Carvin MTS Master Tube Series

[ibanezcollector]

Ok I ordered the 2x12 version and its in route to me, According to the tracking number it will be here monday..

I really liked the fact that I read 1000s of reviews and out of those 1000s only found a few that didnt like it.

Now I have talked to Carvin multiple times and I have weighed alot of options before I bought it.. THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS I DIDNT WANT USED

I prefer the sound of 5881/6L6 tubes which the Carvin has 5881s, The amp had to be under $850 shipped, I wanted the ability to tone it down a bit, which the Carvin has a 50/100 power switch. I wanted Celestion speakers which the Carvin is equipped with GT12-75s. I wanted the ability to add a matching 2x12 cab if needed which you guessed it the Carvin does.

I was wondering what everyones opinions of this amp is. One Carvin rep said the best way to describe it is "A Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier married to a Boutique amp, and this is the child"

Any MTS users on the board?

Also I ordered the TC Electronics G-Major for my processing which will be here Wednesday.. I know from other forum users this was the right choice

I looked and I scoured the internet for Amps in the price range with the features I wanted and Carvin is the only one to fit the bill..

[Racerx2k]

I find the Carvin reps assessment interesting, since they refer to it as a "JCM 800" sound, in the catalog. Someone's mighty stupid, there, since a Dual Rec, and a JCM 800 sound nowhere NEAR alike. I will be real curious of your opinion of this amp, as this was one of the amps (head version) that I was looking into, partly because it was described as sounding like a JCM 800.

[ibanezcollector]

we shall see.. if you listen to the soundclips the distortion channel is very heavy sounding nothing like a JCM to me at least.. But im no marshall expert but my friends JCM800 sounds nothing like that.

http://www.carvin.com/jamroom/rooms/MTS412/mts412.php


Either way im sure I will be happy since im more of a Rhythm player than a lead player.. I want a nice chunky heavy sounding tone.

[jj0389]

I had the head version. I ran it through a 2x12 with Celestion vintage 30. It didn't sound like a Mesa. Mine had Mesa 6L6's. The clean channel was awesome. I was disappointed with the dirty channel. It didn't have enough gain.

I switched to EL34 because I wanted more of the Marshall sound. One good feature of the MTS is the bias switch, which allows you to switch between 5881/6L6 to EL34 without rebias.

Overall, it is a good amp with a lot of features. I just wish it had more gain. I sold it and got a real Marhsall.

[Ayrton]

I look forward to your review.

[C.Thep]

Did you sell your crate?

[ibanezcollector]

I took it back to GC on the 30 day return

oh and JJ0389 you cant just swap tubes and flick a switch and call it a day, you still have to adjust the internal bias as well as the rear switch.. Its not a self biasing amp. Maybe thats why it didnt sound good to you?

[Racerx2k]

I'd agree. If you have to re-bias, and you didn't, it may not sound quite up to snuff.

I can't wait to hear your review, too. I know the soundbytes didn't sound JCM 800-like, but I rarely follow just the soundbytes, so your assessment should prove interesting.

[jj0389]

I wouldn't trust the sound bits. You have to play through your gears to hear the true tone.

I was on the Carvin board and we discussed the bias issue a lot. I even took it to an Amp tech here in Hollywood, CA. He said the bias was fine. Like I said, the amp sounded fine. My only complaint was not enough gain.