CARVIN LEGACY HIDDEN FEATURE?

[Matt77]

"a) USING THE VAI “HIDDEN FEATURE”
One of the “hidden” features of the Legacy amp is using a technique that Steve Vai requested be part of the amp for his own use. While playing on the lead channel with a generous amount of DRIVE (around 6), back off the volume on your guitar. You will find the channel actually “cleaned up” with your guitar at a lower volume. "

The new Carvin amp has the above hidden feature.
Looks interesting.
Anyone know how this works?

[Antag]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding, but doesn't any/every tube amp do this?

[BigB]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding, but doesn't any/every tube amp do this?

Lol. Exactly what I was about to answer...

[MrBump]

It's a bit like the hidden feature in the Ernie Ball strings that I use.

If you hit them a wee bit harder, the notes that you hear appear a little louder.

[Davey]

besides.. a generous amount of gain is above 8 ..

[Matt77]

I think there is something more to this technology wise or I wouldn't be asking :)

[FELINEGUITARS]

I think it's not so much about technology but how the amp is biased as far as gain goes .
Some amps have so much gain that even if you try to clean it up by rolling down your guitar it's still too saturated to sound clean
I think Vai just specified that on that channel it should remain just unsaturated enough at 6  that it will clean up as you roll back the guitar volume- much like an old Plexi or superlead (non master volume amps) would.
On a head with as much gain as a Legacy  this does take a bit of planning - so that is why they are claiming it's a feature (while it's really a carefully planned characteristic)

[gingataff]

The new Carvin amp has the above hidden feature.

New? I remember Carvin saying this back in '99 when the Lagacy first came out.

[HairyChris]

Hm, my Diezel Einstein does that on it's higher gain rhythm channel. Although with Pigs you need to roll a long way back!

I thought that all decent tube amps were supposed to do this too. Strike one to ignorance.

[Matt77]

Obviously it's all down to headroom on an amp as to how effective it is.
I can't believe Carvin use it as a selling point if they haven't done anything different to any other valve amp  :?

[BigB]

I think it's not so much about technology but how the amp is biased as far as gain goes .
Some amps have so much gain that even if you try to clean it up by rolling down your guitar it's still too saturated to sound clean

Has to be REALLY much gain then. I know the JCM900, HRDx  and Classic30 don't really qualify as "hi gain" amps, but they still have a "decent amount" of it, and I never had problem rolling back to clean on any of these amps. In fact, I sometimes need to add quite a few gain stages (think : an OD + a RAT) before I can roll back my guitar's volume _without_ the tone cleaning up too much.

[Elliot]

Isnt it an attempt to sell Vai more than a feature of the amp = Vai = impressive to shredders = sell more amps.

BTW what has Steve Vai done that is worth listening to as I realise that I have never heard him.  Last person like him I listened to was Blues Saranceo (based on recommendation on this board  :() and he just sounded like a terrible Nintendo backing track - if I don't like Mr Saranceno is it worth bothering with Mr Vai?

[HTH AMPS]

you've never heard any Steve Vai? - which rock have you been hiding under?  :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ls6x-OuWk4 (bad horsie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl8QMqcNKvo (ya yo gakk)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S35URl6GJZE (the audience is listening)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okLDkcexiVg&feature=related (for the love of god)

[Antag]

Not to mention the first two Dave Lee Roth solo albums "Eat 'em and smile" & "Skyscr@per"...

EDIT: I nearly added the Whitesnake album "Slip of the tongue" but on reflection, perhaps it was a good move to omit it... :lol:

[Copperhead]

I just sold some Carvin loudspeakers, solid wood that had a couple of hidden features too!
1) If you drop them, they will smash your toes!
2) If you leave them in the living room, you can tell your wife you've gotten her matching end tables!
 :D
What will Carvin think of next?