Off Topic Carvin V3

[Hendog]

I recently joined a gigging modern rock band and I need a High Gain amp ASAP.

Those of you that have played the V3, what do you think of it overall?

Pros?

Cons?

 

[eudaimonia]

It's very loud. It has a lot of good sounds. It's a good deal for the price. I think it's hard to get a smooth legato lead sound from it (a complaint other Carvin users have had, too). But if you stick some pedals in front of it, it can work well.

Here are some videos from a guy from another forum:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-2z5XELpdQ&feature=channel_page"]YouTube - High Gain V3 video[/ame]

He sold the V3 and bought a Spawn Nitro, for what that's worth. (He said he couldn't get good lead tones from the V3.)

That said, I think the V3 stacks up quite well compared to, say, a Mesa Roadster.

 

[Hendog]

What would be a good example of a High Gain amp with a smooth lead sound?

Should I be looking at the Legacy from Carvin?

 

[glockaxis]

My vote would be a Mesa Mark IV (used) or test drive the new Mark V.

 

[Sweat]

Yea if you got the money try a new Mark V, at the Dallas Guitar Show my GC salesman was there and insisted I sit down and check it out, he grabbed me a Silo that was on display ( he knows I only play MM ) and must say quite impressive all the way around.

For me and my purposes it was too much amp and out of my budget but if I needed an amp of that size I would have fgured a way to get it.

 

[Hendog]

My vote would be a Mesa Mark IV (used) or test drive the new Mark V.

Yea if you got the money try a new Mark V, at the Dallas Guitar Show my GC salesman was there and insisted I sit down and check it out, he grabbed me a Silo that was on display ( he knows I only play MM ) and must say quite impressive all the way around.

For me and my purposes it was too much amp and out of my budget but if I needed an amp of that size I would have fgured a way to get it.

So you guys like the Mark V. Is the Carvin V3 no good?

 

[Sweat]

never tried the V3 only the low watt Vintage, I think Carvin makes great amps, but have tried the Mark V, just an opinion

 

[Dante]

if you're in Yurp, maybe you could give the orange rockerverb 50 a try. it has a really heavy tone. i own a thunderverb, which has two cool gain channels but a tad less gain. it does have a built in powersoak!

but í've heard they're a bit price in the US.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

bogner if you have the $$$$$$


J

 

[eudaimonia]

Hendog,

The Legacy has a wonderful, smooth, creamy lead sound. It's even better if you boost it with an OD. But most metal players won't think it has enough gain. You'd need some good distortion pedals to supply a rhythm metal tone, as well as an OD pedal to boost the lead tone. Also, it's quite touchy on the presence control. You pretty much have to leave it at 7 on the lead channel or it's going to be too muddy or too bright.

The V3 is an excellent amp for its price range. Personally, at that price range, I'd rather have a JSX or an XXX, because I think it's easier to get both a good metal lead and rhythm tone out of it. (That said, I bet most people would like the V3 more.) You can get an XXX 120W combo amp for $600 used. If you swap the tubes for JJ's ($110) and perhaps swap the speakers for V30s, it's pretty great.

Again, I'd say the V3 stacks up well against a Mesa Roadster. You pretty much need to put an OD in front of that as well if you want a nice singing lead tone with good sustain.

Here's the harmony central review page:
Carvin V3 Head: Harmony Central User Reviews

The V3 might well be the best high gain amp under $1500 out there. But if you can spend $2500 you can do better.

 

[eudaimonia]

Don't forget the Peavey 6505+. Almost every guitar center has one. You'll need a noise suppressor in the loop at gig volumes to prevent feedback.

 

[Hendog]

Hendog,

The Legacy has a wonderful, smooth, creamy lead sound. It's even better if you boost it with an OD. But most metal players won't think it has enough gain. You'd need some good distortion pedals to supply a rhythm metal tone, as well as an OD pedal to boost the lead tone. Also, it's quite touchy on the presence control. You pretty much have to leave it at 7 on the lead channel or it's going to be too muddy or too bright.

The V3 is an excellent amp for its price range. Personally, at that price range, I'd rather have a JSX or an XXX, because I think it's easier to get both a good metal lead and rhythm tone out of it. (That said, I bet most people would like the V3 more.) You can get an XXX 120W combo amp for $600 used. If you swap the tubes for JJ's ($110) and perhaps swap the speakers for V30s, it's pretty great.

Again, I'd say the V3 stacks up well against a Mesa Roadster. You pretty much need to put an OD in front of that as well if you want a nice singing lead tone with good sustain.

Here's the harmony central review page:
Carvin V3 Head: Harmony Central User Reviews

The V3 might well be the best high gain amp under $1500 out there. But if you can spend $2500 you can do better.

Thanks for all the info!

From the clips I have heard, I am pretty sure it has enough gain for my tastes. Of course, as you said, I can always stick a pedal in front.

 

[Hendog]

Don't forget the Peavey 6505+. Almost every guitar center has one. You'll need a noise suppressor in the loop at gig volumes to prevent feedback.

Terrible cleans thought, right?

 

[gtrdude777]

Love my V3. I was thinking of buying Boogie cabinets to go with it but went with Carvin cabs, they're great. the super lead tone you might be looking for would be the V3 with an Ibanez Tube Screamer in front. I use the TS10 (original) Great sustain and tone.

One of my guitars is a Luke with EMG active pickups, the V3 is one of the only amps I could find that I can get warm tones with these pickups.

The V3 is an awesome choice but as anyone will tell you, tone is subjective

 

[peterd79]

i have a Carvin MTS3212 as my practice amp... and this thing screams.

The presence as mentioned before is very touchy... i think this is common amongst the Carvin line. They are a great amp at that price point. I found the MTS series to be over the top gain and have to dial it back quite a bit to make it usable...

but give it a go... i would say that Carvin is Mesa on a budget (or will get you really really close)

 

[Spudmurphy]

I gotta stick up for it - as I have one - a Mesa F50.

More than enough gain AND the clean channel is ..... ....... ......clean!!

Trouble is they don't make them anymore.

I got mine not because I'm a Mesa fanboi, but because it does what I want.
I'm sure the true Mesa afficiandos will have more knowledge of the later Mesa models.

I live by the adage "If it ain't broke don't try fixing it" ! so I won't be swapping the Mesa F50 for a later model.

Let us know what you eventually decide on?

 

[leftyguitarblue]

This thread was last June, so I'm sure Hendog got his amp by now. Maybe not.

 

[Spudmurphy]

ok Mr Detail !!!

(I never noticed that!!)

 

[leftyguitarblue]

ok mr detail !!!

(i never noticed that!!)

no problem!

 

[Slav123]

Slav