Carvin PA

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Carvin PA

From what i've heard, carvin gets sort of mixed reviews. Either people like em or hate em. I think it is strange that some say they have problems and other people like B2D say they are great and it sounds like he has used it quite a bit. I don't get it?

 

[B2D]

Re: Carvin PA

From what i've heard, carvin gets sort of mixed reviews. Either people like em or hate em. I think it is strange that some say they have problems and other people like B2D say they are great and it sounds like he has used it quite a bit. I don't get it?

I'm only reporting true stories from my personal experience here. Older Carvin products I've seen (more than 15 years old) have been somewhat sub-average but that was a while ago... the product certainly seems to have improved since then, especially the guitar amps. I have a Legacy and I really love it...

Furthermore, when I had my Legacy fine-tuned for some specific tubes, customer service and communication was among the best I've gotten from any company.

I can understand why Carvin may have gotten a bad rap in the past, but not NOW.

 

[shaka]

Re: Carvin PA

I'm only reporting true stories from my personal experience here. Older Carvin products I've seen (more than 15 years old) have been somewhat sub-average but that was a while ago... the product certainly seems to have improved since then, especially the guitar amps. I have a Legacy and I really love it...

Furthermore, when I had my Legacy fine-tuned for some specific tubes, customer service and communication was among the best I've gotten from any company.

I can understand why Carvin may have gotten a bad rap in the past, but not NOW.

I actually think Carvin makes a very nice playing guitar. I've owned a couple and they were good. Nice action, great build quality, consistent playability. I really don't care for the pickups and some of the other electronics. I've had a couple of switches and pots go out. I also think they put too much finish on their guitars which deadens the tone a bit. I had the opportunity to strip one and it was extremely difficult job. The guitar sounded much better after refinishing.

Their bass line is great. For the money you probably cannot buy a better bass. The guitar amps are decent. A buddy I play with has a Belair which sounds great. I've also heard the Legacy and it sounds great too. I've had the opportunity to play an old preamp of theirs that I think was called an X100 or something like that. It sounded great through a VHT power amp.

On the flip side I've known several people who bought their bass amps and all of them had problems. A bass player in a former band had a head that literally caught fire during a gig. When we took the thing to the tech he noted that the power amp section was exactly the same as a PA power amplifier of mine he had in at the same time. Both had sub par transformers and both blew up at inopportune moments. I think the model was R600 or something like that. To be fair the amp sounded awesome until it blew up.

I completely disagree with comments about their customer service dept. I've had horrible experiences with them. There is another guy on here who had nothing but hell from them about a guitar he ordered that they screwed up on. Search the archives.

Carvin is hit and miss. But The PA gear is definitely a miss.

 

[B2D]

Re: Carvin PA

I completely disagree with comments about their customer service dept. I've had horrible experiences with them. There is another guy on here who had nothing but hell from them about a guitar he ordered that they screwed up on. Search the archives.

Carvin is hit and miss. But The PA gear is definitely a miss.

Maybe you just caught a suckass customer service rep while I got the good one then.

My experiences with Carvin gear and customer service have been nothing but positive. That's all I have to say.

 

[shaka]

Re: Carvin PA

Maybe you just caught a suckass customer service rep while I got the good one then.

My experiences with Carvin gear and customer service have been nothing but positive. That's all I have to say.

Entirely possible. But I dealt with a few suckass reps . lol

 

[rockman23]

Re: Carvin PA

--I've ALSO had nothing but great customer service from CARVIN----they're in the USA, that's positive---Even stuff I've bought used, they stand behind it & WILL fix it if problems occure(you gotta pay S&H and sometimes for the damaged part)--I think they're stuff is great, if ya got a problem they'll fix it or replace it---If you buy a used 1980 Carvin guitar & the pickup selecter switch goes out(example), they'll mail ya a new switch--FREE...TRUE STORY.
--They're PA stuff is nice, I have one & LOVE IT!

 

[J Moose]

Re: Carvin PA

Oh yes, just so I don't look like a schill for Yorkville there are other companies who make decent gear in the same price range: JBL (SR, SRX stay away from the MR) Mackie (SAz series), RCF (before Mackie gobled them up which is one of the reasons Mackie makes decent PA gear), EAW (LA Series. This stuff is expensive though in comparison to the other brands I've mentioned and really doesn't have the bang for the buck.)

Smackme owns RCF and EAW now... I'd skip buying any of the Smackie powered boxes, they're underpowered (AC wise) and pull the thermal shutdown routine FAR too often... especially at hot outdoor shows or if there's an instrument with a low peak to average ratio like a trumpet.

There's a company called "DB" I think out of France which is making some A-M-A-Z-I-N-G boxes, powered and unpowered which are vastly underpriced. You won't find 'em at Guitarget or the big box houses but a "real" PA company can track 'em down.

Community makes good gear...Turbosound's "cheap" line isn't too shabby...

And no doubt, I'm with shaka 110% on the Carvin PA gear.

Nuttin' but trouble.

 

[shaka]

Re: Carvin PA

Smackme owns RCF and EAW now... I'd skip buying any of the Smackie powered boxes, they're underpowered (AC wise) and pull the thermal shutdown routine FAR too often... especially at hot outdoor shows or if there's an instrument with a low peak to average ratio like a trumpet.

There's a company called "DB" I think out of France which is making some A-M-A-Z-I-N-G boxes, powered and unpowered which are vastly underpriced. You won't find 'em at Guitarget or the big box houses but a "real" PA company can track 'em down.

Community makes good gear...Turbosound's "cheap" line isn't too shabby...

And no doubt, I'm with shaka 110% on the Carvin PA gear.

Nuttin' but trouble.

I've mixed some gigs on those Mackie boxes and thought they were pretty decent for the price. Of course the gigs weren't outside in the sun either so thanks for the tip. I don't think Mackie screwed much with the EAW manufactured products.

I forgot about Community. I've seen the Turbosound but have no experience with them.

Eric