Tell me about the Carvin X100B

[UberMetalDood]

It took me a while to filter through them, but I found a couple of really great sounding videos. From what I could find to read about them, they're supposed to be basically Carvin's answer to Marshall amps. I never played one, but have played a Legacy and a V3. Can anyone give a good review?

 

[DankStar]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

While you are waiting for a good review, here's one of my token crappy reviews:

Great cleans, farty od. Great eq. Didnt sound like any marshalls I ever had. Sounded like a poor man's boogie to me (and I thought I read somewhere it was their version of an early boogie type amp). Fun for a bit, but the od just wasn't appealing. I could live with it if I had to though.

Given the caliber of amps coming through your hands I'm surprised your're even thinking about one.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

There is a "reissue" from the late 90's or early 2000's and I know nothing about them but the old ones from the 70's/80's are not much like a Marshall at all...

They were developed to compete with Mesa Boogie amps of the same time.

I think they are cool amps, high gain but not modern high gain at all...at least by todays standards.

Steve Vai used them a lot and sort of sort the sound from them they are most well known for I think.

 

[jtougas]

I used to have an X60-B that sounded great, but it may've had a speaker swap - I don't remember.

I liked the OD, and loved the clean.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

While you are waiting for a good review, here's one of my token crappy reviews:

Great cleans, farty od. Great eq. Didnt sound like any marshalls I ever had. Sounded like a poor man's boogie to me (and I thought I read somewhere it was their version of an early boogie type amp). Fun for a bit, but the od just wasn't appealing. I could live with it if I had to though.

Given the caliber of amps coming through your hands I'm surprised your're even thinking about one.

Well in this economy it's wise to consider less expensive options. I know Carvin's guitars are very high quality, but I'm not real familiar with their amps. I had a Legacy II for a short time and it was a great amp but a little too smooth and dark for my tastes. I would guess that their amps are as good quality as their guitars. The question is, which one will be the best sound for me.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

Well in this economy it's wise to consider less expensive options. I know Carvin's guitars are very high quality, but I'm not real familiar with their amps. I had a Legacy II for a short time and it was a great amp but a little too smooth and dark for my tastes. I would guess that their amps are as good quality as their guitars. The question is, which one will be the best sound for me.

Makes sense! Mine was like a tank, super solid. I'm anxious to hit the carvin store in Hollywood to check out some of their line I don't see in stores.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

I do not know much about 'em, except for the fact that Steve Vai used them, and really liked them at the time.
Although, he credit Mesa Boogie amps in the album cover of his 'break-through', Passion And Warefare.

A fair amount of hair metal bands in the 80's used them live - i think Poison was one of 'em !

The amps was popular over at Stoner Rock dot com, when they where still an active forum.

 

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

A friend had one back in the early 90s, I played through it quite a bit. Reminded me a lot of my Marshall 800s if the EQ was set right, very, very similar. No idea what was meant above by farty OD, I found it quite tight and very Marshall like. I guess the trick is in how you set it. Better clean tones than the Marshalls to.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

... deff more Boogie than Marshall !

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

I had one circa 1994...the fozzy bear series...looks like the one in the vid. Clean headroom for days. Loud! I don't think I ever used more than 3 on the clean volume at a gig. The dirt was ok but just ok. Nothing to write home about. Reverb was excellent. The EQ section is VERY versatile...you can assign the 5 band to either channel. I used it on the dirt channel but didn't use the dirt channel much. For gigs I used it clean 99% of the time as a platform for a Boss GT6 and a TS9.

 

[saladin]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

Way better cleans + reverb then any Marshall. I prefer the EL-34 versions for the drive channel.
Does it sound like a Marshall? ...nope. It's not supposed to, it's it's own amp, a Carvin.
I think they sound great but they don't get a lot of love. (usually by people who are upset cause they don't sound like their favorite Marshall)

 

[Ascension]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

Depends on the series of the amp.
All of them kill on the cleans but the crunch side can be quite different from series to series.
I once had a early Hot Rod Mod amp from the late 80's that was the same series that Vai used on blue powder and a MONSTER. Screaming gain super clarity amazing dynamics and was one of the best amps I have ever owned. I had some one offer me many times over what I had paid for it and my stupid self sold it not knowing what I really had.
Broke into the most amazing harmonic feedback you have ever heard it was like playing a real Train Wreck.
Here is a clip from my X100B in the old Church band no effects except a Delay and a Wah.
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=4453782
The early ones were much lower gain and kinda stiff and hard sounding.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

Depends on the series of the amp.
All of them kill on the cleans but the crunch side can be quite different from series to series.
I once had a early Hot Rod Mod amp from the late 80's that was the same series that Vai used on blue powder and a MONSTER. Screaming gain super clarity amazing dynamics and was one of the best amps I have ever owned. I had some one offer me many times over what I had paid for it and my stupid self sold it not knowing what I really had.
Broke into the most amazing harmonic feedback you have ever heard it was like playing a real Train Wreck.
Here is a clip from my X100B in the old Church band no effects except a Delay and a Wah.
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=4453782
The early ones were much lower gain and kinda stiff and hard sounding.

I wonder if the new X100B has and improved gain channel.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

I wonder if the new X100B has and improved gain channel.

I have a close friend who is a Carvin endorser Keith Miller who absolutely loves his. The clips of the new X100B I have heard are absolutely BRUTAL!!

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Tell me about the Carvin X100B

The only one I've heard has been modded a lot, but it's bad ass, last I knew it was popping fuses a lot and was sold for a hundred bucks. I should have bought it.