BV120H Review

When you want to rock and need some power, check out the Voodoo Series. They have remarkable tube sound and power, strong clean tones, great distortion, and cool stage cosmetics.

Features:	8.5
Sound:	8.3
Reliability:	7.5
Impression:	8.3
Overall rating:	8.2
Users rating:	7.4
Comments:	3

overall: 4.8

Featured review by: Dyaxe666, on november 08, 2005

Features: Made in 2005. It's the re-designed model. Pretty sure the guts are the same as the old Blue Voodoos just a new outside. I think it looks better then the old ones if that counts for anything. 2 channel EFX loop w/reverb. Pretty basic tube amp. 8 Ohms output. // 8

Sound: The clean channel is bright, clean and crisp but lacks the warmth of a Fender Twin or Deluxe. I rolled the presence control off and it lost that ice pick in the ear brittle sound. If this was all the amp did it would be cool. Put some pedals in front and you got all you want in a clean amp. However, the drive channel sucks bildge water! The annoying "bumble bee in a tin can" distortion. Very buzzy, I'm more inot the "smooth distortion." I used the good 'ol Krank cab with this. // 4

Reliability & Durability: The circuit board on this amp is pretty thin, the traces are too. The power tubes are on a separate board connected by rigid pins, not wires. I would worry about transporting this amp, but I would gig with it without a backup (mainly 'cause I can't afford one). // 3

Impression: I play metal, and sure it has a lot of gain, but very sterile sounding. Been playing for 3 sum odd years. It's an inexpensive amp, but also cheaply built. Wasn't too happy with it. // 4

overall: 10

Reviewed by: Subliminal_Daze, on november 09, 2005

Purchased from: N/A

Features: I used the classic model of this amp (classic gold logo on the front grill of the head and cab and blue tolex) but the specs are still the same: comes standard with Groove Tubes, two 12AX7 power tubes and six others, two channels: clean and drive, footswitch included, available effects loop, spring reverb, 120 watts through four vintage Celestion 30's (stock in cab). I used this amp with the last group I was with. It wasn't nessicarily mine, but I was using it none the less. It is plenty powerful enough for where it is used. The volume never has to be cranked past four or five (11 or 12 o'clock positions), and sounds amazing. It can, if used correctly, generate any tone you are looking for. Just look at the artist list. CC Deville from Poison is one of the main guitarists, but then you have both guitarists in Biohazard sporting the Blue Voodoo as well. An overall amazing amp. // 10

Sound: With this amp, I am using either an Ibanez RG 170 or 350DX. I'll tell you this much: you won't get a Ry Cooder or Keith Richards type fuzz from this amp unless it has next to no gain on. However, the distortion, when used, is very versitile. But first, to the clean channel. Using the bridge humbucker on my guitar, I get a very bright, crisp sound no matter where I am with the tone knob of either the guitar or amplifier. When the single coil comes into play, the sound is much more natural, but also neutral. It is just kind of there. The humbucker in the neck position can go anywhere from warm and smooth to all out bassy and thick, working good for darker cleans. Bringing gain into the picture here, we get to the amp's true versatility. As I said before, the distortion won't give you an old sixties fuzz. This is some serious gain. If you know how to tweak your specs right, you can get any sound from the late '70s on. On the bridge humbucker here I can pull anything from heavy palm mutes in drop C to 24th fret finger tapping with my guitar raised a half step. The entire gamut is run when I play, whether it's just f--ing around in practice or blasting the crowd on stage. The single coil gives a raw, Iron Maiden sound (seeing as Maiden played through single coil pick-ups). The neck position humbucker is possibly the most versitile with the gain. Anything from a smooth, thick distortion to a heavy bassy crunch, depending on where the presence (or tone) knob is. The amp's thick gain allows for searing pinch harmonics using any pickup. Definately a great amp. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I used this amp at every show and practice, and played the hell out of it. While I used it, it never broke down. All you have to do, as for any tube amp, is rotate the power tubes every once in a while. I never had a backup, simply because I've never needed one. The Voodoo has a distinct sound that couldn't be replaced mid show. I'd make sure you could do everything possible to check on the 'health' of the amp before the show, and it'll suit you well. It is fragile in a way since it's a tube amp, but as far as tube amps go, it's a Crate, and Crates are nearly indestructable. // 10

Impression: This amp is put to use the most in a metal band. I play all types, but the amp is a metal amp for me. You could get it to sing for you with that brittle classic distortion, but I have yet to really test it that way. I've been playing for nearly four years now, and this amp is the best thing that's happened to my rig. I've also used a vintage 60 watt Carvin head with a tube boost pedal to get it loud enough, but this, honestly, held a better tone. Of course, the Carvin had a blown speaker and hadn't been serviced in God knows how many years, but still. If it were stolen or lost, I'd obviously buy it again once I got the money. This has been the best piece of gear in my rig, but one bit of advice. Don't ruin the tone of the amp by putting cheap EFX pedals on it! Either make sure you have the BV EFX loop, or you have some very high end pedals (ElectroHarmonix, Visual Sound, Analogue Man, and for wah, only a Crybaby, trust me). Other than that, the options are yours. // 10

overall: 8.5

Reviewed by: unregistered, on january 08, 2007

Price paid: $ 429.99

Purchased from: guitar Center

Features: This is a 100 Watt Tube head, 2 channels, with reverb, I think it was made in the '90s. It's blue tolex with the gold Crate logo and hardware. It came with a footswitch for channel select and effects loop on and off. It doesn't have effects onboard but I have a rack unit for that. I use it at home with a Peavey rm412 cabinet. It has plenty of power for my needs. There are lights inside that light up the tubes when you turn it on, It's a nice looking amp. // 7

Sound: I use this amp with an old Ibanez RG570 with stock pickups. I Play heavy metal and hard rock stuff like Ac/dc, Metallica, Pantera, Van Halen and Ozzy and this amp sounds good for everything with some knob adjustments. There is very little buzzing and hiss noises on this amp. The clean channel stays clean to at least 5, after that I don't know. I've never had it past that, It's very loud. There is plenty of distortion for anything I play, With the gain past 8 it gets muddy sounding though. I don't need a distortion pedal with this amp. I bought it used and some of the tubes are mismatched so I wonder if that's why the distortion is so thick. The new BV120H I tried at the store with the black tolex and silver logo sounded pretty good but the distortion wasn't as heavy. I'm glad I'm cheap and tried the used one. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I don't ever gig with it and it just sits in my living room so It should last a while. It seems durable the back is enclosed and it has a metal grill in the front so the tubes should stay safe. It has been reliable for me, I've only had it for a month though. // 9

Impression: I bought this head because it sounded good and was affordable, It's good for heavy metal and rock music, and it even looks nice on my peavy cabinet. If it were stolen/lost I would look for another one. I feel that this was a good deal. I like the reverb also. and the footswitch. // 9

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: atticus_08, on march 29, 2006

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: Not quite sure when it was made, never really cared when it was. This amp in my opinion is very versatile. You can get wonderful clean sounds and heavy tight distortion. It has two channels, EFX loop, and nice sounding reverb. I never really needed a featured loaded amp head because I have effect pedals. This suits me perfectly. This amp is amazingly loud, but then again it's an all tube head. You get a simple, nice sounding head! // 9

Sound: I use a Tom DeLonge Strat and a Gibson Les Paul. Both sound awesome to me. I play anything and everthing that sounds good. Punk, emo, hardcore, metal, rock, blues, and jazz; all of it sounds great throught this amp. If you really want an array of sounds buy a EQ pedal. I never use mine and still get the tones I want. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I will use it for a gig soon! I just bought it, but I'm sure it's reliable, my other Crate head did the trick night in and night out. // 8

Impression: So many people rip on the amp saying it has lifeless tone. In my opnion you have to spend no more than 10 minutes fiddling around with the knobs and you'll be satified. I have no complaints whatsoever and I have been in the guitar game for almost 6 years and had my fair share of equiptment. Everything from bad quality to good quality. Can't complain when I spend 500 and get something that sounds like a million bucks! We all have our needs and this amp fits mine perfectly, I hope some of you feel the same way. // 10

Comments

[WhiteLightning]

i got to say the i like the look of the older blue voo doo's, the only thing is that they stopped making them in the blueish color so if i wanted another cab it would have to be black... i wondering if it still fuzz's a lot when its turned up half way or more?

[spoonylove90]

^^no

[ranikade3]

spoonylove90 wrote:

^^no

Yeah, play your line 6 with a noise gate, tube is the ultamite test to see if your a good guitar player!