The Crate Flexwave 65 is a Crate amplifier, currently around $337.04. Close alternatives include the Crate FlexWave 65/112 3-Channel 65-Watt 1x12" and the Crate VFX 5212. It pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas and the Pigtronix Octava Micro.
Crate Flexwave 65
Crate · amplifier
The Crate Flexwave 65 (FW65) is a 65-watt solid-state guitar combo amplifier from Crate, a budget-oriented American amp brand. The Flexwave series features a solid-state preamp with switchable clean and lead channel voicings alongside a 3-band EQ and reverb. At 65 watts through a single 12-inch speaker it is designed for practice, home rehearsal, and small venue use at an accessible price point. Crate amps were widely used as entry-level and backup instruments in the 1990s and 2000s.
- rehearsal
- practice
- eq
- reverb
- overall tone
- gain
- clean
- preamp
Good for
- Live
- Practice
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Crate Flexwave 65 is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
- Rock
Pedals that stack with the Crate Flexwave 65
EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
EarthQuaker Devices
18% matchEarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Pigtronix Octava Micro
Pigtronix
18% matchPigtronix Octava Micro's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Way Huge Swollen Pickle
Way Huge
18% matchInto a transparent tone, Way Huge Swollen Pickle brings the fuzzy it's missing
Dunlop JD-4S Rotovibe
pedal
13% matchPut Dunlop JD-4S Rotovibe after Crate Flexwave 65 in the signal chain, clear of Crate Flexwave 65's own gain stage
Xotic SP Compressor
Xotic
9% matchXotic SP Compressor's own mid-forward character is the real reason this is worth trying
Fender Hammertone Reverb
Fender
6% matchKeep Crate Flexwave 65's transparent voice out front: Fender Hammertone Reverb goes in Crate Flexwave 65's effects loop so its lush voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Old Blood Noise Endeavors BL-44 Reverse
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
6% matchRun Old Blood Noise Endeavors BL-44 Reverse in Crate Flexwave 65's effects loop, clear of Crate Flexwave 65's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchTone City Dry Martini's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Crate Flexwave 65 delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Crate FlexWave 65/112 3-Channel 65-Watt 1x12"
Crate
62% similarityShared character: pedalboard, solid_state, practice
Crate VFX 5212
Crate
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Marco Mendoza
Blackstar
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Orange Crush Pro CR60C
Orange
91% similaritysimilar tone character
BluGuitar Amp1
Bluguitar
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney LX65R
Laney
91% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Crate Flexwave 65 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Crate Flexwave 65?+
The closest matches in character are the Crate FlexWave 65/112 3-Channel 65-Watt 1x12", the Crate VFX 5212, the Blackstar Marco Mendoza. Budget picks: Kustom 2.0 100 Watt 1X12", Laney LX35R. Boutique upgrades: Traynor AM Studio.
What pairs well with the Crate Flexwave 65?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas, Pigtronix Octava Micro, Way Huge Swollen Pickle — EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Crate Flexwave 65 cost?+
Around $337.04 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).