Carvin X-100B - Tube Guitar Amplifier Manual

CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA

Congratulations on your purchase of your X-100B series IV tube amplifier. Carvin has been building tube guitar amplifiers since 1949. Spend time with your new amp and get to know its many sounds. You'll discover why many creative guitarists have choosen the X-100B to achieve their sound.

HISTORY OF THE X-100B
The X-100B holds a place dear in the hearts of guitar amp affectionados. The X100B series tube amps were a mainstay on many arena stages and MTV videos throughout the 1980's. Artists such as Frank Zappa, Craig Chaquico with Jefferson Starship, Warrant, Warren Cuccurullo with Missing Persons, and Steve Vai all played X100B amps. Frank Zappa raved about the Clean channel on this amp. Steve Vai recorded a song called "Blue Powder" (available on his first solo release Flexable) featuring the X100B. As a tribute to the original X100B amps, the new Series IV is badged with the vintage Carvin logo.

RECEIVING INSPECTION—read before getting started

INSPECT YOUR AMP FOR DAMAGE which may have occurred during shipping.
If damage is found, please notify the shipping company and CARVIN immediately.

SAVE THE CARTON & ALL PACKING MATERIALS.
In the event you have to reship your unit, always use the original carton and packing material. This will provide the best possible protection during shipment. CARVIN and the shipping company are not liable for any damage caused by improper packing.

SAVE YOUR INVOICE.
It will be required for warranty service if needed in the future.

SHIPMENT SHORTAGE.
If you find items missing, they may have been shipped separately. Please allow several days for the rest of your order to arrive before inquiring.

RECORD THE SERIAL NUMBER on the enclosed warranty card or below on this manual for your records. Keep your portion of the card and return the portion with your name and comments to us.

DESIGN OVERVIEW

The circuitry of the X-100B allows several layers of control over the dynamics and tone of the amp from the input jack to the speaker output.

PREAMP

Great sounds start with a great preamp. The glassy clean sounds of the Rhythm channel sparkle even more in the Bright setting. The Lead channel Drive control is combined with a Hi Gain switch for highly selective control over the 12AX7 tube overdrive.

TONE CONTROLS

The BASS, MID, TREBLE, and PRESENCE use active circuits to create a wide range of cut or boost from each control.

5-BAND MASTER EQ

The X-100B features a five band graphic EQ that is assignable to the Lead or Rhythm channel. An extreme amount of control is available here, allowing you to define your sound in a way not available on most amps.

SWITCHABLE EFFECT LOOP

The X-100B features a switching effect loop for true bypass of effects.

CUSTOM REVERB

The X-100B reverb is custom designed for a full, natural sound. The "long tail" switching system turns off only the send to let the reverb to decay without being cut off.

POWER AMP CONTROL

The RMS POWER switch not only reduces maximum output, but also lets you drive the power amp into saturation at lower volumes while using all four tubes.

GIVE YOURSELF A BOOST OR KEEP IT QUIET

The Master volume control can be configured as a variable volume Boost, available by footswitch. When engaged, it will boost your amp's output by up to 9dB for solos or any time you need to stand out in the mix. The footswitch will MUTE the amp in Master mode, allowing you to switch guitars quietly.

EL34 POWER TUBES

Your amp is equipped with EL34 power tubes because of their powerful output and responsive tone. The characteristics of these power tubes respond to the wide dynamic range of guitar playing. If you play soft the tubes remain clean and if you increase your attack they respond accordingly.

HIGH IMPEDANCE GUITAR INPUT

Carvin has long known about the effects of miss-loading a guitar pickup, which can cause high frequency loss. The X-100B guards against this loss with its high input impedance. We also considered the capacitance of the average shielded guitar cable which can reduce the high frequency response of your guitar pickups. Careful component layout and lead placement control oscillations and noise without extra capacitance in the circuit, allowing shimmering highs to be reproduced faithfully.

MODEL X-100B AMP SPECIFICATIONS

GETTING STARTED QUICKLY

If you are like most players, you probably want to plug in your new amp and get playing right away. You can read the rest of the manual later to learn the finer points of operating your amp. In order to get started you will need your X-100B amp, a 120 (or 230) AC grounded power outlet, your instrument, and a standard guitar cord. If you have the X-100B head version you will also need a speaker cord and speaker cabinet.

Plug in your speaker and set the "SPEAKER OHMS" switch to match your speaker. If you have the FS44L footswitch, plug it into the rear 5-pin "FS44L" footswitch jack. Or, if you have the FS22 footswitch, plug it into the rear 1/4 inch "FS22" footswitch jack. Turn all volume controls off. With the amp turned off, you may then plug it into the proper AC voltage. Now, plug in your guitar and turn the POWER (1 / 0) switch to ON ( 1 ). Wait 60 seconds or more for the tubes to warm up, then turn the STANDBY switch to OPERATE. The amp will be ready to play in a few seconds. Gradually raise the channel volume and master volume controls and re-adjust the tone controls to your liking. Please call if you feel your amp is malfunctioning. Occasionally tubes are damaged in shipping.

SPEAKER OHMS SWITCH IMPEDANCE CHART

SPEAKER COMBINATION	OHMS RESULT	SWITCH SETTING
16 ohms & 16ohms	8	8
8 ohms & 8 ohms	4	4
8 ohms & 16 ohms*	5.33	4*
16 ohms & 4 ohms* (do not use at 100w setting)	3.2	4*
8 ohms & 4 ohms (DO NOT USE)	2.66	DO NOT USE!
4 ohms & 4 ohms (DO NOT USE)	2	DO NOT USE!

* Use CAUTION with these combinations. When using 2 speakers with different impedances, more power will go to the speaker with the smaller impedance. Ideal use of the 8&16 ohm combination would be a 16ohm 2x12"cab and an 8ohm 4x12" cab. If your speaker cabinet has a selector switch this can help you match the impedance.

FRONT PANEL

1. POWER SWITCH ( 1 / 0 )
   The POWER switch is to be utilized as the master ON/OFF ( 1 / 0 ) switch. One of the two large RED LED's near the LEAD or RHYTHM controls will illuminate to indicate the power is ON.
2. STANDBY / OPERATE SWITCH
   After turning the POWER switch ON, wait 60 seconds or more for the tubes to warm up - then turn on the STANDBYswitch to OPERATE. When turning the amp OFF, first turn the switch to STANDBY, then shut off the POWER switch. Use the STANDBY switch if you are taking a break. This turns the high voltage off, increasing the life of your power tubes while keeping the power and preamp tube filaments on for immediate use.
3. EQ ASSIGNMENT SWITCH (LEAD/RHY)
   Use this switch to select which channel (LEAD or RHYTHM) is shaped by the GRAPHIC EQ.
4. GRAPHIC EQUALIZER
   The GRAPHIC EQ is a powerful sound shaping tool. Each fader controls up to18dB of boost (slide up) or cut (slide down) for each of the 5 frequency ranges labeled underneath. Select the channel to be EQ'd with the EQ ASSIGNMENT switch (#3), LEAD or RHYTHM.
5. REVERB CONTROL
   The X-100B has been custom designed with a lush, natural sounding reverb system. Adjust the amount of reverb with the REVERB control. Reverb can be turned off by remote footswitch. Only the send is turned off to allow the end of the reverb to decay without being cut off.
6. ACTIVE TONE CONTROLS
   To start, set the BASS, MID & TREBLE controls at their center (5) position. These controls are to be set according to the type of sound you want. For added clarity, the PRESENCE controls only the highest guitar harmonics in the 5kHz-10kHz range. Careful adjustment with the TREBLE control makes this feature even more useful.
7. FS BOOST SWITCH
   This switch changes how the MASTER volume control works. With this switch OFF, the MASTER control works normally. In the FS BOOSTposition, the volume of the amp is set to maximum and the volume of the amp will be set by the RHYTHM or LEAD controls only. (see below for more)
8. MASTER VOLUME / BOOST LEVEL
   • FS BOOST switch OFF (DOWN): Use the MASTER to change the overall volume level for the amp when the FS BOOST switch is OFF. The FS44L can mute the amp output while changing guitars or for quiet passages in the music when the guitar is not played The red LED over the MASTER will turn OFF when the amp is MUTED by the footswitch.
   • FS BOOST switch ON (UP): The MASTER is bypassed, and the volume of the amp is controlled only by the RHYTHM and LEAD settings. The MASTER control is used to set an overall volume boost of up to 9dB, activated by the FS44L footswitch. The red LED over the MASTER will indicate the BOOSTis ON. Try using the FS BOOST with the RMS POWER feature! (#18)
9. CHANNEL SWITCH
   In the DOWN position, the RHYTHM channel is selected for open, clean sounds with lots of headroom. In the UP position, the LEAD channel is selected for overdriven sounds with tube harmonics and sustain.
   The channel can also be changed by footswitch. Leave the switch in the UP position when using the footswitch. The LEDs near the LEAD or RHYTHM controls indicate which channel is selected.
10. LEAD VOLUME
    When the LEAD channel is active, the volume is adjusted with the LEAD control.
11. GAIN SWITCH
    The GAIN switch changes the gain structure of the LEAD channel:
    OFF (DOWN)- with the DRIVE control, go from a bluesy breakup to a dynamic crunch overdrive.
    GAIN (UP)- increases the amount of drive available, allowing thick distortion harmonics.
12. DRIVE CONTROL
    As the DRIVE is turned up, tube harmonics and sustain are increased. The GAIN switch (#11) also affects the drive.
    For textured harmonics with mild tube overdrive, turn the DRIVE control below "4". For increased harmonics and more tube saturation, set the control between 4 & 6. For full blown distortion turn on the GAIN switch and set the DRIVE control between 7 and 10 (your guitar volume should be turned all the way up).
    The amount of overdrive you can get from the amp is also affected by the pickups in your guitar. Output levels vary from model to model, and single coil pickups generally have less output than dual coil humbuckers.
    Because the X-100B has been "Hot Rodded" with so much gain, you may encounter feedback. If feedback is a problem, reduce the DRIVE or move the guitar to the side or away from the speaker(s).
13. RHYTHM VOLUME
    When the RHYTHM channel is active, the volume is adjusted with the RHYTHM control.
14. BRIGHT SWITCH
    The BRIGHTswitch adds high end to the preamp, inviting high frequencies to ring out more easily.
15. GUITAR INPUT
    A standard 1/4" input jack feeds the signal from your guitar to the amp. Use a professional quality guitar cord no longer than 25 feet. Typical cable capacitance should be under 50pf—the longer the cord, the greater the capacitance (you can measure this with a capacitance meter). Along cable with high capacitance will reduce the overall treble response from your pickups.

REAR PANEL

16. SPEAKER OUTPUT JACKS
    Two 1/4" SPEAKER JACKS are featured to operate several speaker systems at the same time. Calculate the total speaker impedance based on parallel wiring as the speaker jacks are wired in parallel. Select the IMPEDANCE SWITCH for the correct impedance.
17. SPEAKER OHMS (IMPEDANCE) SWITCH
    The IMPEDANCE SWITCH offers the selection of 4 ohm, 8 ohm or 16 ohm to match your speaker system. The correct setting for two 16 ohm speakers or cabinets would be 8 ohms. The correct setting for two 8 ohm speakers or cabinets would be 4 ohms. Select the proper impedance. (see IMPEDANCE CHART at the top of this page)
18. RMS POWER SWITCH
    The 3-position RMS POWER switch reduces the 100watt output of the amp down to 50 or 25 watts, while still using all four output tubes. Lower settings will allow the great sound and feel of the tube power amp being overdriven, but at lower volume levels. For maximum output power and headroom set the switch to 100watts. For early power amp saturation move this switch to 50watts. Setting this switch to 25watts can change the sound dramatically if desired, by turning up the MASTER or using the FS BOOST (#7) to produce even more power amp overdrive!
19. POWER TUBE BIAS SWITCH
    If you desire to change from EL34 to 5881(6L6GC) power tubes, you may do so by selecting the external BIAS switch to the 5881/6L6GC position on the rear panel. Be sure that this switch is set to the proper position or excessive heat will damage your tubes. The amp should be re-biased when replacing the output tubes.
    
    The presence of high voltage inside tube amps can cause death or serious injury!
    Tube amp biasing should be performed by a qualified technician. Do not attempt if you are unsure of your ability to perform this operation safely. To set the bias, measure the current across the terminals of the STANDBY switch (set the switch to STANDBY when the amp is ON). With internal trim control P10, set the idle current to 100 mA DC for all tube types.
20. LINE OUT
    The LINE OUT jack is a fully balanced XLR output for connecting to power amps or mixers without the need for a direct box. All power amp dynamics are captured in this signal, including the RMS POWER setting. The output level is more than adequate to drive any professional mixer or power amp. Aspeaker load must be connected at all times while using the amp.
21. EFFECTS LOOP
    The EFFECTS LOOP is a standard series loop. This means it sends all signals through your processor. To use the EFFECTS LOOP, plug the INPUT of your effects into the SEND jack and the OUTPUT of your effects into the RETURN jack. Use shielded cables, not speaker cables. Adjust the processor's MIX setting to your liking. If your processor has a "Direct signal ON/OFF" setting, it is usually better to turn it ON.
22. LOOP LEVEL
    The LOOPLEVELswitch allows the X-100B to accomodate a variey of devices. If the input of your processor is being overloaded, use a lower setting. If you are getting excess noise from your processor, try the 0 or +4 setting. 0dB is typical for most applications.
23. FS44L FOOTSWITCH JACK
    Use only the Carvin FS44L (recommmended) or Carvin FS44. Other footswitches will not work.
    * DO NOT use MIDI devices in this jack! *
24. FS22 FOOTSWITCH JACK
    The switches on the FS22 footswitch control the channel selection and reverb. Most foot pedals with 2 switches, a stereo cord and plug will work. However, Carvin's FS22 is recommended because no rewiring will be necessary.
25. AC POWER & FUSE
    The detachable AC POWER CORD supplied is designed to operate with one type of voltage (the European 230V export model uses a CEE-7 plug cord set). Check the rear power cord label for the proper voltage. Make sure the cord is securely inserted into the back of the unit. Plug the cord into a grounded "3" prong" power source. No attempt should ever be made to defeat or use the amp without the ground connected.
    The FUSE is located within the AC power cord receptacle. If the amp does not turn on, unplug the amp and check the fuse, AC power connection, your speaker connection and all tubes. Replace the fuse only with the same size and type.
    5x20mm, 6A SLO-BLOW (3A SLOW BLOW for 240VAC)
    If no problem is found and the fuse still blows, your amp may need service.

HELP SECTION

1. FEEDBACK FROM THE LEAD CHANNEL
   The X-100B may feedback when the VOLUME, DRIVE, TREBLE and PRESENCE are turned all the way up. Like other high-gain tube amps, this is normal. To help control feedback and noise, reduce the DRIVE control, or move the guitar to the side or away from the speakers.
2. TUBE REPLACEMENT GUIDE
   It is not uncommon for tubes to malfunction during shipping. If your amp is not working properly, please call or refer to the following replacement guide.
   1. The 12AX7A preamp tubes are the smaller of the two kinds of tubes, and are located in the following order on your chassis: V1, V2, V3. To start with, V1 is located closest to the guitar input, near the output transformer. Replace the tubes if your amp does not work or sounds muddy or dull. V1 is the input tube and affects both channels. V2 is the main overdrive tube. Replace V3 if no output is heard when putting a signal through the effect return.
   2. If there is no output after replacing the preamp tubes, or if the fuse blows, try replacing the EL34 output tubes. The amp should be rebaised after replacing the output tubes.
   3. If the amp stops working and the fuse is blown, turn the amp off and try replacing the power tubes. One of these tubes may have a short.

FS-44L FUNCTIONS AND LED'S

* BOOST or MUTE MODE is changed with the "FS BOOST" switch on the front panel of the amp.

FS-22 FUNCTIONS

X-212B combo (two 12" speakers)

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Documents / Resources

References

• Carvin Audio Great Sounding Gear For Musicians and Sound Professionals

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