Crate Blue Voodoo BV120H

This is an all tube monster...Don't let the name fool ya, this thing is no practice amp or solid state in any way...It has 5 12AX7 preamp tubes and 4 power tubes...It comes with 6L6s but I switched mine to EL34s and love it!

There is a series loop, reverb, footswitch, and 1/4 inputs outputs...There is an out for DI use too!

There is 100 watts of pure tube mayhem and plenty of gain to make even the heaviest player more than happy...

There is a presence knob that is quite useful in getting the high end just right...

This amp is as much Ampeg as Crate....

UTILIZATION

The cleans on channel one are really good...Very nice clarity and fullness...Sounds like a Fender clean that can handle twangy or jazzy...It doesn't break up much so you can really push it...

The gain channel is pretty crazy...It can get a really nice crunch - with the EL34s in mine it has a nice Marshall flavor...It can also get really heavy and gainy...Be careful as it turns to fizz if you use too much...

The manual is quite clear and sufficient for basic use...

The bias adjustment is on the bottom of the chassis and takes some work to get to...That's one of the few drawbacks...

SOUNDS

This amp likes humbuckers as it is a mean machine...However, singles sound terrific through the clean channel and even better on the gain channel with the gain way back...Very bluesy and articulate when used in that way...

I like both channels very much...The gainy channel has more gain on tap than most amps and can get squealy and fizzy if overused...Some amps sound great with the gain knob wide-open - this isn't one of those...

The manual comes with some great settings for all sorts of styles...

The EQ onboard is simple yet effective...

This amp sounds different with 6L6s than with EL34s...The 34s give a British warmth to the tone while the 6L6GCs I used made it more recto and buzzy in tone...

OVERALL OPINION

I like the price and value of this amp...Mine has been modified by Voodoo Amps in Ohio...They have a special mod for this thing and it's worth every penny...It makes it tighter and more clear...

You won't find an all tube beast like this for much less than what these bad boys sell for used...I'm not sure why they didn't catch on - probably because of the big CRATE on the front...It almost made me turn away but I'm glad I didn't..

I've been playing for around 3 years. I currently play in a pop/rock band name Five Flights Tuesday. Check out our site: www.myspace.com/fiveflightstuesday (recordings to hear the Blue VooDoo!). I sing and play a mix of rythym and lead guitar.

Local Music Store - 2003 model, $599 - new.

This head is simply amazing for the price. The low end generated from it matches Mesa Dual's if not better. The tone is crazy good, even for stock GT tubes. I am planning on installing Tung-Sol 5881 Reissue Power tubes with some Tung-Sol 12AX7 Pre-Amp tubes. Very simple to use. The clean channel is beautiful. THERE IS SO MUCH GAIN. Mine is set on 4.

It DOES NOT seem like 100 watts. (Yes, I read the manual and it IS 100 watts not 120.) I play shows/pratice on around 6 to 6 1/2 on the volume knob wih my gain on 4. Dont get my wrong, It has PLENTY of volume but these tubes seem to crank more tone than more volume. Pinch Harmonic are hard to hit without the correct pickups.

Built like none other. It isnt around 60 lbs for nothing. Strong durable tolex, metal corner covers...great.

This is simply a great head. It isn't going to match a 100 watt Mesa in volume, but I believe that it could go beyond a Mesa in tone. Plenty of volume for anything, stock tubes sound great, replacing these will only make it sound better. Good settings for country, blues, metal, pop/punk, rock, anything. For the price, these heads are a steal!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got it for $425 on ebay. I got it based on reviews and the fact that it is all tube.

I love the sound. It has a perfect crunch with my Viper 400 with emg 81's. The first power cord I hit made the hair on my neck stand up, and my mouth dropped open. I like the entire look , lights and all. My friends Marshall doesn't even have the standby light. It don't sound any better either.

I haven't found anything about it I don't like yet. Maybe the weight, it makes the stack a little top heavey. But it feels bulletproof, and that I like.

Built like a tank

I've only had it for 2 days, and I love it. I have 2 Crate B52 cabinets under it. The combo Rocks! The other guitarist in the band has a les paul with a Marshall stack, I don't feel outgunned at all. I wish I had bought it sooner.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Purchased at a Pawn Shop for $550.00
I acquired this amp after hearing a Phoenix Arizona based deathmetal band called Vehemence with both guitarists using Voodoo stacks.

This amplifier does it all for me. Both channels offer a wide range of sound that blows just about every other amplifier away. The stage presence is just unreal. Honestly, you don't need effects with this amp. It is easy to tune in a killer crunch sound that blows away Marshalls. When I first saw this amp I immediately went home and grabbed my Schecter XXX and returned to the pawnshop it was at. I went directly in to the amp without any effects and I immediately fell in love with it.
I currently use a Digitech RP7 and a Metal Zone pedal and I get some intense sound out of this setup. The power of this amplifier is unreal. Nothing can drown this 120 watt tube amp.

This is a used unit and it suffers a broken effects switch on the front face plate.
It doesn't effect me at all and would be a quick fix, if neccessary.
I'm not much of a tube fan either but this amplifier justifies the hassle.
Honestly, I can't find anything about this amp to really complain about. It rocks!

Other than the broken effects switch, the amplifier is built like a tank. This thing weighs a ton!

It's taken me 20 years to find a guitar amplifier that I'm totally satisfied with.
Great job Crate!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com