As the owner of a Crate Vintage Club 20 and a Vintage Club 30, I have to say that this Crate V33 sounds very disappointing. The OD section should have good EL 84 tone, from warm to sizzling. Both of my older models do. You'll never mistake any of the Crates for a good 18 watt Marshall or clone thereof, but they should get a pretty good Marshally grind none-the-less.

Apparently, Crate missed the boat on this new design. Based upon what you've said, Robert, and all the reviews I've read that agree with what you said, I wouldn't buy one. And I like the former Crates with EL84's...