Carvin half stack vs .... ?

[eakinj]

So I'm updating my entire rig in the next couple months, a new band project has kind of given me a kick in the @ss to do so. I was looking at the Bulgara(sp?) 5150 clone.

Now I'm kind of looking more at Carvin, the V3 and the Legacy. I can't seem to locate the audio demos for either of these.. (will start looking at youtube)

I will be working on two projects and one band, the projects are gothic/metal, and country (yes country) and the band is thrash metal and some "prog"

think either of these amps would work well with that whole range? I also have the line 6 pod x3 live so I'm sure I can fiddle with that to help.

Also can anyone recommend a distortion pedal, i want a distortion that sounds almost metallic. I want something that literally sounds like metal grinding.

[eakinj]

Oh! The other question. Right now I have a crate power amp I am using (200watt through a crate half stack) with my Line6 as my pre-amp. I am also wondering if I couldn't just buy a new cab and a better power amp? Seems like that might be a way to go. But I would rather hear someone who actually live performances under the belt to tell me that would be a viable solution

[markD]

i used to use the line 6 flextone II head when they first came out. i know that is a bit outdated compared to now, but....

prior to that i was using a stereo rivera rig. i used a 120 watt (60/60) head into a pair of rivera 1x12 cabs and a mesa recto 2x12. my effects were run in stereo through the loop in a wet/dry set-up. it was a great sound. it looked impressive on stage. it was heavy.

when i got the line 6, my attitude was that i'd scarifice some awesome-ness for convience. well, in the live context, the line 6 was NOT comparable. it lacked "feel".

so i went back to the rivera rig. i am still using it.

my point?

if you are going to be playing live, keep loking at the carvin stuff and use your line 6 as a supplement for effects. the V3 has incredible versatility and assignable effects loops. i bought one when they first came out. it sounded awesome, but they hadn't worked the bugs out yet and ended up returning 3 heads. they have since worked out the issues.

the V3 had a great clean tone, a nice usable crunch channel and a ripping lead channel. i was VERY impressed. at the time i bought the V3 i also had a soldano astroverb, blackface fender tremolux, silverface fender bassman, marshall 2204, rivera M100, rivera S120 and a boogie MKIV. the V3 was like taking a fender, a marshall, and the boogie and putting it into one head.

as far as the bugera, i just bought the V22 and am EXCEPTIONALLY pleased. it makes a great practice/jam amp. i wouldn't gig with it...some of the parts seem flimsy, like the jacks and switches, but it sounds wonderful.

hope some of this helps.....

[markD]

oh, and my band gigs regularly so i am speaking from a performing perspective - not a sit in the bedroom and play alone view.

[jgcable]

v3

[toejam]

I love my V3 head.

[lhrocker]

The V3 is a great amp and will probably suit you better than the Legacy due to the sheer volume of the Legacy. Plus you get 3 channels versus 2 in the Legacy. And yes, I've had both and wish I still had the V3.

[jgcable]

If I didn't already own the best amp in the world I would be playing a V3.

[slash]

If I didn't already own the best amp in the world I would be playing a V3.

That best amp in the world wouldn't happen to be a Randall MTS, would it?

[toxikdeth]

Well you can find a used splawns of ebay for 900 bucks.

[Bri]

Legacy and V3 sound clips (Werner1 on Carvin forums)
Legacy sound clips (Bryan K aka bkkornaker )
V3 sound clips (FastRedPonyCar)

[jgcable]

That best amp in the world wouldn't happen to be a Randall MTS, would it?

we have a winner

[eakinj]

Sounds like the V3 is the winner here. Though I'll have to look into splawns which i hadn't heard of before, and now I'm also curious about the Randall MTS.

I'm seriously considering instead of buying a guitar + amp, just putting my money towards the amp stuff and getting really good stuff. I have 24 or 25 guitars and a lot of them are jacksons, i'm sure i can find something to play.

[Shawn Lutz]

If I didn't already own the best amp in the world I would be playing a V3.

So when did you get a Bogner Ecstasy John?

[toxikdeth]

If ya got any questins about the splawn (nitro in particular) ask me