They stopped making this amp 16 + years ago and are starting to go up in price on the used market. I used to lug around my Carvin, VHT, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Fender and Peavey amps to gigs .... not anymore. I got two as my main amps to run in stereo on some sliding selves in my rack. This amp is was way, way ahead of its time , way before the mini amp trends, Seymour Duncan Power Stage Series or Quilter's mini Power Amps.

Sound
I have my a Digitech 2112 SGS , that has two 12ax7 tubes in the processor, to go into two VHT Valvulators 1's (w/ one 12ax7 tube each ) going into my Crate Power Blocks to give me a 100% tube dynamics and articulation.You have to use a Y cable to use the effects loop of CPB to drop in effects. I happen to use a BBE 482 Sonic Maximizer and Hush / Rocktron Super C in the effects loop, just in case that I play somewhere with questionable electrical wall outlets.Many guitarist think that I am still using my old tube amps and are surprised it's a Class D amp .I have a pedalboard with old Digitech multi effects, the RP-12, RP-1, with a Decibel Eleven Loop Expander to add a EHX Ravish pedal, MXR 10 band Eq, Boss GE-7 band Eq, Behringer AM100 Acoustic Modeler, Seymour Duncan SFX-1 Pickup Booster and the 2112 SGS .It has a gain, three Eq knobs ; low, mid and high with a level knob . Those knobs are excellent to zero in on your sound .I have my gain knob set at 3 o'clock, that way I can lower the guitar's volume knob down to 7 to… read more get some good clean tones to pull off some good clean SRV, Hendrix, good natural Acoustic guitar, and use my Acoustic Modeler and Sitar simulator with perfect .You can achieve some great Overdriven Blues , great Hard Rock, Hair Metal, Metal, Speed Metal and Thrash sounds, but your going to need a multi effects unit or pedals to take you there into heavy distortion territory .But on its own, you can get a ZZ Top or semi light AC-DC crunch with amps gain knob .If I play songs with an acoustic passage between distorted tones, those CPB's let's the morphing capabilities of the 2112's patches, seamlessly fade into the other programs like a high quality studio edit with the staggered delay and reverb .

Features
This amp is less that six pounds, small , it can power two 4x12 cab or two 2x12 cabs .The back has an effects loop( works only with a Y cord) an RCA jack, three output jacks ; on mono jack at 8 ohms and two right and left Jack's for stereo at 4 ohms .

Ease of Use
Just set all the knobs at 12 o'clock and adjust according to your Sonic needs.

Quality
The Crate Power Block is built like a tank and should last a long time with out any issues.

Value
Ever since people have reviewed on the Internet about this amp, the price has gone up . At first release, the CPB sold for roughly $200.00 USD .When the company went out of business, many retailers blew them out the door for only $99.00 USD .I got my first CPB, here at zZ Sounds, in 2007, for about $ 115.00 w/ shipping.Today, they are selling up towards $ 220.00 USD or more .

Manufacturer Support
Since they have gone out of business since late 2007 / early 2008 , I never had to deal with their Customer Services.

The Wow Factor
The ease of use, its basic power amp usage and ease of transportation make this amps main selling points .

Musical Background:
Professional gigging musician and Guitar Teacher .

Musical Style:
Neo Classical Metal, 80's Hair Metal, Blues, Classic Rock, Thrash and Speed Metal. read less