I like the Blackheart the best without pedal and the Crate the best with the peddle. The fender sounded pretty good all around except when the extra gain was on where it sounds like crap
I think the fender sounds a bit too bassy for me, btw, I got a little giant, and the best part of it is the range of its treble and bass, it can get a pretty tight and deep sound, and a great crunch vibe. Really, even costing twice, I would go for the blackheart.
Pretty easy for me.. my heart goes out to the Handsome Devil. Crate is too tweaked even without using a pedal. The fender has a great sound, no doubt about that but the Blackheart has this nice vintage tone to it. Reminds me of Randy Rhoads among others from that era.. I just ordered one after watching a lot of reviews on youtube. Can't wait till the end of the week when it arrives!
I've no idea how this clown got teh crate to sound so mid scooped, if everything is set a noon, I have a V32, which is really just a bigger watt version of the 18, and it sounds NOTHING like this, even with the MID's completely scooped; This sounds likea cheap dist. pedal, when in reality this amp has a great tone, very flexible, it goes from pristine cleans to all out melt your face metal (without any pedals in front) Bah, tis guy call himself the tone king? More like Tone Clown
@marviosantos i disagree...my palomino v16 gets fucking awesome tones but i think his v18 actually sounded great here...better than the other amps even...i hear the v32 has great distortion! i put my v16 through a 212 cab and it sounds fucking amazing...i would honestly recommend putting your v32 through a 412 because the headroom makes all the difference!!!!
@maciverandy Key factor being you have a "Palomino" - not a "V" series. There's "VC" (vintage club), "Palomino", and "V". VC is the original.Crate split the line into 2, creating the Palomino
The "V" is a P.O.S. made in china with a single shared EQ (that is voiced oddly in each channel) and cheap speakers (but works good as a low cost SINGLE CHANNEL amp if you only want to use the clean channel). "VC" is made in USA,has two separate EQs, loaded with V30s. Palomino is somewhere in between
@phillyfrankb my 15watt palomino is a single channel amp...i use a tube screamer for when i need to get dirty. the palomino v32 has 2 channels. i also have the v33 head which is made in china but has the soldano mod so it sounds a lot better when you switch to the gain channel. all i'm trying to say in my last comment is that some lower priced amps can give pretty sweet tones. for example the handsome devil series sound fucking amazing! and the old crate vintage clubs sound good as well.
I suppose we are expected to say Fender but in this test the Crate came out as the most responsive I think. Maybe I'm a bit biased after picking up an old Crate G40C on Ebay with an amazingly responsive clean channel though its 2x8* Celestions speakers - ideal for Jazz. The chorus is superb - the best I've come across
Your supposed to be the tone king but thats all you can get out of the blackheart. I have one and it just sings and excelles at everything from jazz to metal depending on which pedal I use but even without a pedal I can make it sound way better than what you managed to get out of it. Its very AC/DC. I love the amp
I thought the crate sounded like crap. I like the Fender and Blackheart sounds. I agree that the Blackheart does have that 70's southern rock vibe. The Fender is classic and works well with the pedal. I like the Fender, but for the bucks... I would get the Blackheart. Its ability to switch amp power for playing in a smaller venue makes it very attractive. I currently play through a variety of amps (Egnater Rebel 20, Fender Blues Jr., & a Rivera Clubster).
Everybody hears different, I like the sound of the Fender but, you pay alot for the name, thats just life. I liked the sound of the Crate but, when I went to the store I played the Crate and Blackheart--I came home with the Blackheart and I love it and you can't beat the price.
@A7xMATTa7x1 The vypyr series is awful and the speaker sucks in them. I have the 60 wt tube or as i like to say true hybrid amp. For clean and crunch its great thats about it. The solid amps are good though for distorion but suck for cleans. Sub to my channel and within the month i should be posting some music reviews. Youll see wat i mean. I have aa video of me drunk playing the 6o wt tube amp the day afte ri bought it if yoy want thoug. using a webcam mic only.
sounds like the blackheart is missing a lot of freqs (and volume) cause of mic placement... could be my idea though as i've never heard one up close...
This is a great example of why I came to the conclusion recently that seeing youtube gear reviews is a waste of time. These 3 amps sound good to my ears over the computer, and I was almost convinced to get a Crate V18. But the other day I tried em all out at the store (and used to own a Fender DeVille). My conclusion: it's a crime to compare that Fender to the Crate piece of junk. And the Blackheart sounds nice but is very limited and only loud enough for recording or bedroom. Don't buy the hype
I own a Blackheart Handsome Devil 15 and it is definately loud enough (as a half stack) for rehersals or live gigs un mic'd! Plenty of headroom with the gain switch down to have a clean sound at levels that sit above a drummer!
The Crate has a rich ballsy tone but since I only want a head I'm gonna go for the blackheart. also the handsome devil has the output switch to drop to 7 watts so you can keep the volume down but keep it cranked. unfortunately it doesnt have spring reverb like the v18. the fender sounds too airy for my taste like it has no thump.
Well at least this video shows why the Fender is the most expensive: because it has the best and most lively tone! The Crate may be more metally, but to me it just sounds like a metal can. The Blackheart is ok, but it still doesn't have the character the Fender does.
As an old Crate guy, and realizing Crate has made some less than desirerable amps, I have to say that the V-18 sounds the best. I realize I am probably a little biased as I just bought a V-33 2x12, but i hear a clarity and tone that the others just lack. It was more in your face than the others. Great video.....
I just sold my hot rod deluxe and ordered a Handsome devil combo and a Blackstar HT dual pedal. I'm optimistic...... BTW the Fender blues deluxe re issue is a lot nicer than the HRD. Somehow you make the HRD sound good but it was always a blues tone only amp for me,
can you do a shoot out with the same guitar but with a line 6 spider 4 half stack and a ibanez tone blaster 150h i know they are lower end amps but i would really love to hear that and if you do decide to do that can you send me a message saying you made it
I'd say Fender, Crate, then the Blackheat. The fender sounds smooth and well rounded, the Crate has more of a metal sound thats deeper. The Blacheart I'd say sounds too thin, it doesnt have enough of a frequency spectrum to be run in high gain like that. It just sounds cheap and crappy. Props goes to Crate for being better and cheaper than the Blackheart.
The fullness of the Crate here is due to its cathode biased EL84 output tubes. I have a Crate VC50 and the head room is unbelievable, blows away any 100watt head i've ever played next to. Crate solid state may suck but their tube amps kick butt.
Just so ya know the Blackheart is made by Crate. I played the 100 Watt head and it sounds amazing. I always Hated Crate amps but the Blackheart series blows there other stuff out of the water.
I think the Fender might sound better in real life. I played the Crate V18 and the Fender HR deluxe and I think the Fender HR Deluxe sounded smoother.
Nice review! I own the Fender so I am very familiar with it and it's variety of tones with the three channels. 4 of 5... The V18 sounds scooped to the hilt, useful at times, but in a mix would end up cutting/losing the low end to make room for the bass e.t.c 2.5 of 5. The BH sounds interesting... I am not sure if I can grade it with commitment though. It is a 7/15 watt amp shooting against the 40 watt or 18 watt. anyway-it sounded decent to fair and better with the pedal. 3 of 5 w potntl.
took a minute and a half to hear any noise and then when I finally hear anything it sounds like it's been recorded on a nokia 3310. the guitar is disgusting.
I didn't swear. YouTube comments are full of swearing.
the black heart would probably sound amazing with a tube distortion pedal. i'd like to see that, or a tube screamer or english muff'n with a black heart hot head
The fender sounded a little better,but for the money you could buy the crate amp,and about 3 good pedals and make any sound you want. I have the crate v33 and it was the best buy i ever made.
My favorite is the Crate V18. It has a great distortion sound and from owners experience it also has a great clean sound. The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is my second choice, I'm not a big fan of the Black Heart Handsome Devil.
It's kinda tough with the guitar he's using - active pups are not the best to be using for a shoot out for higher gain settings. I like the Fender best in this demo, even though setting the amps all at 12 o'clock, while keeping the shoot out "fair" does not really show the true tone of the amps. Again, with these variables I would have to say the Fender wins.
the reason the blackheart sounds so hollow is because its an open back...on a 4x12 it sounds absolutely massive, and i think its a lot clearer than the crate or fender...the crate just sounds like sh..t on this vid, but idk, i've never heard it in person..the fender sounds very good in person but meh....its just personal taste
well, i took the tone king's advice and got an ibanez art300, AWESOME guitar, but anyway, i was actually looking for an amp and the little giant/ handsome devil were my top picks, then i searched it, and saw the handsome devil being played with the same guitar i own, unlike guitar world, they play with esp ec-1000 or gibson les pauls and stuff i could never afford. but ANYWAY. i think the tone king should do a full demo of ibanez art300 + blackheart handsome devil.
Blackheart: A little hollow, lacking on the bottom end. Has the most high end, not quite as thick as the fender. This amp sounds brighter than the others, and I think it sounds best with the pedal.
Crate: Sounds kinda digital. Horrible...
Fender: better than I thought, a little dead sounding. Noisy. Pretty good though. With the pedal engaged it sounds a lot better. Still noisy and sounds like your getting some feedback.
I have a the Crate and the way he set it up sounds horrible. I do not use any effects pedals. You do not need to, the only thing I use is the volume pots on my guitar. The Digital sound is coming strictly from the Krank pedal. To be 100% honest the pedal makes all this amps sound digital.
The Crate is okay, I bought it just because I wanted to see if tubes were for me. I only paid $200. I love the sound the amp produces. I still miss my solid state. Yeah,he ruined all of these amps sounds.
Well I've recently purchased a blues junior NOS which I actually think sounded better than any of those amps. I thought it was better than the deluxe reverb reissue, but then again they work for totally different sounds.
the handsome devil has that 70's vintage tone which i happen to like, if you want that mid swept sound like the crate just cut/dail in the mids. either way all great amps great video but IMO handsome devil is for me
hot rod is bassier, crate has more of a mid thing going on, and the black heart has more of the high mids and treble going on. They all sound pretty good. I think the v18 is the one you would get if you are more into metal. It sounds pretty freakin' aggressive in this video.
I know, Its weird especially since blackheart is made by crate. But the crate sounded rally muted or mid swept and the blackheart sounded really clear and alot like the old amps from the 70s and early 80s. And well I'm old and like that sound.
i have a that crate with a boss metal zone pedal and a cry baby classic and a b.c rich special edition (bich) guitar sounds awsome with master of puppets and slayer songs
i think the crate sounded the cleanest of them all but i guess you really cant tell cause he used a pedalll.he should of used just the amps....but hey im no pro its just my opinion
Liked the blackheart. More vintage sounding, more clear, more bite, pretty sure will cut better thru the mix. Not as much gaing but for me no problem. Perfect for blues and classic rock.
dam the blackheart is awsome some bro , i know my next amp of choice that ampo was cranking,and im up for one ot the art100 ibz to , thanks for the vids
if its a shoot out between the amps i think he shouldnt have used a pedal because it will add something different depending on how the amp reacts to it imo
They all sound awful. Why test them with the gain all the way up? All I hear here are varying degrees of mush. Hotrod Deluxe is a beautiful sounding amp for the money. Here it sounds like shit.
It is his mic. this is a horrible representation of all amps. Not fair to say any of them sound like garbage like some are saying. that blackheart is really a sweet sounding warm amp, I have played it personally.
Just had a listen to the pro guitar shop review of the Blackheart. Its a great little amp.This video doesn't do any of these amps justice. Badly put together videos like this probably do more harm than good if like me you are looking to buy a new amp.
FYI I own a blackheart handsome devil and it really does NOT sound like that his mic must be horrible. The handsome devil puts both the cheap V18 and the overpriced HRD to shame.
The Blackheart sounds absolutely awful!!! Sounds like a tinny little practice amp. The Hot Rod Deluxe is my favorite amp ever, but the Crate sounded just as good if not better on this video. It had the fullest and most well-rounded sound of the three by far. I wish you had played some clean since that's where the Hot Rod really shines. For this video, however, it's 1.Crate 2. Fender and 4. Blackheart (sorry it didn't even deserve 3rd).
Ok. I believe the Blackheart sounds "tiny" because he is using a camera and i think if TTK would invest in some mic equipment then it may sound better. Check out PGS review, its not as "tiny"
Come on TTK! you have everything else in the world!! Mic it up!!!
Tone is subjective, so I suppose one might find something to like in all three, but man that V18 sounds just awful to me - no sweetness whatsoever! Gotta go with the Blackheart. No doubt, it would be the most versatile in terms of a solid base tone + your favorite pedals.
man does that blackheart sound tiny...and the crate sounds WAY more balls to the walls than i expected. it would be between the HRD and the V18 for me but the HRD is like $500 more...
i want to ask if you changed the speaker on the V18, bc I own the V18, bough it new NOT used and NOT scratch n dent. brand new.
it seems like your crate is not nearly as bassy as mine is, if your controls really are at 12 oclock (straight up and down). i was just wondering if you changed the speaker.
additionally id like to make a point that i thin kthe Crate V18s CLEAN sound is Better than the Fenders, and its a lot cheaper.
Don't get me wrong, i'm a huge fan of fender amps, but the fender sounds best on clean, or slightly distorted. When he adds a lot of distortion, it starts to lose it's tube vibe, and sounds like a cheap Marshall practice amp. not to mention the fender's the most expensive. The Blackheart is 2nd because of lack of features, and least wattage of the three. The Crate wins because of the bassiness, and that gives it a more rounded out tone, and price
Overall the Deluxe has the best warm sound. The metal "metallic" sounds wails from the Crate. The Blackheart is a good mix of an overall Marshall characteristic. The boost attributes of the Deluxe are very unheard, but the Blackheart indeed finds favor and definatelly wins the boosted category.
The crate has more of that fat in your face sound, drop in a different speaker and away you go. but that being said, clean pure tone goes to the Fender as always.
I definitely liked the crate the most. It had a warmer, fuller tone. The fender just didnt sound like a fender should. Then again, when i think fender, i dont think about all out gain. And the blackheart just sounded so thin an one dimensional. Atleast, thats just my opinion.
I actually think that the Black Heart is the best sounding amp of the three. It really delivers on the lower strings, the gain has a good focus like the crates, but its a lot warmer.
The fender amp would sound the best when played with fender guitar. You could probably really get that tubular-like sound when playing on the neck pickup of a Strat. My problem with the fender is that i don't like the gain on it unless you're playing with a single coil guitar.
crate was the best.
EandLstudio 4 weeks ago
I'm going to say the crate was the best sounding. the hansome devil was junk.
Brandon0648 1 month ago
I like the Blackheart the best without pedal and the Crate the best with the peddle. The fender sounded pretty good all around except when the extra gain was on where it sounds like crap
nodnod 4 months ago
this review really sucks! who would use theese amp with the active pickups for some metal-like shit :((
sebous666 7 months ago
Fender sounds best, bottom end on the crate is too muddy, the blackheart has no bottom.
JeffryArntzen 7 months ago
don't use a pedal to compare these!!! I have a crate v18 and it sounds delicious as is
markkkkkola 8 months ago
The tone king sounds like hank from Breaking Bad
markkkkkola 8 months ago
I think the fender sounds a bit too bassy for me, btw, I got a little giant, and the best part of it is the range of its treble and bass, it can get a pretty tight and deep sound, and a great crunch vibe. Really, even costing twice, I would go for the blackheart.
hugoalfa 9 months ago
Pretty easy for me.. my heart goes out to the Handsome Devil. Crate is too tweaked even without using a pedal. The fender has a great sound, no doubt about that but the Blackheart has this nice vintage tone to it. Reminds me of Randy Rhoads among others from that era.. I just ordered one after watching a lot of reviews on youtube. Can't wait till the end of the week when it arrives!
jvnktube 9 months ago
The Fender By Far is the best but come on , The PRICES are nowhere near close . Dollar for dollar the BlackHeart is the best deal . - Jerry
hutchfromba 9 months ago
I've no idea how this clown got teh crate to sound so mid scooped, if everything is set a noon, I have a V32, which is really just a bigger watt version of the 18, and it sounds NOTHING like this, even with the MID's completely scooped; This sounds likea cheap dist. pedal, when in reality this amp has a great tone, very flexible, it goes from pristine cleans to all out melt your face metal (without any pedals in front) Bah, tis guy call himself the tone king? More like Tone Clown
marviosantos 9 months ago
@marviosantos i disagree...my palomino v16 gets fucking awesome tones but i think his v18 actually sounded great here...better than the other amps even...i hear the v32 has great distortion! i put my v16 through a 212 cab and it sounds fucking amazing...i would honestly recommend putting your v32 through a 412 because the headroom makes all the difference!!!!
maciverandy 8 months ago
@maciverandy Key factor being you have a "Palomino" - not a "V" series. There's "VC" (vintage club), "Palomino", and "V". VC is the original.Crate split the line into 2, creating the Palomino
The "V" is a P.O.S. made in china with a single shared EQ (that is voiced oddly in each channel) and cheap speakers (but works good as a low cost SINGLE CHANNEL amp if you only want to use the clean channel). "VC" is made in USA,has two separate EQs, loaded with V30s. Palomino is somewhere in between
phillyfrankb 5 months ago
@phillyfrankb my 15watt palomino is a single channel amp...i use a tube screamer for when i need to get dirty. the palomino v32 has 2 channels. i also have the v33 head which is made in china but has the soldano mod so it sounds a lot better when you switch to the gain channel. all i'm trying to say in my last comment is that some lower priced amps can give pretty sweet tones. for example the handsome devil series sound fucking amazing! and the old crate vintage clubs sound good as well.
maciverandy 5 months ago
I'd have to go with the Crate. It just sounds SO fat and rich!! Just how I like my women!! hehe :-)
BigRedPower59 10 months ago
I suppose we are expected to say Fender but in this test the Crate came out as the most responsive I think. Maybe I'm a bit biased after picking up an old Crate G40C on Ebay with an amazingly responsive clean channel though its 2x8* Celestions speakers - ideal for Jazz. The chorus is superb - the best I've come across
zthetha 11 months ago
Your supposed to be the tone king but thats all you can get out of the blackheart. I have one and it just sings and excelles at everything from jazz to metal depending on which pedal I use but even without a pedal I can make it sound way better than what you managed to get out of it. Its very AC/DC. I love the amp
krispatel1 11 months ago
I thought the crate sounded like crap. I like the Fender and Blackheart sounds. I agree that the Blackheart does have that 70's southern rock vibe. The Fender is classic and works well with the pedal. I like the Fender, but for the bucks... I would get the Blackheart. Its ability to switch amp power for playing in a smaller venue makes it very attractive. I currently play through a variety of amps (Egnater Rebel 20, Fender Blues Jr., & a Rivera Clubster).
MrHeartofworship 11 months ago
I think the fender is more versatile than the other 2, the crate is mainly for metal, and the blackheart is for rock (Zeppelin, The Who, etc.)
jackwontknow1 1 year ago
god i really like the sound of that v18
maciverandy 1 year ago
Everybody hears different, I like the sound of the Fender but, you pay alot for the name, thats just life. I liked the sound of the Crate but, when I went to the store I played the Crate and Blackheart--I came home with the Blackheart and I love it and you can't beat the price.
chemqueGuest 1 year ago
I like the peavey vypyr 15 xD
but out of jkes the blackheart is awsome
Acronso 1 year ago
@Acronso i love the vypyr series, be watt has a horrible speaker.
A7xMATTa7x1 1 year ago
@A7xMATTa7x1 The vypyr series is awful and the speaker sucks in them. I have the 60 wt tube or as i like to say true hybrid amp. For clean and crunch its great thats about it. The solid amps are good though for distorion but suck for cleans. Sub to my channel and within the month i should be posting some music reviews. Youll see wat i mean. I have aa video of me drunk playing the 6o wt tube amp the day afte ri bought it if yoy want thoug. using a webcam mic only.
MrZerox123 11 months ago
crate have a better bass,like metal
Javier13javier 1 year ago
sounds like the blackheart is missing a lot of freqs (and volume) cause of mic placement... could be my idea though as i've never heard one up close...
SonicMew 1 year ago
Blackheart are so cool
Matiaz11 1 year ago
i have the CRATE PALOMINO 16 and it makes me blow a load everytime i play it...crate makes wonderfull amps people...get over the name hating!!!
maciverandy 1 year ago
@maciverandy
Did you know Black Heart Eng is a subsiduary of Crate?
YOUareALLasleep 1 year ago
@YOUareALLasleep yeah...i wish i had the money to get the blackheart 15watt combo...but all the crate tube amps are fantastic!!!
maciverandy 1 year ago
you need to start micing these for a real represenation, the whole things sketchy otherwise :\
professorlamp 1 year ago
crate for the win!
blackheart was not so good...
i can't hear any differents by the fender XD
and the crate was almost perfect for me :P
so its crate for me
GoudVis56667 1 year ago
Fender was the best. And that's not just because I have one...
UuWHITEPANTHERuU 1 year ago
you should demo the new fender hot rod 3 series
MegaFenderstrat 1 year ago
This is a great example of why I came to the conclusion recently that seeing youtube gear reviews is a waste of time. These 3 amps sound good to my ears over the computer, and I was almost convinced to get a Crate V18. But the other day I tried em all out at the store (and used to own a Fender DeVille). My conclusion: it's a crime to compare that Fender to the Crate piece of junk. And the Blackheart sounds nice but is very limited and only loud enough for recording or bedroom. Don't buy the hype
pablovibes 1 year ago
@pablovibes
I own a Blackheart Handsome Devil 15 and it is definately loud enough (as a half stack) for rehersals or live gigs un mic'd! Plenty of headroom with the gain switch down to have a clean sound at levels that sit above a drummer!
bestchris 1 year ago
The Crate has a rich ballsy tone but since I only want a head I'm gonna go for the blackheart. also the handsome devil has the output switch to drop to 7 watts so you can keep the volume down but keep it cranked. unfortunately it doesnt have spring reverb like the v18. the fender sounds too airy for my taste like it has no thump.
Dasilvarenegade 1 year ago
Well at least this video shows why the Fender is the most expensive: because it has the best and most lively tone! The Crate may be more metally, but to me it just sounds like a metal can. The Blackheart is ok, but it still doesn't have the character the Fender does.
danakerman 1 year ago
Fender is the best, but I like the Blackheart. It would be good to hear it with adjustments in the mids.
Crate is really a metal amp IMO.
TJayee1 1 year ago
I liked the Crate. It seemed to have more body to the sound than the others.
jjvh66 1 year ago
Wow i want a V18 its cheapest and has such a great sound
j1nt3tsu 1 year ago
For Blues/rock lead the Blackheart wins, For rhytym/metal Crate wins, and for all around general sound the Fender wins.
cognitiveguerilla 1 year ago 2
It should be a sin to even own a line 6 spyder...
mullen2105 1 year ago
Blackheart!!!
geetarman58 1 year ago
The Fender whooped the other two...
six6wings 1 year ago
man i love crate....yes...
riyan1288 1 year ago
I liked the Blakcheart tone the best. But I'd like to see the same without the active PUs.
Dread58 1 year ago 2
As an old Crate guy, and realizing Crate has made some less than desirerable amps, I have to say that the V-18 sounds the best. I realize I am probably a little biased as I just bought a V-33 2x12, but i hear a clarity and tone that the others just lack. It was more in your face than the others. Great video.....
slimmetalpickin 1 year ago
Fender, hands down.
guitardoctordon 1 year ago
Fender!!!
gibbick 1 year ago
Blackheart is made by crate.
1984kevingriffin 1 year ago
a good shooot out would be vox ac4 blackstar ht 5 marshal class five fener champ fender pro junior
michaelgroenewald7 1 year ago
How is the guy called Tone King? Check out Paul from Guitar World or the guy from Pro Guitar Shop.
koval529 1 year ago
I canceled the Blackstar pedal and Handsome devil order... I have a Blackstar HT-5 combo on the way along with a Digitech GSP1101.
Patriot1962 1 year ago
Just excellent !!!
holmes1978 1 year ago
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp !!!
holmes1978 1 year ago
I just sold my hot rod deluxe and ordered a Handsome devil combo and a Blackstar HT dual pedal. I'm optimistic...... BTW the Fender blues deluxe re issue is a lot nicer than the HRD. Somehow you make the HRD sound good but it was always a blues tone only amp for me,
Patriot1962 1 year ago
Comment removed
StringBreaker666 1 year ago
the fender for sure, you couldn't give me that crap crate!
thedime29 1 year ago
omg tone king?
ChineseR0ck 1 year ago
can you do a shoot out with the same guitar but with a line 6 spider 4 half stack and a ibanez tone blaster 150h i know they are lower end amps but i would really love to hear that and if you do decide to do that can you send me a message saying you made it
Mrthrashmetalforlife 1 year ago
I'd say Fender, Crate, then the Blackheat. The fender sounds smooth and well rounded, the Crate has more of a metal sound thats deeper. The Blacheart I'd say sounds too thin, it doesnt have enough of a frequency spectrum to be run in high gain like that. It just sounds cheap and crappy. Props goes to Crate for being better and cheaper than the Blackheart.
inboxov 1 year ago
the fender is much milkier and warmer. the crate sounds thin and metallic. and the handsome devil sounds like a toy.
UglyToontown 2 years ago
they all sound horrible. for me it's my VOX AC30 and MESA dual recto all day.
joshuarugg 2 years ago
The fullness of the Crate here is due to its cathode biased EL84 output tubes. I have a Crate VC50 and the head room is unbelievable, blows away any 100watt head i've ever played next to. Crate solid state may suck but their tube amps kick butt.
jimigrunge 2 years ago
hate the crate hear, fender and blackheart sound really good
XSweeneyToddX 2 years ago
Just so ya know the Blackheart is made by Crate. I played the 100 Watt head and it sounds amazing. I always Hated Crate amps but the Blackheart series blows there other stuff out of the water.
Daedalus5150 2 years ago
Fender sounds clear ,the other two just sounds louder !
holmes1978 2 years ago
I think the Fender might sound better in real life. I played the Crate V18 and the Fender HR deluxe and I think the Fender HR Deluxe sounded smoother.
nmcclure79 2 years ago
I hate Crate amplifiers, but that one sounds nice!
nmcclure79 2 years ago
Comment removed
nmcclure79 2 years ago
the crate sounds the best. i wish i had seen this video be for to day. just got a black heart to day. a handsome devil. oh well. the CRATE KICKS..
klv400 2 years ago
Nice review! I own the Fender so I am very familiar with it and it's variety of tones with the three channels. 4 of 5... The V18 sounds scooped to the hilt, useful at times, but in a mix would end up cutting/losing the low end to make room for the bass e.t.c 2.5 of 5. The BH sounds interesting... I am not sure if I can grade it with commitment though. It is a 7/15 watt amp shooting against the 40 watt or 18 watt. anyway-it sounded decent to fair and better with the pedal. 3 of 5 w potntl.
mkreple 2 years ago
took a minute and a half to hear any noise and then when I finally hear anything it sounds like it's been recorded on a nokia 3310. the guitar is disgusting.
I didn't swear. YouTube comments are full of swearing.
arronarronarron 2 years ago
the black heart would probably sound amazing with a tube distortion pedal. i'd like to see that, or a tube screamer or english muff'n with a black heart hot head
nonstopunderground 2 years ago
I like the crate in this review. It's sound filled up the room =D The others seemed kinda thin
spider5001 2 years ago
The fender sounded a little better,but for the money you could buy the crate amp,and about 3 good pedals and make any sound you want. I have the crate v33 and it was the best buy i ever made.
fenderlonestar1 2 years ago
would like to see a clone battle (like metro amps, germino, wallace, etc)
benellidown 2 years ago
My favorite is the Crate V18. It has a great distortion sound and from owners experience it also has a great clean sound. The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is my second choice, I'm not a big fan of the Black Heart Handsome Devil.
kendrahparker 2 years ago
I have to go with the Blackheart Handsome Devil. Really vintage sounding tone.
anongrey 2 years ago
It's kinda tough with the guitar he's using - active pups are not the best to be using for a shoot out for higher gain settings. I like the Fender best in this demo, even though setting the amps all at 12 o'clock, while keeping the shoot out "fair" does not really show the true tone of the amps. Again, with these variables I would have to say the Fender wins.
jammers5 2 years ago 10
The V 18 blows all amps away by far.
owens47362 2 years ago
crate and blackheart are the same company. i'd really like a fender hot rod deville 212 or a hot rod delux 112
celtik74 2 years ago
I've played both Fender and Blackheart HD. I'd say that the Blackheart is better for the price, but fender is the best.
MihailTronix 2 years ago
the reason the blackheart sounds so hollow is because its an open back...on a 4x12 it sounds absolutely massive, and i think its a lot clearer than the crate or fender...the crate just sounds like sh..t on this vid, but idk, i've never heard it in person..the fender sounds very good in person but meh....its just personal taste
marcoantonio78 2 years ago
well, i took the tone king's advice and got an ibanez art300, AWESOME guitar, but anyway, i was actually looking for an amp and the little giant/ handsome devil were my top picks, then i searched it, and saw the handsome devil being played with the same guitar i own, unlike guitar world, they play with esp ec-1000 or gibson les pauls and stuff i could never afford. but ANYWAY. i think the tone king should do a full demo of ibanez art300 + blackheart handsome devil.
aw350meman69 2 years ago
I like the Fender (smoother attack), closely followed by the Crate (nice spiky mids). Not as keen on the Blackheart (more brittle and anaemic IMHO).
The Fender seems to work with the pedal the best of the three, though.
j9o9h9n9n9y9 2 years ago
you talk really fast, kinda like those auctioning dudes.
good comparison anyhow ;)
i like the blackheart the most
29396 2 years ago
Blackheart: A little hollow, lacking on the bottom end. Has the most high end, not quite as thick as the fender. This amp sounds brighter than the others, and I think it sounds best with the pedal.
Crate: Sounds kinda digital. Horrible...
Fender: better than I thought, a little dead sounding. Noisy. Pretty good though. With the pedal engaged it sounds a lot better. Still noisy and sounds like your getting some feedback.
I'd go with either the Fender or The Blackheart.
popomczowzow 2 years ago 2
I have a the Crate and the way he set it up sounds horrible. I do not use any effects pedals. You do not need to, the only thing I use is the volume pots on my guitar. The Digital sound is coming strictly from the Krank pedal. To be 100% honest the pedal makes all this amps sound digital.
The Crate is okay, I bought it just because I wanted to see if tubes were for me. I only paid $200. I love the sound the amp produces. I still miss my solid state. Yeah,he ruined all of these amps sounds.
earll2001 2 years ago
Well I've recently purchased a blues junior NOS which I actually think sounded better than any of those amps. I thought it was better than the deluxe reverb reissue, but then again they work for totally different sounds.
popomczowzow 2 years ago
Handsome Devil. Sounds closest to a Billy Gibbons tone for the money.
mnorm5150 2 years ago
i like the crate the best
baddudejohn1 2 years ago
how do you get all these amps?
SpiffyPunx 2 years ago
I would have appreciate a demo including also the CLEAN tones of these amps...
rottamato 2 years ago
hot rod for sure
ninjaman12310 2 years ago
the handsome devil has that 70's vintage tone which i happen to like, if you want that mid swept sound like the crate just cut/dail in the mids. either way all great amps great video but IMO handsome devil is for me
ampensgoalie35 2 years ago 10
The Crate Rocks
lioness54703 2 years ago
hot rod is bassier, crate has more of a mid thing going on, and the black heart has more of the high mids and treble going on. They all sound pretty good. I think the v18 is the one you would get if you are more into metal. It sounds pretty freakin' aggressive in this video.
MrWhositMagig 2 years ago
I thought it was horrible for metal unless you boost it. Way too bassy and the gain is very muddy.
JoePerry4Life1 2 years ago
hey man a 59 champ(notcopy)vs any other smal amp.... specially bluz
godam29 2 years ago
I Cant believe the Cheapest 1 sounded best 2 my Taste<< Im Very Surprised<<
EnveBeats 2 years ago
The Handsome Devil sounds much better in the proguitarshop vid.
PMcG6 2 years ago
I know, Its weird especially since blackheart is made by crate. But the crate sounded rally muted or mid swept and the blackheart sounded really clear and alot like the old amps from the 70s and early 80s. And well I'm old and like that sound.
beole7705 2 years ago
I liked the fender some the crate not at all and the blackheart a lot. It had that driven marshall kind of tone.
beole7705 2 years ago
whats wrong with the crate?
smashmonkeyEXTREME 2 years ago
i have a that crate with a boss metal zone pedal and a cry baby classic and a b.c rich special edition (bich) guitar sounds awsome with master of puppets and slayer songs
jaygt13 2 years ago
boss metal zone 2 ? LOL
ChineseR0ck 2 years ago
lovin the crate, how much could i get one of those for
snap41crackle 2 years ago
i think the crate sounded the cleanest of them all but i guess you really cant tell cause he used a pedalll.he should of used just the amps....but hey im no pro its just my opinion
drumline777 2 years ago
Liked the blackheart. More vintage sounding, more clear, more bite, pretty sure will cut better thru the mix. Not as much gaing but for me no problem. Perfect for blues and classic rock.
jeshely 2 years ago
the crate sounds the nicest to me fender is secong fenders r not as great as people say i like peaveys the best
hiian123 2 years ago
i have that crate, its good put if you want distorion your gonna want a pedal, it really helps, ive got a boss DS1 and it works perfectly
pgcky1207 2 years ago
crate sounds best here, buts a lil scoopd
FingerLickinGravy67 2 years ago
dam the blackheart is awsome some bro , i know my next amp of choice that ampo was cranking,and im up for one ot the art100 ibz to , thanks for the vids
15greg72 2 years ago
He uses too much distortion. The Fender would of blew them both away with the clean sounds.
jOsHkInG101 2 years ago
if its a shoot out between the amps i think he shouldnt have used a pedal because it will add something different depending on how the amp reacts to it imo
thorftw 2 years ago
when he got the crate he dint use activ pups n it had crucnh , this vid its hard to tell wat the pedal does
FingerLickinGravy67 2 years ago
I love the tone on the Crate.
Anjohl 2 years ago
They all sound awful. Why test them with the gain all the way up? All I hear here are varying degrees of mush. Hotrod Deluxe is a beautiful sounding amp for the money. Here it sounds like shit.
nocasterboy 2 years ago
It is his mic. this is a horrible representation of all amps. Not fair to say any of them sound like garbage like some are saying. that blackheart is really a sweet sounding warm amp, I have played it personally.
kommi1974 2 years ago
Just had a listen to the pro guitar shop review of the Blackheart. Its a great little amp.This video doesn't do any of these amps justice. Badly put together videos like this probably do more harm than good if like me you are looking to buy a new amp.
nocasterboy 2 years ago
the fender sounds like the typical blasted middle, harsh sound. why cant they get away from that?
fangus503 2 years ago
the shoot-out should have been between the Crate palomino V16, a fender blues junior, and the blackheart handsome devil combo, as they all are 15w
frishdawgs 2 years ago
FYI I own a blackheart handsome devil and it really does NOT sound like that his mic must be horrible. The handsome devil puts both the cheap V18 and the overpriced HRD to shame.
Blinkingfever 2 years ago
Agreed.
kommi1974 2 years ago
The Blackheart sounds absolutely awful!!! Sounds like a tinny little practice amp. The Hot Rod Deluxe is my favorite amp ever, but the Crate sounded just as good if not better on this video. It had the fullest and most well-rounded sound of the three by far. I wish you had played some clean since that's where the Hot Rod really shines. For this video, however, it's 1.Crate 2. Fender and 4. Blackheart (sorry it didn't even deserve 3rd).
drawmag52 2 years ago
Ok. I believe the Blackheart sounds "tiny" because he is using a camera and i think if TTK would invest in some mic equipment then it may sound better. Check out PGS review, its not as "tiny"
Come on TTK! you have everything else in the world!! Mic it up!!!
nickdohle 2 years ago
It is his mic man. Trust me when I say this thing sounds MUCH better in person. Check out proguitarshop's review before you bash the amp.
kommi1974 2 years ago
It is not the amp my friend. Listen to proguitarshops video review. It is an awesome amp with awesome tone
kommi1974 2 years ago
Tone is subjective, so I suppose one might find something to like in all three, but man that V18 sounds just awful to me - no sweetness whatsoever! Gotta go with the Blackheart. No doubt, it would be the most versatile in terms of a solid base tone + your favorite pedals.
wldavis1965 2 years ago
fender
caincolesr 2 years ago
man does that blackheart sound tiny...and the crate sounds WAY more balls to the walls than i expected. it would be between the HRD and the V18 for me but the HRD is like $500 more...
aschreiber2010 2 years ago
try hearing the blackheart through a 4x12, then it dont sound tiny =]
gothdude94 2 years ago
fender without the pedal and with the extra gain circuit off.
stratplayor 2 years ago
i want to ask if you changed the speaker on the V18, bc I own the V18, bough it new NOT used and NOT scratch n dent. brand new.
it seems like your crate is not nearly as bassy as mine is, if your controls really are at 12 oclock (straight up and down). i was just wondering if you changed the speaker.
additionally id like to make a point that i thin kthe Crate V18s CLEAN sound is Better than the Fenders, and its a lot cheaper.
keep up the good work TTK!
leafinfirerob 2 years ago
The Fender is warmest.
The Blackheart is Marshally, thin but nice.
The Crate is modern cheese.
I think it would be good to test these at different drive setting.
funkyjones 2 years ago
crate -blackheart-fender. it might be nice to hear passive/humbuckers and some slower single note riffs,
and get BB King to drop round :)
theraytex 2 years ago
In my opinion
1: Crate
2: Blackheart
3: Fender
Don't get me wrong, i'm a huge fan of fender amps, but the fender sounds best on clean, or slightly distorted. When he adds a lot of distortion, it starts to lose it's tube vibe, and sounds like a cheap Marshall practice amp. not to mention the fender's the most expensive. The Blackheart is 2nd because of lack of features, and least wattage of the three. The Crate wins because of the bassiness, and that gives it a more rounded out tone, and price
skiandbike131 2 years ago
The Crate is really clean, but it's all in what sound you're going for.. Muddiness can be an aesthetic.
badprogramming 2 years ago
Crate because it's has a more full sound. You can get awesome metal AND blues distortion.
DUY1337GUITAR 2 years ago
Fuck Warner Music Group. How dare they interfere with youtube.
usagimeijin 2 years ago
yea the crate certainly has really scooped sound
sr1129 2 years ago 2
Overall the Deluxe has the best warm sound. The metal "metallic" sounds wails from the Crate. The Blackheart is a good mix of an overall Marshall characteristic. The boost attributes of the Deluxe are very unheard, but the Blackheart indeed finds favor and definatelly wins the boosted category.
rhodesbrother 2 years ago
Might be the cheapest among and my ears might be rusty but Crate rocked them all out!
cakire82 2 years ago
blackheart sounds hot with the screamer
Jimbobs92 2 years ago 2
Cool shootout, thanks for that!
1.fender 2. blackheart 3. crate
The fender sounds the warmest, the blackheart does a good job for the money, and the crate sounds too flat and metal-like distorted to me.
I'd like to add that the fender amp, imo, is at its best when used for clean or slight break up
You use EMG pickups, what amp input did you use?
mennoosmusic 2 years ago
guitarpoet1 the crate sounds the best then the fender & devil lost again
guitarpoetone 2 years ago
the ART ROCKS!!!
theghost2987 2 years ago
i like the fender and crate but i like the crate better then the fender because it has a more muffuled sound and i like that
kosherpanda 2 years ago
crate and fender both sound really good
tonytoes3895 2 years ago
these crate amps suck!!i own v18 212..id rather play my fender princeton 112 solid state sounds a hell of alot better!!
paintitpurdy 2 years ago
1. craste 2. fender 3.blackheart.
but where do you get a v18 now they're discontinue ?
crash077 3 years ago
The crate has won!!
TKK u rock!!
theghost2987 3 years ago
im def gonna get the crate. has a really nice warm fuzz sound
Power2theFlyingV 3 years ago
The crate sounds cleaner.
earll2001 3 years ago
Personally i like the fender
i think the crate has kind of a shit digitalsounding tone Blackheart 2nd
peaveypower212 3 years ago
They all sound nice. Great vid TK.
gtrx12 3 years ago
Shit. TTK, I fail
itzgitzg 3 years ago
Crate Wins. The tone is very full.
Fender gets second. The Tone is knida thin, but Fender isn't made for lots of gain.
Blackheart gets third. It just sounded terrible to me. Maybe it''s the video, but it was bad.
Thanks TKK
itzgitzg 3 years ago
Crate sounds like a cheap throw away amp
adamp2 3 years ago 2
crate wins
mockingbirdst760 3 years ago
The crate has more of that fat in your face sound, drop in a different speaker and away you go. but that being said, clean pure tone goes to the Fender as always.
myway43 3 years ago
i cant believe i'm saying this but...
v18 ftw...
i LOVE the hotrod deluxe, one of my fav amps of all time but i have to give it to the crate, it sounded great.
the blackheart sounded like ass btw
dadudeguy2 3 years ago
Crate wins
FreeTalkLive 3 years ago
I definitely liked the crate the most. It had a warmer, fuller tone. The fender just didnt sound like a fender should. Then again, when i think fender, i dont think about all out gain. And the blackheart just sounded so thin an one dimensional. Atleast, thats just my opinion.
xxxmusiclover 3 years ago
Crate, sounds bigger, warmer, fatter...
ems81ar 3 years ago
I actually think that the Black Heart is the best sounding amp of the three. It really delivers on the lower strings, the gain has a good focus like the crates, but its a lot warmer.
The fender amp would sound the best when played with fender guitar. You could probably really get that tubular-like sound when playing on the neck pickup of a Strat. My problem with the fender is that i don't like the gain on it unless you're playing with a single coil guitar.
necrosis90 3 years ago 2
I vote for Fender.
Crate and Blackheart have some warmth to their sound, which I don't like - unless it's Marshall of course.
king666nothing 3 years ago
I subscribe to your videos as you are providing an excellent service showing so many different pieces of equipment.
My only question is - why is it always "with the Gain control all the way up" ?
Surely you are not really showing the real TONE of the amps by having them all on maximum Gain.
I would suggest a gain half way version. I think there are many amps you have demo'd that a lot of people would like to hear with mid gain,
Thanks again
mhw6160 3 years ago
Oh and by the way
(1) Fender (2) Crate (3) Blackheart
mhw6160 3 years ago
I agree. I think he should dial in the amps to get their best possible sound. Not just what they sound like on the same settings.
Brently54 3 years ago