Carvin Bel Air 212

All the pertinent features are here: Master volume, Soak (preamp gain), effects loop, reverb, etc. that you expect. It also has channel switching via front panel toggle or optional footswitch. Power galore for the stage, with great sustain at almost any volume. All tube, with 4 EL-84s and 5 12AX7s. Nice Tweed covering, oxblood grille cloth.

I play blues/rock, country, oldies, and this amp definitely fits that bill. I resort to effects to get a scooped heavy metal sound--but if thats what you want, you're probably not considering a vintage tweed amp anyway.... I use a Zion with single/double coil EMGs, as well as a strat with Joe Bardens, and the sound is always buttery. Inevitably, after a set, someone comes up to inquire about the amp. I also use a Fender Hot Rod Deville, but this amp is my first choice for leads. Clean stays clean, relatively noiseless.

No problems, after replacing a preamp tube (broken when I inadvertently pulled the amp off a stand via a short cord !@$#@#! I've owned several Carvin products, and have always found them reliable. The service techs are knowledgeable and friendly

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I'd buy one of these again IMMEDIATELY if this one went on the fritz. I've played guitar through numerous rigs now for 32 years, and this is the most pleasing amp I've ever owned. I can give it no higher rating; and I'm a very demanding, critical player. You won't be displeased with this one, and if you are, send it back within the first 30 days after receipt, and get your money back! I doubt you will....

I've had my Carvin Bel Air 212 50w combo for about fifteen months. It is a very good amplifier, as far as I'm concerned. Our band plays Rock,Folk,Blues,Country, but no Metal. It's great for our style(s). For Metal you might want to try one of the other Carvin amps, after all this is the "Vintage Series". The amp has two channels, one clean and one dirty! It comes with a foot switch but no LED, but it's easy to hear the channel differences, reverb is also controlled by the foot switch. It has headphone and effects loop inputs/outputs. Two speaker jacks, one used by the internal 12" Carvin speakers(which sound great), and a 4,8,and 16 OHM selector switch. Each Channel has it's own EQ i.e, tone, middle, and bass knobs that really let you color your sound. The 2nd Channel has an overdrive knob that goes from smooth to nasty! Most of our gig's are small clubs and once we did a stadium, and the Amp had plenty of volume/power. Of course it's a tube amplifier with Sovtek EL84 power tubes (4), and Sovtek 12AX7 pre amp tubes (5). I've had the "guts" out to look when I thought I had a noise problem (it was my guitar) and it is well made. The case is very sturdy and well made, with vintage tweed covering. I switched to Groove TubesTM recently and it might sound better, it's such a subtle difference I haven't decided. It does get HOT! I recently started using a small fan which helps.

It is fine for our style, I think most guitarists would be pleased with the versatility. For Rock,Blues,or Country this is a very good amp. The clean channel is very clean and sounds wonderful! The overdrive channel goes from mild to wild, it can be noisy, but you have to learn to control it.

This amp has been very dependable and I've been using it without a back up for over a year. Oh, I wish I had a back up, but us "po" musicians can't afford it! Never a break down, and I've recently replaced the tubes. Like I said it gets HOT so I use a small fan now, hoping the heat won't damage the electronic components.

I called one time when I thought I was having noise problem's and the same people that handle sales do the tech. stuff. The guy wasn't real helpful but for a noise problem they can't do much over the phone anyway. I guess I really wanted to talk to a person wearing a lab coat or some guy on the factory line holding a soldering iron! The Carvin amplifiers have a one year warranty, their guitars two years. You get ten (10) days to try it out and get a full refund if your not satisfied. Finding an authorized service center might be a problem. Carvin suggests returning units to the factory for service, if you need it NOW for a gig that would be a problem. Of course a good music shop Tech. could fix it also. I have a AE185 Carvin acoustic electric on order and I'll post an evaluation after a while. You can read an eval. on the AE185 and the Vintage 33 watt tube amp at the Carvin web site. You can also request a FREE catalog online at www.carvinguitars.com So I'm up on stage wearing a Carvin hat, playing a Carvin guitar,and using the Carvin Bel Air 212 amp, and posting the praises of Carvin on the world wide web. Hey Carvin, send me some FREEBIES already or what about an endorsement deal? Waddya mean you never heard of Eric Procter OR the Bordertown FoolsTM?

I'd love to buy another one! It's built sturdy and sounds great, simple to operate too. I don't like that it get's HOT, and it is HEAVY! I had a Fender twin reverb ala 1981 or so, this Carvin sounds way better! Since Carvin sells factory direct you get great prices, comparitively. An LED on the footswitch and a built in cooling fan would be nice. I have not played a Marshall or the other "in" amps, but I have a good ear, and this Carvin is hard to beat for the money.