Carvin X100b Head Settings
I was watching a video the other day and saw a guitar and said 'wow, i've been gassing for a doublecut- I wonder what that is?' I was watching a video the other day and saw a guitar and said 'wow, i've been gassing for a doublecut- I wonder what that is?' I've owned two Carvin amps and spent time during the 90's at their Santa Ana, CA outlet while I lived in So. Cal.What follows is a combo of fact and my opinion. I'll let you sort out which is which:1.
That being said, the X100b is probably the best all around amp I have ever played. I found that by using the Strat or the Tele and setting the 'Varitone' to. The first tube head I ever bought was a Carvin X100B back in 1986. I don't mean to over-do posting on here but after quite a lot of playing my x100b head (btw, I just ordered a used Carvin V412b to go with it) I've decided to look for a x30, x60, xt112 or xv112. I think that's all the 1x12 combos based on the X-amp circuit.
They do make quality gear in the USA.2. They do have a fairly large following of avid supporters. IMO, they become a little too much 'us against the world' at times.
You can't talk to one of these people about any possible shortcomings of a Carvin product without them coming unglued, as if you're a member of the grand conspiracy against Carvin that they are convinced is out there.3. I owned an XV-112 combo in the 90's and it is a good amp. My description of it is 'a jack of all trades and a master of none'. Yes, it sounds good and you can get a lot of good tones from it.
It's got two active eq's on it that enable a wide variety of tones. Yes, Frank Zappa played the X amps. But if you're looking for 'that' tone, I don't think you'll find it in the X amp.
To the above advice, if you're looking for a Marshall tone, buy a Marshall. Buy a Fender. I also owned an MTS 3212 combo amp in the 90's. They no longer make this amp. It was a punchy little powerhouse that in the long run, I never bonded with completely. Partially because it broke and I didn't want to pay to have it fixed.
But it was less warm and more industrial than I really like.5. A signatures of all of the Carvin amps I've played are: A lot of volume for the rated watts, and a very clean, clean channel with lots of headroom. Not a lot of Fender character in the clean channels, but nice and clean none-the less.
Carvin X100b Head Settings Review
Also, Carvin amps tend to have a wider frequency range than other amps, like Marshall, which tend to have more of a mid focused over all eq, again, IMO.6. Through the years, they tend to proclaim their 'all tube amps' that actually use clipping diodes in the lead channels. Their Bel Air (classic styled) amps have these diodes, which betrays the tweed covering they give them. I'll leave it to you as to whether or not this is a big deal, but I've never cared for the lead channel on the Bel Air.
It simply was not usable for me even though it is a cool looking little amp. I don't think the X amp,V3, or Legacy have these diodes.7. If there is a Carvin sound that you like, buy it and be happy.
They tend to be a good value, but only if they sound like what you want. IMO, they focus more on the Shredder market than is necessary.
I don't personally identify with that. As versatile as people claim the V3 is, the only clips I seem to stumble onto are shredder clips. They have a liberal return policy if you're willing to pay for return shipping. So there is no requirement to be stuck with an amp you don't like.I think you're smart to look into Carvin as an option. Good luck with your search. What follows is a combo of fact and my opinion.
I'll let you sort out which is which:1. They do make quality gear in the USA.2. They do have a fairly large following of avid supporters. IMO, they become a little too much 'us against the world' at times. You can't talk to one of these people about any possible shortcomings of a Carvin product without them coming unglued, as if you're a member of the grand conspiracy against Carvin that they are convinced is out there.3. I owned an XV-112 combo in the 90's and it is a good amp.
My description of it is 'a jack of all trades and a master of none'. Yes, it sounds good and you can get a lot of good tones from it. It's got two active eq's on it that enable a wide variety of tones. Yes, Frank Zappa played the X amps. But if you're looking for 'that' tone, I don't think you'll find it in the X amp. To the above advice, if you're looking for a Marshall tone, buy a Marshall.
Buy a Fender. I also owned an MTS 3212 combo amp in the 90's. They no longer make this amp.
It was a punchy little powerhouse that in the long run, I never bonded with completely. Partially because it broke and I didn't want to pay to have it fixed. But it was less warm and more industrial than I really like.5.
A signatures of all of the Carvin amps I've played are: A lot of volume for the rated watts, and a very clean, clean channel with lots of headroom. Not a lot of Fender character in the clean channels, but nice and clean none-the less. Also, Carvin amps tend to have a wider frequency range than other amps, like Marshall, which tend to have more of a mid focused over all eq, again, IMO.6. Through the years, they tend to proclaim their 'all tube amps' that actually use clipping diodes in the lead channels. Their Bel Air (classic styled) amps have these diodes, which betrays the tweed covering they give them. I'll leave it to you as to whether or not this is a big deal, but I've never cared for the lead channel on the Bel Air. It simply was not usable for me even though it is a cool looking little amp.
I don't think the X amp,V3, or Legacy have these diodes.7. If there is a Carvin sound that you like, buy it and be happy. They tend to be a good value, but only if they sound like what you want. IMO, they focus more on the Shredder market than is necessary. I don't personally identify with that. As versatile as people claim the V3 is, the only clips I seem to stumble onto are shredder clips. They have a liberal return policy if you're willing to pay for return shipping.
So there is no requirement to be stuck with an amp you don't like.I think you're smart to look into Carvin as an option. Good luck with your search. I figured so- they sell cheap 'made in the USA' products.2. I think the same could be said for many other companies too.3 and 4. I figured that might be so, and as I said, I think that most amps are 'good at everything, master of none' (with like a twin reverb being the master of cleans, Marshall plexi the master of classic rock, etc.).5. My Blues Junior doesn't exactly have the best cleans, and you can say that it is also very loud for the watts too (hear that from anybody who has played it and any other 15 watt amp).
I guess pretty much anything that is as loud as or quiter than it are on my list of possible amps, but nothing louder (unless it is slight enough to be tamed by using a different speaker, which I hope to buy someday).6. Alright, I will look out for that.7. Yeah, I still have to look into that too. I haven't decided on a specific sound yet, but I would like the amp to have a bit more gain than my Blues Junior and have clearer and maybe a bit more modern drive. I do use my amps for everything, so having a more modern sounding one could help me keep my blues junior for other sounds.Anyways, thanks for all the help- I am looking into every little possibility. The V3M has been getting very positive reviews, and the X100B and BelAir are popular long time 'standards' among the 'faithful'.
The SX300 seems to be an 'either you love it or hate it' thing. I myself have an old discontinued model (in my sig). The guy game ps2 iso torrent. The Carvins are very good at cleans.
For crunch, it depends on what sort of crunch you want, that will determine what model to get. Me, I generally get my 'dirt' from a pedal, but many of the amps have a 'master' or crunch channel. Are their crunch channels good or bad? It seems to be a matter of taste. To be honest, for my particular needs that go from great cleans (reggae and funk etc) to crunch to all kinds of rock - indie, prog, shred-type, fusion, 7 string or drop D the Carvin made it into my final 3 after a 3-year (yes 3-year) trial of a myriad of amps. I thought it was down to the V3M and Marshall JVM 410H. Then from nowhere I fell in love with a Rockerverb MkII 100 watt head but still haven't had band time with it.
I question if I made the right choice - because I'm like that.but I'm pretty sure, with the UK prices available that the V3M would have been the logical choice. Why?Portability - I get sick of lugging heavy gear across muddy festival sites (and now I have an Orange closed back 2 x 12!!)Flexibility - really great clean, crunch and drive sounds, lots of useful tonal options with the different switchable options - plus 3 channels and a great footswitch for reverb and boost as well I believe.Volume - I couldn't believe such a tiny amp packed such a punch.I may still end up with one of these beasts. In fact it was just the drive sound of the Rockerverb that did it for me.but it wasn't a fair test, I never got the chance to put the V3M through the Orange 2 x 12 cab - it might have sounded as good or better!Finding all the gear in one shop to do these kinds of comparisons is basically impossible in the UK.Good luck.but I would encourage you to give it a go.Hope that helps.Cheers,AndyPS - I've just seen this is an old post but hopefully it may still be of use to the OP or someone else! I had in the early 2000's a Carvin Belair 212, it was a nice amp. I used it at church for along time and never had any trouble with it.
It is a all tube amp, I gig with it a few times. The reason I got rid of it I got a good deal on a Mesa Boogie Mark III. But I bought a Carvin Bass amp 600 watt combo about 4yrs ago. I had it a month and it quit on me, Iwas playing in a band at the time and didnt have time to send it back to California to get it fix.
So I took it to a place up by Austin, and found some of the solder joints were loose. I got it fix and got rid of it as soon as I could.
I have an x100b reissue and i think its a very good 2-channel amp.I am running it with 6L6's.The clean channel is very Fender-like, great cleans that don't break up.Takes pedals very well and the effects loop is great too. The cleans area bit warmer than the iconic BF Fender cleans, and have slightly less depth. WhatI like about the cleans is the warmth of it.
Some of the best clean tones i haveheard from any amp.The overdrive channel is something of a darker sounding Marshallly amp,you can get good scooped 80-90's metal, classic rock and hard rockout of it all day long. Again, the tone is a little dark for the OD channel whichsome may say is 'muddy'. I like it best for lead playing, sounds great boosted.Rhythm dirty tones can be a bit dark/muddy IMO so judge you needs accordingly.For the price, the x100b is great value and a very good amp all around by any standard.B.
I was dusting off some of my old amps the other day and plugged into a 1981 Carvin X-60B head (6L6). I had forgotten what great clean tones this amp generated. I was so impressed that I A/B'd the Carvin with some other vintage and high $$$ boutique amps and guess what. The Carvin sounded BETTER. I am referring to the Carvin's CLEAN channel only.The best clean tones from the Carvin are when the EQ settings are nearly dimed. Absolutely gorgeous, thick, creamy tones with tons of low end.
The Carvin made my vintage blackface Fenders sound absolutely sterile. Just proves that one doesn't have to spend thousands of dollars for great clean tone. A used Carvin X amp is less than $300!!! I have a 'transition' (still 6L6) 1988 X100b head.I love the clean channel on that amp through any cab I own.
Mostly using an open-back 2x12 with a Blue Dog/Chicago combo, or another with two Cannabis Rex's with it. Like you said, sweet cleans.CLEAN cleans.and a great long-tail reverb to boot. You'd kill yourself getting power tube overdrive out of these things, but if you have a pedal or two that works with it, you're in heaven.I'm going to get an X60b combo one of these days. They are NEVER going to get the recognition they deserve because of the name on the amp, and that is just fine by me, as they are an amazing value. I have an X amp from 85 with 6L6's and the EV 1-12. I am also not aware of a better clean channel of the gorgeous jaw dropping variety in any boutique amplifier out there, at least the ones I have heard. And as you guys said it is a great platform for pedals too assuming one wants a clean that is not the turn up for more breakup type, at least the 100 watter with an EV.
I wish someone would give me a clean channel with one volume control and no gain control so one doesn't have to do that stupid balancing act like on most boutique channel switchers. For channel two, fine use the exact same circuitry with a volume and a gain, and for channel three go for a great gain channel and a boost to top it off. I am not aware of any amp with that design which to me would be perfect but it would have to start with the big cleans which as has been said rivals the best of the blackfaces.
I had a carpet covered half stack w/ el-34's from about '89 that sounded great on both channels, but the clean particularly. In about '93 i bought an oak cab one with 6l6's and a evm 12L. In mint condition.
I could'nt tell much difference on channel 2 between the amps, but the el-34 amp sounded much better on the clean channel. A few yrs later i sold the half stack and kept the combo. One nite something blew and i couldn't find the owners manual so i called carvin and they sent me a schematic. Meanwhile, i found my original. When i took it to the tech, he said mine really didn't follow any of the 3 schematics that came from carvin. So i guess there were several changes through the run of those amps.
I still have the combo and i think it is a great sounding amp, but like someone said, the name and the naysayers will never get any love for these amps. Click to expand.There were, it seems. Looking through the catalogs at the Carvin Museum, there are lots of subtle changes over their amp lines over the years.and STILL you see ones that aren't covered! Like mine - the 6L6 version is not supposed to exist with tolex and the 'square logo', and yet there it is! (some had EL34 stickers over the 6L6 indicators on the back, but mine is genuinely a 6L6 version).I also saw an X60b combo on eBay that I was going to snap up, but I couldn't find that exact chassis design and orientation ANYWHERE in the catalogs.
I got the willies and didn't pull the trigger - silly me. I had the oak 100 watt combo with 6L6's and an EV speaker. I bought it hoping for a good 'Boogie' type distortion but never found it. But the cleans were nice. I used it to provide backline for a jazz concert one time.
A cello player requested a Twin Reverb and I provided the Carvin. He wasn't too happy, but made the best of it. After experimenting and using the Graphic EQ, he was won over. At the end of the night he said, 'I need to check one of these out.'
It ws my main amp for a while in the '80's until I came upon a '66 Super Reverb for $400.00. Then the other guitar player used it. But it was a great amp when matched for the right gig.