Carvin V3 vs Legacy
- Thread starter mwalluk
- Start date
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
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?
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
New member
Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy
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.
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
A Ficus
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!)*
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
Nerdy Nerd
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.
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.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
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. :dance:
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. :dance:
ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
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.
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.
mwalluk
New member
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.
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.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
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.
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
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy
hehe maybe you should get a V3 and build one of these:
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2014/06/leegazzy-carvin-legacy-emulator.html
hehe maybe you should get a V3 and build one of these:
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2014/06/leegazzy-carvin-legacy-emulator.html
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy
may want to try Reverb. CL's pretty horrible for me too, but I keep looking because there's always gems to find.
may want to try Reverb. CL's pretty horrible for me too, but I keep looking because there's always gems to find.
Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy
I've got the Legacy 3. The cleans are gorgeous and deep with a reverb sounding from inside the note - I'd say warmer than a Lonestar. The 2 gain channels are superb too, ignore the "dark" reviews and think more of an "elastic depth" with loads of gain on tap that cleans up wonderfully if your volume knob is well designed. The presence controls for each channel are the best I've ever used and make a mockery of the "dark" accusations
I've also had Legacy 1 (too heavy and too loud to find a decent gain), XV was nice but not a touch on the Legacy 3. Also had Boogies, Laneys, Vox etc.
I've got the Legacy 3. The cleans are gorgeous and deep with a reverb sounding from inside the note - I'd say warmer than a Lonestar. The 2 gain channels are superb too, ignore the "dark" reviews and think more of an "elastic depth" with loads of gain on tap that cleans up wonderfully if your volume knob is well designed. The presence controls for each channel are the best I've ever used and make a mockery of the "dark" accusations
I've also had Legacy 1 (too heavy and too loud to find a decent gain), XV was nice but not a touch on the Legacy 3. Also had Boogies, Laneys, Vox etc.
ScottieB
New member
Re: Carvin V3 vs Legacy
I owned two of the new designed V3 and it was a Okay amp just didn't have any bottom end to it. Of course I was use to a peavey 5150. It will take you a week to get the V3 dialed in. A lot of knobs and midi settings. Just didn't have the bass response that I wanted. I changed output tubes and preamp tubes and 6ca7 sounded the best but the 6l6gc had the best bottom end. Its just all in the taste. Never played a new Legacy, bit I did a older legacy and didn't like it but I think it needed tubes. It was real dull and muddy.
I owned two of the new designed V3 and it was a Okay amp just didn't have any bottom end to it. Of course I was use to a peavey 5150. It will take you a week to get the V3 dialed in. A lot of knobs and midi settings. Just didn't have the bass response that I wanted. I changed output tubes and preamp tubes and 6ca7 sounded the best but the 6l6gc had the best bottom end. Its just all in the taste. Never played a new Legacy, bit I did a older legacy and didn't like it but I think it needed tubes. It was real dull and muddy.
Similar threads
