Carvin MTS3200

I love this amp. It has two footswitchable channels, each with thier own EQ (Bass, Mid, Treble, and prescense on the lead channel), and reverb. all tube amp (i'm pretty sure) I would talk about this more, but I'm ignorant in the ways of tube amps (hey, this is the first REAL amp I've bought, my other is a Crate GX-15. A switch on the back makes it either 100W or 50W.

My band plays an Ibanez RG7621 and a Gibson Les Paul Studio through this. The amps own lead channel is very good, almost killer. Then, we tried this through Boss Metal Zone and a Fender Roc-Pro 4X12. HOLY GRAIL OF METAL SOUNDS!!!! Clean is very clean, lots of headroom, sounds great with lots of reverb. Very nice

Right now, my band gigs without a backup simply because we can't afford it. However, I assume it is at least a couple of years old (i don't think Carvin would put 50th Anniversary on them if they come out in different years)and I bought this one used for $350 in MINT condition! Never broken down, but I've only had it for a few months

I've been playing for about 4 years and this is the first good amp I've bought, If it were lost or stolen, I would cry for a few days, then realize life was no longer living. I love this amp so much, I refer to it as "my son" (also because if I spend $350 on something, I'm gona treat it like my first born. This is totally an excellent amp for Metal! Make sure you use the Fender GE-412 cabinet with it, enough bass to make your nuts fall off (if you have them)

I'll keep it simple. This amp has great features, great sound, and a great price. I play high gain, alternative rock, but also dabble in some jazz. This amp is perfect because it does both exceptionally well. And because it has separate EQ sections for each channel, I can dial very different sounds for each channel. And I must say, the gain channel is scorching!

Great sound! Pretty much covered this above

No problems.

Decent support - haven't really had a need to call them.

If you need a brutal gain channel, and a pristine clean channel, then this amp is all you need. I saved literally hundreds of dollars by going with Carvin, and it was the best music equipment purchase I've made.

100 Watt, 2 channel, all tube amp. One high gain channel (Marshall), one clean channel (Fender-ish). Reverb. Separate EQ section for each channel.
This amp is really pleasing on the ears. The clean channel is phenomenal, and the gain channel is really hot-rodded - this thing comes as close to a Marshall or Mesa as you can get - frankly I think it beats the Marshalls - and at a fraction of the cost
I play hard, alternative rock, and find this amp to be perfect for that sound.

I use with a Fender Strat and a custom shop Carvin with humbuckers. Both sound great, although the gain channel really comes into its own with the humbuckers. Conversely, the clean channel sounds awesome with the Strat in pickup position four.

Rock solid. No problems.

Well, this is why they're so cheap after all. They take out the middle man - and sell direct. But if you have a problem you need to ship it to San Diego. If the amps were crappy this wouldn't work, obviously. But, I know a lot of people that own Carvins and none has ever gone back to the factory. When I've called, I've gotten good support.

For the price, you can't beat this amp. It really does it all. I've tried JCM 900's and 5150's, but was frustrated by their lack of separate EQ, reverb, clean channel, etc. This amp gives you all the crunch those amps offer, but with great added features. The only amp that beats it, in my opinion, is a Mesa, but the difference in price makes it too big jump for too little additional value.

Made recently (last 4 years or so). It's not even as versatile as a good distortion pedal. It has 2 channels. It has channel and effects loop switching. I wish it had much much much more gain!! It's an all tube head that's not noisy at all. No gate is needed. The clean channel is way way way too bassy. Not nearly enough sparkle. The lead channel doesn't have enough gain for any lead.

I used it with my Carvin AE 185 (amazing axe) and Ibanez S540 LTD. Both have high gain pickups. My style is hard rock. It's not noisy at all. It can only make a dark, bassy clean sound and a wuss distorted sound. With the gain on 10 it sounded like the gain was at like 5. It was good for blues players I guess but if you like anything remotely harder stay far, far away. The distortion isn't even as brutal as my sans amp tri o.d. distortion pedal.

who knows? I sent it back thinking it was broken and they told me it was fine. I'm getting my money back.

Very helpful and friendly. Too bad they make a bad amp. Their guitars rule though.

Like gain? Look away!! Like muddy clean sounds and really wussy leads, step this way sir. They make great guitars and great speakers but the head sucks.

1997 2 CHANNEL loud and empty. the tone is fuzzy like a grizzly bear. the input is 1meg ohm way to hot. and it is ugly a sin.

man how can an amp have so much buzz? the tone controls are great as much bass as you want fat is where this puppy is at. the clean channel is not clean at all its dry and grainy. the tube distortion is way to fuzzy. think big muff.

it looks built tough. but hey I sent it back jack.

very friendly. but a pain in the ass buying mailorder. buy wait try return. it gets old quick.

I do not recommend carvin it is a nightmare dealing with them because you can't try it unless you buy it. shipping $$$ kills ya dude.

This a 2 channel all tube head, w/optional foot switch has an a effects loop etc..

I use a PRS and Strat with this head, And run it through a Marshall 4x12 cab.This by far the queitest 100 watt head I have ever heard. I play instumental music Vai,Satch and good old blues SRV, Hendrix This amp sounds great on everything really!! The clean channel is has a very nice warm tone to it you can't find in most hi-gain amps and the lead channel has some serious Looow end that goes from a nice brown tone to a Sceam. It reminds me of a Reveira KnuckleHead

had it for about 7 months no problems

I have been playing about 17 years and played just about everthing out their, and owned some great stuff Too, But for the money This amp is hard to beat. For once I'm not looking at differnt amps

This amp is great for pretty musch every style. I play jazz, rock, and blues and this does them all great. Two totally independant all tube channels are footswitchable, has pretty good reverb, effects loop.... Also, there is a bias switch if you want to use totally different power tubes. This is a loud amp. It would have no problem filling a good sized bar or club. At the 50W (has switch for 100W or 50W) setting its pretty loud at the two setting. The acoustic prescence is a nice touch but there isn't a master volume.

I play a Yamaha strat, ES-335, and Ovation custom legend and they all sound good on this amp. Humbuckers can get a totally Marshall heavy scooped out metal tone or a crunchy overdriven chicago blues tone. On the clean channel, you can get a smooth jazz sound or a twangy countryish tone. With single coils the vox sound is a chievable and a smooth, round Texas fat blues sound can be reached. However like with most regular amps, the acoustic sound leaves a little to be desired. Otherwise though great tube tone on all sides especially for the price

I can comfortably use this amp without a backup. Its built with stability in mind. Has a metal grill so you won't punch out the speakers that easily. The tubes might get hot fast because there isn't much ventilation but I've only had it about a week so I'm not sure how much damage it can sustain. I give it No Rating because I'm not sure yet.

I've spoken to the people at Carvin a few times and they've been helpful and friendly every time so I can't anticipate any problems, but its too soon to tell so I won't rate this category.

I've been playing for about 3 years and I love this amp. I have a Laney VC30 and this can sound like that or any Marshall Mesa or Hiwatt anyone else has to offer. I'd definitely buy it again unless someone else could beat the price and quality. I wish there was a master volume but the tone makes up for the lack of that. Definitely a great value and sound worth a lot more than the price. Carvin makes good stuff

I, personally, do not like this amp. It has 2 channels, effects loop. bias settings, reverb, 4 power tubes, 5 12ax7 tubes, and 100 watts. I wish it had more Bass, it definitely does not kick hard.

I play metal music, so, when I saw the reviews on it, I thought it was going to be a great, cheap amp to buy (because everyone says it had massive gain, and "Violin like Sustain"). It had stock clean tones, a reverb that I definitely did not consider "lush" and a fuzzy attack (the downfall of this amp). The distortion is definitely not brutal.

seemed sturdy enough.

the carvin guys are definitely great and helpful over the phone. Great service, it's just the amp.....

I own an Ibanez S540LTD, and a Carvin DC127. If I lost it, I would look somewhere else ( if your a thrasher ). This amp is nothing close to a MESA, the 5150, or a Randall. Like I said to all the Metalheadz out there.........look somewhere else.

Great overdrive on Channel 2, although as with most Marshallesque amps, don't use with single coil pickups. Wish it had a footswitchable gain option for Channel 2 to so an effects box wouldn't be needed for leads. More than enough power to fill a 4x12 cabinet. Wish they could clone Channel 2 and make it a duel overdrive channel amp. At a price point hundreds less than Marshall, this amp more than competes.

Again, don't play it through single coils. For strat players, add a humbucker in the bridge position and you'll love it. Although the clean channel is solid, this amp is really meant to be played on Channel 2 with max overdrive. Amp is a bit noisy playing live when distortion is maxed but this is natural. Good range of tonal options on both channels.

Owned for less than 1 yr., so no service problems yet. Would use at a gig without a backup.

Only dealt wit sales, and they were friendly. No need for warranty coverage yet. Warranty lasts 1 yr.

Playing for over 15 years. Own a Fender Blues Deluxe and Fender Strat. Use the Carvin as primary amp. If I needed to replace, would probably go with same, although I would look at amps with 2 overdrive channels if price point was close. In short, if you play with a predominantly overdrive sound, this amp will make you very happy. Blues/jazz and other players look somewhere else

I was hoping for a high gain amp after all the things I've read from other customers. But this one definitely had a problem. It may have passed for vintage amp, but certainly not one with "violin like sustain". I play mostly classic rock, with an edge, and this would definitely not do.

I tried contacting the service department, but all I got was the answering machine, and they never did get back with me. This is the second item I've ordered from Carvin that did not work properly.

Maybe, but I'll have to hear one first that works. I've generally been pleased with the quality of their products, but it seems they've gone downhill.