Crate Review: GFX-212

History:

Purchase: I purchased this amp at Dave Anderson's Zoo Music for $378.00

What I Like About This Crate GFX-212: I bought the amp mostly because it was loud and cheap. In both of these areas it performed well, and the included footswitch is an added bonus. The digital effects are pretty cool, mostly the reverb and the chorus. As for the others, you have to play with the knobs for a long time to get them exactly where you want them, and when your'e on stage, this can be fustrating. Many people complain about the weight of the amp, but when you compare it to tube amps of the same size, it's really not that heavy. I would say it's a good affordable amp for the beginning guitarist.

What I Do NOT Like About The Crate GFX-212: While the overdrive channels perform their duty without any problems, I constantly found myself playing with the knobs on the clean channels. The GFX series claims to reproduce the sound of tube amps, but in the end, they are still solid state. Since I play on a lot of rhythm tracks, I need a good clean sound, but this amp repeatedly failed me when I needed it most. To me, the clean channel sounds like it's processed through a computer, almost like Brittany Spear's voice - it seems to lack warmth and depth.

Crate GFX-212 Quality Rating: I found no trouble in the quality of the amp. It has a strong, sturdy chassis and cabinet. The only real problem I had was in the footswitch. The LED for the effects loop mysteriously stopped working, with no apparent way of repairing it. While not a major concern, it annoyed me quite a bit.

Review Summary: Crate is a respectable name in the amplifier industry and this amp certainly has its place in the market. I think that place is for beginner guitarists with an appeal for rock and metal. The overdrive and effects are highly customizable, but i just can't deal with the problems of the clean channel. On the plus side it's CHEAP!

Rating of this Crate product: 3

This Crate GFX-212 Guitar Amplifiers Review Submitted By: jeff

Review Date: 2002-08-10