V3 - 100W 3 Channel All Tube Amp
The V3’s 100% tube signal path delivers pure tone from warm to shimmering to infinite sustain and crunch. Three channels offer expanded tone circuits and overdrives for everything from Blues to Metal. Channels 1 and 2 are identical overdrive channels. However since each offers 3 different Drive settings and EQX Expanded Tone Circuits, you'll be able to dial in numerous variations on each channel. The 3rd channel is the clean channel, but with its own Drive control and 3 position switch, you'll be able to use this as an additional distortion channel as well. The Volume Boost is ideal for leads and solos, kick it in when you need to cut through. Two Smart Loops offer assignable effects to your channels. Simply select your channel and select your Smart Loop. The assignment is saved and recalled when you play through that channel. MIDI offers storage of channel switching, Volume Boost On/Off and Smart Loop On/Off. Built like a tank, the V3’s ruggedness keeps you playing night after night.
From the Carvin BBS, posted by Auburn RSX-S: EXTENSIVE review of my V3. Boutique amp and cab showdown! As the title would suggest, I'm still in the honeymoon phase of owning this amp and I plan on posting a more thorough review later on but there has been already hours and hours of extensive head to head comparisons between this amp and a laundry list of high dollar boutique amps and about a dozen different cabs. I'll try and organize the review as best I can. Let’s start at the beginning. The amp was adequately packaged. The box made it all the way down here to Alabama with zero bangs or tears or anything. The Styrofoam was decent and the amp appeared to be in good physical condition. I pulled it out of the box and plugged into my avatar cab which has 2 V30 speakers. I wanted to hear how it sounded in stock form. I could play with tubes later. Everything fired up just fine. No hum, pops or hiss or other oddities. I didn’t order the FS44 so I had to switch channels manually. No big. Initial impressions of the tone Clean Channel 3– Very clean. Very pristine and shimmery. This was on the bright setting. Mostly neutral eq’ing. The middle setting was astonishingly similar to that of my vavlemaster but just cleaner and with more bottom end. The soak mode just fattened up everything nicely and with the gain cranked it delivered some awesome blues tones. Combined with my keeley DS1, hot Texas blues tone was effortless. Lead Channels 1 and 2 – Very good and powerful. The harsh buzzy sound that everyone who doesn’t own the amp yet complains about is due to the presence knob. It adds an unpleasant high end aggression that I don’t like but others might. I have the presence on both lead channels nearly all the way off and the treble all the way up. To me, this sounds most pleasing and smooth yet still can cut through a full band with ease...
Read Full Review Technical Specs V3 HEAD Master Controls • Master volume: Controls output of all 3 channels. Boost or cut your entire rig with one control. • Boost: Add up to 9 dB of volume boost, switch it on/off via the FS44 footswitch and MIDI. • Bright: Boost highs starting at 5kHz for added clarity. • Mid Cut: A unique mid cut helps dial in a master scooped tone from mild to extreme. • Deep: Adds low frequencies at the sub-harmonic level • Smart Loops: Total control of your effects, remembers your effects loop settings for each channel. Just assign a loop(s) to the currrent channel, Smart Loop™ permanently saves it until you change it. Channel 1 & 2 Overdrive 3 Drive Modes: a) "Center" - a classic rich, open overdrive with lots of headroom. Turning up the Drive knob adds sustain and warmth. b) "Thick" - brings on the chunk with a massive low-end, textured mids and blistering highs. Turning up the Drive knob adds sustain to the highs, grit to the mids with low-end bark. c) "Intense"- the most gain and sustain with notes that leap out with startling articulation. The low-end is deep and percussive. Mids and highs smoothly blend and still cut through. Turning up the Drive stretches the envelope of sustain to the edge. EQX: Toggle between standard EQ and Expanded EQ. This switch opens a wider frequency range for the TREBLE and BASS. Presence: Boosting 8kHz to help cut through. Channel 3 Clean 3 Drive Modes: a) "Center" - a classic rich, open clean sound with lots of headroom. Turning up the drive adds tube warmth and sag. b) "Bright" - adds high end to the preamp, inviting high frequencies to chime and sustain as the Drive is turned up. c) "Soak" - boosts all preamp frequencies. As the Drive is turned up, a vintage snarl emanates from the amp. EQX: Toggle between standard EQ and Expanded EQ. This switch opens a wider frequency range for the TREBLE, MID and BASS. Presence: Boost 11kHz for glassy, shimmering highs. Additional Specs REAR PANEL a) Line Out: Plug into a mixer or recording device. b) LINE OUT LEVEL: Varies the output at the 1/4” output to prevent overloading your mixer. c) CABINET VOICING: Simulates a speaker cabinet response. • Loop 1: Series configured effects loop. The TAIL switch enables a long “tail effect” allowing the effect to be heard after the loop has been switched off. • Loop 2: Parallel configured effects loop with return level control and TAIL switch. • MIDI in & Thru: Use with standard MIDI controller. Easy control of all channels, volume boost and Smart Loops™. •
Footswitches: FS44: Remote switching of 3 channels plus volume boost. FS22: Controls both effects loops (MIDI not required). • Output 1 & 2: Parallel outputs for connecting two speaker cabinets. Impedance selector 4, 8 & 16 ohms. • 100w/50w SWITCH: Get increased power tube saturation at lower levels in 50w mode. • BIAS SWITCH: Choose between EL34, 5881 or 6L6GC power tubes, set the BIAS to match the tubes. SPECIFICATIONS • Output Power: 100 watts or 50 watts • 5 - 12AX7 Groove Tubes™ • 4 - EL34 matched Groove Tubes™
V3 GUITAR AMPS FAQ What does “All-Tube signal path” mean, does this amp use clipping diodes? There are no clipping diodes in the V3. This amp is really ALL-TUBE!
What is the difference between each of the 3 channels? A brief summary would be, Channel 1 and 2 are the overdrive channels and Channel 3 is the clean channel, however Channel 3 also has a Drive setting that can be used to turn Channel 3 into a 3rd overdrive Channel, that offers a different flavor of distortion from Channel 1 and 2. Channels 1 and 2 can be set up to be drastically different, or exactly the same.
What are those other knobs above Channel 3? This is a Master section which affects all channels equally. Master (volume), Boost (boosts overall output when switched on). Bright, Mid CUT, and Deep are tone controls that are built-in to the power amp section of the V3.
What are the Drive Switches? These 3-position switches change the way the distortion is staged. A host of variations are available even within a single channel. The use of the Drive Switch and the setting of the Drive Knob will yield a great deal of distortion flavors.
What is EQX? The EQX switches provide an expanded EQ range when required. It can further the tonal landscape and provide two totally different lead tones between channels.
What are Smart Loops and how do they work? Smart Loops are effects loops that can be assigned to specific amp channel(s). When you select a channel, you can always have a specific loop be in the ON or OFF state. For example, lets say you have a Reverb effect connected via Smart Loop 1 and a Delay effect on Smart Loop 2. You can assign Smart Loop 1 (reverb) to Channel 1, and assign Loop 2 (delay) to Channel 2. For Channel 3 you can assign both Smart Loops 1 and 2 (reverb and delay). Smart Loop memory is channel and/or MIDI dependent, so you don't have to have a footswitch to use Smart Loops. The FS22 footswitch makes it possible to switch the loops independently of the channel. Smart Loop settings remain until you change them, even if you turn off or unplug the V3.
Is there a difference between Smart Loop 1 and 2? Yes, Loop 2 is configured Parallel and Loop 1 is a Series loop. Loop 2 has a return level control on the rear chassis that allows further volume settings of the effects connected to this loop.
What do the Tail switches on the rear chassis do? You can turn On (up) or Off (down) the ability to let an effect's tail ring out after you switch the loop off or switch to a different loop. For example, you can have a long delay ring out of the clean channel (Channel 3) after you've switched to a lead channel even if your lead channel is assigned to a different Smart Loop or no loop.
Why does the V3 use the FS44, FS22 and MIDI footswitch controls? FS44 controls your channel selections and Boost ON/OFF. The FS22 turns Smart Loops ON/OFF. Five of the six functions are controllable without the use of a footswitch, except for Boost. The FS footswitches simply add the ability to remote switch. A MIDI footswitch will control your channel selection, Boost, as well as turn your Smart Loops ON/OFF.
How Many total Channel variations can I set up using MIDI? The total number of MIDI variations is 24. Technically you can have 3 channels as the amp has 3 channels. However, there can be variations of those 3. For example, you can save a MIDI patch of each of your 3 channels and an additional 3 patches with the Boost control turned on. You could also save additional variations of your channel patches in MIDI with and without your Smart Loops.
Does MIDI control all channel tone settings? No, the tone controls are analog pots. MIDI will allow for storage of your Channel Number, Boost ON/OFF, and Smart Loop selection. Will MIDI control the EQX and DRIVE toggle switches? These switches are not MIDI controlled. The Line Out on the rear of the V3 has a level control.
Does the V3 have to be connected to a speaker load when I use the Line Out for recording? Yes, the V3 must have a speaker load connected during use. Options FS44 - 3ch Footswitch for digital effects and channel select ADD FS22 - Footswitch For channel select and effect loop (or reverb, if available)
Also available with a Polished Stainless Front Cover: http://www.carvinworld.com/products/single.php?product=V3PSS for an extra $95.00.
There is also an LED backlighting option, which enables the LED's to change colour when you change channels. http://www.carvinworld.com/products/single.php?product=V3L
1 LEFT, but more can be ordered and sent direct to you from Carvin in California
