Carvin AG100D 112 Combo

The AG100D is really a portable PA with 3 preamp channels. Each channel has its own tone controls, and channels 1 and 2 have contour switches that are optimized for, respectively, guitar and bass. Channels 2 and 3 can also be used for line level inputs. There's also a 5-band master eq and master volume, as well as the digital effects (flange, reverb, chrous, and echo). Some users have complained about the fact that you can only use one effect at a time on each channel. I personally don't have an issue with that; I only use the effects occassionally. The amp also has jacks for an external effects loop and headphones/line out, as well as a level control for the tweeter. The AG100D is very versatile, and my only complaints in terms of features have to do with using the amp with line level signals, and its power rating. It would be nice to have the ability to switch out some of the gain in channels 2 and/or 3 when you're using them with line level devices, such as a cd player or whatever. As for the power rating, I don't remember seeing this before, but lately Carvin has shown this amp as having a power rating of 100 watts at 8 ohms, but with 1% distortion at 50% power; in other words, 50 watts. I can only guess what the distortion is at 100 watts out, but I'm betting that it's pretty nasty. To me this means that this is for all pratical purposes a 50 watt amp.

I bought this amp partly because I needed a bass amp for practice, and partly because I was curious to see what other uses I could get out of it. In addition to the bass (solid body, not acoustic) I've used the amp with acoustic guitars (steel and nylon string), an electric guitar, cd and tape players, and a microphone. Generally it has performed well with everything. What really surprised me was how good I was able to get my Telecaster to sound with this amp. With the steel string acoustic, I would describe it's sound as typical (I've never been crazy about the pickup systems that are available for acoustic guitars). However, the nylon string guitar sounded great. I think alot of this amp's ability to produce a decent tone comes from being able to cut the level going to the tweeter; for most instruments, I leave the tweeter level control at minimum. With an electric bass I'm able to get a good tone, but this is where the 100 watt versus 50 watt rating really comes into play. This amp works well with bass in a practice setting, but thats about it. It just doesn't have enough power for jamming or live performances. And I suspect the same would be true if you were using a keyboard, although I haven't tried it. With guitars or a microphone you're probably okay, but definitely not with a bass.

There is where I had a problem. When I first received the amp it worked fine. After a few months, however, it developed a problem where, after a few minutes of playing, the amp would cut out. Then it would cut in and out several more times, and finally it would cut out for good. I'd turn it off and let it sit for a while, and then it would power up fine, only to repeat the problem again. I really wasn't thrilled about the prospect of having to send the amp back to Carvin (especially considering that I hadn't kept the shipping box; probably not a bright thing to do, but frankly it never occurred to me that I might have to send it back). Also, I'm an electronics technician, and once I got the schematics from Carvin (see below) I figured I would be able to fix it myself. Well, it turns out that it wasn't really broken. When I removed the amplifier chassis and shook it out, the problem went away. It was probably just a loose piece of wire or solder that never got cleaned off of the circuit board. Since then the amp has worked fine. However, based on my experience, as well as the trouble other people apparently have had, I'm inclined to question the level of quality control at Carvin.

I ordered the AG100D through Carvin's web site. I figured that was a safe bet since I was ordering a stock amp with no options or anything. I've dealt with their telephone sales people before, and mostly it's gone okay, although there was one time I ordered a bunch of guitar parts that didn't amount to very much money. I was definitely getting some attitude from the sales guy. However, this time when I called the service department looking for schematics, the guy I spoke to was very helpful. He sent them out by email right away. (Actually, I called and requested the schematics before the amp developed a problem. I'm just nosey when it comes to technical stuff.)

As I said before, I think this amp has a high level of versatility, but I also think its published power rating is misleading. And whereas I don't plan to play out with it, if I were I'd be very concerned about its reliability. However, for right now, for what I need, it's fine. If something happened to it, I doubt I'd by another one, especially if, as now, my primary need was for a bass amp.

Just a quick follow up on this point...I submitted an earlier review of this amp and had no comment about customer support. Well, I contacted cutomer support (via e-mail) about the effects processor. The responce I got back was, to say the least, unsatisfactory. It would be nearer to the truth to say that the responce I got back from Carvin was insultling. I will never, I repeat NEVER, do business with Carvin ever again. I most earnestly advise others not to either due to the poor customer support when you encounter trouble, which you assuredly will sooner or later, with the AG100D....

I have been playing 32 years, alot of it professionally. I own a large collection of equipment, including several pa's. I would recommend saving your money and go out and get the Fender acoustisonic amp. It has an overall more impressive sound and all the features that the AG100D has and more. It does cost more, but it is also more reliable and the people who work at Fender are PROFESSIONAL in the demenor toward thier customers. In fairness, the AG100D is a decent sounding little acoustic guitar amp. There are others out there however that sound just as good, are more relieable, have better customer support and actually cost less on top of it!!! I wouldn't get another if it got stolen. I'd replace it with either a Fender or a Marshall acoustic amp.

The amp features the capability to function as both an acoustic guitar amp and mini pa. It has three channels set up to this end, each of which has it's own seperate eq and effects processor sends. An over all well concieved layout for either a solo or small combo performance in a small venue.
The limitation of one effect per channel is annoying. Annoying enough that I may be forced to have to use the included effects loop to process my acoustic guitar sound.

The basic sound of channel one for the acoustic guitar is decent. I own several larger pa systems the carvin's sound quality is equal to them in most respects. I play a Taylor NS32ce nylon string, an Ovation custom Elite and a Gibson ES-165 through it. I use channel three occasionally to sing, using a Shure SM58, or more often, I'll mike the acoustic guitars in addition to running straight into channel one, using an Audio Technica P650R condenser mike. This combination cost me the use of two of my available three channels, but the acoustic guitar sound it affords me is outstanding...and by the way, it also makes it possible to use more than one effect on a single sound. In fact, I also own a Godin LGX-sa, the one with the built in Fishman bridge pickup system as well as Seymore Duncan jazz pickups. Now, if I were to plug the fishman pickups into channel one, and the magnetic pickups into channel two, I could still have channel three as a vocal channel!!!

Mines brand new and seems to work fine, but time will tell...

Haven't used any, yet...

It seems like a pretty good deal for the money, which is why I bought it instead of the Fender acoustiasonic system.

I just bought this in November, 2002. I also have the 123AG extension speaker and it really makes for a full sound (though you won't need it for small gigs). It is the dual DSP model. You know the rest of the features. I am really impressed with the combination of acoustic, voice, and spare (bass) channel. The ability to dial a different effect into each channel is really handy. The 5-band master EQ is really handy and quite sensitve. The DSP is whisper quiet and you only hear a very faint hiss when the treble is turned up high (way to high).

I play a Yamaha APX-20 acoustic and a Takamine CP-132SC classical nylon string. WOW! For the first time I actually hear what my acoustic instruments sound like. I had a Line 6 Flextone (also a SUPER GREAT AMP!) and an old Peavey PA system (PA-4, I think). My acoustic guitars sounded really bad with the Flextone (yes, I know it is not intended for that) and the sound was only marginal through the PA system.

I'm also using a Carvin CM-68 mic - really great vocal reproduction. The amp handles the microphone quietly and efficiently.

This amp is loud and the sound is extremely clean. It is more than enough power and low-end response to do a coffee shop gig (maybe 100 people) and the extension speaker gives you even more coverage. Bonus is the amp and xtension spkr has build in stand adapters. It reproduces my instruments so well. My test of good acoustic reproduction is to listen to someone else play acoustically and then through the amp - if the only difference is amplification, then I'd say you have good acoustic sound reproduction. This amp does exactly that.

I think the horn tweeter is better sounding (a bit softer perhaps?) than what you would get in a 4x10 horn most common in a PA speaker). The amp and the extension speaker also has a handy L-pad to step down the tweater volume - it really works (the benefit is that you don't have to change your EQ - you just step down the volume on your overall highs).

Like I said, I have the extension speaker and it really helps spread your sound around.

The DSP works extremely well and everything is integrated so you don't get any noise from connecting cables, power supplies, etc. (This is also a great feature of the Line 6 Flextone).

I listened to Peavey Ecoustic (good sound but no effects) and the Crate with 12" speaker (for the model number). The Crate seemed a bit thin on sound.

It took a lot of guts for me to buy this amp mail order. I was doing a lot of research and the Carvin folks spent a lot of time with me. Also, you get 10 days free trial period.

I'm an electronics engineer and my expert opinion is that the amp is well designed and well built. The box is solid and the electronics are very quiet. Heat dissipation seems good, but perhaps a bigger heat sink for 100 watt amp would be better. I give it a 9 for the puny heat sink.

See above.

I've been playing guitar for 18 years. I have recently converted entirely to acoustic and classical with some vocals (no amp will ever fix my bad singing!). This is definetely one of the best amplifier purchases I have ever made. This Carvin product scores really high in value for the dollar - where else can you get a 3-channel, dual DSP, 100W amp with dual 12" speakers for $650?

I also like the green color - it is different!

If it were stolen today, I would replace it immediately without trying out other amplifiers. Great amp, great value, great acoustic sound. Good luck!

3 channels (guitar, bass, mike); digital effects w/ mix control on all channels; line out, speaker out; 12" speaker w/ tweeter; 100W of power; efx loop.

Used with acoustic guitars for church worship music and some times an electric fiddle. Being a solid state amp the sound is real CLEAN. The sounds of the guitars come through well w/o distortions even at high volumes.

Okay, this is where the horror story begins. Because it used at church, the amp is only used about 15 minutes each sunday. The rest of the week it is carefully stored in the audio/visual storage room. Approximately after one year (when the warranty expired, of course!), the amp began to make these "crackling" noises like a bad A.M. radio that has bad reception! AND volume on the amp suddenly drops! It's done this on a number of occasions to the point where we don't use it anymore! Now we just use an old second-hand Crate keyboard amp which has been more reliable than our brand new Carvin Amp.

From the posts below it seems like I'm not the only one who has had trouble with this amp. I won't slam all Carvin products since we also have a Carvin bass amp that seems to be reliable. I guess Carvin just did a shoddy job only on the AG-100D. But it's going to cost my church $125 for Carvin to service the amp. Lucky we're in L.A. so I can just drive the amp to the carvin store.

Their staff is friendly and informed about the products they sell.

The amp is very versatile and light weight. It has enough power to compete with other instruments in the band. The sound is pure and clean. It's a good buy for the price but the quality is not good. I'd wish I bought another amp instead!

Bought in 2001. Solid state amp w/ loads of features. For Acoustic guitar, bass, and PA. On board effects and six-band eq. Very sensitive tone controls on the guitar channel. This amp is incredibly versatile for the price. Also it's small and light, yet more than loud enough.

Reverb is decent, as is chorus, but don't really use them. Has flange (!) and delay too.

Sounds great for acoustic guitar, it's primary purpose. I play a Alvarez-Yairi classical through it. Also use it on gigs with my Heritage hollowbody, and sound good. Have played some semi-acoustic type gigs using this as a bass amp and it sounded nice.

It gives the clean sound of your guitar, pretty much. Like a typical solid-state amp, it doesn't have a lot of warmth or the kind of response you'd get from a tube amp.

A great amp for acoustic guitar. Some feel it's an alternative to Polytones for jazz guitar (it is easier to dial in different tones and adjust to different guitars -- but it lacks the response that Polytones have). Works well with multi-effects/modeling processors.

So far so good, although some earlier reviewers had some bad experiences. I'm guessing that Polytone revamped its 100w bass combo to compete with the California Blonde type acoustic amps, and it took them a while to get it right.

My only backup is a Digitech multi-effects/modeling processor, which I would put through the PA if I had to. No problems with the Carvin so far. Although it always takes a couple seconds for the power light to go on, providing drama.

High marks for versatility. High marks for clean sound and good tone/eq control. I give bonus points for portability (small combo with one 12" plus small horn, weighs 35 lbs.). A lot of value for the money.

Some kind of holder, hook or compartment for the power cable would've been nice.

This is a solid state amp with a 12" speaker and a Tweeter with seperate volume adjustment for the Tweeter. Effects are delay, Reverb, Chorus and flanger that can seperately be assigned to any of the three channels. Has seperate main EQ section, but each subchannel has it's own EQ, with the acoustic guitar channel has a mid range cut or add section by frequency range. At first try, you have to work at it to get used to all the possible controls and possibilities. The sound you want is in there, once you figure it all out. The guitar channel also has two push buttons for controlling tone range.

I am using it with a Larrivee and a Taylor with B-Band pickup and pre-amp, various guitars with hmbucker pickups and telecaster with single coil and humbuckers.
No detectable background noise.
The big speaker allows for good low end sounds and I think once I get used to all the possible eq choices, I will get max benefit out of it.
So far so good with my acoustic guitars. I can get a pretty good sound with plenty of bass and crisp highs. I need to go try it in a big room now. My humbbucker guitars seem to sound best in channel-two.

Too early to tell, but the knobs are recessed and protected and it seems to be built very well.

DOn't know yet and hope I don't need them, but initital calls for info and sales went very well.

I think this will be my main amp, and I will take a backup of course, but I am selling two other ones because I can play the bass through this one also. If lost, I would probably buy another one.

this amp is the best value piece of gear I own. 100 watts. 3 channels. One for acoustic guitar. One for electric guitar/bass. One PA channel for vocals. It powers my whole acoustic "chill" band. The possibilities are endless. If you want to, it is possible to run many mics into this thing by using the other channels and the second input on the PA. Each effect has its own tone and volume controls (Mid cut and Hi boost for acoustic channel) (Lo and Mid Boost for Bass/electric channel. there is a 5 band eq that controls the entire output tone of the amp. I start by plugging in an acoustic and shaping the sound with the eq. I then add mics and other stuff and compensate for the eq with the tone controls on each channel. In essence, the Eq is therefore assignable. Oh, not to mention the digital effects - two adjustable effects panels which can be assigned to all three channels.

They say that there is no amp that can do everything really well. This is a lie. I'm selling my Fender Stage 100 amp and replacing it with a high quality distortion pedal (so I can run it through this amp). My bassist runs his bass through the amp and the lead vocalist and I have our mics running through the amp and it all sounds so incredibly clear and natural. (No blending of sound common to multi-channel systems)

I dropped it out of the back of my SUV and it bounced off the solid concrete floor and rolled down a hill while I watched in horror. I picked it up, dusted it off and played a gig with it. It was unfased, the only damage was to the metal guards in the carners (but that's what they are there for).

great, they gave me a lot of help. I was nervous about mail order and buying an amp I had never played, but I'm so glad I took their advice.

I've been playing for 3 years and own a fender cyclone, a les paul junior, a Martin DM and a Kramer Condor (solidbody acoustic electric. All of these guitars sound amazing through the Ag100. With the additional speaker and some stands, this would be the best system ever. This is the most positive review I've written (Honestly, I'm usually critical) BUY THIS AMP!!!!!

Best value in a feature-packed gig-worthy acoustic amp, bar none. Manufactured in 2001, 3 channels, 100 Watts RMS, 12" woofer, 2" tweeter with adjustable volume. Digital effects (reverb, chorus, flange). Each channel has its own volume control, rotary tone controls, and effects send. Seperate (i.e., dual) effects for channels 1 and 2. Master volume and 5-band EQ. Effects loop, line out/headphone (post EQ), speaker out, footswitch jack (Carvin FS-22 footswitch included). Only 35 pounds!

I use this amp for acoustic guitar and vocals. I have also used as a keyboard amp. Very clean sound with little distortion, even at high volumes with all three channels going at once. This amp sounds great, and really lets an acoustic tone come through. Adequate volume for a 100 watt amp. The effects are easy to use - you can dial in a pleasing tone in just a few minutes. I particularly like the capability to have separate effects on different channels simultaneously. I most commonly use a combined chorus/reverb for the guitar, and reverb for vocals. The master 5-band EQ is very responsive.

This amp is brand new so I can't really comment.

I compared this amp with the Crate 125D and SWR California Blond. All have good tone, but the Carvin is a substantially better value. Having three channels is really nice for me on the homefront, and can come in handy when gigging. This amp is packed with features and sounds great. Very clean, very quiet. Reasonable power. Adequate on-board effects for the acoustical performer, particularly if you also run vocals into it. Best value in a 3-channel acoustic amp. All this, and it only weighs 35 pounds.

I purchased this amp in 1999. It is essentially a 3 channel powered mixer combined with a 12" woofer and piezo tweeter in a single cabinet. The first channel is designed for acoustic guitar with three bands of EQ (sweepable mid frequency), mid cut and high boost switches, volume and effect amount. Channel two is for bass, keyboard, or CD/tape input with two bands of EQ, bass boost and mid cut switches, volume and effect amount. Channel three is intended for a microphone with both XLR and 1/4 input, two bands of EQ, volume and effect amount. There is a five band graphic EQ that applies to all three channels and one digital effect available to all three channels. Note: the newer version of this amp includes dual digital effects (one or the other available to each of the three channels) and a master volume control.

The amp is advertised primarily as an acoustic guitar amp and secondarily as a mini-PA. I would rate the overall sound quality of the amp as poor for acoustic guitar, very poor for a vocal mic, and fair for bass. In my opinion, the amp head is quite good for the money: most of the features are genuinely useful and effective. The only exception to this is the built in effects: they range from barely adequate to totally useless, primarily due to the lack of effect parameter control. They are also quite noisy.

The main problem with the amp is the cabinet/speaker combination: the tweeter is totally inadequate to provide true full-range sound. As a result, there are mid-range frequency peaks that even the extensive EQ capabilities of the head cannot overcome.

I have used this amp with a variety of guitars (Guild, Larrivee, Taylor) and a variety of pick-up styles (EMG ACS magnetic, Fishman Rare Earth magnetic, LR Baggs ribbon transducer). I have also tried several mics (SM58, Electro-voice ND 757) and several basses (Steinberger, no-name).

My playing styles range from solo voice/acoustic guitar to small combo: voice, acoustic guitar, bass, drums. The "mini-PA" concept is very attractive in concept: using the included stand mount and (optionally) the extension speaker output, it is possible to use the Carvin to construct a small and portable three channel PA system. Unfortunately, the sound quality for voice and acoustic guitar is inadequate.

Immediately upon receiving the amp I plugged in an acoustic guitar with an active pick-up system and the amp blew-out. Since I am an electrical engineer and comfortable with repairing electronic equipment, Carvin sent a replacement power amp IC. This one blew out also. They then sent a replacement power amp IC and a replacement mica insulator. I installed these and the amp has worked fine ever since.

Carvin was helpful in the above situation. The absence of a local repair shop (shipping an amp back to California is expensive) is a reason for pause.

I would not rate this unit very highly, even for the reasonable cost. I purchased an Ibanez acoustic guitar amp for less money that does a much better job with voice and acoustic guitar. I would also investigate products from Fender and Marshall if my main interest was voice and acoustic guitar.

An interesting aside: I constructed a separate cabinet using the head from the Carvin AG100D (it is modular in design and adapts very well to another cabinet) and a pair of 6 1/2" Cerwin-Vega car stereo speakers. The result is half the size and weight of the Carvin and sounds much better than the Carvin cabinet for voice and acoustic guitar (though totally inadequate for bass). This confirms that the problem is the Carvin cabinet and not the amp head.

In my opinion the price is reasonable, the construction is durable, and the features are good. However, the sound quality is inadequate and I would not buy another one (unless it was to remove the head and install it in another home-made cabinet as described above).