While a
USB keyboard may do the ivory-ticklers in the crowd some good, Crate is looking out for the
six-string warriors by shipping its
USB-equipped Profiler 5 mini amplifier. This five-watt combo guitar amp measures in at less than eight-inches tall and weighs just six-pounds, and aside from giving users the option of powering it via an AC adapter or six AA cells, there's also an auxiliary input for rocking along with your
DAP. More important, however, is the rear-mounted USB port (shown after the jump), which enables guitarists to easily record their shredding without any external breakout boxes. So if you think you can give the twin four-inch speakers in Crate's latest all they can handle, the Profiler 5 is available now for $159.99.
posted Aug 4th 2007 4:53AM
What a great new toy. I definitely think that this one will be on a lot of peoples wish lists.
This does look like a great toy, and Crate is a great company. I'm sure this would have a great sound. But for the price of 160 bucks, I would rather spend my money elsewhere. Guitar center has a Behringer setup that comes with a guitar that has a usb port and a headphone jack as well as the standard output built into the guitar. It also comes with software for recording. All of this is for a lower price then just this amp. As most guitarist would already have a guitar and an amp, then all they would really need is a usb interface which you can get an m-Audio for like 60 bucks. I bet Crate would sell a load of these if they lowered the price.
2 4" Speakers for a 160 bucks?!?! Ridiculous. I have an arsenal of guitar equipment some of it expensive, some not. I could think of many other products similiar to that where I could A) Spend my money more wisely B) Get a better sound, and C) Not feel like I was playing through a blender rigged up to a cell phone speaker. Word of advice, Crate=Crap. Always have, probably always will. Do yourselves all a favor. Spend a little more and buy a line 6 product.
Yikes, someone calling Crate crap and then recommending Line 6 instead?! That's like calling Pink a poser and then telling somebody to listen to Avril Lavigne for some real punk.
Anyway I think this amp could serve a purpose, although it's not anything I'd buy. It's still got to convert an analog guitar signal to digital to pass through to the PC, and no way it's going to be able to do that in any respectable manner in a $160 box that also includes a speaker cabinet, amp and preamp. It's just too cheap. It's also only really going to have one input/output, which isn't going to work for serious home recording. But it could be "good enough" to serve as both a practice amp and a PC audio interface for some people. I mean most home recordists can't afford nor do they need the best quality anyway.
I would still buy a real audio interface, though; they're not *that* much more expensive. (Mine cost $200 for a USB 2.0 interface and it's got four ins/outs and quality DACs/ADCs). And they will give you better quality and more versatility.
I mean you're basically paying $100 extra for the audio interface part of this amp. There are tons of USB audio interfaces out there that cost that much or even less.
Crate and Line6 both make hardy, reliable, decent sounding products.
Sure, it won't sound exactly like your '59 Bassman, but you won't have to re-mortgage your house to buy one.
Gear snobs are the worst, most boring kind of guitar player.
Not to make any sweeping statements or anything like that...
Referring to Townshend & Entwistle, perhaps?
no tubes = no good
I second the statement that crate=crap. The only decent amp they had was the Blue Voodoo and even that had overheating issues.
Brackish is right. This is probably a cool little toy, but some people have to stop comparing it to the afforementioned 59 bassman or 60's marshall stack. THAT'S NOT THE POINT! It's not aimed at serious gigging musicians or guys in the studio, it's aimed at beginners or people who travel a lot and just want something halfway decent sounding to play around with. jeesh
This is just a Fender G-DEC Jnr copy but with a USB port added - which I've always thought the G-DEC range should include.
Just was wondering if their was anybody out there who could comment on this little amp who actually owns one and can speak of it's quality or lack of first hand?