Any Carvin Legacy 3 Owners?

[dfrattaroli]

Since I've found it impossible to sell my Bogner Uberkab locally, I've been considering getting a head for it so I'd at least put it to use. So I've been looking at almost anything, new or used, and the only requirement is that it have a 16ohm tap. Being made in America would be a plus. I've spent a lot of time researching (on the net), the following...

EVH 5150 50 Watt
Marshall JCM2000
Marshall DSL100H
Peavey 5150
Peavey 6505
Carvin Legacy III

I keep coming back to the Legacy because I like it's darker, thick gain tones. The clean channel is great too. For $799 new, made in the USA with MIDI. I'm surprised a lot more people don't use them. Is it the Carvin logo? It's association with Vai? Is it too affordable?

Just wondering out loud.

Dave

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

I've owned everything on the list other than the legacy and the newer DSL. Imo, the 2000dsl is so much better. Never really liked its high gain channel, imo it was all about the classic channel

I've owned the 5153 50 for about 2 years now and love it. I still wish that I never sold the 5150's I had..

Lots of people think the 5153 50 is dark.. I dont see it as being that dark but can see why compared to the marshall flavor..

Legacy seems smooth, not as aggressive for my taste but hey. For the price, its a great amp as is the 6505.

The only amp and just my opinion, that I would stay away from is the newer DSL. Just my opinion. I honestly cant stand the tone out of it.

I had one next to the 6505 and went back and forth.. not even close, Very thin fizzy cheap sounding imo.

 

[Speeddemon]

As an owner of the EVH 50W, I can attest it's anything BUT DARK! I can't run the presence above 11 'o clock, especially not with Vintage30's.

You can make it sound thick, but not that Legacy3 thick, methinks.

There's a guy on the Marshall Forum that just got a Legacy 3, and has done a reasonably nice video, capturing the vibe. Not top quality audio, but you get an idea of what it can do:

Having owned a V3M myself and he did too, we both disliked certain aspects of the V3M and apparently the Legacy 3 doesn't have these issues (fizzy or muddy).
If I wasn't in Europe, I had definitely checked out the Legacy 3 already...
the looks are a bit meh though.

Slightly related re: Carvin-design... I painted my V3M's top cover black at the time, to make it look less like a cheap smoke machine.

VS

 

[dfrattaroli]

Years ago when the V3 first came out, I had one. Thought something was wrong with it and had Carvin replace it. Then realized, the amp was just, IMO, horrible. Fizzy, stiff. A mess. I had the first Legacy as well and really liked it. Great, great clean.

 

[the recluse]

I've been using a Legacy III for the last year and a half and the only complaint I have is the way it looks. I'm not into Vai at all, but it really sounds great and the feature set is fantastic.

It's REALLY LOUD. It doesn't do extreme metal but it can get pretty gains. I tend to EQ my amps on the bright side and don't have any problems with the Legacy. If anything I would say it's really well balanced. It's warm but there's a lot of clarity and definition too.

FWIW I have two 2x12 cabinets each with an Eminence Tonker and Swamp Thang, so I'm not using V30s and it still works fine.

 

[aizenx]

I've been using a Legacy III for the last year and a half and the only complaint I have is the way it looks. I'm not into Vai at all, but it really sounds great and the feature set is fantastic.

It's REALLY LOUD. It doesn't do extreme metal but it can get pretty gains. I tend to EQ my amps on the bright side and don't have any problems with the Legacy. If anything I would say it's really well balanced. It's warm but there's a lot of clarity and definition too.

FWIW I have two 2x12 cabinets each with an Eminence Tonker and Swamp Thang, so I'm not using V30s and it still works fine.

+1

It can get plenty tight with a boost if necessary. Not muddy at all, but you have to use your ears and not your eyes to eq it. Great amp, I love it.