Product: Carvin SX 400
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
09/27/2008
at
04:35pm
by
Dr X
Features
:
10
This Carvin's 400w solid state mosfet head that includes Carvin's infamous tube emulation. This head was first built in 1989. There was not many built so it is a Carvin classic. Here are the features:
1. Two channels (first channel has the overdrive and second channel is strictly clean)
2. Tube emulation on the overdrive channel
3. Low cut switch on the overdrive channel that cuts down the mids and bass to get that 80s scoop sound.
4. Preamp output, two speakers output and foot switch.
5. True spring reverb.
6. 400 watts at 2ohm, 300 watts at 4ohm and 100 watts at 8ohm.
The amp is idiot proof. No built in effects and very loud. I also own a 1989 Carvin SX200 combo amp and it is not as the SX400. I running two 2x12 cab (Carvin 2x12 with Carvin GT-100s and Carvin Legacy 2x12 with Celestion V30s). I mainly use this amp as my wet channel. All my effects from my pedalboard runs through this amp. My Carvin X100B running on a 4x12 cab is my dry channel. My guitar is plugged into my X100B and then I run a cable from the X100B's preamp output that connects to the SX400 to get that stereo effect.
I bought the amp used and the reverb is not working. =0(
Sound Quality
:
9
My style is mainly 80s hard rock. My main influences are EVH, Randy Rhoads, George Lynch, Gary Moore, Steve Clark, Vivian Campbell. I already love the sound that I am getting from this amp as a wet channel. To be fair, I tested it as a standalone. The overdrive is very creamy and chunky. It has that 80s vibe going for it. For a solid state amp, it fairly has a warm sound. Thanks to the tube emulation, I am not stuck with a sterile sounding amp. It won't do nu-metal but that ain't my style. It also takes pedals very well. The clean channel is nothing short of pristine with a lot of headroom. I am bummed that the reverb is not working. Eventually, I will get it repaired. The amp is very quiet. My two 2x12 cab loves this head. I am comfortable enough to make this my backup amp. My main amp is my 1990 Carvin X100B. Last thing, it is loud. It can keep up with my X100B tube amp.
Reliability
:
10
This amp is close to 20 years old. The only thing that it has is a couple of scratchy pots and the reverb is no longer working. But amp is still running strong. Those can be repaired easily by an amp tech. That is Carvin quality for you.
Customer Support
:
10
Old Carvin amps are bullet proof. Both of my amps are close to 20 years old and they are still running great. No customer service needed but I have dealt with Carvin in the past and they are great to deal with.
Overall Rating
:
10
This is a 20 year old and I love it. It sounds great and looks great. It is a no non-sense amp and very much a classic since Carvin has not made a lot of them. I have been playing for 30 years and I just recently gotten back to playing again for the last 5 years. This amp is a sleeper and can take on tube amps twice the price. Yes it sounds very close to a tube amp. With the right cab and speakers, it really gives my X100B a very good run for sound quality. This amp is a keeper.
Product: Carvin SX 400
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
07/16/2000
at
05:27pm
by
Pierre Jacques
Email: musinconnu at globetrotter<dot>net
Features
:
10
It's a 100 watt solid state head amp with 2 channels A B with active bass, mid, treble and presence. A low cut in channel A. 2 input jack for separate channels. In back have 2 jack for speaker, in out effect loop,1 line out jack and xlr jack for channel switching.
Sound Quality
:
10
Good! I use with a 400 watt 4X12 straight Carvin cabs and a Rocktron replifex effect for channel switching.
Reliability
:
10
It's tough!
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
