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What happened to the Crate Powerblock?

Does anyone know why Crate dropped the CPB150 Powerblock? I thought it was a great little head amp. We bought 2 of them as backups but find ourselves using them all the time. They are so much easier to lug around and set up then our full size amps. And they have plenty of power for most situations. It is too bad that they no longer are being sold. Again, does anyone know the reason why Crate discontinued the Powerblock?

Comments

  • supposed to have a replacement model

    Wish I'd have grabbed more when GC closed them out for $59
  • That's what I had expected. It's just that it doesn't seem to make much sence to stop selling a great little amp like the Powerblock until the new revision was ready to ship. If they make it better that will be great. But the original was pretty darn good the way it was.

    I got mine on sale for $99.00 but I cashed in some coupons and other promos on the deal - out of pocket expense for me was about $25.00! My brohter-in-law still refers to my Powerblock as the cheap one and not to be confused with his $200.00 Powerblock. He bought his when they first came out. We don't have GC where I live, but I would have bought another one or two powerblocks at the closeout price of $59.00. What a deal.
  • I was wondering that myself? I paid $200 for mine & it's whorth every penny of it!! Sounds great, works well with the GNX4, & has held up great!! Not a problem at all. I have been currently using a Valve JR at Church & the Block at home when I'm not using headphones. It's a great Amp 8)
  • Holy Cow! I have a PB150, and I thought for sure they'd be around for a while (I'd love to get another one), but neither musiciansfriend nor sweetwater has one! Dumb move Crate! And this after I raved about it on another forum... Sheesh!
  • Holy Cow! I have a PB150, and I thought for sure they'd be around for a while (I'd love to get another one), but neither musiciansfriend nor sweetwater has one! Dumb move Crate! And this after I raved about it on another forum... Sheesh!

    Hey welcome man 8) Yeah I realy like mine alot :D I've been using a Valve JR at Church For my Personal Monitor Amp. very Cool little Amp as well for 99 bucks :shock:
  • I just bought one with a crate quad (w/celestions) from ebay for $500 au. The store on ebay turned out to be my local music store having a sale lol.
    You yanks are very lucky. In australia the powerblock retails at $300 au. Even with the exchange taken into account that is over twice the amount.

    A couple questions though, how are people using this with their gnx4? And, how do they control the master volume?
  • I run it mono and go in through the front input. Using it through the back was very touchy, but it is do-able. Turn the output volume down quite a bit on the GNX4 if you want to run it in though the back. Going through the fron actually seems to add a little tube-like warmth to the sound. Partch is the expert on this thing, though.
  • When I go portable with the Crate Powerblock, I also have a small mixer to go with it. I plug everything into the mixer and send the signal out to the Powerblocks rear inputs. I use the master (and sub) volumne control on the mixer to control the volume. It really works great that way.

    I will agree that the Powerblock's front input seems to add warmth to the tone and then you can control the volume on the Powerblock itself. But everything in my setup is in stereo, so I use the Powerblock's rear stereo inputs and use it as a portable power amp. I can adjust the lows, mids, and highs on each channel of my mixer.
  • Yeah there all Valid ways. For me it was in the front for the extra warmth & eaze of use. I found it way to brittle & touchy going into the back of the unit. Anyhow great Amp!! I currently use it only at home for jamming. I use & leave a Valve JR at Church now for Live Worship Service. Even though the block is small & portable it's one less thing for me to carry back & forth :D

    Although I probably could have got it set up to work going in the EFX Loop just did not mess with it for more than 5 min?? & when I tried it the other way I was so imprressed I just have always stayed with it that way 8)
  • After playin with it for a while, I've settled on going into the effects loop/cd input. It just seems a little more transparent due to the absence of preamp. The only problem is that it is very sensitive to output levels on the gnx.

    Great little amp!
  • You can still find them. One of the Akron GC retailers had about 4 left. $79
    Check the retail chains
  • I want to sell my power block
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