I found this Carvin amp at a local shop today. I must be good at finding unusual things....I can't find another one like this one (cosmetically) on google.
Used but mint....$175 (after some negotiating). This thing is solid state, but is also 100 watts. The distortion channel is ok.....useable. But the clean channel is the best solid state clean channel I have ever heard. It's loud as hell, and takes pedals VERY well.
It's not the JSX, but if you use pedals and are on a budget, you should try these.
Johnny,
Not surprised. Actually I am a bit, because I've heard often that the Carvin SX OD channel was one of the best SS OD channels out there. But the SX amps in general are good AND cheap.
And man, it's cool to hear they take pedals well.
p.s. How are the effects? I used to want one of these, thinking it was the best backup amp ever, but haven't heard much about them for a couple years.
The effects are ok. Nothing to write home about, but usable for a few thingies. I'm using the delay on it for soloing. Therefore, I can keep the delay on my pedal set for some of the more U2-ish type stuff.
The distortion channel is pretty decent. Don't get me wrong. Very usable...but not tone dripping nirvana. I am used to my JSX.
It is the clean channel on this amp that is impressing me. The High, Mid, and Low knobs are VERY sensitive. You move any of them slightly, the tone changes. And that is why it takes pedals so well. It is very 'tweakable'.
I've now been tooling around on mine for about 4 days. It is fantastic as a back-up amp....IF your main amp is a BEAST. But I'll put it up against any 30 or 50 watt tube amp on the market if you are running pedals through yours. This dude will smoke yours.
Maybe that will get some attention to this otherwise dead thread. My new cheapo amp doesn't have tubes, and therefore it sucks ass HERE. But.... I have a JSX. With lots of TUBES. And the clean channel on the Carvin (without tubes) smokes the clean channel of my JSX.
As a tube snob owner of a very nice tube amp....I am also very impressed with the non-tube Carvin Amp.
Sorry to the rest of you fucking tube snobs.......
Get over it :)
Johnny — Jan 25, 2009 ...The High, Mid, and Low knobs are VERY sensitive. You move any of them slightly, the tone changes. And that is why it takes pedals so well. It is very 'tweakable'.
This is exactly why Howie has so many pedals. He's very sensitive and tweakable too! ;D ;D ;)
Ha ha! Point duely noted 8-)
But....that is what makes this a good amp for pedals. The clean channel stays clean at at stupid volume levels. I came close to vaporizing my cat today....cranking the clean channel. It just will not not break up.
Note....the cat is ok. But still under my bed.
The responses I get from the clean channel eq's are very similar to the responses I get out of the JSX. Every slight move in any of the 3 eq knobs makes a definite change in tone.
So.....back to Howie's question as to this amp being a decent back-up amp. My answer is an absolute YES.
It is not a Mesa or a Bogner by any means. But if you have good pedals, it will compete.
Side note.....I hooked it up to my Vox AD212 cab tonight. All tones were much richer and creamier than through it's installed 'British' speakers. Long story short.....this amp (combo) is going to be pushing some Vintage 30's very soon. And it is going to sound that much better :)
CraigBert — Jan 25, 2009[quote author=Johnny link=1232770425/0#2 date=1232864699] ...The High, Mid, and Low knobs are VERY sensitive. You move any of them slightly, the tone changes. And that is why it takes pedals so well. It is very 'tweakable'.
This is exactly why Howie has so many pedals. He's very sensitive and tweakable too! ;D ;D ;)
:D :D
And don't forget "insecure"and "needs to hide behind the distortion" 8-)
