Carvin 112-Nomad

The Soak feature is the best on the Nomad 112. It allows over all volume to be regulated with one nob, as well as presence, and gain.

There is plenty of power to play against even Marshall half stacks.

The Carvin Nomad combo speakers are butter smooth with a fuller sound than the Marshall JCM 800 Combo. Though Marshall combo has better high end for lead.

I play a Fender Metal Strat as well as a Rickenbacker 360 12 simulaneously through three amps including two Marshall 1912's, utilizing a Marshall JCM 2000 with Legion 412 for bass effects. All three amps are plugged in through a splitter cable and routed through two Line 6 pods.

The Carvin Nomad 112 combo with two Carvin 12's fill in very nicely between the Marshall JCM 800 and JCM 2000 half stack.

The Byrds, the Who, Beatles, Led Zepplin, Hendrix, and other vintage sounds fit in with the Carvin. It is a good all around amp combo.

I've been playing for 38 years and have two Taylors 6 and 12 string acoustics as well as electric gear in the Metal Strat and Rick 12. The Marshall JCM 800 combo is the best amp I have ever played and the Marshall JCM 2000 half stack is a close second. I also utilize a Peavey TNT bass amp for bass and also a Peavey solid state keyboard amp. The Peaveys are good for a cold hard sound, but they are solid state. Tubes are still the ultimate in warm sounds and the Carvin is the warmest sounding tube amp I have.

If the Carvin was stolen, I would replace it. The sound is uniquely smooth and full. It is not a Marshall, though it is a tube amp of the highest quality. What it lacks in high end it makes up for in an overall fat sound that is very warm.

The Carvin Nomad doesn't have a lot of features that I use. I just like the one setting in clean sound. For crunch and metal this is not the amp for you. But if you like a vintage 60's to 70's sound that is in some ways better in a fat, full sound than Fender and Marshall, this is the amp combo for you. In the early days I played lead and rhythem on a Fender Bassman, pre-CBS.

I Chose the Carvin for its size and portability, though it is heavy for such a small amp. I port the Carvin Nomad 112 through a 4X12 Carvin half stack with Celestions to round out the sound.

What the Carvin lacks is the high end tone and character of a Marshall JCM 800. But there aren't any other amps to compare to the
Marshall JCM 800. However, the Carvin Nomad comes pretty close.

The Nomad is a 50 watt, all tube, 1X12, channel switching, vintage style amplifier. It has an effects loop and nice sounding direct out.
As for other features, it's got an on switch and input. What more do you really need.

This amp is great!
I bought this amp off ebay to fill the void selling my DR Z MAZ Jr caused (I only sold that because of a divorce). In all honesty, I wasn't expecting too much. I just wanted a small tube amp that I could practice with and not have to lug my Marshall in and out of the house. It cost me $300.00 plus shipping so I thought I wouldn't regret it much. I am now running the amp through a 4X12 cabinet (I could help myself) and using a strat with joe bardens. I've never used an amp that can be controled so well with just the guitar volume. I stay on channel 2 and just use the volume to clean it up. It reminds me of cross between early Neil Young and Malcome Young's tone. I read the other reveiws before I bought this and I must say that I disagree with many of them. Channel 2 rocks, makes playing fun, and it's VERY easy to find many great tones. I do feel that this amplifier responds better to single coils than humbuckers. The Barden's were made for it. I've been playing hard rock for 30 years, have owned countless amps, and have no problem saying that this is a very nice amplifier.

No worries so far.

I haven't had to deal with customer support.

Mine was new in 2001.
It does everything but "nu".
2ch, footswitch, tube/spring reverb. Good enough for me (but wish it had tremolo). It does bars, studios, and home just fine. for larger venues, it can be miked... all the usuals, 4xEL84's, 5x12AX7's. I have only recently needed retubing, and will replace the originals with Ruby's. Unlike other reviews, mine came straight from the factory with quality American tubes, and they've lasted me many live and studio gigs. Mine has the original non-Celestion Carvin speaker, the one Joe Walsh likes, and it sounds killer with every use.

I use an original George Washburn HB-35, and 2 Carvin Bolt-T's that I've custom ordered and done the builds on myself (one friend did paint one of them). I've also played several other guitars through this amp, including Fenders & Ibanez's. I play many roots and contemporary styles, both as a performer (blues, swing, roots, bebop, country, funk, etc) and as an educator (all jazz but the most abstract: also metal, "classic" rock, and all the others I've already mentioned). The clean channel warms up nicely between 6 and 9 for Texas and Chicago blues styles, as well as NY Funk and Miami Latin. It always cleans up super nice when I roll off on the guitar. The distortion channel can be incredibly brutal but retain a distinctive note-to-note clarity, especially for shred or fusion soloing, yet be phatt enough to produce a Carlos or Larry C. tone on command. I don't augment/diminish the tone with stompers, it comes from my hands/etc. I still don't get the "need" for built-in bedroom efx, or "scoop-tone": if a player's technique is adequate enough, the desired sound occurs at will WITHOUT additional processing.

I've never suffered a real breakdown with this amp. I played a clinic gig at a local music school with it once where it (for whatever reason) was incredibly sensitive to the power buffering of the local line voltage, and gave forth a couple strange little sounds. It was them, not the amp. As I previously mentioned, it now needs to be retubed: c'mon, that's never the amp! I only mention this because I feel the need to comment on other tube amp posts on this forum where users complain about tube replacement. C'mon, dudes, tubes wear out! It's not the amp that causes wear and tear on the tubes, but sometimes potentially vice-versa! Be nice to your amps, and they'll treat you much better...!!!

Carvin has always treated me well. I've previously owened one of their vintage basses, as well as a 212 BelAir combo, and currently own 2 Bolt-T "strats" and the 112 Nomad I'm speaking of. No repairs necessary, EVER. Warranty unnecessary, PERIOD. Like I said, I've had this gear a long time and have needed no repair or warranty service at all. WAY TO GO, CARVIN!!!

Been playin' guit-box since dirt was invented. As well as the guitars mentioned above, I have an old Peavey Bandit 112 amp (highly abused and repaired) that I use for backup and the occaisional & extremely rare "don't wanna tube-amp" gig, & also a Fender StratAcoustic that's great for non- electric swing/country/blues gigs.
If someone were to steal this amp, it would be a miracle if I didn't hunt them down and kill them in their own kitchen. I can't lose it, as I value my gear more than my car, as much as my own body (it's a part of me), and second only to my Lady in all practicality. Can't do the job without my Tools!!! I've compared this amp to Fender, Boogie, Crate, Marshall, and Peavey, and find them all lacking. Way To Go, Carvin! The only amps I like as much as Carvin are Ampeg Diamond Lead, and that's for the sounds I love that this one doesn't get: there's a big difference between EL84's & 6L6's. If I could have any additions, it would be a rotary presence control on the Lead channel, and a tube Tremolo curcuit (footswitchable).

The only thing else I can share is that (as I said above!) I find it very hard to accept the increasing amount of "players" that want instant, bang-for-the-f**k gratification from their musical equipment purchases. I come from a time/place when a person decided for a Strat, or a Paul, or a Tele, or an SG, or Whatever, and then 'shedded for enough years to get their sound/touch/etc. from the instrument of choice, rather than expecting everything to be a "band-in-a-box" type of "drive through the burger window and order from the menu" gear option. I've been playing for 46 years, gig all the time, teach 20+ lessons weekly, and am actually happy doing it. The work pays off: slackin' don't. If you can't get "your" sound out of your gear, perhaps it's time to refine your most important musical instrument, YOUR SELF!!!
Peace, out.

2 channel,50 watts Tube,12 inch speaker.
Clean w/3 band EQ, dirty w/gain and 3 band EQ, Reverb
Effetcs loop,Presence knob(useless-not much change in sound). Footswitchable channels and reverb. Line out.

I bought this used and Unmodified from factory except for two preamp tubes swithced with Groove Tubes.
It has the 100 watt speaker that everybody is swithcing out, I might do that when I can afford it.
This Amp looks small but is pretty freakin loud. It has no problem pushing a 4 speaker cab.
My roomates marshall has seperate reverb for each channel. That would be nice for any amp.

I haven't been playing guitar for very long.I play Rockabilly/Psychobilly,Punk, and a lil surf. I listen to a $%^&load music. So I know what sounds I'm after for the genres I'm playing.

I play a Squier Standard Tele,Oscar Schmidt OE30,Teisco EP-90T and a ET-210. I use a BOSS OD-20 for distortion,and a Rocktron Short timer for delay.

This is my first tube amp so I was expecting to sound like Dick Dale and Scotty Moore right off the bat. In reality I was just hoping for sounds that where in the right ballpark but flexible enough to make my own.
The sound has been described on the other reveiws so, I will just say that the Clean wasn't as bright as I would like it for rocking twang. It did sound pretty old school,especially with my delay pedal.
THEN THERES THE DIRTY CHANNEL! The distortion is basically a crappy pedal stuck in your amp. I play punk and I think it sounds like $%^&. There's no way you could ever call that tube overdrive.
So I did the mods posted on here.It took like an hour(max) to do it. I removed the diodes and modfied the tone stack. I didn't do the cap job because I don't want a thicker tone.
Well The amp is fixed! Real overdrive for my rockabilly! No more outrageous mids either.
So it will get a low rating cuz stock sucks.

Haven't owned it enough to know about reliability. It will probably last me a long time cuz I just play in my bedroom. It seems to built pretty well though. Nothing broke or looked flimsy when I took it apart.

Used so no warranty. But Carvin's website has a manual PDF avaiable.
So that's cool.

Overall for me this was a cool experience. I found a CHEAP tube amp. It looks nice and is built well.
It's to loud to play in my room, and the distortion is $%^&.
If your not the type of person that opens things up and changes them than buy another amp. If you customize everything and are'nt afraid to &^%$ things up for a good cause. Get this amp, especially if you can get it used. I had fun opening it up. I will enjoy my new sound.

If it got stolen I would probably try out the Traynor YCV-20wr It's features are appealing and it's 15 watts which is what I want.

50 watt, 4 x EL84 tubes, 5 x 12AX tubes, two channels, footswitch, cheesy fake tweed, line out.

Wow no lows, no highs, lots of mid!!!!

EL84 just don't last lond in this amp. Carry a spare set.

No problem, but sometimes some of the Carvin guys seem to attempt to speak down to you as if they are all knowing.

Lots of mids, EL84 don't stand up well, using a 12DW7 in V1 and a 12AT7 in V2 makes a big difference worth doing. I even tried the Hasserl mods. I liked the amp on paper, but it just didn't suit my tastes. No matter what, the "soak" sounded bad with or without the dioes and a lot of mids! I even tried modifying the tine stack. All well.

It has all I need. 2 Channels. Obviously, 1 clean and 1 not clean. Get the footswitch! You can change channels and you can turn on the reverb with the other switch or run the effects loop. I don't need or like on board effects. Usually they don't sound as good as getting some boxes and I'll decide what I want.

The clean is very nice and the distortion is pretty good. I mostly play clean. I haven't gone past 4 on the volume. Haven't needed to. This sucker will rip your face off! The loudest 50watt amp I've ever heard.
I have an Ibanez Jet King 2 with a Pearly Gates in the bridge and '59 in the neck. A 72 strat with the Dimarzio heavy blues virtual vintage's, and an Artcore AG85 with a JB.
All sound sweet.

don't know yet. Hope so. Just got a used one.

Again unsure.

I've been playing for 25 years. I play blues, classic rock, and classical.
I would replace it if stolen. After I found the guy/gal who did it and kicked their F$&%ing A@#!
I compared it to the Blues JR, Palamino, VOX Valvtronix, and Kustom 36.

I would have bought the Kustom if I hadn't had found this one. The reverb on the Kustom is killer. The best I've heard. and you can adjust the tone of it.

50 watt,2 channel, all tube, 1x12 combo, reverb, tweed covering, effects loop, footswitch(not included), wish it had headphone jack

I play a gibson explorer, ESP 400 strat, and ibanez artstar(335 copy) Very nice vintage sound, always loved the clean channel, the "dirty" channel was good, but not great. had to much distrotion in with the overdrive. very well suited to blues. the best thing i did was a couple of mods i found on the internet. check out this link.
http://www.geocities.com/rlhassebrock/nomaddioderemoval.html?200513

check out this link. the Clipping Diode Removal Mod and the Attitude Control Mod rule!!!!!!!!!

seems very soild, have not had an issue

i called them about the mods, and the tech on the phone said he did them to his and said just be careful "in there" very nice, and helpful

If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again? in one word YES!

If you have this amp do the mods! it sounds nice stock but better modded. but my motto has always been:
"do you want the exteneded warranty?", "does it cover me modding it?" "no", then "no i don't!!"

bought this about 5or6 years ago , have gigged many times with it , recorded with it and feel i've lived with it long enough to post a review .after the first year i took a handsaw to the box and made a cool little tweed "head" out of it. paired it with a peavey 112 closed back loaded with a r.e. green back , pulled the two inner 84's and felt fairly happy with a very unique look and tone .

i play a wolfgang stoptail , i have used this amp for heavy , loud rock and for clean lounge jazz . by using it at 25 watts thru a closed back with the r.e. greenback i can get some rich and articulate distortion , for rock i have used it with soak on 3 and all tones on 7 and volume on 7 and using only a touch of danecho with the hi cut set @9 oclock i got a very classic 70's stadium rock tone,for my clean loungew gigs i set bass 7 mids 2-3 highs 5-7 and presence 7 with verb @2-3 and using the wolfies volume rolled to 7 on the neck pu i get a very warm and beautifull clean.However my main tone is a brazen attempt at ripping off the "brown sound".I set a boss sd1 with level full, tone 12-1 oclock, and dist @ 9 oclock , run it into the nomad set @ 1.25-3 on the soak bass- 3-7 depending on venue , mids 2-4 and hi's 6-7 , verb off and a danechoe in the loop set with an aggressive hi-cut , and with the two pulled tube goodness off the remaining 25 watts pushing that closed back greenie to its utmost (master volume 7-8) I get a unique tone that i can use tones that are as close to early VH as I'd want to get and still keep my self respect .The verb on mine makes very loud noises but i only use it on the clean channel set at 2-3 .i love the tone i get with the g.b. speaker , the definition and presence goes perfectly with the nomads previously muddy tone .the closed back gives me a bit of that 4x12 bottom character i was missing for rock and when using it clean some tape over the center cures the icepick hi's . The tone of this amp is well worth working with-very warm almost muddy , i often cut the soak channels bass to 3 when volume is set @7 in live situations .The very present green back does wonders in giving this amp a better definition , and at 25 watts it still is loud enough to carry over a very physical drummer .

Just updating a little info...
I solved the rattling problem some users complained about, just by replacing one tube. usually its the v4 that causes some rattling related problems.
Also replaced V1 with a 12AY7, and both channels improved.
Now I turn the soak up to 5 and still have crunch with enough dinamics to keep the tone close to the clean channel, and usually never turn the volume of both above 5.

All tube (12ax7 & el84). 12" speaker. Independent EQ for each (two) channel. 50 LOUD watts. Extra speaker output for additional cab. Direct cabinet voiced output that's good for recording or going direct.

Clean channel (Channel 1) on this thing shines! Great for jazz, also for country or rock. At 50 watts, it has good headroom.

Dirty channel (Channel 2) is great for bluesy distortion. Also fantastic with the Soak (gain) down real low for a slightly overdriven clean sound. Not great for metal on it's own. But can be more than sufficient for metal is you crank the Soak and put a overdrive like a tubescreamer in front.

Been gigging with it for 5 years so far and will keep doing so. Only 1 problem with it in which I had to take it in to replace a dead diode (I think). Otherwise, never a problem, I just regular tube amp maintantence like replacing tubes every year or so.

Call them up, they're more than happy to help. They've also emailed me a schematic with no problem.

Been playing 11 years. I love the Carvin Vintage Series amps. I've owned the head/cab version as well, but the 1x12 Nomad combo is the size for me. I also own the Vintage 16, which is the 16/5 watt baby brother of the nomad.

The Nomad is great for jazz, rock, country, fusion, jamband, etc. It's a STEAL for the price too. Made with quality and care in the USA.