Carvin Legacy 2 opinions

[clintb]

I got to try a Carvin Legacy 2 briefly in a store today. My initial impression is that it sounds smoother than my Marshall 6100LM at low volumes. I think I may have to try it again but this time at gig volumes with my own guitar and cab.

I'm interested in what others have to say about the amp. Especially those who have gigged with it. What stuff is it good for, what isn't it good for? Does it cut through the mix? Is it good for rhythm guitar or is it voiced too much for solo tones? etc. etc. yadda yadda yadda.

[pfrischmann]

I think the price point on the legacy II may make it harder to find lot's of users. The original was cheap enough that there wasn't too much competition.

On the upside, Ben Fargen had a hand in the design, that should up the cool factor.

[clintb]

Originally Posted by pfrischmann

I think the price point on the legacy II may make it harder to find lot's of users.

That's probably true. I haven't seen many user reviews or demos of this amp online compared to the original Legacy.

I find it odd that all the Carvin videos with Vai only show him talking about the amp. They never show him actually playing it. Now this video: http://www.carvinguitars.com/product...product=VL2100 has clips with him playing on stage, but you can't see the Legacy head. Ironically, you can see a Fender amp between his two speaker cabinets.

This store is selling it for $750 and they sell new for $1299. So that's quite a price difference.

[Bstring]

I say go for it. If its better than the original then its worth it. I love my original Legacy. It has a smooth singing quality that I love.

[dspellman]

I'd definitely say go for it.

[gulliver]

I've seen some crazy used prices on the original ... but, I'm yet to try one and am curious about them. $750 seems okay, but you are in the territory of many other killer amps, JCM800, etc. But, there may be some room to bargain on that one as well. I would try it a few more times and see if you love it.

[trower]

I owned the first version (VL100) and according to the website, the II retains the original tone integrity of the first minus a new channel...These amps are just too smooth for my taste. Live I was competing to cut through as well as my other smoothy; Guytron FV. In the end I sold it as I'm just not a legatto/sweep player Almost forgot to mention, it was a feedback monster. I bought a noise gate pedal for the first time because of that amp.

[clintb]

Originally Posted by trower

I owned the first version (VL100) and according to the website, the II retains the original tone integrity of the first minus a new channel...These amps are just too smooth for my taste. Live I was competing to cut through as well as my other smoothy; Guytron FV.

Actually I thought I read in a couple places (not the Carvin site) that the amp is a little brighter which should address the complaint that you (and many others) had with the original.

I also read the original was just too loud. The Legacy 2 is supposed to have a master volume that doesn't degrade the tone as much as other master volumes.

I often think that dirty channels on amps sound too buzzy and fizzy unless you turn up the master volume which seems to fill out and smooth out the tone. But at that point the amps are usually too loud.

[pfrischmann]

Ben Fargen designed amp, with (I think) mercury magnetics transformers...for $750. I'd do it if that sort of tone is your thing...

[clintb]

OK, I went back to the store tonight. Luckily there weren't any customers around so I got to play louder without any complaints.

The clean channel was good, but really no better than my other amps. I think I get better strat-quack from my other amps.

The distortion channel sounded pretty good, but I think it sounded better for lead than rhythm. It seemed like it might be too dark for rhythm guitar. I also had a feeling that I would need to turn it up to hear it really shine. It was kind of loud. The tone got too dark when I lowered the master volume below 9:00. But that is probably too quiet for gigs.

I tried a Splawn QuickRod too. I think that sounded better, but it also seemed too powerful.

I tried a Paul Reed Smith Sewell (I think that is what it was called). That had a nice crunch sound and turning down the master didn't thin out the tone.

But the amp that really impressed me was the Reason Bambino. The salesman told me I just had to hear it. You can run it at 2 or 8 watts. It has a "stack" mode. That amp has the most beautiful, smooth, tight, and focused distortion I've ever heard at a reasonable volume. I might just start another thread about that amp.

[trower]

If they addressed the lack of attack/Bright issue, I don't think I like it even then. It seemed very one dimensional but then it is a sig amp...It's gonna have his sound recipe.