Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

[BluesGuyJ]

Hey fellas, I am looking into getting my first tube amp "head" The Carvin MTS, as well as some of Carvins other head models, seems pretty interesting and the tone clips I have checked out have sounded pretty sweet.

What do you guys think of this model, experiences with it and reliability with Carvin?

Also, I found a head for sale but the owner is only running 2 6l6s in the power amp section where it has been built for 4 power tubes. Does running only half the power tubes availible hurt the amp? Does it put it under stress? Since the amp has a 100 watt to 50 watt switch, would it work as a 50 watt to 25 watt switch since there are only 2 powertubes installed? Or does it run at 50 watts no matter what at this point?

 

[shaka]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

Good tone crappy reliability.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

Anyone else feel the same?

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

I think carvin's build quality is excellent.

I had a Carvin 100 watt head dropped down a full flight of stairs by someone who was 'helping" me carry my gear. :17:

Took it home, plugged it in. No problems. still worked fine after that.

My bass player has been using and abusing a Carvin bass rig, and a carvin bass. He destroys his equipment and it's still holding up.

Got a carvin PA system, and a carvin mixer, and both of those are built REALLY solid.

The only thing I can't speak for is the tone - never heard the MTS. But that new 3 channel head they make looks rockin.

 

[baritone]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

I don't have experience with Carvin tube amp heads, but the MTS is switchable between 100 watts (4 output tubes) and 50 watts (2 output tubes). Keeping it at 50 watts (and only using 2 output toobs) is totally acceptable. Keep in mind that both 50 watts and 100 watts is a reallly loud amp.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

I took a listen to the sound clips on Carvin's site. For classic rock, I think I liked the MTS's tone the best! The other amps they had clips for, like the Legacy and the V3, all sounded way into metal territory. Will those amps do classic rock? Probably. But the sound clips were definitely intended to persuade metalheads to buy those amps.

I would expect the MTS would sound great for classic rock and blues, but I have not had the chance to play through one, just listened to the clips on Carvin's site. I have played through one of Carvins Vintage Series combo amps. It had a great crunchy, ballsy tone.

As for your seller running the amp with only two tubes, the 100w/50w switch is supposed to do the same thing - take two tubes out of the circuit to bring the power down to 50 watts. I have heard of owners of 100 watt amps removing two tubes to get a lower watt rating, and I haven't heard of that causing damage, but I'm not an expert.

 

[G&Legacy]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

Definately Check out the discussion Boards on Carvins Website....those guys will tell you exactly what you need to know.....

 

[B2D]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

Hey fellas, I am looking into getting my first tube amp "head" The Carvin MTS, as well as some of Carvins other head models, seems pretty interesting and the tone clips I have checked out have sounded pretty sweet.

What do you guys think of this model, experiences with it and reliability with Carvin?

Also, I found a head for sale but the owner is only running 2 6l6s in the power amp section where it has been built for 4 power tubes. Does running only half the power tubes availible hurt the amp? Does it put it under stress? Since the amp has a 100 watt to 50 watt switch, would it work as a 50 watt to 25 watt switch since there are only 2 powertubes installed? Or does it run at 50 watts no matter what at this point?

I tried the Carvin MTS and was not impressed. Decent cleans but the OD channel sounded very sterile and dull.

I own a Carvin Legacy. It is Steve Vai's signature amp but the fact it's less of a metal amp and more of a hard rock amp. The tone is actually really good and the tone controls have a wide range and it's very versatile. I played a 4-hour gig last night with originals and covers by The Cranberries, The Police, The Killers, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs just to name a few. It's not extremely high gain if you want highly saturated metal-type sounds out of it but its very ballsy and thick and LOUD. Even on 50W mode it'll rattle windows at 3.

I actually blew it up a few months ago but after a thorough look-through that was due to a power tube failure that took a few large resistors with it and not fault of the amp itself. Reliability has been spot on otherwise and it gets moved around pretty regularly.

I don't know how those half-power switches work so I can't say exactly whether that would harm the amp or not... I personally wouldn't try running it with a half complement of tubes and then using the 50W setting. Blowing up my amp once was enough. Check this thread for my personal question on the issue. https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=99843

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

I dont need high gain at all. I am just looking for a good hard rock/heavy blues amp with good cleans that can be pushed into high gain with pedals. The legacy is a good option but a bit pricey, but that just means only waiting a little longer...

 

[shaka]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

Do a search on this site regarding Carvin gear. There is a bunch of info. I'm not the only one who thinks it's unreliable.

 

[B2D]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

FTR, I've been working with various peices of carvin gear since I started playing and I haven't found them to be more or less reliable in general than any other common brand. Apparently their somewhat bad reputation comes from their older gear, which I'm told was very sub-par.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

You might like a Belair better...2 celestion Vintage 30s and 50 watts, so it's almost as loud as the MTS, but it has EL84 tubes, which are thicker and more chimey on the top, whereas the MTS uses 5881, a version of the 6L6. they'll be a bit glassier and clear. Plus, the Belair is cheaper. Very pedal friendly, too.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

That sounds pretty good... Is it offerd in a head version?

 

[saladin]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

I have had the MTS and didn't care for it at all. The distortion is not tube and sounds like a bad pedal built into the amp. I would go for the Legacy or even better, find an X-100 with El-34's. The best amp Carvin has made.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

That sounds pretty good... Is it offerd in a head version?

NO, but you could have it converted. They do offer an extension cab with it so you can get four 12s going. I just think the tones you're after will be more readily accessible in the Belair.

 

[thucydides]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

You might like a Belair better...2 celestion Vintage 30s and 50 watts, so it's almost as loud as the MTS, but it has EL84 tubes, which are thicker and more chimey on the top, whereas the MTS uses 5881, a version of the 6L6. they'll be a bit glassier and clear. Plus, the Belair is cheaper. Very pedal friendly, too.

I agree. I wasn't a big fan of the Belair/Nomad soak channel when turned up too much, but there are still usable tones in there. The clean is fantastic, and it does take pedals nicely, including OD/Dist.

I've owned three Carvin amps, and not had reliability issues. However, they have not been subjected to the road torture that my Hiwatt has (the Hiwatt has pulled through every time).

 

[FenderFan79]

Re: Carvin amps, especially MTS model!

I have the MTS3200 head, bought it used off the SD forum actually. I love the clean channel, but am not a real fan of the distortion channel, I get tons of hiss even at low volumes, not sure if that's a common problem with the MTS series, or if it's just this amp has some issues. Even at 50 watts, its bloody loud!