Members Blackface Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 I think the consensus is that it's great on paper, but generally uninspiring. That's the way I feel about their guitars too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flintc Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 Of course, there's always the 10-day no questions asked return period. That's not too short to decide if you like the sound, considering you probably won't spent 10 days sitting in a store trying one out before you buy that one. As is the case with any decent product, there will be those who like, those who dislike, and those who are just uninsipired. Amps, guitars, even people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 Of course, I haven't tried this amp, but a cheap amp with a ton of knobs usually raises red flags for me. Versatility is often an excuse for failing to have really good character. If an amp doesn't sound GREAT with everything at 12 o'clock, then it's not for me. I agree with this. You should not have to endlessly tweak to find a good tone. Sometimes, simplicity is genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 Just looked into that amp. Holy cow!!! It has everything you could ever want in an amp! Three channels with 4 button footswitch. I mean jeez! That is the most versatile amp I have seen in a long time. The crazy thing is that it's US made and only $599!Am I missing something? Why isn't this amp super popular? I want one now! thats everything i dont want/need in an amp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flatspotter Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 Of course, there's always the 10-day no questions asked return period. That's not too short to decide if you like the sound, considering you probably won't spent 10 days sitting in a store trying one out before you buy that one.As is the case with any decent product, there will be those who like, those who dislike, and those who are just uninsipired. Amps, guitars, even people. You still have to pay shipping, don't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 thats everything i dont want/need in an amp that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 Honeyiscool, since you're in SD, if you ever make your way to the Carvin shop, feel free to do some recognizance for me!Word! I keep meaning to stop by there, but every time I need something, Musiciansfriend has a sale I can't ignore. Haha. I was mostly interested in their PA gear, but now I'm fully decked out in that sense. I'd still like a good live mixer, though, and Carvin's pretty much the best choice for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Canadian Jeff Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 I owned a Legacy combo and an XT112 combo. I don't own either anymore. I never really gave the XT much of a fair poke but I couldn't stand how dark the Legacy was. I feel like if I need to run a graphic EQ in the loop just to get a usable sound, then that amp isn't for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 which one did you have?VT50 head, the head version of the Nomad and Belair. It was my 5th or 6th Carvin amp, along with having owned a bit of other Carvin gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 Well then they all must be, ahuch ahuch:facepalm:didn't say that, did I. However, after dealing with their customer service/tech and repair department I am VERY reluctant to get another amp from them. It had been so good in the 70s and 80s from my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 I'm the biggest Carvin flag waver around here, and even I'm not really a big supporter of their amps. Lots of "blah" stories out there. Frankly, one of the biggest reasons I'm not a fan is Steve Vai. Have you heard him? Sounds like honeybees getting raped by yellow jackets.. Not for me.or as Zappa said, Stevie has "ham sandwich" amp tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 Speaking of Carvin amps, I've had an AG100D for about ten years now that I've used primarily for acoustic shows (it's a 3 channel PA/amp, with guitar, mic and bass inputs), and as a small bass amp. A month or two I spent a little while fiddling with the million different EQ buttons and knobs and dialed in a really nice clean tone for my electrics, and it's been my main electric practice amp since. Really digging the tone I'm getting out of it. It took a lot more work to EQ that a typical guitar amp, which is understandable given its design, but the tone was there. I can't speak for any other Carvin amps, but there are certainly ones I want to try (the Legacy 2 among others). My AG100D has been a very practical purchase that keeps paying off.My old bass player has one too. It was great for about a year then he started having problems with it. Sent it in 3 times and they kept returning it with the same issues. He finally just gave up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tedmich Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 most of the guys around here look over at their amp and if it doesn't say Mesa or Marshall they loose wood irrespective of the way it sounds: "Sure my 6505 sounds great but its missing something..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 I've heard more bad than good things said about Mesa on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 I've heard more bad than good things said about Mesa on this forum. they can be tough to dial in and have too much gain for most around here. of course, their line does have exceptions to that, but preconceived notions die hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 they can be tough to dial in and have too much gain for most around here. of course, their line does have exceptions to that, but preconceived notions die hard. My Electra Dyne was heavenly, but I simply didn't need that much power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 My Electra Dyne was heavenly, but I simply didn't need that much power. my 20 watt Subway Rocket is awesome, but nearly impossible to play in an apartment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Saturn Posted May 11, 2012 Members Share Posted May 11, 2012 I have a Carvin X-100B and love it. Sounds great. Clean is Fendery sparkle and the gain reminds me of my old JCM800. I would put this amp high on my favorites list. Easy to dial in the EQ and plenty of gain on tap for me. As far as build quality it's solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted May 12, 2012 Members Share Posted May 12, 2012 they can be tough to dial in and have too much gain for most around here. of course, their line does have exceptions to that, but preconceived notions die hard. That seems to be the complaint. Too hard to dial in, requires a Tube Screamer to sound properly, etc. Mesa owners seem to agree that they sound godlike when the stars align, but many complain that it's hard to get the stars to align, given that it's gotten so hard to find willing virgins to sacrifice for the cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted May 12, 2012 Members Share Posted May 12, 2012 That seems to be the complaint. Too hard to dial in, requires a Tube Screamer to sound properly, etc. Mesa owners seem to agree that they sound godlike when the stars align, but many complain that it's hard to get the stars to align, given that it's gotten so hard to find willing virgins to sacrifice for the cause. i hate tubescreamers and my Mesa agrees with me. in fact, it hates all distortion pedals that aren't straight boost pedals. loves the LPB1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted May 12, 2012 Members Share Posted May 12, 2012 Every dirt configuration I've ever had loves the LPB1. It's not very good as a clean boost, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted May 12, 2012 Members Share Posted May 12, 2012 Every dirt configuration I've ever had loves the LPB1. It's not very good as a clean boost, though. its a boost. how clean do you need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted May 12, 2012 Members Share Posted May 12, 2012 I have a Carvin X-100B and love it. Sounds great. Clean is Fendery sparkle and the gain reminds me of my old JCM800. I would put this amp high on my favorites list. Easy to dial in the EQ and plenty of gain on tap for me. As far as build quality it's solid. I've owned three of them. Carvin's high-water mark to be sure. Mr. Smith did some arm bending as I understand it, which is what took them out of their lineup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted May 12, 2012 Members Share Posted May 12, 2012 most of the guys around here look over at their amp and if it doesn't say Mesa or Marshall they loose wood irrespective of the way it sounds: "Sure my 6505 sounds great but its missing something..." I think Fender and Vox are pretty well represented here, along with many other brands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tedmich Posted May 12, 2012 Members Share Posted May 12, 2012 do you seriously think a Fender or Vox user would even LOOK at a V3? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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