Peavey or Crate

[Racerxrated]

But the crate sounds better, and is dead quiet. My Stealth just has some technical issues that keep it out of the regular gig lineup.

That is a huge factor in which amp to buy. The Lee Jackson Crate (and Ampeg) sound good but are constantly in repair. The USA Peaveys are tanks that seem to never break for anyone...and I think sound better too. That may be preference, but repair bills and malfunctioning amps that can't be gigged are useless headache

PV FTW

Hmm I've had a few of them and I've never had an issue, although I haven't gigged a ton with one. Only issue was dirty FX loop inserts which is easily remedied. But they are cheaply made for sure. Peaveys are probably better made but the same issues as the Crate...board mounted pots, tube inserts...etc as far as I know. And the Ampeg had some issues with a molex connector that needed to be hard wired instead. Didn't the first 5150 also have that? Crate Stealth didn't have that issue. But if you're gonna spend 500 on a used Peavey instead of 300 on a Crate, come up with 200 more and get a.......oh never mind. It never ends.

 

[Racerxrated]

-yo!!! biatchs!!!-

-reach into your purses-

-grab that crack pipe-

-and throw it as far as you can!!!-

-PEAVEY ULTRA + is a mans amp!! it rolls and smokes the crate all day long-

-be honest,..how many have actually played both of these amps?-

lol...I have. I tried one at a Music go round as I was trying to find out what I'd by my kid for his first tube amp. Hated it. Nowhere near as good as a 5150 or XXX or.....hell I'd take the VTM over it by a mile. I had a Stealth in mind until I found a Red Bear( ) chassis on eBay for 150...sent it to a RTer for his version of an Aldrich mod and.....it smokes anything under 1k out there. All for 500 into it.....he loves it. The video of it was out there on YouTube....

 

[sg guy]

-I guess the ole stand bye of "try before ya buy" applies here...

-I will say that the $500 price tag on the ULTRA + is a little high...

 

[Racerxrated]

-I guess the ole stand bye of "try before ya buy" applies here...

-I will say that the $500 price tag on the ULTRA + is a little high...

Yeah that's always recommended.. That's why I love that GC return policy! And I've picked up some Stealths for less than 200. Cheapest was a 50w combo for 99....

 

[Riggins1966]

But the crate sounds better, and is dead quiet. My Stealth just has some technical issues that keep it out of the regular gig lineup.

That is a huge factor in which amp to buy. The Lee Jackson Crate (and Ampeg) sound good but are constantly in repair. The USA Peaveys are tanks that seem to never break for anyone...and I think sound better too. That may be preference, but repair bills and malfunctioning amps that can't be gigged are useless headache

PV FTW

to be fair, mine took a dive sideways off the front seat of my truck (ram 1500) onto the driveway about 6 years ago, and seeing as I paid a whopping $150 for it, I couldn't justify (nor could the wife understand) the repair expense when I have so many others.

So, considering the drop it took, the fact that is still works even intermittently is pretty amazing.

That being said, 20 years ago my 5150 took a dive off of the drummers hardware cases in the back of the van and fell 40 inches onto the floor, then slid another 3-ish feet before slamming into the cab cage, but still worked like a champ for another 8 years before I sold it. Peaveys ARE built like brick shithouses!

 

[bish0p34]

I'll chime in for the Peavey Ultra! I admit to no experience with the Stealth....and no experience with any Crate that sounded good. I've had an Ultra 1x12 that I paid 450 for in 2000. It was worth every cent then, and I'd pay 500 for one now. It has a great tone for classic rock to classic metal. It's blown 1 tube and a fuse since then. I broke a knob off, and it still works fine (tweaking the knob with a pair of hemostats). It's definitely worth considering. Whether you like it is up to you, but it's a damn good amp.

This is the Peavey Ultra from about ten years ago, and I come in with the rhythm and hit the melody at about 48 seconds. Using an LTD EC-1000 with the EMG 81s. It'll show you some of what it can do in the hands on a monkey..

 

[Racerxrated]

I'll chime in for the Peavey Ultra! I admit to no experience with the Stealth....and no experience with any Crate that sounded good. I've had an Ultra 1x12 that I paid 450 for in 2000. It was worth every cent then, and I'd pay 500 for one now. It has a great tone for classic rock to classic metal. It's blown 1 tube and a fuse since then. I broke a knob off, and it still works fine (tweaking the knob with a pair of hemostats). It's definitely worth considering. Whether you like it is up to you, but it's a damn good amp.

This is the Peavey Ultra from about ten years ago, and I come in with the rhythm and hit the melody at about 48 seconds. Using an LTD EC-1000 with the EMG 81s. It'll show you some of what it can do in the hands on a monkey..

Ha! "Any Crate that sounded good".... I would agree....with this exception. If you are familiar with Lee Jackson then you know he was probably second to Jose A himself in the 80s as far as a sought after Marshall modder. He was hired by SLM in the late 80s, they owned Crate, Ampeg and a few other brands. He designed the Ampeg VL and the Crate Stealth. The Stealth has a Design similar to an 800 in the power section and the preamp is what he would do to the Marshalls he modded. So its not a normal Crate, its really a modded Marshall built by Crate. The tone is killer 80s mid heavy, with a nice clean, fx loop, reverb and the gain channel has 2 gains that are switchable. Dirty lead, dirty rhythm and a clean. Its way more articulate than the ultra I tried, or VTM or Windsor...I'd even say its as good as a block letter 5150. Takes pedals well and used from 99-300. Yes...built cheaply by Crate but it is a very nice sounding amp. Here's some blasphemy... I had a Ceriatone 800 clone at the same time as a Stealth..my first Jubilee was in the shop getting checked out so I had to use one of my backups...A/B'd them and picked the Stealth.

 

[bish0p34]

I'll chime in for the Peavey Ultra! I admit to no experience with the Stealth....and no experience with any Crate that sounded good. I've had an Ultra 1x12 that I paid 450 for in 2000. It was worth every cent then, and I'd pay 500 for one now. It has a great tone for classic rock to classic metal. It's blown 1 tube and a fuse since then. I broke a knob off, and it still works fine (tweaking the knob with a pair of hemostats). It's definitely worth considering. Whether you like it is up to you, but it's a damn good amp.

This is the Peavey Ultra from about ten years ago, and I come in with the rhythm and hit the melody at about 48 seconds. Using an LTD EC-1000 with the EMG 81s. It'll show you some of what it can do in the hands on a monkey..

Ha! "Any Crate that sounded good".... I would agree....with this exception. If you are familiar with Lee Jackson then you know he was probably second to Jose A himself in the 80s as far as a sought after Marshall modder. He was hired by SLM in the late 80s, they owned Crate, Ampeg and a few other brands. He designed the Ampeg VL and the Crate Stealth. The Stealth has a Design similar to an 800 in the power section and the preamp is what he would do to the Marshalls he modded. So its not a normal Crate, its really a modded Marshall built by Crate. The tone is killer 80s mid heavy, with a nice clean, fx loop, reverb and the gain channel has 2 gains that are switchable. Dirty lead, dirty rhythm and a clean. Its way more articulate than the ultra I tried, or VTM or Windsor...I'd even say its as good as a block letter 5150. Takes pedals well and used from 99-300. Yes...built cheaply by Crate but it is a very nice sounding amp. Here's some blasphemy... I had a Ceriatone 800 clone at the same time as a Stealth..my first Jubilee was in the shop getting checked out so I had to use one of my backups...A/B'd them and picked the Stealth.

I don't doubt a good Crate is out there. I've just never gotten a chance to play one. It's sad. My first amp was a Crate, and I loved it back then. I heard a lot of great things about the V32 as well. I never saw one to try it though. Hence the "no experience with any Crate that sounded good". I'm sure they're out there, I just never got to play one.

As to the Peavey...I preferred the Ultra to a 5150 (bought new around 97/98). Just my taste of course, I felt it was more versatile. YMMV.

 

[sg guy]

-waaaaaaiiitttt a minute!!!! back the bus up betty!!

-I thought we were talking about an EVH-(3)-STEALTH!!!

-ya mean there are people out there that think this piece of crap sounds good???

-the appocolypse is here,...were all doomed!!

 

[Racerxrated]

Yup....Crate Stealth is a better sounding amp than a few Peaveys I've tried. Including the Ultra. Don't knock it till you play through one....I wouldn't have believed it until I actually did myself. Its not your average crappy Crate. And the EVH Stealth? Yeah that amp is a shit ton better than anything Peaveys ever come up with. Not even worth comparing..that's on a different level. YMMV....