What amp sounds like the Crate Stealth

  • Thread starter Thread starter BrentSSL
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BrentSSL

BrentSSL

Active member
Ok I know this is ridiculous but I love the tone out if my crate stealth 100 watt head. I would love to find an amp with similar or exact tone if this amp with better build quality and 6l6 tubes. I'm looking for it in a $400 to $1000 maybe even $2000. Any ideas for something that might have a similar tone and feel?
 
Not ridiculous, I'd take a Stealth over some other amps I've had. The only one that reminds me of a Stealth would be the Randall RD100 head, and I'd take the Stealth over it. The Randall needed an eq in the loop and the Stealth didn't. A JCM 800 with a nice boost is what Lee Jackson was going for with the stealth, he put his Marshall mod into the circuit of the crate. Now, a JCM 800 will stomp all over a Stealth but when you can buy the crate for 2-300 bucks? Quiet as hell, decent clean and 2 more gain channels? Reverb and a loop? Please. Best bang for the buck out there in the used market. Just pull the Crate logo off lol... :rock:
 
Lol I'm just worried it might not hold up to steady gigging I was thinking Splawn might be close
 
BrentSSL":304utcm2 said:
Lol I'm just worried it might not hold up to steady gigging
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Get a trustworthy tech to give it a all-round health check and replace any components that seem to be on the way out.

And might as well pick up another one as a backup when you see a cheap one. :lol: :LOL:
 
I think the last one I had, 149.99 combo from GC used. A little different than yours, they take 4 6V6 power tubes for 50 watts. I actually liked that tone a bit more than the EL34 version you have. I'd grab one of those, and make sure you clean the fx loop jacks. They get dirty like old JCM 800/Jubilee fx jacks and cause intermittent issues. Also, I think I read somewhere that the 50w version can take 2 6L6 tubes? Google it..I'm sure I read that. Or maybe Lee Jacksons website mentions it?
 
Was the Stealth the Soldano head? If so, he did one for Yamaha as well. Can't speak to the build quality, but I imagine it's a similar circuit.
 
Why not just get a marshall dsl?not very expensive and sounds as.good or better than a splawn or numerous other amps that cost tons more and emulate marshalls anyway......I know tone is subjective,so some are harder to please than others......could also likely find a lee jackaon head useD for a good price.....I came across a halfstack not too long ago for $800....didn't buy it,wasn't something I was intersted in but they are out there....
 
shredhead7":1stbfugv said:
Was the Stealth the Soldano head? If so, he did one for Yamaha as well. Can't speak to the build quality, but I imagine it's a similar circuit.
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You are.thinking if the yamaha t100 by soldano....the stealth was a.lee.jackson design....he did the ampeg as well.....but the t100 is a good option.....don't go in thinking it is an slo or hotrod and you will be fine.....soldano flair bit totally different anD sounds great
 
alowerdeep":2qb1wpuw said:
Why not just get a marshall dsl?not very expensive and sounds as.good or better than a splawn or numerous other amps that cost tons more and emulate marshalls anyway......I know tone is subjective,so some are harder to please than others......could also likely find a lee jackaon head useD for a good price.....I came across a halfstack not too long ago for $800....didn't buy it,wasn't something I was intersted in but they are out there....
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No disrespect, its your opinion of course, but I've owned a jcm2000 dsl and it does not sounds as good as a splawn, the Quick Rod in reference.

The splawn's tone is much more organic, focused, natural if you will. no fizz, pure tone.

I always felt that the dsl's high gain sucked, no depth, all fizz. A bad attempt to compete with the modern high gainers back then.

The dsl's classic, green channel was where it was at. Imo, the splawn is better.
 
Is it the quick rod or the nitro that has a metallica vibe to it?
 
BrentSSL":2weag0nx said:
Is it the quick rod or the nitro that has a metallica vibe to it?
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I would say the nitro. The quickrod is very focused, tight, unforgiving. Not exactly a modern high gain, although it can be used for that obviously.
When he made the nitro some years back, he made it to be a different animal to the QR, not as tight and easy for legato etc..

IMO, the QR is one kick ass amp ! Marshall on roids, fire breather.
 
Non taken in terms of the disrespect....I've owned a the qr and nitro,didnt like either....thought the dsl was a better sounding amp and a lot less money,after all,most of these boutiquers are just cloning marshalls........but I hear ya,tone is very subjective.......
 
He's talking about the preamp gain I'm sure. Lots of amps have diode clipping, Jubilees/2210/05s to name a few. If that's what he means. Really, lots of guys boost their rigs with solid state pedals so what's the difference? If it sounds good, it sounds good!
 
alowerdeep":3voivs1j said:
Non taken in terms of the disrespect....I've owned a the qr and nitro,didnt like either....thought the dsl was a better sounding amp and a lot less money,after all,most of these boutiquers are just cloning marshalls........but I hear ya,tone is very subjective.......
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Agree, we all hear something to our tastes, sometimes its different. Beauty of it :thumbsup:
 
Racerxrated":3sdct6vs said:
He's talking about the preamp gain I'm sure. Lots of amps have diode clipping, Jubilees/2210/05s to name a few. If that's what he means. Really, lots of guys boost their rigs with solid state pedals so what's the difference? If it sounds good, it sounds good!
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Completely agree and thanks for the info that makes more sense now why it sounds like it does
 
ElectricVoodoo":2dccr8b3 said:
alowerdeep":2dccr8b3 said:
Non taken in terms of the disrespect....I've owned a the qr and nitro,didnt like either....thought the dsl was a better sounding amp and a lot less money,after all,most of these boutiquers are just cloning marshalls........but I hear ya,tone is very subjective.......
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Agree, we all hear something to our tastes, sometimes its different. Beauty of it :thumbsup:
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I finally got to play a QR...liked it! Nice amp, more my thing than the Nitro I tried way back.
 
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