Went to the Carvin store to try some amps

  • Thread starter Thread starter Easto
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Easto

Easto

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So I drove myself out to Santa Ana (Beautiful Santa Ana) and tried out a couple of amps (vintage series). I tried both the Nomad and Belair. I've been reading all sorts of fantastic reviews about these amps. It also appears that you get virtually the same setup as a Fender but for about 1/3rd less. Just so that you know... the in-store prices for these amps was about $50 less than advertised.

I took my G&L Legacy with the "silent" Kinman pickups installed knowing that anything I hear would be "amp" related. I was not impressed with the Nomad. That's not to say there's anything wrong with it, and it's well worth the price except I wouldn't rave about it. Maybe it's just that I'm spoiled having my 1962 Princeton but when someone tells me this is their "Vintage" line and if "You're looking for a Vintage sound" well, I damn well know what a vintage tube amp should like because I have one. Then we moved onto the Belair. At first I was sitting way too close to it and started thinking to myself "What's all the fuss about these amps"? I then found a 20 foot cord laying around and backed away from the amp. It was like day and night! I have to say that I really liked this amp. I was mostly using the "Clean" channel and worked at dialing in what I was looking for. I have to say that I was quite tempted to walk out with that amp seeing as how the price is just too good to be true except... no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get that clean, sparkly sound out of it. It did get close to it at a couple of settings that I chose but still... just not the clarity I'm looking for. But in all fairness I will be going back with another guitar later this week and give it another try. Even though it might not be my "perfect" amp, for the price it's close enough.
 
apl said:
Thanks for the review. Let us know how it goes.
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No problem. I hope to go back on Saturday but I would much prefer to make it on a weekday since it gives you more of a chance to hear the amp without a lot of other people playing at the same time. I was fortunate this morning since I was the only person in the store.
 
scottboyher said:
Why would the Carvin King need a review? :D
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My direct experience with Carvin equipment is limited to a B4 bass, a DC135 guitar, a six channel power mixer and three mics.
 
Well,...I actually have a Belair, and it's a very nice amp in it's stock form, but throw in a MasterVolume, an Attitude Pot (neg. feedback ), remove the clipping diodes, change the tone stack, add a couple of LED's for channel indicators, and put in some Weber speakers (Blue Dog / Silver Bell ) and you've got your self and amp that will smoke any fender OR Marshall.......you heard me right Both of them!

Here's a link to my newly modded Belair: http://apps.carvin.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=009392

Enjoy! :)

Rick
 
Rick, That's a little more than I want to put into an amp but I do appreciate the work that you've done. My days of tinkering with stuff are long behind me. I'm looking for what I want and hopefully it'll be right out of the box (maybe different tubes).
 
My guitar player just bought a Carvin SX300C. Great amp for a great price.
 
WERNER 1 said:
Well,...I actually have a Belair, and it's a very nice amp in it's stock form, but throw in a MasterVolume, an Attitude Pot (neg. feedback ), remove the clipping diodes, change the tone stack, add a couple of LED's for channel indicators, and put in some Weber speakers (Blue Dog / Silver Bell ) and you've got your self and amp that will smoke any fender OR Marshall.......you heard me right Both of them!

Here's a link to my newly modded Belair: http://apps.carvin.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=009392

Enjoy! :)

Rick
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What are all the types of peddles you have there? In Particular the two on
the bottom left?

And what no standby on those?
 
Easto, maybe an MTS3212 would get you the sparkling clean tones you're after? It's worth taking a few extra minutes to check one out at the store. It's got two channels, clean and lead. The lead channel can get a wide variety of tube overdrive tones from blues to grunge. For about 17 years, I only owned one of the old Carvin X series amps (an XV112E) until I got the itch for an alternative and then got the MTS3212. The only complaint I have about my MTS3212 is its weight.

Good luck!
 
Thanks Dave,

I'll take your suggestion. You know... the whole time I was there I was looking at those but for some reason I never thought of testing one. I guess I was all caught up in looking at the tweed cover of the vintage series.

I also want to try one of the new Traynors but I can't find one in my area. I have some time to shop around and am not in any hurry so I do have time on my side.
 
CapnKid-

Well I've got a bunch of crap on there don't I..........this from a guy who never used to use pedals either!

Almost every pedal on there has been modified to some degree or another, but the two on the bottom left are Keeley products : http://www.robertkeeley.com/home.php

One is a compressor, and the other is a clean boost (The Katana). Both are amazing pedals.

The BD-2, SD-1, DS-1, CE-2, and the Dunlop Wah have all been modded by Keeley or Analog Man ( http://www.analogman.com/ )

Again, I'm not really a big fan of pedals, especially for overdirve purposes, but I was in a situation where I was using a buddy of mines fender amp, and this was the best solution for me at the time.

Easto- Yeah, it could get a bit pricey if you bought it new and then did the mods, but in my case..........I traded a Fender Mexi strat for the amp (I paid 200 for the guitar), the amp needed repair which only cost me about 25 bucks, I bought the speakers used for 100, the mod kit(s) only cost me about 75, and I did the labor myself.........So I'm into this thing for about $400.00 plus my time,.....and it'll smoke just about anything in or outside of it's class. :)

Rick
 
I have been to the factory showroom too !

I liked the Vintage with 4-10s the best. But it is all a matter of taste.

The Vintage series sound sort of "Reelin' in the Years" like, the Master Tube Series are Classic rock, the Vai Legacy is much more saturated distortion, and the SX series has a KILLER clean tone.
 
I just nabbed a Legacy Head off of ebay! :D

I can't wait to get it!!

Rick
 
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