effects including chorus, flange, phase shift, vibrato, octave down, touch-wah, and reverse wah. Each of these can be set for depth plus the Tap button on the front controls speed. The VTX212B also has 15 Delays with adjustments for single delay with 4 levels Echo delay with 4 levels Tape delay with 4 levels and echo/effects combo with 3 levels. Each of these effects can be set with the Tap button for speed as well. A separate reverb control is also included. Front panel RCA CD Input jacks allow you to play along with your favorite CD or tape. The rear panel Insert Jack allows you to connect your own effects for greater flexibility. Channel switching and DSP may be controlled by means of a footswitch (included) which also allows access to two DSP presets on each of the three channels. There's also a top-mounted electronic tuner that is active any time the amplifier is on. You may change the DSP settings by rotating the DSP controls, these changes will remain active until a different channel is selected but will not be there for later use unless they are saved. To save a new DSP preset to a channel first make the desired DSP changes. Then press and hold the save/tap button for about three seconds. The save/tap LED will flash through three quick sequences indicating the preset was saved. The new preset is stored for that channel and will remain in memory until a new preset is stored for that channel or the factory presets are restored. The Crate 3-button footswitch allows access to an additional DSP preset for each channel of the amplifier. When the footswitch is connected to the amplifier as shown below the "original" DSP presets are active for each channel when the #3 footswitch LED is illuminated. These are referred to as "DSP Bank A'." When the #3 button is switched and the LED is out a second DSP preset may be stored and recalled for each channel, "DSP Bank B'." // 10

Sound: I currently run a Jim Root Signature Telecaster (with EMG 61/80 pups), an Ibanez AFS75 hollowbody (with stock pups), and a highly modified Squier Affinity Strat (with Seymour Duncan Hot Rails and a JB4 HB - all coil-tapped) through a pedal board consisting of an ISP Decimator, MXR SuperComp, Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff With Top Boost, DigiTech Grunge, MXR Carbon Copy Delay, Boss CH-1 Super Chorus, and a BBE Sonic Stomp. I also run a second Decimator and a Boss GE-7 EQ through the FX loop. Slight hum that increases with gain increase, but easily controlled with the Decimators. Clean channel is amazing, one of the best I've ever heard. Both the crunch and lead channels require a bit of tweaking to get the sounds you want, but I mainly keep it clean and use my pedals for different sounds. I play classic rock, blues, alternative rock, and a bit of numetal. This amp handles 'em all. As for being loud? The windows in the garage shake on "3." // 10

Reliability & Durability: This was a factory-sealed second (normal retail is around $450) which I thoroughly inspected and found no issues. Tolex covered, metal corner protectors, four wheeled casters included, recessed rear-mounted control panel. Seems quite sturdy to me. In the past six months I've had no issues as far as reliability and durability are concerned. // 10

Impression: One of the best solid-state amps I've ever owned. I prefer it over my Vox AD100VT 2x12 and my Kustom Quad 100. The only solid-state amps I've played that is better (IMHO) is the JC-120. If it were lost/stolen, I'd definitely replace it without batting an eye! In fact, I just picked up a second one to leave at the rehearsal space. // 10

overall: 7.3

Reviewed by: sugapablo, on july 29, 2008

Price paid: $ 299.97

Purchased from: American Musical Supply

Features: I play rock/blues/jam and this amp seems to be able to handle anything I want. It has 3 channels (clean/rhythm/solo), three button footswitch, no headphone jack, DSP effects that include flanger, phaser, chorus, reverb, vibrato, octave, auto-wah, reverse wah, and delay. Two bank memory save on effects and settings. Two 12" speakers. Size and Weight: 21" H x 27-1/2" W x 11 1/4" D 50 lbs. 120W. Built in tuner. // 10

Sound: I use this amp with my MIM Fender Stratocaster. The clean channel is fantastic. The solo channel can dish some serious gained distortion, and the rhythm channel is tricky to get a good "not too distorted" crunchiness, but after playing around with it, I got some nice sound. Bottom line, with so much going on, to get the sound you want, you gotta play with it, but once you get the hang of it, the sound is damned good. I'm rating this "6" in comparison with some high end amps from the likes of Fender or Marshall that just sound amazing with much less effort. // 6

Reliability & Durability: I haven't owned this amp long enough or beaten it up enough to give an educated opinion. I give it a "5" meaning "untested". // 5

Impression: I know Crates get bashed, but owning this amp, I can't tell why. Sure, it has so much stuff going on that it might take some time to get the tone and sound you want, but it's there if you play around with it. And bottom line, for the money, it's awesome! "8" might seem high for an amp of this price, but I'm basing it on value of the amp versus the price paid. // 8

Comments

[corey3815]

My Crate V18 would say differently, jenova.

[captain_jack]

I have this amp!! I think Crates get a bad wrap because their lower end amps sound like ass. The VTX series are actually quite good, especially for being solid state.

I've had mine for a little over a year. I've hauled it to many dozens of band practices, gigged it several times, and recorded with it. It has held up fine and worked great for everything I need it for.

[sugapablo]

J-E-N-O-V-A wrote:

Crate sucks

http://videogame2play.com/wp-content/upload s/2007/05/fanboi-anatomy.jpg

[AlexAvarice]

captain_jack wrote:

I have this amp!! I think Crates get a bad wrap because their lower end amps sound like ass. The VTX series are actually quite good, especially for being solid state.

I've had mine for a little over a year. I've hauled it to many dozens of band practices, gigged it several times, and recorded with it. It has held up fine and worked great for everything I need it for.

I agree. I have played on quite a few Crates that would bury the Marshall MG series amps, yet no one gives Marshall for coming out with a cheap amp. Crate doesn't deserve a bad rep.

[Underjoggle]

AlexAvarice wrote:
I agree. I have played on quite a few Crates that would bury the Marshall MG series amps

Anything would bury an MG.
A literal can of angry bees would bury an MG.

[SDZAKKMF]

I love my Crate!

[rzemon]

Underjoggle wrote:

AlexAvarice wrote:
I agree. I have played on quite a few Crates that would bury the Marshall MG series ampsAnything would bury an MG.
A literal can of angry bees would bury an MG.

true, true...

[rocnroll4evr93]

ive got a crate and i love it. its very similar to this one. i agree with what he said about it being tricky to dial in the sound, but as unexperianced as i was, i figured it out in about 2 days. if u know what you're doing, it's not hard at all.

[filthylittleboy]

FLEX WAVES SUCK!!!! sorry, but i just got home from the music store, and i wanted a high gain amp... and i tried it, and almost dropped the ibanez because it sounded so bad...

im not even trying to be a hater...

[sugapablo]

I think some people will always have a bug up their butt about Crates, based on their past products that may have been less than stellar, but if you look around the internet at reviews for this model, you'll see that people who bought and/or played with this amp are absolutely loving it.

[Huffman]

hehe create .. mi little old 15 was stuck a pice of shit yep... but its ok cuz ther bigger stuff looks/sounds cool

[MetalUpYourRear]

Yeah, I've got a VTX 350 Head which is just a 350 watt Head version of this amp and I run it through a Fender Metal Head cab. It's a freaking beast! It is the best amp in its price range I have ever played. I would buy this amp for its clean channel alone, but no, the crunch and lead channels are just as amazing! I can nail the EVH brown sound with this amp, plus get an almost Mesa-like tone out of the lead channel!

[ibanezplayer147]

where did you guys buy this for 299? ive seen for 350 at the lowest...