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Author
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Topic: Carvin Tube Amps
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Darvin Willhoite
Member From: Leander, Tx. USA
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posted 18 August 2005 06:31 AM
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I just finished restoring the cabinet on an old Carvin Tube X-amp and man what a steel sound. Ken Fox fixed a couple of minor problems with the electronics and I put in a new baffle board and refinished the oak cabinet. It has four 6L6, and three 12AX7 tubes, and has plenty of power. It originally had a 12" speaker but was roughly converted to a 15" before I got it. The current speaker is a 1502-4 Black Widow (old spider web style bass speaker with ribbed cone) and boy does it sound good. I'm using a Boss DD-5 for a little delay to thicken the sound. The reverb tank that was in it when I got it had a very short decay, so I changed that to a long decay tank which is almost too much for guitar but perfect for steel. I used to think my old Blackface Fender Twin was my best sounding steel amp, but I think this one beats it. There were some circuit mods before I got it and I have no idea what was done, although I got it from a steel player, so it may have been to get a better steel sound. If this is the case, they did it right. Do any of you guys use Carvin tube amps?
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 18 August 2005 at 06:32 AM.]
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Ken Fox
Member From: Ray City, GA USA
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posted 18 August 2005 06:53 AM
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Sweet amp! You did a great job on it. Great sounding amp from what I could hear in my shop. I was running it thru a 12" EVM12L clone (Delta Pro by Eminence) that was in a floor monitor that also had a 100 watt Emilar driver.
[This message was edited by Ken Fox on 18 August 2005 at 06:54 AM.] |
Paul Honeycutt
Member From: Colorado, USA
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posted 18 August 2005 08:14 AM
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I used to have one. A friend has it now. I bet it would be a great steel amp, especially with a good 15" speaker. I never liked the distortion tone and quit using it when I got a '66 Super Reverb. Schematics are hard to find, but if you don't have one, e-mail me and I'll send one to you.
Nice job on the restoration. You do have roadies to move it for you, right? ;-) |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 18 August 2005 08:41 AM
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Cool amp. That 5-band EQ must be nice. Is it switchable? What does the dial on the back do? |
Mike Winter
Member From: Oregon City, Oregon, USA
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posted 18 August 2005 10:12 AM
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Cool amp, and I've heard they sound great. Is it very heavy? |
Darvin Willhoite
Member From: Leander, Tx. USA
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posted 18 August 2005 11:09 AM
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I haven't weighed it but I would estimate about 60 to 65 lbs. It doesn't seem as heavy as my Fender Twin. The graphic EQ is switchable, OFF, LEAD, or RHYTHM. The level control on the back is for the line out. Paul, I do have a schematic, but I'm not sure it is totally correct. They made two or three variations of this amp. ------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 18 August 2005 at 08:35 PM.]
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Jay Fagerlie
Member From: Lotus, California, USA
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posted 19 August 2005 06:35 AM
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Darvin,
I have a schematic for the X-100 amp if you need it.
Jus' let me know.
Jay |
Paul Honeycutt
Member From: Colorado, USA
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posted 19 August 2005 11:33 AM
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The one I had was an early model and the schematics are hard to find. I found a copy for my buddy who has my old amp. I think it was an '83. Interesting design. It's a tube amp with an active stone stack.
I did sound for a jazz band with a cello player from New York who used it instead of the Twin on the rider. He was a little hesitant at first but really warmed up to it. Mine had an EVM-12L in it. |
Len Amaral
Member From: Rehoboth,MA 02769
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posted 20 August 2005 06:59 AM
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That is a very nice looking amp. I had the same amp with a 12 inch speaker and the standard tolex covering.The oak cab with the basket weave grill is my favorite look for an amp. [This message was edited by Len Amaral on 20 August 2005 at 06:59 AM.] |
ajm
Member From: Los Angeles
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posted 20 August 2005 09:40 AM
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That is a very early X amp, probably pre-1983 or so. I have one that I got in 1984 or thereabouts. It is a tad different from yours. One of the main reasons that I bought it when I did was that the reverb is among the best I've ever heard in an amp.I have heard good and bad about Carvins customer service, but I'd try calling them with the serial number and see if they have a schematic for it. I have modified mine extensively, changing several things. However, I haven't gone so far as to ever drill any holes or anything, so it could easily be converted back to stock if the need ever came about. Since mine is so old its resale value really isn't very much, and I consider it a good amp to do little "science projects" on and learn things from.
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Artie McEwan
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