Carvin SX-100 Amp Review

airtractorfan · January 11th, 2008, 07:53 PM

After owning the amp for a week here is my opinion for what its worth.

The SX-100 is a 2-channel, 1x12 combo,100 watts, with a Carvin British Series Speaker - 70 watt 8 ohm. This speaker does not compare to the older 100 watt British Series speaker which has a much larger voice coil and completely different cone. I was HIGHLY Dissatisfied with the stock speaker tone and clarity. Within the 1 hour of taking the amp out of the box I installed the older version speaker and the amp came to life! The tone and note definition was what I had expected the amp to do. If you are not familiar with the Carvin British Series speaker [older 100 watt model] it sounds and responds alot like a Celestion GT-75 white label.
I really like this amp on the clean channel with my Tele [Van Zandt neck and Fender Vintage Noiseless bridge pickups]
The amp's cosmetics are very nice and the silkscreen lettering contrasts very good with the faceplate for my older eyes.
The O/D channel sounds good with my Tele on the bridge position bit I'm sure it would really shine with Humbuckers.

The amp is a good value @ $280.00 delivered to your door.
Most experienced players will change the speaker to one of their personal taste.
Carvin makes nice products but installed a 70 watt speaker in a 100 watt amp and reduced the output and tonal response of an otherwise very good amp.It appears that they too have been caught up in the corporate America mindset of cutting corners for more profit.
The amp is a keeper with right speaker for your personal taste installed in it!

Murphy Slaw · January 11th, 2008, 08:14 PM

I like the Carvin Tube amps, worked with a guy that used a Bel Air (2;12 50 watt) for a few years without a problem. Good tone. He now uses the MTS which I believe has the Carvin British speakers and loves it, although I haven't heard it. (We are now in competing bands, I haven't heard his new amp yet.)

I don't care for solid state amps at all.

Best of luck.

Murph.

voided3 · January 12th, 2008, 07:34 AM

I have an SX-100 from '87 and it sounds quite nice, especially for an SS drive tone. It doesn't seem to be the loudest thing in the world, but it does sound pretty good and pumps out huge amounts of low end.

stinkymommasboy · January 12th, 2008, 05:16 PM

I'm using a carvin mts3212.
has british 100's
50 or 100 watts
clean is great
dirty is downright mean
reverb hums so I don't use it
built and heavy as a tank
looking at the belairs and liking

TexGoneNW · January 12th, 2008, 11:43 PM

Carvin makes good stuff for the bucks. Shoot, they make good stuff and they compete well. If you are comfy with solid state, I think they make one of the better-sounding solid state amps (old-school, non-modeling type).

eichaan · January 12th, 2008, 11:48 PM

I had an SX-50 from 2002 until a few weeks ago. The amp was LOUD, and the clean channel was nice, but the overdrive channel didn't do the lightly gritty sound I like. And the input jack kept coming loose, and the effects made tons of noise. Carvin kept sending me new parts, but in the end I sold it. I like the company (my Carvin guitar is my favorite, and the customer service is good) but with this amp, I (unfortunately) got what I paid for. In comparison, my $99 Behringer amp is way nicer.

January 11th, 2008, 07:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
airtractorfan Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tulsa Posts: 138	Carvin SX-100 Amp Review After owning the amp for a week here is my opinion for what its worth. The SX-100 is a 2-channel, 1x12 combo,100 watts, with a Carvin British Series Speaker - 70 watt 8 ohm. This speaker does not compare to the older 100 watt British Series speaker which has a much larger voice coil and completely different cone. I was HIGHLY Dissatisfied with the stock speaker tone and clarity. Within the 1 hour of taking the amp out of the box I installed the older version speaker and the amp came to life! The tone and note definition was what I had expected the amp to do. If you are not familiar with the Carvin British Series speaker [older 100 watt model] it sounds and responds alot like a Celestion GT-75 white label. I really like this amp on the clean channel with my Tele [Van Zandt neck and Fender Vintage Noiseless bridge pickups] The amp's cosmetics are very nice and the silkscreen lettering contrasts very good with the faceplate for my older eyes. The O/D channel sounds good with my Tele on the bridge position bit I'm sure it would really shine with Humbuckers. The amp is a good value @ $280.00 delivered to your door. Most experienced players will change the speaker to one of their personal taste. Carvin makes nice products but installed a 70 watt speaker in a 100 watt amp and reduced the output and tonal response of an otherwise very good amp.It appears that they too have been caught up in the corporate America mindset of cutting corners for more profit. The amp is a keeper with right speaker for your personal taste installed in it!

January 12th, 2008, 05:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
stinkymommasboy Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: maurice, la Posts: 272	I'm using a carvin mts3212. has british 100's 50 or 100 watts clean is great dirty is downright mean reverb hums so I don't use it built and heavy as a tank looking at the belairs and liking __________________ I play slow because I AM slow!! http://myspace.com/honkytonkzeros

January 11th, 2008, 08:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Murphy Slaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Joppa, Il. Age: 50 Posts: 439	I like the Carvin Tube amps, worked with a guy that used a Bel Air (2;12 50 watt) for a few years without a problem. Good tone. He now uses the MTS which I believe has the Carvin British speakers and loves it, although I haven't heard it. (We are now in competing bands, I haven't heard his new amp yet.) I don't care for solid state amps at all. Best of luck. Murph.

January 12th, 2008, 07:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 681	I have an SX-100 from '87 and it sounds quite nice, especially for an SS drive tone. It doesn't seem to be the loudest thing in the world, but it does sound pretty good and pumps out huge amounts of low end.

January 12th, 2008, 11:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
TexGoneNW Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Victoria, TX Age: 50 Posts: 909 4 Photos	Carvin makes good stuff for the bucks. Shoot, they make good stuff and they compete well. If you are comfy with solid state, I think they make one of the better-sounding solid state amps (old-school, non-modeling type).

January 12th, 2008, 11:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
eichaan Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kingston, PA Age: 38 Posts: 113	I had an SX-50 from 2002 until a few weeks ago. The amp was LOUD, and the clean channel was nice, but the overdrive channel didn't do the lightly gritty sound I like. And the input jack kept coming loose, and the effects made tons of noise. Carvin kept sending me new parts, but in the end I sold it. I like the company (my Carvin guitar is my favorite, and the customer service is good) but with this amp, I (unfortunately) got what I paid for. In comparison, my $99 Behringer amp is way nicer.