NAD! X100B

[kherman]

Carvin X100B.
She came in last Tuesday.
Been doing some bedroom level jamming in the 25w mode.
Sounds great.
Easy to dial in a sound.

But, took her to band rehearsal Saturday.
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Put her in 50w mode and set the level and adjusted the eq a touch for
rehearsal levels.
Was using my Fernandes Ravelle with the Duncan Jazz/JB combo in it.
The low end is a bit spongy for my taste.
Sounded good for our Drop D tune.
But, wasn't too keen on it for our other tunes. (we do power metal)
Maybe I'm too used to the V3 and need to get used to the tonal difference
of the X100b.
Both amps have 6L6's in it right now.
So, I'm thinking of swapping out the X100B to EL34's.
You guys think that'll tighten up the bottom end a bit?

[pfrischmann]

I always thought the x-100b was more of an old school rock amp. I'm not sure it will have the tightness you need.

[teletalkin]

The clips on Carvin's site sound good.....thought of getting this amp a thousand times!

[JB6464]

I own the real deal ,1985 X100B.
Put some EL34's in that bad boy and hear it roar .

[JB6464]

Originally Posted by teletalkin

The clips on Carvin's site sound good.....thought of getting this amp a thousand times!

Save your cash and get the real thing for $375.00 all day long.
Why pay $750.00 for a new reissue when you can buy Two original X100B amps instead.
Original X100B series amps are a dime a dozen used and sound killer.

[kherman]

Thanks guys!

My V3 is my main high gain amp.
And will be used for my main purposes.
Recording and gigging.
The X100b will be mainly for at
home and for doubling the V3 guitar tracks in the studio.

On our latest song "see the light" I used the V3 as the main and the studios JCM900 as the double.
Liked how the difference in the amps complimented each other.

For future recordings I thought it best to do the same thing.
Two different voiced amps.
And, no guarantee we'll be in the same studio or that the JCM900 would be there.
Plus, mixed the JCM900 worked nice. Stand-alone just ok.

Anyways, the X100b as pfricshmann said is more '80s voiced.
I feel the jcm900 is the pretty much the same way.
Not as high gain as todays standards.
The X100b would be a nice compliment to the V3 in much the same way.
I do feel the gain tonally on the X100b is better than that of the JCM900.
I just need to tighten the low end up a bit on the X100b.
That's why I thought about going EL34's like JB said.
Or someone suggested KT77's on another forum.

I do find it odd, that since the
X100b is supposed to be more Marshallesque,
V3 more Mesa-esque,
that Carvin actually flipped the tube types in each head.

I do like the V3 better with the 6L6's.
So, I'm thinking I'll like the X100b better with EL34's.
Which the originals came with, and the new manual still says it has.

[JB6464]

If i want to fatten up my X100B that has EL34's in it ,put Fat Bottle 6CA7's in it.
No mods needed,just recheck your Bias.
You get the best of both worlds. Fatness and warmth of a 6L6 with the compression and smoothness of EL34's , my favorite tube.

[kherman]

Thanks, JB.
I'l look into it.
Which mode does one run 6ca7's in?
EL34 or 6l6?

[JB6464]

Originally Posted by kherman

Thanks, JB.
I'l look into it.
Which mode does one run 6ca7's in?
EL34 or 6l6?

6CA7 is a EL34 replacement
There is a difference in 6CA7/EL34 (pentode design) skinny tubes and the original design of the Fat Bottle 6CA7 (tetrode design).
The only modern Fat Bottle 6CA7 like the old RCA,Sylvania tubes being made right now that i know of are the EH 6CA7's.
Otherwise you will need to hunt down some NOS tubes.
The 6CA7's were also EVH's favorite tube.
The EH 6CA7 tubes are nice and sound very close to the NOS RCA tubes.
I have used those and have been really pleased with them. Just make shure you get them matched and balanced from a good dealer like TheTubeStore.com or The tubeDepot.com and you will be rockin some fat juicy tones.