Off Topic Carvin Vai?

[Hendog]

Why dont I ever hear about this amp on this board? It seems like you high gain tone freaks would not shut up about this.

https://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=VL2412

Anyone used one? Are they as sweet as they seem?

 

[universe777]

I have the Legacy 1. For me it's the end-all be all of amps...From the spec's it looks like this 2nd version somehow manages to take it all one step farther...

 

[Hendog]

I have the Legacy 1. For me it's the end-all be all of amps...From the spec's it looks like this 2nd version somehow manages to take it all one step farther...

How is the clean?

 

[Marcus2]

Leagacy cleans

I thought the clean channel was great. It had lots of headroom, and was very flexible.

I only sold the amp b/c it was very, very loud. Way more than what I needed.

Marc

 

[hbucker]

A very loud clean channel with tons of headroom seems to be Carvin's general m.o.

FWIW

 

[koogie2k]

...it was very, very loud. Way more than what I needed.
Marc

That is what I have been told. It is extremely loud but a very solid and nice amp.

 

[zoe_nikotina]

I own one, I mean the Legacy I...

Really cool and clean clean channel, the hi-gain part a lilttle bit dark, but nice too...also a lil´bit noisy thru the loop section...

I equiped it with KT77 valves instead of EL34 and my bias was hotted by a tech....much better this way...

 

[universe777]

I own one, I mean the Legacy I...

Really cool and clean clean channel, the hi-gain part a lilttle bit dark, but nice too...also a lil´bit noisy thru the loop section...

I equiped it with KT77 valves instead of EL34 and my bias was hotted by a tech....much better this way...

At least on mine that hasn't been my observation. I'm running short well insulated leads out of the loop into a TC Electronic M-oneXL rack unit for transparent delays and reverb only.


Although, yes - I can see where it can sound dark --->if you play it and revert back to the same general eq curves that make every other amp sound killer.

I think the way to approach the legacy, is that you CAN'T approach it like any other amp, the eq section (as simple as it is - low, mid, high, presense)is completely unique. You know that anything Vai has his hands in isn't going to be conventional...i.e. 12 o'clock on the eq section is NOT flat. It really takes some time, alot of time of listening and tweaking (and deprogramming the preconception of what are general eq curves). Versatility - this amp has it in spades.

As far as the clean channel. Everything you've read is true. It's a monster. Clean headroom is the name of the game, it's brutal...it's the kind of clean that makes your teeth hurt when you play "at volume".

Speaking of "at volume", it's incredibly loud, to the point where I use to not enjoy playing it in "the tone zone"...that is until I got an attenuator.

+1 ... Tom Sholtz win!

 

[B2D]

I used a Legacy 1 as my main amp from June 2005 to Mid 2008. It's a pretty good amp as amps of that price class go... definitely one of the better ones. I have a few tips of advice to those who are thinking about using one as their main amp.

1. This sucker is L-O-U-D. Controlling the amp with a 4x12 cab takes some skill in playing and sound management. An attenuator (I used a Dr. Z Airbrake) is recommended. If you're looking for an amp to do small bars and coffeehouses, this ain't it. This is for mid-to-large rock clubs on up. Even using the 2x12 version or with a 2x12 cab will get you some crankin' db ratings.

2. The amp is very sensitive to tube types. I got the best results using the JJ Legacy retube package from Eurotubes, which was suggested to me by the Carvin employees as well. The wrong tubes will make the amp sound muddy, mushy, and loose and no one wants that, cept for maybe some stoner rockers.

3. Speaker types also affected the amps sound a lot as well. The matching Legacy cabs actually did seem to pair up the best with the amp as a stock offering, but I preferred using a Legacy cab with Emi Governors and Celestion G12T75's. The Governors smoothed out that mid-spike the V30s have and the G12T75's gave the amp some more cut and combined with the Gov's made for a very big, 3D sound.

4. This is a very dark, bold, amp by nature, but the EQ is also very powerful. The amp seems to like brighters guitars - with darker guitars you'll need to EQ out some bass. Great amp for stratstyle players. The clean channel is great, loud with lots of headroom. The dirty channel is fat, bold, expressive, and very powerful. And this amp loooove overdrive pedals, they work well with the amp to enhance the sound when you use 'em right.

One word of caution... mine broke up twice on me. First time the screen grid resistors got smoked somehow (fuses didn't blow until after 4 resistors in various spots on the amp caught fire) and the second time a few solder joints had cracked and needed reflowing. Not sure if this was because I was rough on the amp and played it hard or if this was substandard performance or I just tested the amps' endurance to the point of breakage... but thats what happened to me.

Thats my experience in a nutshell. Any questions?

 

[ScoobySteve]

I'm really considering the LEgacy II.

It can be switched down to 50 or 25 watts. Anyone with experience on this? Sounds great and looks to be extraordinarily versatile when it comes to venue sizes.

 

[B2D]

I'm really considering the LEgacy II.

It can be switched down to 50 or 25 watts. Anyone with experience on this? Sounds great and looks to be extraordinarily versatile when it comes to venue sizes.

My Legacy 1 had the half-power switch. Didn't really do much to the volume but having it on 100W did give the amp more clean headroom.

 

[73h Nils]

Like others have said, these suckers are LOUD. I haven't played one, but I've "witnessed" a few.

 

[tommydude]

I had a Legacy 1....cannot stress the "Loud" part enough! Had the matching 4x12 cabinet and it was concert hall ready from the get go. The amp ended up being too much for me and sold it for a Line6 Bogner.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I have only ever seen one in the flesh once, and the guy was using lots of pedals, and it sounded very smooth indeed. However I don't think its possible to buy Carvin in this country. At least, I have never seen it for sale anywhere. I know its sold direct in the US, but I am not sure if we even have a distributor in the UK.

 

[ShaneV]

I have only ever seen one in the flesh once, and the guy was using lots of pedals, and it sounded very smooth indeed. However I don't think its possible to buy Carvin in this country. At least, I have never seen it for sale anywhere. I know its sold direct in the US, but I am not sure if we even have a distributor in the UK.

I turned up a UK supplier pretty easily with google. Looks like you guys can indeed get them over there.

 

[Dead-Eye]

CarvinWorld.com - Guitars, Amplifiers & Pro Audio

 

[zoe_nikotina]

At least on mine that hasn't been my observation. I'm running short well insulated leads out of the loop into a TC Electronic M-oneXL rack unit for transparent delays and reverb only.

Sorry...it´s true, I use a Tc Electronic G-major too thru the loop and there is no hum noise problem , but it works different when you try it with pedals...at least this is my experience....

It looks like there is some kind of -10db and +4db trouble....