Strategery Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Hey guys, I bought my first ever Carvin amp a few months back and just wanted to see if any others here play them or have tried them. I got the Nomad 1/12. I replaced the tubes with a full set of JJ's Blues in the pre & power amp sections and they made a great difference! Other than that, that's the only change I made. It's 50watts and all tube and a lot of fun to play, not to mention very portable but with BALLS! :grin: I have heard others say that they would suggest a certain modification where they clip some gain diodes that are put in there for extra gain, but only really shows up after 3 or 4 on the dial. Anyone ever heard of that? The amps come stock with Celestion Vintage 30's and sound great. I really like this amp and bought it mainly as a back up for my main amp....which is a Fender Concert Reverb 4/10 hi-gain. I also bought it to take to small jams where I don't really want to take the bigger Fender. Thanks and I look forward to your replies. Randy http://www.carvin.com/images/thumb/NOMAD.jpg "Just play!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesape Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I have an old Carvin with, I believe 125 watts, and a 12. It's the loudest amp I and at least 2 techs have ever heard. I affectionately named it "That Which Kills". It's great for outdoor gigs, where eating Twins and Marshall stacks for breakfast is called for. It can also be run at 50 and 25%, which makes it more civil, but it's solid oak, and weighs more than my first wife's car, so it stays home a lot. Carvins are ridiculously well made, but a bit tricky to dial in sonically, but will reward you with great tone and longevity. Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strategery Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 HAHA...love the amp name. :grin: Wow...I never knew they built such a high wattage amp. Geez. Cool and thanks for the info. It looks well made and sounds great. Not to mention, the price was not bad. I really like it for recording as well and almost bought the 18 watter. Thanks again, Randy "Just play!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gifthorse Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I remember my buddy had a Carvin X60 or something. It was like 20 some years ago. Anyways, I remember you needed to crank it up to get a tone but it was pretty cool, very tubey sounding. I dunno, maybe I would hate it now. My buddy has the amp that you have and likes it. He compared it to a Peavey Classic 30. Millo has a Legacy too that he likes. http://flagshipmile.dmusic.com/ http://www.myspace.com/gifthorse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolead Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I have an old Carvin with, I believe 125 watts, and a 12. It's the loudest amp I and at least 2 techs have ever heard. I affectionately named it "That Which Kills". It's great for outdoor gigs, where eating Twins and Marshall stacks for breakfast is called for. It can also be run at 50 and 25%, which makes it more civil, but it's solid oak, and weighs more than my first wife's car, so it stays home a lot. Carvins are ridiculously well made, but a bit tricky to dial in sonically, but will reward you with great tone and longevity. Good story and cool name, Bluesape. Solid oak? That definitely has to be a pain in the arse to haul around. Shut up and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarPlayerFL Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Hey guys, I bought my first ever Carvin amp a few months back and just wanted to see if any others here play them or have tried them. Randy How do you like the *sound*? Is it warm? How does it compare to Fender? I had an X100B 1/2 stack in '82 (the amp in the ads with Craig Chaquico). It was WELL MADE, but the sound was awful. It had active electronics and sounded like a solid state amp. I sold it a couple of years later. I love their guitars....I was hoping they've improved in the amp department 'cause Carvin is a great value for all their other products. A Jazz/Chord Melody Master-my former instructor www.robertconti.com (FKA GuitarPlayerSoCal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBBPaul Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Last time I was in SoCal I played through one of their 16-watt tube amps and was very impressed. It was quite loud and had a really nice tone that was a little darker than your typical Fender. Our new and improved website Today's sample tune: Lonesome One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardtail Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I've always wanted to try a Carvin amp just to hear what one sounds like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strategery Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 Compared to Fender? It has a great clean channel and very good gain channel. I must admit though, I did have to chain the tubes out because it was kind of shril and glassy on the highs. Once the tubes were in, it sounded great. Yeah, I like the Peavey Classic 30's as well. "Just play!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg B. Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Hey guys, I bought my first ever Carvin amp a few months back and just wanted to see if any others here play them or have tried them. Randy How do you like the *sound*? Is it warm? How does it compare to Fender? I had an X100B 1/2 stack in '82 (the amp in the ads with Craig Chaquico). It was WELL MADE, but the sound was awful. It had active electronics and sounded like a solid state amp. I sold it a couple of years later. I love their guitars....I was hoping they've improved in the amp department 'cause Carvin is a great value for all their other products. I had an X100 1/2 stack about 15 years ago that was from about '85-'86ish, it was a monster. The other guitar player I was playing with at the time wanted it so bad that he offered to trade his full stack (brand new Ampeg Lee Jackson-I don't remember the model, but it did rock) straight over. It reallly got him going when he found out that I had mine on half power and his was 100 watt, the Carvin killed his. I wish that I still had it, but living in an apartment at the time, it was pretty impractical. I do miss it, tho. Carvin makes some quality gear. Avoid playing the amplifier at a volume setting high enough to produce a distorted sound through the speaker-Fender Guitar Course-1966 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar55 Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 1 or two channels? Switchable? How much does it weigh? $$$ ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTRBass Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I have the little Vintage 16 5w/15w switchable class A. Loud for it's size. Great recording amp. I swapped out the Celestion Vintage 30 for a Celestion Blue, and upped the tubes to JJ Teslas. Walla... Instant Vox AC15. It is a single channel amp and I'm thinking of upgrading to the 50W Nomad for more girth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strategery Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 Here's the write up on it from Carvin. http://www.carvin.com/products/single.php?ItemNumber=NOMAD&CID=GA You can also listen to it if you scroll down and click on HEAR IT on the bottom left of the page. Several good sound samples in there. Technical Specs Reverb - both channels All tube design - five 12AX7 (Groove Tubes V1 & V2) Four EL84 matched output Groove Tubes Dual channels (clean & crunch/sustain) with separate level controls 50-watt output The cabinet voiced line output jack delivers the natural mic''d sound direct to your mixer A 4, 8 or 16ohms switch allows your choice of speakers A normalized Effects Loop is featured for foot effects as well a rack effects The optional FS22 foot switch is for selecting channels and reverb Hand crafted 7-ply poplar wood cabinet (not particle board) covered in tweed Dimensions: 19.5 inches wide X 10.25 inches deep X 17.75 inches high Weight: 40 lbs. Made in San Diego, California Warranty: 1 year. "Just play!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MILLO Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 I have a Legacy--it can be very dark-sounding, but has a creamy distortion that is pretty unique, and can sound absolutely beautiful. "Without music, life would be a mistake." --from 'Beyond Good and Evil', by Friedrich Nietzsche My MySpace Space Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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