Carvin Legacy cabs? What's the consensus?

[azzzy]

How do you guys feel about Carvin Legacy Steve Vai cabs? I've had a 4x12 for almost 2 decades now, and it's all fine but I'm wondering if another cab would be significantly better. I'm looking for opinions strictly on the acoustic properties of the cab - the speakers I use are British-made V30's, and if I do get another cab I will load those speakers in there (unless it comes with the same speakers already). Although I would consider a cab with EV's or with the V30's made for Mesa/Boogie - my understanding is those are different from the standard V30's. I use the cab only for recording - no gigging - so how loud it gets is not that important - no outdoor concerts for this cab. So, to recap I'm looking for opinions on how the Carvin Legacy 4x12 stacks up against other cabs out there. Commence the discussion.

 

[motorboy1]

Go on youtube, there are comparisons with the Legacy cab. I had one and it was OK to my ears. Ugly looking cab in my opinion. I have an EVH 4x12 now, much prefer this cab.

 

[Racerxrated]

It's all about the front loaded tone vs the back loaded tone...ie the V30s are front loaded so the sound will be more present but maybe not disperse as much beyond the cab? Hard to explain but the Carvin cab is front loaded so if you are used to that, a back loaded cab will sound 'deeper' and maybe smoother. I've heard good things about them but they probably fall a bit short of the Mesa, Bogner, Diezel V30 cabs tonally. I did own a Fender Tonemaster cab that is also front loaded like the Carvin, and had V30s as well. I'd take those other cabs I mentioned over the Fender.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I have one with Legend V12s in it. Sounds about as good as most of my other cabs.

 

[azzzy]

I have one with Legend V12s in it. Sounds about as good as most of my other cabs.

What are your other cabs? Thanks.

 

[Racerxrated]

I have one with Legend V12s in it. Sounds about as good as most of my other cabs.

What are your other cabs? Thanks.

For what it's worth, I had a guy tell me in Mpls the other day that he loved the Carvin V30 cabs better than ANY other V30 cab out there. He also mentioned how inexpensive they are. He toured with a HR band back in the early 2000s. Good player.

 

[azzzy]

He also mentioned how inexpensive they are. He toured with a HR band back in the early 2000s. Good player.

Yeah, that's kinda what makes me wonder if more expensive cabs are substantially better. From what I understand Carvin Legacy cabs aren't inferior in construction methods. They (supposedly) use quality materials and are built right. I'm not the biggest Steve Vai fan but he does use them exclusively, and it works for him. But I did get my cab for only 300 bucks including the speakers! It was loaded with the Greenbacks, not the V30's - this was the first version, but after I sold the Greenbacks the cab was almost free. 18 years later - now that I have "some" money - I'm wondering if it's time to upgrade.

 

[Racerxrated]

He also mentioned how inexpensive they are. He toured with a HR band back in the early 2000s. Good player.

Yeah, that's kinda what makes me wonder if more expensive cabs are substantially better. From what I understand Carvin Legacy cabs aren't inferior in construction methods. They (supposedly) use quality materials and are built right. I'm not the biggest Steve Vai fan but he does use them exclusively, and it works for him. But I did get my cab for only 300 bucks including the speakers! It was loaded with the Greenbacks, not the V30's - this was the first version, but after I sold the Greenbacks the cab was almost free. 18 years later - now that I have "some" money - I'm wondering if it's time to upgrade.

I think it is, if only to try a cab that is rear loaded instead of your front loaded cab. It is a totally different tonal response, that you may like in contrast to yours. A Mesa cab will have a depth to the sound that yours doesn't. Rivera, Bogner, Diezel, Splawn are also good choices.