Carvin X100B Head

[nonamemx]

The older ones came with 6L6s. . .the newer carpeted ones came with EL34s.


I had the bias circuit in mine modded to handle EL34s, it was a 6L6 fixed bias amp before.


It can do the Steve Vai solo thing really well, but it also can do thrash really well, just use that slider EQ. Toss up the bass, yank down the mids, maybe some high end and youve got a brutal sound.

[slayer]

The older ones came with 6L6s. . .the newer carpeted ones came with EL34s.


I had the bias circuit in mine modded to handle EL34s, it was a 6L6 fixed bias amp before.


It can do the Steve Vai solo thing really well, but it also can do thrash really well, just use that slider EQ. Toss up the bass, yank down the mids, maybe some high end and youve got a brutal sound.

Sweet I can`t wait Jack.

[Sinistas]

Uh, ya lost me. "Xtreme"?

I'm guessing an ART Xtreme.

[toejam]

Jack, take out the EL34s and put in the new JJ KT77s in place of them!!!!

[Racerx2k]

Is that the trick, where it will lower your effective output, thus allowing you to crank it up, and drive the power tubes, more?

[Racerx2k]

I'm guessing an ART Xtreme.

You must be right. Makes sense, although, again, I want my AMP to do the work, not an outboard pedal. Aside from a slight solo boost, my distortion pedal days are over.
Those MTS and, of course, Legacy amps look promising. And I still have't ruled out finding a Laney AOR head to match my Laney AOR cab.

[slayer]

Jack, take out the EL34s and put in the new JJ KT77s in place of them!!!!

The guy I am trading for it said the exact same thing!! He has a Splawn Quick Rod and he said the Mullards were way too bright, he called Bob up and got some JJ KT77s and boom, no more bright top end and more lows!! I will definitely try them I will also try some EH 6CA7`s, they kinda do the same effect, but I never tried KT77`s. Are they kinda like a KT88`s, but EL34 sized?Jack.

[jgcable]

The older ones came with 6L6s. . .the newer carpeted ones came with EL34s.


I had the bias circuit in mine modded to handle EL34s, it was a 6L6 fixed bias amp before.


It can do the Steve Vai solo thing really well, but it also can do thrash really well, just use that slider EQ. Toss up the bass, yank down the mids, maybe some high end and youve got a brutal sound.

Not without pedals. IMHO.. of course after owning several X100B's in various flavors. The EL34 models need pedals to do thrash and you will most certainly need a tube screamer to do the Vai thing. That.. and an effects processor in the loop.

[gtrcollectr]

I have played through many x100's and they all were great sounding amps but preaty lackluster in the grind dept. I used a MT-2 metalzone in front of one with great results. Your mileage may vary.

[Racerx2k]

Sounds, then, that I should move on, and continue looking at Carvin MTSes, Legacies, or a Laney AOR head.

[jgcable]

Sounds, then, that I should move on, and continue looking at Carvin MTSes, Legacies, or a Laney AOR head.

Trust me on this one bro.... I know that different ears hear different things but I am telling you from experience with X100B's (which I like very much...) that if you want to do metal or thrash you WILL need a pedal.
They all have the hot rod feature that when activated it gives the amp a zillion times more gain but what they don't tell you is that its a fuzzy compressed type of gain that is NOT suitable for chord playing or metal. You have to leave an EL34 based X100B in the normal rhythm channel and use a pedal like a Tube Screamer for hard rock to metal or something like a Metal Zone for thrash or death.
Carvins "death or thrash" metal amp is the MTS3200.
Personally... for that kind of music you can't go wrong with a 5150 or a Rectifier.

[Racerx2k]

That's just it, I don't want to do metal of thrash. I wanna do AC/DC, VH, Slash tones.

[slayer]

I have played through many x100's and they all were great sounding amps but preaty lackluster in the grind dept. I used a MT-2 metalzone in front of one with great results. Your mileage may vary.

Yep, I have a Metal Zone waiting for it!! Jack.

[gtrcollectr]

You will be fine then...I think they are super amps but just not thought of as great chunk amps. I use a Visual Sound J&H and can get just about any distortion sound with a little adjustment.

[jgcable]

That's just it, I don't want to do metal of thrash. I wanna do AC/DC, VH, Slash tones.

I misunderstood.... so many JCF'rs are into the brutal death metal tone.

These are STOCK amps with NO EXTERNAL PEDALS REQUIRED that will do what you are looking for and won't cause you to take out a second mortgage to get one.

Carvin:
MTS3200
Legacy

Marshall:
2210
DSL50/100
TSL100
SLX
even the little 8100 (VS100)

Peavey:
5150II
JSX (from recommendations.. not 1st hand experience)
6505
Ultra
Ultra Supreme

Laney:
AOR50

Crate:
Blue Voodoo

Soldano:
Hot Rod 50+

Mesa Boogie:
F Series
Nomad
Mark 3
50 Caliber
Stiletto Ace (its a great amp for what you are looking for)

Line 6:
Vetta
Flextone 3
Spyder 2

Randall
RG100ES
Cyclone
Titan



Yea.. I know... Framus, Engl, Bogner etc... but to me these fall into the REALLY EXPENSIVE category.
There are a ton more but this is what I came up with off the top.