I'm looking to get into playing metal so help me pick here. A Crate GX65 or a Peavey Express 112 (also 65 watts)? Prices are very close and good deals, just looking for some opinions on which would give me a better sound. Thanks.

have you tried them?

I'm partial to the Peavey just because I haven't ever heard a good Crate amp. Not even the BV's.

Low-wattage Crate amps seem to have the 'sizzly' thing going on with their distortion ... I'd recommend the Peavey since I think its better for developing your technique. Pretty much all Peavey practice amps I've played are more mid-gain and less fuzz-ed out than Crates' practice amps, and if you're just getting into metal then you need to hear every note you play. Peavey is also very reliable. I say Peavey.

I agree with the Crate statements, but its not absolute. I found an old Crate vintage club 50 watt EL84 tube amp and bought it after playing it. Best Crate amp I have ever heard. It doesn't look metal but it is more than able for said metal music. Its like a micro JCM 800.

In this threads case though I would buy the Peavey.

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Thanks for the input guys. I can actually get a better deal on the peavey anyways so I was leaning towards it. Going to go try it this week.