CARVIN X1 User Manual

X1

CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA

X1

PG. 2

WARRANTY

This CARVIN AUDIO product is guaranteed in normal use to be free from electrical and mechanical defects for a
period of 1 year from date of purchase. Retain proof of purchase. This warranty is in lieu of any and all other
guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied. There shall be no recovery for any consequential or incidental
damages.

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of the X1 tube
preamp pedal. The X1 is designed to give you real
tube tone with the ability to integrate into nearly any
system. The X1 works as an add-in pedal to your
current setup, or it can be the center of your whole
guitar rig for live or recording. If you already have a
favorite guitar amp, the X1 preamp can work as a
pedal in front of your amp with true hardwire bypass.
It can feed a power amp or a guitar amp return to
power guitar speaker cabinets. If you don’t have an
amp at all, it can drive a regular guitar cabinet directly
with 1 Watt of power. The Cab Voiced/Phones jack
uses Carvin Amplifiers third generation
Cabinet Voicing circuit to give you the frequency
response of a 2x12” or 4x12” guitar speaker cabinet
so you can just plug in headphones or connect to
a recording or PA system without having to mic a
speaker.

DESIGNED FOR MAKING CONNECTIONS

The design criteria for the X1 was to deliver the
sounds of the classic Carvin X-100B amplifier in a
compact package with added connectivity. The result
is a full tube preamp in a pedal format, able to fit in
a carry-on or backpack. The X1 incorporates tube
technology with simple, yet flexible modern features
to interface with many types of gear.

EXTENSIVE TONE CONTROL

The wide range BASS, MID, TREBLE, and PRESENCE
tone controls are the same circuits as used in the
X-100B amplifier. The Rhythm channel’s
BRIGHT switch adds sparkling clear highs to clean
tones. The powerful 5-band Graphic EQ can be set to
activate for either or both channels, and footswitched
of f/o n .

WHAT, NO SPEAKERS?

The Phones jack uses Carvin Amp’s 3G (third
generation) analog Cabinet Voicing circuit to emulate
the response of a 2x12” or 4x12” guitar speaker cabinet.
Connect headphones for “silent” practice, or feed to any
combination of effects, recording inputs or live gear to
capture real tube tones without miking speakers.

WHAT, NO AMP ?

A 1 watt amp is built in, capable of driving any standard
guitar cabinet. 1 Watt is louder than you might think! Of
course it’s not enough for every situation, but it’s great
when you don’t want to carry an amp or when you
just want to practice.

12AX7 TUBE STAGES

Tone generation and overdrive comes from 12AX7
tubes, utilizing tube gain stages running at the same
operating conditions as they do in a full
size X100B tube amp.

GROUND CONTROL

The X1 has 4 top mounted footswitches for Channel,
Gain, Graphic EQ and Bypass. Switch from Rhythm
to Lead with the CHANNEL switch, then hit the GAIN
footswitch to kick up the tube overdrive when you
need it. Kick in the Graphic EQ for a second set of
tone on demand. Use the BYPLOOP footswitch to hard
bypass the whole pedal, or to just turn off the
Effects Loop. The Graphic EQ’s back lighting shows
different colors for channel selection and EQ on so
you always know what setting you’re on.

CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA

X1

X1 TUBE PREAMP PEDALX1 TUBE PREAMP PEDAL

PG. 3

EXAMPLE SETUPS

The X1 works as an add-in pedal to your current setup, or it can be the center of your whole guitar rig for live
or recording. Feed a guitar amp input, or just use your amp’s power section. Drive a guitar cabinet from the

built-in 1 Watt amp.

Carvin’s analog Cabinet Voicing out emulates a guitar cabinet response for headphones,

recording or live gear.

X1 SPECIFICATIONS:

» Preamp Tubes: Two 12AX7 (four stages)

» Controls: MASTER, BASS, MID, TREBLE, PRESENCE,

GRAPHIC EQ

» Lead channel: VOLUME, DRIVE, GAIN switch

» Rhythm channel: VOLUME, BRIGHT switch

» Graphic EQ: 5-Band, channel tracking, foot

switchable, backlight color indications

» Audio connections: Input, Output, Loop Send, Loop

Return, Cab Voiced Out/Phones, Speaker

» Input Impedance: >500K Ohms

» Effects loop: Fully buffered, footswitchable,

pre-Master/Amp/Voiced Out. SEND level +4dBu

» Cab Voiced/Phones: 3G (3rd generation) active

analog circuit, 2x12” and 4x12” settings,

» TS (mono) or TRS dual-mono (for stereo headphones)

low impedance capable

» Speaker Output: 1 Watt @ 4 Ohms minimum

» Footswitches (4): BYPASS(Master or Loop), GEQ,

GAIN, CHANNEL

» Bypass type (master): relay engaged hardwire bypass

» DC adapter (included): , 100-240VAC input,

international plug set.. 12VDC/1A voltage regulated
output, 5.5mmOD/2.1mmID Center Positive

» Size: H x W x D 3.825” x 8.875” x 8.375” (97mm x

225mm x 213mm)

» Weight (without adapter): 3.9 lb. (1.77 kg)

EXAMPLE SETUPS

The X1 works as an add-in pedal to your current setup,
or it can be the center of your whole guitar rig for live
or recording. Feed a guitar amp input, or just use your
amp’s power section. Drive a guitar cabinet from the
built-in 1 Watt amp. Carvin Amp’s analog Cabinet
Voicing out emulates a guitar cabinet response for
headphones, recording or live gear.