Carvin Stage Master 212

Mine is the first generation Valve master (stagemaster) combo. It doesn't have the lead channel presence knob or the bias switch on back. It also doesn't have the mid push pull knob.

Aside from that, It's the same as the others.

The amp doesn't command a HUGE array of versatility but it is extremely good for what it CAN do, especically considering the price (if you can find one).

2 channels. clean and overdrive. Tube buffered effects loop, cab voicing output, 2 speaker outs, ohms.

this amp is amazing for classic rock and blues. The lead channel does have a good bit of gain to it but you really have to crank the volume. This amp LOVE to just be pushed hard. I use an attenuator to keep the volume in decibels down while the volume knob on the amp sits at around 7 or 8.

I use a carvin DC135, Holdsworth and a kramer 5150 with a Seymour duncan custom custom in it and all 3 sound phenomenal through it.

This amp will wear out a marshall DSL. I know. Mine has.

I found it used on EBAY for $250. The owner thought it was dead but turned out to be a couple of microphonic preamp tubes.

I've got a GE 5751 in the 1st preamp tube slot, a mullart 12AT7 in the 2nd slot and 3 JJ 12AX7's in the others. A matched quartet of SED winged C 6L6's take care of the power amp.

The amp is fairly quiet. On the lead channel at high gain, there is some white noise but this is an old amp and there is some rust on the insides on the solder joints. It needs to be cleaned up by Hasserl.

Anyways, the clean channel is rich, sparkeling, clean as can be with tons of headroom. It's not quite fender twin clean but it's a LOT better than anything with marshall's name on it.

The lead channel is equally impressive. As I said before, this amp has embarrased more than a few DSL owners. It's great for classic rock and hard rock if you have the freedom to take the volume past 4.

If you're into metal or shopping for a metal amp, look elsewhere.

In my years of owning carvin gear, one thing always is certain. You can't kill it.

My SX amp I had before this and my DC135 have taken beatings and still performed flawlessly.

The VM is the same way. It refuses to die. It's been kicked over (not by me) Dropped off the stage a couple of times, etc and still begs for more.

I've done 2 tube changes since owning the amp and it's never let me down.

Carvin it seems is hit or miss with tech support. They have a high employee turn around so you might not get the most knowledgable tech but a redial can fix that if you get another person.

when I ordered my DC135, I placed the order online but was called by a sales rep discussing the options and stuff with me. Very cool.

I also recieved that DC135 with a scratch volume pot. Carvin overnighted a new one and paid our local store to install it for me. Again, this is real good customer support.

I needed schematics for my amp to determine the tube order/layout and they emailed them to me within the hour.

They've earned themselves a 10 in my book.

I've been playing for 14 years. If you can find one of these or the old X100B heads, BUY IT!! The X100b heads are all over ebay but the valvemasters are much rarer beasts.

I've got mine running with an avatar 212 and the low end is HUGE.

Compared to a DSL, there's no contest. Try and find another amp near this price for the tone this baby makes. The only thing I can think of is the MTS but Carvin makes that too.

Email me if you want sound/video clips.

Mine is a '96 or '97, it has a presence control for each channel. It has all of the usual things your looking for like channel switching, effects loop, line out, 2 output jacks, 1/2 power switch, all tube. Its pretty versatile. My main sound is blues and southern rock. Sometimes I wish it was switchable to 1/3 power. I use it for garage jams only and it is VERY powerful.

The clean channel is pretty unbelievable with more headroom than I could ever use. It gets a 10 here. With buckers or single coils it sounds awesome. The dirty channel I still have to work to get "my" sound. It gets a 7 here. Its very good with moderate overdrive. It maybe that I just cant deal with it being turned up to where it'll sound good on channel 2? I recieved this amp with el34s but since have changed and biased it for 6l6's. It sounded great with both but I think I like the 6i6's better but they've only been in for a week now.

I bought this amp off of ebey and used it for over a year before I had to touch it. One jam night it shut off because of a blown fuse. It turned out to 2 bad tubes. I got the balls to take it apart to see where the bias control was and saw that the last owner must have stored it in a bar because there was mouse droppings and what was probably mouse piss stains all over the pcb. It was also starting to rust in a few areas. I found how to clean this and got it back together and biased. I was kinda impressed that it came thru this with flying colors.

The company was helpful with re-tubing and biasing. I've always gotten the help I need from them.

I rate this as a steal in the used market. I would deffinately buy another Carvin it I needed another amp.