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Topic: Carvin VIntage 16 |
Rick Contino
From:
Brattleboro, Vermont
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Posted 16 Mar 2015 3:39 pm |
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Does anyone have any experience playing lap or pedal through a carving vintage 16?
http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/VINTAGE16
Any words of wisdom on this amp for a tube-amp novice?
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Shobud "The Professional" D-10, Stage One S-10, National "New Yorker," NV400 |
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Dave Campbell
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 16 Mar 2015 4:51 pm
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| looks like a great amp for lap at low volume. two el 84s offer very little headroom for pedal steel. |
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Rick Contino
From:
Brattleboro, Vermont
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Posted 16 Mar 2015 5:59 pm
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Thanks for the note Dave,
I'm interested in the amp because my Gwin 50 watt steel amp is usually too big and way too loud to bring to most gigs in this neck of the woods. I don't think I've ever pushed the volume knob past half-way, nor can I really imagine ever doing that. At the same time, I feel like I'm missing out on the tonal potential of the amp.
Also, I would't necessarily be buying this Carvin for the headroom. I'd probably take it to really quiet "gallery" pedal gigs or for lap gigs where a little distortion might be cool. I've played pedal steel out of a Deluxe Reverb, which I believe is 22 watts (compared to the Carvin's 16 watts) under a tent at an outdoor wedding once and felt like I had plenty of headroom. This Carvin is way cheaper than a Deluxe though!
Modding?
I've considered getting an old Blues Jr. and modding it out (a la Bill M), but a Blues Jr. is easily $350 or more used, not to mention the cost and time that goes into modding. This Carvin is only $370 new, and already has a 12" speaker, possibly making it a better mod. I also like the look and front-mounted controls better than the Blues Jr. Any suggestions for modding the Cavin? Would swapping the EL 84s for something cleaner make a difference?
Thanks,
Rick
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Shobud "The Professional" D-10, Stage One S-10, National "New Yorker," NV400 |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2015 9:35 pm
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The Vintage 16 has a great clean sound... especially if you get the Celestion Vintage 30 speaker. It's got one of those small spring reverb tanks, so it's not as good as a Fender... but most folks are going solid-state with their reverb these days anyway.
There is no sub for an EL84.. it is what it is. If you're near the Austin area I'd sell you mine for $250 with cover... it has a Celestion G12-80-K in it, it's an older one that didn't come with a Celestion and I had one laying around. Not a bad amp at all... I've just got plenty of other amps. Buy used if you can!
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Too much junk to list... always getting more. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2015 5:16 am
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| Rick Contino wrote: |
| ...a Blues Jr. is easily $350 or more used |
Keep an eye on Craigslist. I found a dead mint KH (August, 2000, Made in USA) for $220.00 a couple years ago. There's certainly no shortage of them. Mine's perfectly stock and sounds great, especially for lap steel. No mods necessary IMO. |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 17 Mar 2015 6:27 am
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CLEAN is not an issue with any Carvin Vintage amp...all the way from the Vintage 16 to the Belair and Nomad.
Friends on another Forum swear by them.
Turns out that I will be getting a Blues Jr with many of the BillM mods and a speaker swap-out to a Cannibis Rex. Going from 2 EL84s to 2 6V6s as part of the BillM mod. |
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Gary Meixner
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2015 4:30 pm
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Rick,
I have no experience with the Carvin but have logged many, many hours with a Blues Jr. The stock Jr worked great for lap steel most of the time with the El-84's providing enough volume but it would break up pretty early.
I loved the size and weight of the amp so I decided to do some of the BillM mods which were so easy to do that I ended up converting my amp to run 6L6's. The thing is plenty loud and sounds fantastic to my ears. Clean when I need clean and dirty when I want dirty.
I paid very little for the amp originally so it made sense to invest in doing the mods. I don't know if I would have gone as far if I had paid full price for the amp. If you find yourself considering buying a Blues Jr. I would suggest try just the basic mods first. That makes a huge difference for not a lot of money, then decide if you want more power etc.
You should check the BillM website, www.billmaudio.com, first; last I heard Bill was having some health problems and not able to process orders. Hopefully this has changed. If you have any specific question feel free to contact me.
As far as using a stock or modified the Blues Jr. for playing pedal steel through I really can't comment since I only play lap.
Best of luck,
Gary Meixner |
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David Cook
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2015 12:50 pm small tube amp
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| Just bought an Ampeg J20 new from Full Compass for $250.00 shipped. It was B stock but it is a 20 watt point to point all tube amp with 12 inch alnico speaker. Made in Korea. |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 18 Mar 2015 12:54 pm
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| Geez that is cheap for ptp.... ever look on the turret board to get an idea of component quality? |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Dan Moslander
From:
Central California USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2015 7:39 pm
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I have a Bel Air w/an extension cabinet for my six string and have played my PSG on it.....sounds great, but I wouldn't want to wag them around much. I use two 12" cabinets instead.
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The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God" Psa. 14:1
don't have a gear list...I'm broke |
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