The Crate - VC 5212 is an amplifier. Close alternatives include the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp and the Bad Cat Black Cat. It pairs well with the Carl Martin PlexiTone and the Carl Martin Crunch Drive.
Crate - VC 5212
Unknown brand · amplifier
The Crate Vintage Club 50 (VC5212) is a 50-watt all-valve 2x12 combo running four EL84s in the power section with 12AX7s in front — an unusual choice at this wattage, since EL84s are more often found in 15-30 watt British designs. Pushing four of them to 50 watts gives the compressed, chimey break-up of a smaller class-A amp with enough output to hold a stage, which is why the early-90s Vintage Club series still has a following.
- drive
- fizzy
- platform
- exceptional tones
- gain
- clean
- stage
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Pedals that stack with the Crate - VC 5212
Carl Martin PlexiTone
Carl Martin
24% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Carl Martin PlexiTone gives it high gain to fill it with
Carl Martin Crunch Drive
Carl Martin
20% matchCarl Martin Crunch Drive's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Crate - VC 5212 delivers it
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
20% matchMarshall Guv'nor is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Crate - VC 5212 gives it exactly that
MXR Flanger
MXR
13% matchKeep MXR Flanger after Crate - VC 5212 in the signal chain, clear of Crate - VC 5212's own gain stage
Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini
Dunlop
12% matchDunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Crate - VC 5212 delivers it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor
Sahbro Audio
10% matchSahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
7% matchKeep Crate - VC 5212's harsh voice out front: Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay goes in Crate - VC 5212's effects loop so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchFender Hammertone Overdrive is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Crate - VC 5212 gives it exactly that
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Black Cat
Bad Cat
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Bogner Ecstasy 101B
Bogner
94% similaritysimilar tone character
PRS Archon
PRS
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall DSL20HR Head
Marshall
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Club 40
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Vox Ac30 1960s
Vox
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar ST. James 100 Head
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
Roland
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar IDX:50
Blackstar
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall JVM210C Combo
Marshall
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Dr. Z Maz 38
Dr Z
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Crate - VC 5212 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Crate - VC 5212?+
The closest matches in character are the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, the Bad Cat Black Cat, the Bogner Ecstasy 101B.
What pairs well with the Crate - VC 5212?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Carl Martin PlexiTone, Carl Martin Crunch Drive, Marshall Guv'nor — The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Carl Martin PlexiTone gives it high gain to fill it with.