Crate was an American amplifier brand launched in 1978 by St. Louis Music (SLM), a musical instrument distributor based in St. Louis, Missouri. The brand was conceived by Gene Kornblum after visiting a Crate & Barrel store in Chicago, where merchandise displayed in wooden packing crates inspired him to build guitar amplifiers housed in rustic pine cabinets. The debut model, the CR1, was a 10-watt solid-state amp encased in ponderosa pine with military-style handles. Its distinctive look and accessible price point proved popular, and the line quickly expanded to include amplifiers for guitar, bass, and keyboards — all manufactured domestically rather than outsourced overseas.

Crate built a reputation for delivering dependable, affordable amplification across a wide range of styles and formats. The all-tube Blue Voodoo series, introduced in the mid-1990s, became one of the brand's most recognizable lines, offering high-gain tone in 60-watt and 120-watt head and combo configurations. The Vintage Club series catered to players seeking Class A and Class AB tube warmth, while the solid-state Flexwave and GX lines provided aggressive distortion for rock and metal players on a budget. Other notable products included the V-Series tube amps (ranging from 5 to 100 watts with EL84 and EL34 power tubes), the ultralight CPB150 PowerBlock stereo amp, and a dedicated acoustic amplifier range with optional digital effects.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Crate amps found their way onto stages and into rehearsal rooms worldwide. High-profile players including Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Gene Simmons of Kiss, Joe Walsh, Sammy Hagar, and Sting were among the musicians known to use Crate amplifiers. The brand was acquired by LOUD Technologies (later LOUD Audio) as part of its 2005 purchase of St. Louis Music, and production was eventually wound down.

Crate has 174 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Combo Guitar Amplifiers, Guitar Amplifier Heads, and Guitar Amplifier Cabinets. Their gear is featured by 55 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Metal, and Pop. Notable users include Marty Friedman, Buck Dharma, and Sammy Hagar. Most Crate products sit on the budget-friendly end of the spectrum.