Carvin Tone Navigator

[Artie]

This is just idle curiosity. Not really thinking of buying one. Has anyone heard, or owned one of these?

Carvin Tone Navigator

Artie

Edit: Or its little brother, the SX300R Preamp for that matter.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

I looked into it, they seem to be killer for the money. Similar to Mesa's Triaxis. But I've heard a lot of bad things. Bad reviews on harmony-central too. But that's to be taken with a grain of salt. I have no firsthand experience although I am very happy with my carvin amp now after owning it for about 6 months.

I think the Mesa Triaxis and Marshall JMP-1 rock

 

[Artie]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

Cool. I suppose we could expand this to what folks think of Carvin electronics in general. They have some interesting products, like the little UD-1 Distortion pedal. The parts alone would be worth $20.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

I looked at harmony-central again. Most of the reviews for it are bad. The ones that aren't bad, are 10's. What else is new.

 

[kherman]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

I haven't tried one either.
Even though I'm a Carvin guitar fan.

Reasons I didn't check them out is:
1. No noise reduction.
2. No 12ax7 preamp tubes.
3. Built in effects.

I do feel that hybrid preamps like the ADA MP1, Rocktron Piranha, and Marshall JMP1
benefit from the 12ax7s tubes. Even though it may only be for adding warmth to the signal.
I owned both the Rocktron Piranha (tube hybrid) and Progap(solid state).
Those two little tubes made a difference.

Effects:
I'm still a firm believer that when using rack gear all units should be dedicated.
Meaning a preamp should only be a preamp. A DSP should only be a DSP.
I found when everything is stuck into one, something suffers.
From reviews at both HC and the Carvin forum, this seems to be the case.
This is also the reason I stick with my Rocktron Piranha and Intellifex instead of
going with the Rocktron Voodoo or Prophacy.

Noise reduction:
I'm just spoiled.
The built in Hush NR on the Piranha and Intellifex LTD works great IMHO.
Keeps my rig quiet and does not chop off notes when set correctly.
The older version of the Hush in the Progap would cut notes.
The newer version in the Piranha is much, much smoother.
Why care when you can add an ext. NR?
I just never had good luck with ext. NRs.
I never found them to be as efficient as when the NR is built into the Pre or DSP circuitry.
My friend had the ADA MP1. Noisy unit. He tried the Hush C with it. Could never get it
to be quiet like the Piranha without chopping notes or adding a pop when engaging.
The newer Rocktron Huch C and or ISP Decimator (former rocktron owners) maybe be better these days.

Anyways,
if your looking to build a rack
I'd go with the Rocktron Piranha or Marshall JMP1 (really good quality sound on a budget)
or something like an Engle or Egnator if you got the extra cash.

Or as mentioned the Carvin Quad X. Those are considered one of the best preamps of it's generation.

for effects units:
The Rockton Intellifex or Xpression.
The TC Electronics G-major or G-Force.
The Lexicon stuff is great sounding as well.
But, I find the drop off between patch changes annoying.

Power amps:
Well figure out what type of sound your after.
This will give you an idea of what type of power tubes best suit you music style.
EL84, EL34, or 6L6 basically.

Though there are a couple of nice solid state or hybrid power amps out there the sound quite nice as well. The Tubeworks Mosvalve and Rocktron Velocity 300 come to mind.

I tried a Marshall JMP1 through a Velocity 300. That was an awesome sounding set up.
Back then people chuckled at the 300w. What the hell you need 300w for.
Now look. Randall, Line 6, Fender, etc.. are all building amps with a 200w or 300w solid state power section.

Oops, sorry got side tracked.

Kent

 

[Artie]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

Oops, sorry got side tracked.

Kent

Actually, that was some great info. The reason I come here is to read.

Thanks for taking the trouble to make those good points.

Artie

 

[tone4days]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

hey artie ... i am a huge frank gambale fan (he designed it with carvin and kept us up to date on his website as it was in prototype development ... i've heard this thing live, but havent played it ... it sounds great ... gambale uses no tubes (pre or power amps) ... i, too, am a fully analog SS guy (rocktron pro gap -> rocktron intellifex -> carvin DCM 600) so i am not predisposed to be against this kinda thing ... that said, i would be wary of the effects on the tone navigator .. they are the same engine as in all carvin digital effects products and are highest quality ... they are quiet enough, but not tweakable and not midi 'continuous controller' friendly ... gambale doesnt even use the onboard effects, preferring a G-Major / G-Force / G-whiz with stellar results ... the pre and post gain mid sweeps are very cool ( i have that on my rocktron) and not very common ..

i've heard some users clips over at the carvin board and it seems very versatile

if my progap died and i still wasnt ready to jump up to a high quality tube rig, i'd probably buy one of these and use it with my intellifex ... if my intellifex died, i'd cry .. but i digress

they have that 10 day money back trial period, yunno

cheers
t4d

 

[kherman]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

if my progap died and i still wasnt ready to jump up to a high quality tube rig, i'd probably buy one of these and use it with my intellifex ... if my intellifex died, i'd cry .. but i digress

cheers
t4d

If your ProGap died you could go out and buy 5 more used ones for the same price as a Navigator. :laugh:

 

[tone4days]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

If your ProGap died you could go out and buy 5 more used ones for the same price as a Navigator. :laugh:

and they'd all die soon too ... if rocktron was still makin' them new, i'd be there without even a hesitation

that said, i really am starting a look into tube heads or small combos just to investigate something new ... cant decide if i want a jack of all trades or a couple that are each 'master of one' .. i am darn near certain that i cant afford a master of all

but with something like the tone navigator or progap or others like them, i really feel like i get a really satisfying result that balances the options

i should probably just buy a triaxis and be done with it ... but a roadking and a 1/2 open, 1/2 closed 2x12" seems like a pretty sweet choice too ... but then i hear the THD flexi 50, or a FUCHs SLX30, or numerous others, and i get overwhelmed and i just hope my progap hangs in there ... fortunately i baby it and it has been bulletproof for over 10 yrs

t4d

 

[kherman]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

The only problem I ever had with my Pro Gap electronically was the power supply socket.

For some reason it heated up and expanded. Thus, not making proper contact with the power supply jack. So, my power was cutting in and out.
Replaced the socket and it was fine after that.

Had it for a lot of years before I switched to the Piranha.

Kent

 

[tone4days]

Re: Carvin Tone Navigator

then again, if the progap AND intellifex went up at the same time, a rocktron prophesy is always available

t4d