100w All Tube Amp Head for $300 bucks? I give you the Carvin ValveMaster!

[InsanityIncludedTv]

if you get a tube amp head, do you need to buy a special cabinet? or will any cab work

[UncleTito72]

@InsanityIncludedTv You need to buy a cab that matches the impedance of the amp. With Carvin amps you have an impedance switch in the back the lets you choose the correct setting (4, 8, or 16 ohms). This is important, because you can blow the output transformer if you don't have the right setting. With Mesa amps you have a variety of outputs in the back. Just plug into the right one. Most cabs tell you on the back what impedance they are It is usually 8 or 16. 4 is uncommon.

[punk4life1029]

is this amp good for thrash metal?

[goingwithzed]

great deal, if it doesnt sound like shite. Does it? Vai uses them to great effect on Skyscraper maybe my favorite album of all time.

[topdog2328]

how does this compare to the V55HD and does it have an effects loop?

[ToomBurger]

I bought the Master Tube Series - 3200 not long ago and am really happy with that one as well.

[jehovahuponyou]

I LIKE THE WAY HE EXPLAINS A SOLID STATE TUBE AMP!

[lkhman1]

your neck is upside down!

[UncleTito72]

So that you know, you cannot make an amp sound like a Marshall by just throwing a set of EL34s in it. A Mesa is a Mesa, a Carvin is a Carvin. If you want the Marshall sound go and buy a Marshall. That said, I own this amp and use it with 34's in it. The sound is SIMILAR to a JCM. It's a rocking amp, plus it has a better clean channel than any Marshall will ever have. But how many rock players buy an amp for its clean channel. This sucker really rocks. Go find one. I'm not selling though!

[timothycomer]

Do you still have this??

[supercookieduster]

I love this amp. have been playing it for probably 4 years, and for the price you can't beat it. all tube, lots of options.... just a good usa tube head

[DALE97DSM]

Damn, you nailed that brown sound, sounds like a mixture of Solando, Mesa,marshal and 5150

[supergeoffy]

hey TK, whats your real opinion on the blackheart BH5H? i have vintage RCA cleartop 12ax7 and a jj el84, only paid 25 bucks for both at a ham radio festival

[cronus4rock]

rich as booty?

[tatsandteles]

I just got one of these off of ebay for $250 shipped. I am really impressed with it. It sounds alot like the Belair on the clean, and really is close to the MTS3200 head as well. I don't know how much gain people want. This amp has plenty of it. I have a large collection of tube amps, all kinds. New and Vintage. This amp would be a great gigging amp for any occasion. I really enjoy playing through it. Drive channel cleans up with volume knob, sounds great.

[UncleTito72]

@tatsandteles I have this amp and love it too. I use it with JJEL34s, and a cab with Eminence speakers. Let me tell you, it's a real head turner. Mine definitely has more drive than what you hear in this video. Mine is in JCM800 territory. These amps need to be cranked to be appreciated. Now the carpet covering needs to go. I'm having mine re-tolexed in white with black piping, same for the cab. Now the looks are going to match the sound! Enjoy the amp.

[tatsandteles]

@UncleTito72 It really does have a nice voicing on the gain side. I also scored another MTS3200 for $299 shipped. You can't do much better than that. Although the new Egnater Tweaker 40's are showing up 'b' stock for around $470 shipped. Those are REALLY interesting as well. I had a Renegade I liked, but not enough to keep. I did keep my Rebel 20. That thing is just fun to turn all the way up and kill it! Still, I have to say my DSL100 is my go to pilot tone. Classic Rock personified.

[OldskoolDM80s90s]

Can the Carvin MTS 3200 do chunky Death Metal tones?

Just saw one for a great price.

[rono8582]

@OldskoolDM80s90s i have one, the 6l6s are ok but it gets fuzzy/raspy like a buzz saw if youre going gain of 8+ without turning it WAAAY up. a hotplate helps.

[jfkdjfd]

Careful mates, i got this head, and it is LOUD!!

Gots more balls than Marshalls and more crunch than an old blues man falling down steps.

[EvilHomer1973]

Have you used EL34 tubes in this amp. Does it sound more "BRITISH" with the EL34s ? 

[jfkdjfd]

I made a comparison between the standard and the EL34's. It has a slightly "Thicker" sound that the standard. Great buy anyways. If you can find one, then get it. Mine was $350.

[AeolianSeventh]

@EvilHomer1973 I tried one out and asked the guy who owned it if I could pop in a couple of EL34s. As soon as I got them warmed up and took it off standby, it said "What what, old bean, care for a crumpet?" I, of course, screamed "Talking amp! Devil is in the amp!" and shot it with a silver bullet, but I have to say, it did sound pretty British.

[jellysdiscs]

Are all Carvin's tube amps?

[rono8582]

@jellysdiscs no, they arent

[syfman7]

@jellysdiscs No.



[loggsoul]

well u cant expect better for that money . Clean is gay .

[guitars357]

@loggsoul What do mean clean is gay?

[TroubleClef2112]

@loggsoul Clean's the way a guitar sounds. I'm a fan of heavy distortion, but you are deaf if you can't hear how amazing that sounded clean. And better for that money? That's the best clean I've ever heard. Distortion was amazing too, for light distortion stuff.

[loggsoul]

@TroubleClef2112 first of all dude playing bad, than clean have really bad solid state sound. U havent heared lot if u claim this is nest clean ever. But for 300 $ this is best amp, thats only fact.

[ShawnVonMurdah]

This is a great review! I recently just purchased this not knowing too much about it and I immediately fell in love with it! The tone is amazing and truly one of a kind in my opinion. I also have the cabinets that come with it. The carpeted Carvin V412T and V412B. To get the best out of this head, you need to definitely crank it up. This is not a bedroom friendly setup.

[TheKoreankilla]

hey tone king, how do these compare to orange th30's or ad30's?

[maccatheguitarist]

Dude, I was just looking around at videos and I saw the one on the Orange TH30 then looked at this one. I can't believe I haven't seen your videos yet. You just scored yourself another subscriber, cheers for the vids man.

[lmsjr]

@maccatheguitarist Thanks bro!

[DReidGuitars]

@lmsjr gotta love those strat cleans, good job man

[DReidGuitars]

@lmsjr also, how do you set up the line 6 g30 wireless if you have an amp with the pedalboard setup in the effects loop? i really need some help with it

[maskone]

Go to 2:12

[AceOfHeart2012]

Clean piece of three bills. I just don't like the on and standby on the back panel. Those should be on the front. But that's just me.

[chicken14ism]

Hey Tone King Verry good demo . i have the same Carvin Valve Mater.My question is : What class it's working this amp? Thanks for the answer and sorry for language but it's not pefect!!...

[UncleTito72]

Folks, just so you know, Carvin amps are the kind that have to be cooking to be really appreciated. Boogies are known for preamp distortion, early Marshalls for their power amp distortion. Carvins are somewhere in between, but the louder you play them the better they sound. You really have to saturate the power section to get the best sound. They are definitely not bedroom amps.

[jfkdjfd]

This is a beast Head. I have it, used, it's awesome. The gain is an awesome crunch. The onl thing is that the Mids are way too high. i have the Mid turned down at zero, and it's like anyother head with the Mids turned up at 5 or 7 AT ZERO. it doesn't bother me. The CLEANS are fantastic with thes head. they're rich and just nice, is bout the only way to describe it. WORTH THE MONEY, LOOKS GREAT AND IT IS LLLOOOUUUDDD!!!!!

[fedja85]

It really lets the guitar sound true the amp..

[mazsenior]

If you think about it, for this amp ($300), a used Fender AM Strat ($550), used Avatar 2 x 12 cab ($200) and a couple of used pedals, and you can have a killer pro set-up for just over $1000 (Less than a NEW Strat)

[Dennizzz119]

A reverse headstock fender WHAT THE FUCK.. ITS FUCKING RARE

[CarvinTone]

I have used Carvins for over a decade. I had this amp and right now I have a V3 with better tubes. Carvin is much better than most would want to accept. My V3 half stack was like $1500 that amp does anything. I can't see spending 3-4K on an ubergain head I'm not so crazy with the fried tube thing anyway. The Carvin brings it if that's want you like. I prefer to get the clean channel really toneful and a darker slight gain on the other channels and use my pedal board for all sorts of tone options

[hoddiair]

do you need a box to use the head ?

[TheZombieRitual]

I just recently purchased one of their old carpeted X100B used for $300. Really great amps for the price, new and used. I now want to check out one Valvemasters of these for my collection

[UncleTito72]

Mine has more gain than this one. I do have JJE34l's in the power section, as opposed to 6L6 type tubes, that generally offer less break up. Mine is definitely more on JCM territory, but not as gainy. Plus I use V30 type speakers too, and that helps. The speakers and cab make up for one third of the sound. But this amp needs to be cooking to be fully appreciated.

[expensivepig]

what you said bout carvin being affordable is completely right. i got a carvin mts 3200 for $480 and it was the head and the cabnit

[dinok1]

Wow, will have to check out the market for used Carvins!

[djdarkmonkey]

the reason carvin are so cheap used is because they don't have the name like fender or marshall i have a carvin bass amp and it's just good if not better then most bass amps buy carvin and save loads of Cash!

[lordkram]

to me it sound like a marshall mated with a vox. great tone and a much greater price. i have owned carvin amps. great products. i still own and use daily a carvin 4x12 cab with celestion v30,s. its built like a tank at almost 100lbs. ile put it up against any other cab out there. i also think their guitars and and p/u's blow away their inflated priced competetors.

[hawg427]

Good tone. Looks like the head is in very good shape. Well taken care of. Sorta like my stuff. You can't tell any of my stuff has ever been out of the box. LOL Of course I don't gig with anything yet. Practice, Practice, Practice. Have a Great Day. It is supposed to be 105 degrees here with the Heat Index and all. Whew!

[REALCougarsRmales]

My friend had one of these and blew it up by playing without a speaker load in just minutes. Rather than paying to have it repaired, he bought a new used one.

[edhombre]

I had a half stack and like a jackass I sold it.

[jfkdjfd]

i got the VALVEMASTER Head, and it will knock your scoks off. It screams, the gain is lucious, the cleans are warm, it's loud. You want a loud good head, then get this if you can find one.

[NewOscarGuy]

GIMME!!!

[SwampAshSpecial]

what cable are you using here?? + check out mah channel :D

[CHASENTONE]

For the money this IS the quentisential amp.thanks TTK .finally I was wondering if aaaanybody was going to do a demo of this amp.This amp I think was totally under rated.I turned my nose up at it when I first came across one and low and behold I plugged in and played and now I have 2.luvm so much I'm in the middle of biulding custom headshells for them.keep those fingers rocken.

[alsgh422]

I have a Carvin Nomad...such a good amp

[ArielsSmartyPants]

Great souding crunch on the lead channel, sweet cleans, $300, a win all the way around.

[MattPurkis]

you reveiws are getting better and better. keep up the amaizing work.

[Rectumfryer]

Is this amp covered with tolex or carpet/fuzzy stuff?

[Ibanez650]

do a review for the bugera v55

[ruffles272]

he did. a long time ago.

[goldenaxeband]

You're awesome TK, while playing clean i was wondering: "How will it take pedals?". And then you answered!

[Stormleader42]

Great video, I think that it's one of the nicest sounding amps I've heard from you in a while, not sure why, just has a really nice and warm sound.

Keep on Rocking TTK!

[sportsportsport]

ROCK ON!

[666Napalm666Death666]

@lmsjr

PLEASE DO A REVIEW ON THE NEW STEVE VAI CARVIN LEGACY!!!

[thisIStheARTofRUIN]

That thing sounds pretty damn good to me, really nice cleans :D

[Phishboy26]

This head is nice but im not liking the lack of a mid boost foot switch option. Every head or combo amp that has a mid boost should have a mid boost foot switch option. Who wants to have to walk to the amp just to push or pull a knob in or out? Not me. Who wants to have to buy a EQ pedal just to boost the mids? Not me.

[bigrock007]

where I can find this one??

[lantyboy]

Sounds gr8!! got your self a real bargin, im close to getting one a zvex box of metal 1 of a kind for £120 ;p

btw love the new tk logo in the bottom right looks sweet

[Maxx61]

The Valvemaster's are great for 70's and early 80's tones but need some help getting into the high gain world. Great deals though for the scratch...as are the X100's.

[tehsimo]

axe fx review please :)

[ctjoao]

@tehsimo yes AXE FX i cant find a good one anywhere!!

[imit]

peavey valveking is best for amps under 500

[telindius2]

@imit

yea yea i agree! but i think it's too loud don't u think?

[imit]

@telindius2 its not that loud. its actually okay, i only play it up to 4, and its loud enough for a whole band and for shows and whatnot

[RNRDOLL]

@imit hell no it isnt...the x100b blows it outta the water; owned an '88 model and the thing had huge balls hanging under it

[akaboo69]

cool intro man

[SchecHellraiser]

whoa if you hold down the left arrow on the keyboard after clicking on the video once you can play snake.

the amps give a nice warm cozy tone.

[imit]

@SchecHellraiser ahahahaha amzing!

[DB73093]

@SchecHellraiser Holy shit@

[SomethinWild]

@SchecHellraiser What the hell, this actually works... :O thanks mate :)))

[joeleke64]

@SchecHellraiser

yeah, just discovered that too

well actually "mysteryguitarman" told me

[serginietor]

@SchecHellraiser wtf?? its true, thought you were spamming lol

[retrogamer64]

@SchecHellraiser howd you figure that out lol thats awesome

[Xen8]

@SchecHellraiser What?? I tried it and nothing happens??

[jfkdjfd]

@SchecHellraiser i have one, it's awesome. If you can find one, i reccomend you get it, it's a great head. very loud though, very loud.

[ItzAmazingBrian]

Woah TTK, you gotta cool your spending. Like 3 amps, cabs, etc. in the past week.

[tony93666]

score!

[njmithra]

Carvins are great amps. Played the Legacy at the Carvin shop in Hollywood. Really want to try this one.

[silvakevin1]

300 bucks wtf good deal!!!

[TheOzzk]

Loving this amp! the clean is off the hook!

[altpath]

Hey TTK, great videos. I saw your interview with Jim from strictly 7 on your site, so when do we get a video review of a strictly 7 guitar? I'm really interested in buying from him but I'm not 100% convinced yet. If I saw you reviewing one of their guitars I'd definately buy one.

[themodernguitarist]

Very nice amp. Sounded awesome with the cleans. Doesn't have the amount of gain I would like, but the cleans would make it worth it.

Also, nice Strat there. Very Hendrix-esque.

[FastRedPonyCar]

@themodernguitarist I used to own a series 1 valvemaster and it's actually the identical preamp board and circuitry used in the vintage series amps but with a modified power section. It's essentially a 100 watt vintage series amp. It's easily one of the loudest clean amps I've ever heard. Fender "evil" twin loud.

[themodernguitarist]

@FastRedPonyCar

Ah, thats cool to know. Seems like a pretty good and cheap alternative to a Fender twin, but more versatile.

Also, have you ever tried to boost the drive channel with an OD pedal?

[FastRedPonyCar]

@themodernguitarist yeah our singer bought mine and used an ocd into the clean channel for one of our shows and I thought it sounded better than the actual overdrive channel. It needs to be cranked HARD to sound it's best. I always used an attenuator at shows when I used it. A volume pedal in the fx loop is a cheaper alternative.

[DaveShredder5150]

dude its a lefty strat awesome

[ruffles272]

its a reverse headstock not lefty

[anongrey]

Very rich and vintage sounding, actually. I dig it.

[aligatorsandwitch72]

I guess a 10 band eq in front of this would get a pretty good metal tone eh?

[Rectumfryer]

@aligatorsandwitch72 It would sound better in the loop, since it would shape the actuall tone of the amp instead of the tone of the guitar.

[rockhead61]

Hmm...reversed fat strat headstock .

im divided ...

cool intro !

just another amazing amp from carvin !

[kesx]

Love the amp TK.... really like that guitar, reverse headstock strat... you should do a video and show that guitar a little closer, nice!

[audiosodomy]

I would sell my Line MKII head for a Carvin

[JohnathenDavis]

I thought clipping was a bad thing? Doesn't that mean your amp is about to explode when it clips?

[CallistoAshus]

Sounds really nice - I've got an X100B reissue, and can note the similarities

[paulster14]

Like the new beg to the video.. Carvin rocks, use to own a XB100 Head and sold it wish I never did. Amp sounds very good and love the reverse headstock Fender!!! Like the funky clean play!

[gnomieowns]

wow killer head there, TK

[xom400]

can u o a review of the vox escort 1970's 30-75

[1DJMETAL]

you should do a review on a multi effects pedal mayb e the boss me-25, or line 6 produvct

[Jato97]

cool!



[stymye]

killer amp.! I really like carvin.!!!. btw... I just ordered an egnater tweaker head,will probably get the matching cab soon.have you heard one yet?

[RetroBasement]

wow for 300 why the fuck not honestly id just buy it for the sake of having a tube backup lmao btw ttk i just bought a new fender american special strat HSS fucking awesome

[ItIsmell69]

YOU GIVE IT THO MEH !?