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Crate VTX350H
List: $950
No, there’s no typo error, you did read ‘350’ in Crate VTX350H, which is hinting at how much power this amp has- 350W of leviathan wail! This 350 is a member of Crate’s VTX amps which are 100% solid state equipped with minimal digital applications to be hassle free & chockfull of tones.
Built/ features
You might be forgiven to think that this head is a vintage incarnation from the manufacturer but looks can be deceiving. That ‘V’ adage to the Crate insignia reeks nostalgia, something used by Danelectro for their selected pedals (including the mini series), a tried design but effective nevertheless. There’s nothing new here in terms of design, the VTX350H has solid leather upholstery, gig-proof to say the least. Front panel controls are relegated to the lower territory for your convenience both standing & sitting down (which was the playing posture of this reviewer at audition time). Metal corner protectors & the twin carry straps you see here are indicators that the VTX has a high handling tolerance.
Simplicity & effectiveness seem to be the manufacturer’s intention. You get satin chrome control knobs, push buttons & a solitary power switch which doubles as the power indicator. The 3 channels here are also marked by their individual LED, green (clean), amber (drive1) & red (drive 2) the hues of which correspond to the level of drive intensity each has to offer, forgive the traffic light association, yes? The effects & delay patches here are rotary controlled, the parameters of which are limited to the amp preset; a 3-tier offering mostly. Access to these is via the push button which is basically the access (tap) & exit (save) facility. The visible bonus here is evidently the on-board tuner which is in use all the time (while the amp is ON), a very useful inclusion.
Tone
This audition is supplemented by Crate’s own GT412 cab & a very drool-worthy PRS SE Singlecut (courtesy of the dealer).
The VTX350H is the epitome of loudness. All 3 channels display extreme volume settings even at the slightest increment. As such, there is no cranking up necessary, this reviewer restrained volume proceedings at near 9-o’clock settings for all channels with the clean needing a slight nudge to be on par with its driven counterparts.
This is perhaps one of the better clean voicing from a solid state unit, but it could be an illusion of volume & the half-stack setting. Regardless, full chords ring true & individual notes remain clear, all this even before the relevant FX/ delay inputs are dialed in. With that duly effective, this could be one of the warmest clean tones coming from a non-Fender but the expected bells & chimes are indeed absent.
The Drive 1 channel is a crunch drive setting, by default it has the FX already dialed in. The general expectation of a ‘crunch’ drive would be a slight raunchiness useful in nuance-enhanced picking so prevalent among the blues proponents but what’s on offer here is a drive nature which is beyond mild. Controlling the gain would serve to vary the drive amount but not its depth. If you wish for a smooth upper end response a Tubescreamer-type substitute has to be brought into the set up.
Moving on to the Drive 2 alternative, the drive intensity here is fanatical, serving the metal mongers & other distortion advocates with ease. This is the channel to turn to for soaring neck pickup leads & the drive definition is healthy enough to maintain single note clarity across the neck register. With such ferocity on offer, pedal reliance takes a back seat.
Conclusion
Is 350W overkill for domestic use? Definitely, but if you choose to tame the gain & have distortion pedals work overtime to address your drive needs, the VTX volume levels can be increased for more aural pleasure while remaining acceptable to your neighbours (assuming you like them). However, it defeats the purpose of acquiring this amp since its voicing definition lies with what each channel has to offer, the reason it has 3 by default. If you are in need of an amp for small performance venues, this amp will oblige; it has enough sonic assault to rattle b*llocks some 50m away, give it a full stack set up & it’s arena grade assault at your disposal.
The default FX/ delay options would sadly be of secondary reliance because these are limited to digital calibration further restricted by a tier approach incrementation, there are no gradual subtleties to help you fine tune that acute requirement. There would also be limited fans of a solid state voicing because we know that at higher volume settings, nothing beats the saturation of power valves- period. Nevertheless, you’d be surprised with the organic tones coming from this VTX that would give its tube proponents a run for their money. Since Peavey up the ante for non-tube performances, many other manufacturers are following suit. We should be thankful that the VTX series of amps by Crate are keeping the competition healthy.
Rating: 7.5/ 10
Likes
• Default tones
• Ease of use
• Integrated tuner
• Reverb
Dislikes
• On-board FX/ Delay offer limited calibration
• Volume responses
Worthy competitors
• Ibanez TB100H
• Marshall MG100HDFX
