Carvin X100B, X212B, X100B-E Owner's Manual

LIMITED WARRANTY

Your Carvin product is guaranteed against failure for ONE YEAR unless otherwise stated. Vacuum tubes

are guaranteed for 90 days. Carvin will service and supply all parts at no charge to the customer providing

the unit is under warranty. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. CARVIN DOES NOT PAY

FOR PARTS OR SERVICING OTHER THAN OUR OWN. A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL INVOICE IS REQUIRED

TO VERIFY YOUR WARRANTY. Carvin assumes no responsibility for horn drivers or speakers damaged by

this unit. This warranty does not cover, and no liability is assumed, for damage due to: natural disasters,

accidents, abuse, loss of parts, lack of reasonable care, incorrect use, or failure to follow instructions. 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 or servicing of Carvin products. CARVIN

SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

When RETURNING merchandise to the factory, you must call for a return authorization number. If your unit

is out of warranty, you will be charged the current FLAT RATE for parts and labor to bring your unit up to fac-

tory specifications. Visit www

.carvinservice.com.

HELP SECTION

1) AMP WILL NOT TURN ON

Check the power to the amp. Check for tripped circuit breakers, unplugged extension cords or power-

strip switches that may be turned off. Check the fuse. If a dark brownish color or no wire can be seen

within the glass tube, then replace. The amp may be perfectly fine but occasionally a fuse may blow because

of high AC voltage surges. After the fuse has been replaced with the proper Slow Blow value and if the

fuse fails again, the amp will require servicing.

2) NO OUTPUT with POWER light ON

Tubes damaged in shipping will be the primary reason for your amp to not function properly. Please give

us a call to help guide you through this simple repair.

3) KEEP YOUR AMP LOOKING NEW

Use a damp cloth to wipe the controls on the front & rear chassis panels. Wipe the black vinyl covering

with a damp cloth.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS (EUROPEAN)

The conductors in the AC power cord are colored in accordance with the following code.

GREEN & YELLOW—Earth BLUE—Neutral BROWN—Live

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.

IMPORTANT! FOR YOUR PROTECTION, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:

WATER AND MOISTURE: Appliance 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 appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the oper-

ating instructions or as marked on the unit.

GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION: Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization means of an

appliance 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 recepta-

cles, and the point where they exit from the appliance.

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 replace-

ment text on the unit for correct fuse type.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL! THIS UNIT

CONTAINS HIGH VOLTAGE INSIDE!

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

This symbol is intended

to alert the user to the

presence of important

operating and mainte-

nance (servicing) instructions in the

literature accompanying the appli-

ance.

MODEL X100B AMP SPECIFICATIONS:

RMS Power: 100, 50 or 25 watts, switchable

Output Impedance: 4, 8 or 16ohm, switchable

Input Impedance: 220,000 ohms

Tone Controls: BASS, MID, TREBLE, PRESENCE

Graphic EQ: 5-band, 18dB boost or cut

Channels: 2—switchable

Ch 1 Sensitivity: 1mV for clipping

Ch 2 Sensitivity: 16mV for full output

footswitch functions: FS44L: channel, reverb, effect loop and boost/mute

FS22: channel, reverb

Voiced Line Out: 1.5 VAC @ 100 watts RMS

Preamp Tubes: 3—12AX7’s (dual stage)

Power Amp Tubes: 4—6L6GC (5881)’s (power pentode), switchable to EL34’s

USA Model: 120VAC, 300VA

6A , slow blow fuse, 5x20mm

Export Model: 230VAC, 300VA

3A, slow blow fuse, 5x20mm

Cabinet Size: Head: 24.25”W x 10.5”H x 9.5”D

Combo: 26”W x 17.5”H x 10.25”D

Cabinet: Multi-ply hardwwood

Net Weight: 35 lbs (head) , 58 lbs (combo)

Warranty: One Year

Country of Mfg: Made in USA

Options: -CV3200 (head) or CV3212 (combo) cover

-FS44L footswitch - 4 function

-FS22 footswitch - channel and reverb

-GX412T or GX412B (matching 4x12” speaker cabinets)

CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA

X-100B TUBE GUITAR AMP

OPERATING MANUAL

Congratulations on your purchase of your

X100B

series IV tube ampli-

fier. 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 X100B 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.

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, avail-

able 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.

76-22100A 0308

6L6 POWER TUBES

Your amp is equipped with 6L6 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 X100B 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 pick-

ups. Careful component layout and lead placement control oscillations and noise

without extra capacitance in the circuit, allowing shimmering highs to be repro-

duced faithfully.

For your records, you may wish to record the following information.

Serial No._____________________ Invoice Date_______________

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 protec-

tion 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.

12340 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128

[phone] www.carvin.com

c

12340 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128

[phone] www.carvin.com

c

This symbol is intended to

alert the user to the pres-

ence of uninsulated “danger-

ous voltage” within the

product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient

magnitude to constitute a risk of electric

shock to persons.

FS-44L FUNCTIONS AND LED’S

FS-22 FUNCTIONS

SWITCH LED ON LED OFF

A. CHANNEL | LEAD | RHYTHM

B. REVERB | REVERB ON | REVERB OFF

C. EFFECTS | LOOP ON | LOOP OFF

D. BOOST mode* | BOOST ON | BOOST OFF

D. MUTE mode* | AMP ON | AMP MUTED

* BOOST or MUTE MODE is changed with the “FS BOOST”

switch on the front panel of the amp.

SWITCH FUNCTION

SELECT LEAD / RHYTHM

REVERB /EFFECTS REVERB ON / REVERB OFF

X-212B combo (two 12” speakers)

X-100B head

A

C DB

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 malfunction-

ing. Occasionally tubes are damaged in shipping.

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 STANDBY

switch 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 imme-

diate 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 ASSIGN-

MENT 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 with-

out 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 con-

trol works. With this switch OFF, the MASTER control

works normally. In the FS BOOST position, 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, acti-

vated by the FS44L footswitch. The red LED over the

MASTER will indicate the BOOST is 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 con-

trols 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 sus-

tain 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 harmon-

ics 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 BRIGHT switch 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). A long cable with high capaci-

tance will reduce the overall treble response from your

pickups.

REAR PANEL

16. SPEAKER OUTPUT JACKS

Two 1/4” SPEAKER JACKS are featured to operate sev-

eral 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 cab-

inets 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 over-

driven, 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. S

etting this switch to 25watts can change the

sound dramatically if desired, by turning up the MASTER

or u

sing the FS BOOST (#7) to produce even more

power amp overdrive

!

19. POWER TUBE BIAS SWITCH

If you desire to change power tubes, you may do

so by selecting the external BIAS switch to the EL34

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.

*
CAUTION! - The presence of high voltage inside tube

amps can cause death or serious injury!

Tube amp biasing should be performed by a quali-

fied 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 cap-

tured in this signal, including the RMS POWER set-

ting. The output level is more than adequate to drive

any professional mixer or power amp. A speaker 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 LOOP LEVEL switch allows the X-100B to acco-

modate a variey of devices. If the input of your proces-

sor 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 chan-

nel selection and reverb. Most foot pedals with 2

switches, a stereo cord and plug will work. However,

Carvin’s FS22 is recommended

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

A) 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.

B) 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 follow-

ing 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.

X100B front & rear panel controls

1

2

7

3

4

10

24

1917

18

16

65

9

12 13 15

20

21

22

23

25

8

11 14

SSPPEEAAKKEERR

CCOOMMBBIINNAATTIIOONN

OOHHMMSS

RREESSUULLTT

SSWWIITTCCHH

SSEETTTTIINNGG

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*

CAUTION!

8 ohms & 4 ohms

(DO NOT USE)

2.6 DO NOT

USE

4 ohms & 4 ohms

(DO NOT USE)

22

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.

SPEAKER OHMS SWITCH

IMPEDANCE CHART