Tell me about the Carvin Legacy!! Good metal tones?

[napalmdeath]

This amp keeps popping up on my radar, while shopping for an amp. In most clips, I hear an extremely expressive lead tone, very warm, and very rich, but I can't nail down any clips with good crunchy rhythm tones. CRUNCHY rhythm tones. Maybe some noodling here & there, but nothing real in-depth.
I play alot of 80's thrash kinda stuff, very much into Gary Moore bluesy tones, and delve into some heavier drop-D stuff. No low tuning, 7-string sludge, or extreme death metal.
We're talking Overkill, Testament, Iced Erth Opeth kinda tones. I'm nearly convinced I need another DSL.

I can't try one of these out, so it would be bought on a whim! Some input would be most helpful. Reviews say metal's no problem. Hell, I coaxed some pretty impressive heavy tones out of Peavey Classic amps, (LOVE those amps!) I have a Wylde OD, Ibanez TS9, and EQ's for good measure.

FILL ME IN! Post clips/links if you got 'em! I've searched youtube extensively, and didn't have much luck.

 

[Guitarzan1143]

Signal Chain: Guitar -> Keely TS-9 Plus -> Carvin Legacy -> Palmer PDI-03 -> Boss BR600

Boost = win

 

[napalmdeath]

http://www.netmusicians.org/files/51-LegacyMetal.mp3

Signal Chain: Guitar -> Keely TS-9 Plus -> Carvin Legacy -> Palmer PDI-03 -> Boss BR600

Boost = win

Yeah, found that one.

 

[Devin]

I am primarily a metal player and I owned a Legacy halfstack for 4 years. I recommend swirching the power tubes to 6L6's and boosting the input with an OD pedal. Otherwise I find the amp to be too flubby for metal rhythm. It will pull off a pretty nice fat thrash tone when boosted, but it is not an ideal amp for metal IMO.

However, i did make the amp work for me and I gigged with it extensively and it never had a single issue - never even blew a power tube. That in combination with its
super smooth lead tones and a clean channel that blows twin reverbs out the water make it a hell of a value in my opinion.

There is a vid on youtube of my oldd band with me using that amp, but I was running an EHX Metal Muff through its clean channel (that was before I learned about boosting). If you are interested in checking that out i'll post it up when I get around a PC.

 

[napalmdeath]

I am primarily a metal player and I owned a Legacy halfstack for 4 years. I recommend swirching the power tubes to 6L6's and boosting the input with an OD pedal. Otherwise I find the amp to be too flubby for metal rhythm. It will pull off a pretty nice fat thrash tone when boosted, but it is not an ideal amp for metal IMO.

However, i did make the amp work for me and I gigged with it extensively and it never had a single issue - never even blew a power tube. That in combination with its
super smooth lead tones and a clean channel that blows twin reverbs out the water make it a hell of a value in my opinion.

There is a vid on youtube of my oldd band with me using that amp, but I was running an EHX Metal Muff through its clean channel (that was before I learned about boosting). If you are interested in checking that out i'll post it up when I get around a PC.

Absolutely! I can smooth out the flub, I believe. A TS9 works well for that, as does an EQ in the loop!

 

[guitarbilly74]

This is a video from my band (with the old singer and band name). I am using a Legacy on it. The rhythm tones are straight into the amp and the lead tones are boosted with an OCD.

I have a DSL now though and it's a much tighter and more aggressive amp. The Legacy is great for lead tones but like someone else said, a little too flubby for metal.

Not a bad amp at all, I'd own one again without hesitation. Very reliable too, more so than the DSL.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

If you play metal, there are other amps out there better suited to your needs than the Legacy IMO.

 

[herbertmark5]

THE LEGACY SOUNDS GOOD FOR A SLAYERISH TONE. OLD THRASH SOUND WHEN YOU CRANK THE NOBS

 

[napalmdeath]

This is a video from my band (with the old singer and band name). I am using a Legacy on it. The rhythm tones are straight into the amp and the lead tones are boosted with an OCD.

I have a DSL now though and it's a much tighter and more aggressive amp. The Legacy is great for lead tones but like someone else said, a little too flubby for metal.

Not a bad amp at all, I'd own one again without hesitation. Very reliable too, more so than the DSL.

How's the effects loop? You try an EQ in it, to tighten it up?

 

[napalmdeath]

If you play metal, there are other amps out there better suited to your needs than the Legacy IMO.

Yes, this is probably true. I'm on about a $600 budget, and I've owned just about everything...

JCM800 2205
DSL50 (x2), DSL100, TSL60
JSX, XXX, 5150
Mesa Stiletto Deuce, F-30
Splawn Quick Rod
Laney GH50L (x2), GH100L
Soldano Hot Rod 50

I'm up for something new. And again, I'm not all metal, all the time. But, 75% of the time I guess.

 

[just42dave]

Touchy amp but it works for me ..I love exp with tubes in the first 3 slots..
My xtc and egnater are on hold lately

 

[napalmdeath]

Touchy amp but it works for me ..I love exp with tubes in the first 3 slots..
My xtc and egnater are on hold lately

Yeah, I have Mullard RI's, Tungsols, and JJ's to mess with.

Is that amp fixed bias? Does it need taken to a tech with power tube swaps?

 

[guitarbilly74]

This is a video from my band (with the old singer and band name). I am using a Legacy on it. The rhythm tones are straight into the amp and the lead tones are boosted with an OCD.

I have a DSL now though and it's a much tighter and more aggressive amp. The Legacy is great for lead tones but like someone else said, a little too flubby for metal.

Not a bad amp at all, I'd own one again without hesitation. Very reliable too, more so than the DSL.

How's the effects loop? You try an EQ in it, to tighten it up?

You can tighten it up a bit but you won't be able to dial the thick, flubby low end completely out. That's not a bad thing, it's just how the amp is voiced and it works for a lot of things. But if you're looking for a tight metal amp, this is not it. You'd be much better off getting another amp than trying to make this one into something it isn't.

 

[Dolflundgren]

This is a video from my band (with the old singer and band name). I am using a Legacy on it. The rhythm tones are straight into the amp and the lead tones are boosted with an OCD.

I have a DSL now though and it's a much tighter and more aggressive amp. The Legacy is great for lead tones but like someone else said, a little too flubby for metal.

Not a bad amp at all, I'd own one again without hesitation. Very reliable too, more so than the DSL.

How's the effects loop? You try an EQ in it, to tighten it up?

You can tighten it up a bit but you won't be able to dial the thick, flubby low end completely out. That's not a bad thing, it's just how the amp is voiced and it works for a lot of things. But if you're looking for a tight metal amp, this is not it. You'd be much better off getting another amp than trying to make this one into something it isn't.

Say you were looking for a CLEAR, punchy.....yet somewhat sludgy amp for clutch/stoner type stuff?

 

[napalmdeath]

Say you were looking for a CLEAR, punchy.....yet somewhat sludgy amp for clutch/stoner type stuff?

You tried a Marshall DSL? 5150? Mesa F-series/DC?

 

[guitarbilly74]

This is a video from my band (with the old singer and band name). I am using a Legacy on it. The rhythm tones are straight into the amp and the lead tones are boosted with an OCD.

I have a DSL now though and it's a much tighter and more aggressive amp. The Legacy is great for lead tones but like someone else said, a little too flubby for metal.

Not a bad amp at all, I'd own one again without hesitation. Very reliable too, more so than the DSL.

How's the effects loop? You try an EQ in it, to tighten it up?

You can tighten it up a bit but you won't be able to dial the thick, flubby low end completely out. That's not a bad thing, it's just how the amp is voiced and it works for a lot of things. But if you're looking for a tight metal amp, this is not it. You'd be much better off getting another amp than trying to make this one into something it isn't.

Say you were looking for a CLEAR, punchy.....yet somewhat sludgy amp for clutch/stoner type stuff?

Clarity is not an issue with this amp. Its tone is thick but not muddy or undefined. It does a great job with complex chord voicings even under heavy distortion. Heck, just listen to Vai's music, it's not exactly 3-power-chord punk rock.

For a sludgy/stoner tone it's a great amp. It has punch and clarity to spare. It's only the low end that has quite a bit of sag to it, but again, that's not the same as being a muddy amp.

Now for modern death metal, which requires an ultra tight low end, it's not ideal.

I just don't want people to think this is a muddy amp, because it isn't. It just has a softer attack on the lows.

 

[napalmdeath]

See, I want to become more of a lead player, and I think this amps will do it. I want a good, open lead tone, something that encourages me to concentrate on lead playing. Nice, thick, fluid leads TONE will motivate me. Get me off the heavy stuff, and become more of a player.

 

[Huffman83]

See, I want to become more of a lead player, and I think this amps will do it. I want a good, open lead tone, something that encourages me to concentrate on lead playing. Nice, thick, fluid leads TONE will motivate me. Get me off the heavy stuff, and become more of a player.

What does an amp have to do w/ making you play more leads? Do or do not, there is no try.

And didn't we already have this thread?

 

[guitarbilly74]

See, I want to become more of a lead player, and I think this amps will do it. I want a good, open lead tone, something that encourages me to concentrate on lead playing. Nice, thick, fluid leads TONE will motivate me. Get me off the heavy stuff, and become more of a player.

definitely, this amp has one of the best lead tones on its price range.

 

[mchn13]

https://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=660402

this is a clip i did of john busbees legacy at our amp fest last year. no boost. i don't remember the settings, but most of the amps were at half on all the dials...

it's the fourth one on the list..