Carvin Vintage series amps

[yard dawg]

Hey has anyone played or heard a Carvin Vintage series amp? I will be buying a small 1x12 for home use and I was wondering what they sound like. I may also get a Fender blues JR or something small like that and put a Modded Blues driver in front . I need it for bluesy sounds and Ching Ching clean. Maybe even boost it to classic rock sounds. Anyone have any advice? And dont say You should try this $2500 boutique amp. I'll laugh at you budget is aorund $400 or so. and used isnt a problem for me. The clean has to be crystal 1st then the other tones.

[lerxstcat]

I owned one for awhile and only sold it because I needed money. The El84s have a beauytiful shimmering clean tone, but you can get some grit cranking it depending on the heaviness of your pick attack. Dig in and you'll get some breakup, play softly and it's beautifully clean.

The drive channel has way more gain than you need, in fact beyone 12 or 1 o clock it's really too much. Not a real metal gain because with the EL84s its a little too saggy, but for a Santana tone it's awesome.

In your budget range and for what you want I think you'd be pretty satisfied. But of course, only YOUR ears can REALLY decide that.

[yard dawg]

I saw in a magazine the JSX amp comes in 1x12 now.

Its a 16watt amp with a 5 watt option I believe.(the carvin)
I can always over drive it with a pedal or switch tubes. If I ever get back in a home I will be buyin a 2x12 cab and a head. I want try the Carvin V3. Right now I need small LOL . I may just break down and get the fender blues JR. I mixed for a guy at a gig that used one wit a tele and it sounded pretty good .

[jgcable]

Hey has anyone played or heard a Carvin Vintage series amp? I will be buying a small 1x12 for home use and I was wondering what they sound like. I may also get a Fender blues JR or something small like that and put a Modded Blues driver in front . I need it for bluesy sounds and Ching Ching clean. Maybe even boost it to classic rock sounds. Anyone have any advice? And dont say You should try this $2500 boutique amp. I'll laugh at you budget is aorund $400 or so. and used isnt a problem for me. The clean has to be crystal 1st then the other tones.

Carvin has never made a bad tube amp. They are all good. They also all have fantastic clean channels.
For blues... also look at the Peavey Vintage Club series. The Fender Blues Deville is nice too.

[yard dawg]

Carvin has never made a bad tube amp. They are all good. They also all have fantastic clean channels.
For blues... also look at the Peavey Vintage Club series. The Fender Blues Deville is nice too.

Peavey huh? j/k ... I'll look into those but I really am leaning towards that Carvin vintage 16/5 watt 1x12. they run new for $399

[hippietim]

I've played a few of the Carvin Vintage series. They are fine. But I would take a Fender Hot Rod series amp over one of the Carvin's in a heartbeat.

[shreddermon]

I've got a Carvin Bel Air (50W 2x combo). Damn nice amp, and it's never let me down. Real nice clean tones, decent classic rock-like distortion. You won't exactly be getting uber-metal distortion out of it, though. But that's what I use a Boss GT for. IMHO, that kind of set-up is a great marriage of modelling flexibility and tube tone.

[lerxstcat]

Peavey huh? j/k ... I'll look into those but I really am leaning towards that Carvin vintage 16/5 watt 1x12. they run new for $399

Hey, just to clarify, I was talking about the 50-watt version. I had the head and 2 410 cabs for a really sweet mini-full stack. When you said 1x12" I thought you meant a Nomad 1x12". I don't know anything about the 16/5 watt one but I don't think it's 2 channels, so I don't know what your clean would sound like.

[memphiskat]

Hey has anyone played or heard a Carvin Vintage series amp? I will be buying a small 1x12 for home use and I was wondering what they sound like. I may also get a Fender blues JR or something small like that and put a Modded Blues driver in front . I need it for bluesy sounds and Ching Ching clean. Maybe even boost it to classic rock sounds. Anyone have any advice? And dont say You should try this $2500 boutique amp. I'll laugh at you budget is aorund $400 or so. and used isnt a problem for me. The clean has to be crystal 1st then the other tones.

My friend has a Blues Jr. I think it's great for the money. I was listening to him today playing through it. I've heard it with his Epi LP and a semi hollow job (forget the model) and a Tele. Sounds great with them all. My only reservation would be the lack of an effects loop as I like to put my PODxt in a loop sometimes. If you can live without the loop its a awesome buy. Karl

[jgcable]

The Carvin Belair would do you solid. For killer cleans you might want to look at more wattage. I would think 30w minimum with 50w being the best choice.

[yard dawg]

The Carvin Belair would do you solid. For killer cleans you might want to look at more wattage. I would think 30w minimum with 50w being the best choice.

If im doin 30 or 50 watts I could just get a Fender twin or something from a pawn shop. Im in an apartment . Plus I want a low wattage amp to play aroun with. 16 and 5 is fine .. I did find a fender hot rod 4x10 for $400 at a pawn shop.. maybe if I canget backin a house again.

[Axe Chemist]

I've got a Carvin Bel Air (50W 2x combo). Damn nice amp, and it's never let me down. Real nice clean tones, decent classic rock-like distortion. You won't exactly be getting uber-metal distortion out of it, though. But that's what I use a Boss GT for. IMHO, that kind of set-up is a great marriage of modelling flexibility and tube tone.

Shreddermon....please check your pm's. I don't want to hijack this thread but I would like to discuss your setup. I'm thinking about getting the same stuff!

[lerxstcat]

If im doin 30 or 50 watts I could just get a Fender twin or something from a pawn shop. Im in an apartment . Plus I want a low wattage amp to play aroun with. 16 and 5 is fine .. I did find a fender hot rod 4x10 for $400 at a pawn shop.. maybe if I canget backin a house again.

If you got a Nomad used off of Ebay you could pull a pair of the El84s and you'd be at 20 watts, with a much more flexible amp than I believe the 16/5 is. And the same amp could play with a drummer if you put the other 2 tubes back in. Just a thought...

[shreddermon]

Shreddermon....please check your pm's. I don't want to hijack this thread but I would like to discuss your setup. I'm thinking about getting the same stuff!

Reply sent.

[yard dawg]

If you got a Nomad used off of Ebay you could pull a pair of the El84s and you'd be at 20 watts, with a much more flexible amp than I believe the 16/5 is. And the same amp could play with a drummer if you put the other 2 tubes back in. Just a thought...

This would only be for a home use. I dont gig. When I can get back into a house im going to buy the V3 and a 2x12 from port city or a modded marshall. I really dont need uber gain because I dont play death metal. 90% of the time im playin bluesy stuff or classic/80s rock stuff. How much would a used Nomad go for?