Problem with Carvin Legacy

[Xeromus]

One thing I notice about the Carvin forum is no one ever answers your questions, or if they post in your thread it's about something unrelated, it's starting to piss me off.

Anyway:

There's a hum that is first unnoticeable but keeps getting louder and louder until it's a WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Now here's the weird part, somehow it's linked to the reverb pot. It's the same whether the reverb is on or off, and the same on either channel. If I turn down the reverb pot it's gone, if I turn it back up again (even if the reverb is off) it's there again. I swapped around the preamp tubes and it sounds identical. What could be the problem?

It's under warranty so I'll probably have to end up sending it back.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

really need some help here. Could this be related to the reverb tank? loose wire?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

Does it sound like something that oscillates louder and louder?

With tube amps, my first instinct is to take some replacement tubes, and retube the whole amp. If the noise is still there, have the Carvin customer service rep answer your question, because it wouldn't surprise me if he's heard it all.

I know Carvin users get sick of defending their choice to use Carvin products, but the problem many experienced musicians have with their electronic gear is no coincidence. Carvin makes their stuff look as equally impressive as top brands, on the surface, but what they don't show you is the places where they cut corners. In almost every case, it's the cheap components they use in their electronic gear. I've owned a lot of Carvin products over the years, and love their construction on the guitars and basses, but have come to realize that their components are junk, and same with their speakers. Right now, I have a Carvin DCM 1500 power amp in my PA system. That POS has burned up it's diode bridge 2 times, due to faulty components.
The good news is that Carvin has excellent customer service, and will pay for the shipping back to you. You'll just have to pay $28 to ship that amp to them in Escondido, Ca.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

Does it sound like something that oscillates louder and louder?

With tube amps, my first instinct is to take some replacement tubes, and retube the whole amp. If the noise is still there, have the Carvin customer service rep answer your question, because it wouldn't surprise me if he's heard it all.

I know Carvin users get sick of defending their choice to use Carvin products, but the problem many experienced musicians have with their electronic gear is no coincidence. Carvin makes their stuff look as equally impressive as top brands, on the surface, but what they don't show you is the places where they cut corners. In almost every case, it's the cheap components they use in their electronic gear. I've owned a lot of Carvin products over the years, and love their construction on the guitars and basses, but have come to realize that their components are junk, and same with their speakers. Right now, I have a Carvin DCM 1500 power amp in my PA system. That POS has burned up it's diode bridge 2 times, due to faulty components.
The good news is that Carvin has excellent customer service, and will pay for the shipping back to you. You'll just have to pay $28 to ship that amp to them in Escondido, Ca.

Agreed. If I had more dough I probably would have gone with a different amp, but for it's price point, it sounds great. After all I'm usually on a tight budget. I'll call Carvin again tomorrow and probably end up sending it out. It's got a one year warranty. I'm not one of those gung ho Carvin whores who will defend them to the end. I know their limitations but like their stuff at the same time. They aren't the best thing in the world, but they make damn fine stuff for the prices they sell them at.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

I know this one!!!!

I had the same exact problem with my Fargen. The reverb was extremely noisy (major hum) when turned up and it'd get louder and louder and sound like it's oscillating until it would feedback uncontrollably.

My problem was that when the amp arrived, the Accutronics spring reverb tank got damaged by UPS. One of the springs had snapped or something. A new tank fixed it right away. I'm almost certain this is your problem and a new reverb tank should take care of it.

Good luck

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

I know this one!!!!

I had the same exact problem with my Fargen. The reverb was extremely noisy (major hum) when turned up and it'd get louder and louder and sound like it's oscillating until it would feedback uncontrollably.

My problem was that when the amp arrived, the Accutronics spring reverb tank got damaged by UPS. One of the springs had snapped or something. A new tank fixed it right away. I'm almost certain this is your problem and a new reverb tank should take care of it.

Good luck

I tend to agree. I noticed after I put my amp back together and was carrying it back to my music room that I heard that distinct "space spring" noise like something was loose in the tank. I'll take a look at the reverb tank tomorrow.

How about this one, when that happened, if you played percussively with the reverb on, did you exessive doing, boing, know what I mean?

I believe mine is an accutronics tank also. Let me know if there were any other weird details you noticed.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

Yep. There was a clattering of sorts going on there. Mine was the old 2 spring accutronics (I'm not sure it makes a difference, but atleast you have an idea of where my problem came from). The Accutronics tanks do seem to be pretty fragile. I'm glad you still have your warranty (Ben Fargen ordered me a new tank for my amp at no extra charge). It's strange how even with one of the springs broken, there could get a bit of reverb actually working when it was cranking, but then that whole chaotic oscillation thing put an end to it. I would definitely get that checked out first. If that's the only problem, then your amp overall should be fine.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

The amp is pretty new and that "doink" sound I've noticed from the beginning. UPS may have damaged mine too. I'll at least get that ruled out tomorrow whether there is soemthing wrong with the tank or not.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

It's possible that you can just re-attach a spring, and the problem is solved.

Maybe Carvin can spare you the shipping expense, and just sent a new tank.

Maybe that crappy metal band that used your amp for 10 minutes cursed it! LOL

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

It's possible that you can just re-attach a spring, and the problem is solved.

Maybe Carvin can spare you the shipping expense, and just sent a new tank.

Maybe that crappy metal band that used your amp for 10 minutes cursed it! LOL

No doubt they would. When I asked, they didn't hesitate about sending me a new full set of tubes on request.

It's quite a possibly my amp did it in protest after the metal band incident! It decided to give me hell after me subjecting it to that. Good thing it didn't commit suicide.

 

[ankalar]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

You've been trying too hard to make it chug

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

seeing if I can get some more suggestions, bump

 

[DARTHWOLFGANG]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

Xeromus,

I had the exact same problem with my Legacy!I bought mine used,but luckily for me the guy I bought it from desparately wanted it back,so he gave me an offer that I couldn't refuse I would deal with Carvin directly and see what they can do for you.Good luck!

~GLENN

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

I know this one!!!!

That made me laugh for some reason. It reminded me of the kid in class that never knew anything when picked, but finally toward the end of the year knew the answer to a question and got all excited....lol.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

WTF!!!

I took the reverb tank out to look at, no problems, everything seemed in order. Put it back in, put the amp together and turned it on and it's not making the hum/ocillation sound anymore. God damn it. Now it's going to be a hard to diagnose one. Suggestions?

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

is it normal on an amp if you have the reverb turned up (even if it's switched off) and you slightly slap the top of the amp to hear the ring of the 'verb springs through the amp? Or does that indicate a problem?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

That made me laugh for some reason. It reminded me of the kid in class that never knew anything when picked, but finally toward the end of the year knew the answer to a question and got all excited....lol.

That's actually the way I thought about it in my mind :laugh2:

A lot of times, there are problems with amps here and I don't have a clue what to tell people, but this I can actually answer

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

is it normal on an amp if you have the reverb turned up (even if it's switched off) and you slightly slap the top of the amp to hear the ring of the 'verb springs through the amp? Or does that indicate a problem?

Accutronics tanks aren't quiet. Any slight movement, and you will hear it moving around in there. It's perfectly normal. The important thing is that the reverb tank is ok. It's very strange you had the same symptoms as mine, but mine was broke. I'm glad you don't have to get anything repaired

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

Accutronics tanks aren't quiet. Any slight movement, and you will hear it moving around in there. It's perfectly normal. The important thing is that the reverb tank is ok. It's very strange you had the same symptoms as mine, but mine was broke. I'm glad you don't have to get anything repaired

I think I'd rather have something broken that could be fixed rather than a phantom problem that comes and goes and can't be diagnosed.

Well I mean you can hear the springs of course. But I mean hear it through the speakers even if the reverb is off if you slap it?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Problem with Carvin Legacy

Well I mean you can hear the springs of course. But I mean hear it through the speakers even if the reverb is off if you slap it?

I'll get back to you about this. Something doesn't sound quite right. If the reverb is set all the way off I don't think anything should make the effect go through the speakers. What exactly are you slapping?