CARVIN VT50 Operating Manual

This symbol is intended to alert This symbol is intended
CAUTION
the user to the presence to alert the user to the
of uninsulated "dangerous presence of important
voltage" within the product's RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK operating and main-
DO NOT OPEN
enclosure that may be of suf- tenance (servicing)
ficient magnitude to constitute a risk of instructions in the literature accom-
electric shock to persons. panying the appliance.
IMPORTANT! FOR YOUR PROTECTION, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
WATER AND MOISTURE: The product should not be used near water (near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry
tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, etc). Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are
not spilled into the enclosure through openings.
POWER SOURCES: The product should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating
instructions or as marked on the unit.
GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION: Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization means of
the product is not defeated.
POWER CORD PROTECTION: Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles,
and the point where they exit from the product.
SERVICING: The user should not attempt to service the unit beyond that described in the operating instructions.
All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.
FUSING: If your unit is equipped with a fuse receptacle, replace only with the same type fuse. Refer to replacement
text on the unit for correct fuse type.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS (EUROPEAN)
The conductors in the AC power cord are colored in accordance with the following code.
GREEN (YELLOW)—Earth WHITE (BLUE)—Neutral BLACK (BROWN)—Hot
U.K. MAIN PLUG WARNING: A molded main plug that has been cut off from the cord is unsafe.
NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU INSERT A DAMAGED OR CUT MAIN PLUG
INTO A POWER SOCKET.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
USA lIMITeD WARRANTY
For all other customers, see carvinworld.com for warranty information.
CARVIN products are warranted against defective materials and workmanship for 1 YEAR. 3 YEARS for
DCML & HD Series Power Amps, Active & Passive Loudspeakers, 5 YEARS for Guitars, Basses & Cobalt
Series. 90 DAYS for Tubes shipped with amps, Wireless Systems & Speaker Components (purchased as
individual parts).
The Limited Warranty will be void (not covered) under the following conditions: a) any modified product,
b) speakers with burnt, damaged or open voice coils, c) moisture, d) salt/smoke/contaminants, e) natural
disasters, f) accidents, g) abuse, h) lack of reasonable care, or i) damaged caused to speakers or horn drivers
caused by this unit. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties expressed or implied. No representative
or person is authorized to represent or assume for CARVIN any liability in connection with the sale of servicing
of CARVIN products. CARVIN shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages.
For USA warranties, CARVIN will provide its own service and parts at no charge providing the Customer
includes "proof of purchase" (receipt or invoice) and the unit is returned in the original carton. If covered
under warranty: 1 to 90 days, Carvin pays ground shipping both ways. 91 days to 365 days, customer
pays shipping to Carvin, Carvin pays return ground shipping. Over one year, customer pays shipping
both ways.
For USA service, go on line to carvinservice.com and complete the "RMA Repair Form". Ship item including
RMA Form and allow up two 2 weeks for CARVIN to receive. You will be contacted by email. If not covered
under warranty, a "Flat" service fee is available, or if we are no longer servicing the unit, you may be
eligible for a new, similar unit for a discount.
help/ MAINTeNANCe
1) PRODUCT WILL NOT TURN ON -Check the power to the product (circuit breakers, ext. cords, etc.). Check the
product's fuse. The product may be OK but occasionally a fuse may blow because of high AC voltage
surges. If the proper fuse fails continuously, the product may require servicing.
2) KEEP YOUR PRODUCT LOOKING NEW - Use a damp cloth to wipe the controls on the front
& rear chassis panels. Wipe vinyl coverings with a damp cloth.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL! THIS UNIT
CONTAINS HIGH VOLTAGE INSIDE!
CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA
VT50/NOMAD/BELAIR & VT16/VINTAgE16 gUITAR AMPS
212 Bel Air™
Vintage 16™
Nomad 112™
VT50™
Congratulations on your purchase of the VINTAGE TUBE SERIES all tube amplifier.
Carvin has been building tube guitar amplifiers since 1949. They have been used by top
professionals like; Joe Walsh, Chet Atkins, Jeff Beck, James Burton, Jorma Kaukonen,
and many other great musicians. You will discover that these amplifiers represent a
significant sound improvement over conventional tube amplifiers. Spend time with your
new amp and get to know it's many sounds.
TECHNICAL DESIGN OF THE VINTAGE TUBE SERIES
The VINTAGE TUBE SERIES has a 100% tube signal path - no IC's, FET's or transistors. The design
criteria was to build an all-tube guitar amp that sounded better than anything else on the market.
This meant that the VINTAGE TUBE SERIES was going to be totally new from the ground up and
that it was going to be an all tube design.
DYNAMIC EL84 POWER TUBES
Premium EL84 power tubes are selected for their excellent saturation and power soak charac-
teristics delivering a tight bottom and soft drive with superior definition.
HIGH IMPEDANCE GUITAR INPUT
Carvin has long known about the effects of miss-loading a guitar pickup which can cause high
frequency loss. The VINTAGE TUBE SERIES guards against this loss with its ultra high input
impedance. Also, we considered the capacitance of the average shielded guitar cable which can
reduce the high frequency response of your guitar pickups. Unlike other amplifiers, we purposely
avoided adding capacitance anywhere in the preamp to control high frequency oscillations. Instead,
we controlled oscillations through careful component layout and lead placement allowing its
shimmering highs to be reproduced.
CLEAN AND SOAK CHANNELS
The equalization of the clean and soak channels is designed to offer clarity to your instrument.
Special mud-cutting circuits reduce levels in the 500 to 700 Hz range which normally cause loss
of tone defintion. You will also take notice of the clean channel rear PRESENCE control (50w
models) which adds acoustic voicing to your instrument. This control boosts only the guitar's very
highest harmonics which are in the 10kHz range instead of the normal 3K Hz of a bright switch.
TONE CONTROLS
For your records, you may wish to record the following information.
Serial No._____________________ Invoice Date_______________
76-10302E 0811
OPERATING MANUAL
The T-Bridge passive BASS, MID and TREBLE tone controls offer a wide range of tone settings. Take
full advantage by setting them where they sound best. Your sound may not be at center (5 on the
dial). Instead, the treble and bass may need to be at 10 while the mid control at 0 (or) the treble at 1
and the bass at 10 depending dual or single coil pickups. The greater range of these controls comes
from the high impedance 1 meg sealed pots (most guitar amps use 250k pots). The frequency of the
bass control is set at 80 Hz while the mid control is set at 650 Hz. The treble control is set at a very
high 11k Hz giving the VINTAGE TUBE SERIES it's dynamic highs.
REVERB
The FS22 footswitch for the long tailed REVERB system in the VINTAGE TUBE SERIES switches
only the reverb send leaving the tail of the reverb to decay naturally, the way it's done in the
studio. A special pre filter eliminates the spring "boing" normally heard in other systems, giving
it a lush sound. The reverb system offers vibrant clarity with full depth reminiscent of the sixties
tube amps. (Switching function on 50 watt models only.)
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 re-ship your unit, always
use the original carton and packing material. This will provide the best possible protection during ship-
ment. 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.
GETTING STARTED QUICKLY
FIRST, SeT The ReAR 120v/240v AC SWITCh FoR The pRopeR AC volTAge
If you are like most players, you probably want to plug in your new amp and get started playing it
right away. You can read the rest of the manual later to learn the finer points of operating your amp.
To get started you will need your VINTAGE TUBE SERIES amp, a 120 or 240 AC grounded power
outlet, your instrument and a standard guitar cord. If you have the VT16 or VT50 head, you will
also need a speaker and speaker cable. Set the Speaker Ohms switch for the speaker you are using.
After checking the rear AC VOLTAGE switch, set Power and Standby switches to OFF and plug into
the AC voltage source.
Now turn all Volume controls to "0" and set Drive and Tone controls to the "5" center position. If you
have the FS22 foot switch (50-watt models), plug into the rear foot switch jack for switching the channels
VT16™
and reverb. Note: The channel SELECT switch must be selected for channel 1 for the FS22 to function.
Now, turn the POWER switch ON and allow a few minutes for the tubes to warm up. For 50-watt
models, turn on the STANDBY switch. Gradually raise the Volume control, adjust the Drive and
Tone Controls and you are ready to go. If you feel your amp is malfunctioning turn the Power OFF
and check all connections and settings. Occasionally tubes are damaged or loosened in shipping.
VT16, VINTAGE16 SPECS: VT50, NOMAD & BELAIR SPECS:
RMS power: 16/5 watts RMS power: 50 watts
output Imp: 8 ohm, 16 ohm, or Silent Mode output Imp: 4, 8 or 16 ohm
Input Imp: Input Imp:
100,000 ohms 100,000 ohms
Tone Controls: BASS: 80Hz Tone Controls: BASS: 80Hz
MID: 600-700Hz Both Channels MID: 600-700Hz
TREBLE: 11kHz TREBLE: 11kHz
Drive Sensitivity: 1mV for clipping Channels: 2 - switching
Sensitivity: 16mV for full output Drive Sensitivity: 1mV for clipping
voiced line out: approx -23dB from Speaker Out Ch 2 Sensitivity: 16mV for full output
preamp Tubes: 2 - 12AX7's (dual stage) voiced line out: approx -23dB from Speaker Out
power Tubes: 2 - EL84's preamp Tubes: 4 - 12AX7's (dual stage)
AC power: 120/240VAC, 60VA, 50-60Hz power Tubes: 4 - EL84's
Fuse: 1A 250V slow blow, 5 x 20mm AC power: 120/240VAC, 210VA, 50-60Hz
vT16 head: 16W x 8.25H x 8.5"D, 18 lbs. Fuse: 3A 250V slow blow, 5 x 20mm
406 x 200 x 235mm, 8.2 kg. vT50 head: 22.5W x 9.5H x 10.25"D, 28 lbs.
vintage16 (112): 16W x 18H x 8.5"D, 34 lbs. 571 x 248 x 260mm, 12.7 kg.
406 x 447 x 235mm, 15.4 kg. Nomad 112: 19.5W x 17.75H x 10.25"D, 42 lbs.
Combo Speaker: One 12" Carvin gT12 or 495 x 447 x 260 mm, 19 kg.
optional Celestion ™ vintage 30 BelAir 212: 26W x 17.75H x 10.25"D, 55 lbs.
Cabinet: 7-ply hardwood, open back 660 x 447 x 260 mm, 25 kg.
Warranty: One Year Combo Speakers: One or Two 12" Carvin gT12 or
options: Cv3MC cover (combo) optional Celestion ™ vintage 30
112e 1x12" Extention Speaker Cabinet: 7-ply hardwood, open back
212e 2x12" Extention Speaker Warranty: One Year
options: Cv3200, Cv211, Cv3212 covers
FS22 footswitch
112e 1x12" Extention Speaker
212e 2x12" Extention Speaker
c
12340 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128
800.854.2235 carvin.com