Carvin V3 vs Legacy

[mwalluk]

I'm looking to ditch my Mesa Rectoverb in favor of either a Carvin V3 (not V3m) or Legacy (series I or III). Has anyone owned both that can give me a comparison? I've only played a Legacy series I before.

[jon the art guy]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

There isn't a huge amount of Carvin players on here. I'm probably the biggest fanboy, but I haven't owned any of them.

For the record, if you're going for the full head instead of the M, I'd do the V3 over the Legacy. Bigger power tubes and lots of quality hi gains + a silky clean, instead of the V3m's sort of brittle sounding clean. The Legacy's gonna be smoother/crunchier, I understand. I played a Legacy 1 and wasn't really amazed; reminded me of one of the horde of post-90s medium gain british heads out there.
Thought about the x-100b?

[mwalluk]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

Thought about the x-100b?

I did. Not much out there in terms of reviews/youtube. I need a lush clean, so not sure if that could produce it or not. I like both V3 and Legacy clean.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

I played the legacy 1 or 2 in store back in '01

It wasn't my thing

Back then they had the MTS , BELAIR, and Legacy

.MTS was the Marshall version
Belair was the fender
Legacy was the signature

Wanted the legacy but the cleans weren't as good as the Belair
Then wanted the MTS but the drive channel wasn't the tubescreamer sound of he Belair

I didn't want the tweed
But for me it was the better amp

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

[jon the art guy]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

well, the Legacy was built on the bones of the x100b, but they took out the active EQ and added...stuff. Basically they took an x100b and dialed it to "Vai" for the Legacy. With the EQ section set to the clean channel I bet you can get whatever cleans you want out of it. The gain channel pushes past Marshall into brown and Soldano, especially with the EQ on the gain channel instead of the clean. The Legacy does that too, but is usually more expensive (shrug). The 3 has 3 channels, the 1 only has two channels; it's really an tweaked x100b in disguise I bet.

I'd like to see the schematics for these amps. I know the MTS and the Vintage50 amps are from the same Valvemaster family, and the Legacy is the X100b's baby. I dunno if the V3 has it's roots in anything else they've made.

I do know that if you sell your Rectoverb for a decent price you can possibly buy both an x100b halfstack and an MTS head. hehe I was looking at rectoverb sell prices on CL and I'm seeing upwards of $900, whereas there's a guy who's been trying to sell a minty x100b halfstack for $400, and a pawn shop was trying to unload an MTS combo for $299.

[mwalluk]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

Ya I've seen some V3's and LEgacy's go for $500-600 and some V100B (for $350-400). May have to pick a couple up down the line. I need a cab tho. Granted this all hinges on me selling the rectoverb.

[jon the art guy]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

I fully suggest buying either an x100b or Legacy, not liking it and then selling it to me for a low, low friends price. You know, because we're friends now.

I'm thinking shipping + like...$50? Good friends.

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

I haven't played a legacy but I have a V3. I love it and can tell you about it if it will help but I am unable to give a comparison.

[Demanic]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

I have an XV-212 which is the combo version of the X100-B. If you can find one, get it.

[mwalluk]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

I haven't played a legacy but I have a V3. I love it and can tell you about it if it will help but I am unable to give a comparison.

Certainly any input/review you have will be helpful.

[B2D]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

I could never get into the V3 - it just seems dry and lifeless when I plus into it.

I owned a Legacy I for a few years as my main live amp. I really liked it, actually. Great cleans, fat, smooth aggressive distortion, played well with any pedal you gave it, good reverb, and LOUD. I blew mine up and it never did operate to 100% after I fixed it, though. But if I wouldn't say no to one again as a cheap backup tube head.

The Rectoverb is a decent amp - I had one of those too and I kind of miss it.

[mwalluk]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

Still debating on both,,,,

[jon the art guy]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

For what it's worth, I would personally go for the Legacy 3 between the two amps. The clean channel is more defined and juicy (from what I understand), and if you need that dry hi-gain pummeling sound there's always the FX loop and a pedal.

[jon the art guy]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

Still debating on both,,,,

hehe maybe you should get a V3 and build one of these:

http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2014/06/leegazzy-carvin-legacy-emulator.html

[mwalluk]

Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy

I gotta unload the MESA first which seems to not be getting any attention so far. My CL sucks as of late.