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Description

Unleash your inner virtuoso with the Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head, a powerful tool designed for the discerning guitarist. Crafted in collaboration with Steve Vai, this amp head is your gateway to rich, dynamic tones that cater to both classic and contemporary styles. The three-channel design offers exceptional versatility, allowing seamless transitions between clean, crunch, and lead settings—all at the flick of a switch.

Each channel is equipped with its own dedicated EQ controls, giving you comprehensive command over your sound. The Legacy 3 VL300's all-tube construction, featuring EL34 power tubes, delivers the warmth and depth that only a tube amplifier can provide. Plus, with its compact size and intuitive layout, it’s perfect for both stage and studio use. Engage the built-in reverb for lush, ambient textures or utilize the MIDI functionality to integrate seamlessly into your existing rig.

Designed with gigging musicians in mind, this amp head includes a Master Volume control for each channel, ensuring that your sound remains consistent at any volume level. Whether you're crafting delicate soundscapes or delivering high-octane solos, the Legacy 3 VL300 stands ready to amplify your musical vision.

Key Features:

  • 100W all-tube power with EL34 tubes
  • Three independent channels with individual EQs
  • Built-in reverb for added depth
  • MIDI compatibility for versatile control
  • Compact design, ideal for live and studio settings
  • Channel-specific Master Volume controls for precise sound management
Carvin Amplifiers

Carvin Amplifiers

Legacy 3, Steve Vai amp demo - Carvin

Video thumbnail for Legacy 3, Steve Vai  amp demo - Carvin by Carvin Amplifiers

Legacy 3, Steve Vai amp demo - Carvin

Carvin Amplifiers

Carvin Amplifiers

Video thumbnail for VAI Shoot-Out : Carvin Legacy 1 vs. Legacy 3 by The Tone King

VAI Shoot-Out : Carvin Legacy 1 vs. Legacy 3

The Tone King

The Tone King

Video thumbnail for Carvin Legacy 3 Demo by AlanShun by AlanShun

Carvin Legacy 3 Demo by AlanShun

AlanShun

AlanShun

Video thumbnail for Steve Vai VLD1 Tube Preamp vs  Steve Vai Legacy 3 Tube Guitar Amplifier by Carvin Amps & Audio

Steve Vai VLD1 Tube Preamp vs Steve Vai Legacy 3 Tube Guitar Amplifier

Carvin Amps & Audio

Carvin Amps & Audio

Video thumbnail for Carvin Legacy 3 by surfnorthwest1

Carvin Legacy 3

surfnorthwest1

surfnorthwest1

Video thumbnail for Carvin Legacy 3 (Channel 2) Demo by AskAGuitarPro

Carvin Legacy 3 (Channel 2) Demo

AskAGuitarPro

AskAGuitarPro

Reviews

Critic Reviews

Carvin VL300 Legacy 3 Amp Review - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

Carvin's Legacy 3 VL300 Amp Head is a versatile powerhouse, offering a wide range of tones and impressive clean channel headroom reminiscent of a Fender Twin Reverb. The inclusion of a digital reverb enhances the amp's tonal sparkle, while its lightweight design makes it a gig-friendly choice. However, the amp's gain channels may fall short for modern metal enthusiasts, given their rounder, darker voicing that requires careful EQ tweaking for clarity. Some might find the overdrive muddy, needing more aggressive settings to achieve crisp tones. Despite these quirks, the Legacy 3's tonal flexibility and build quality deliver great value, especially for players keen on effects integration.

positive

Carvin VL300 Legacy 3 review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

The Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 Amp Head impresses with its versatile, all-valve design, offering great tones and a portable build. Its clean channel is particularly praised for blending Fender-like chime with rich low-end tones. The amp's flexibility is enhanced by three power settings (100, 50, and 15 watts) and the ability to swap EL34s for 6L6 valves. While the amp's controls are sensitive, they allow for detailed tone shaping. However, the boost function requires manual deactivation when switching channels, which some may find inconvenient. Ultimately, it's an excellent value for those seeking high-quality sound and versatility.

positive

Carvin VL300 Legacy III Guitar Amplifier – MusicPlayers.com

musicplayers.com

The Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head impresses with its versatility and vintage-inspired sound, catering to rock, metal, and blues players alike. Its lightweight, lunchbox size belies the power it packs, delivering impressive tones with a user-friendly interface. Standout features include a three-channel setup, MIDI control, and a clean boost, all in a retro-styled package. However, early production issues like radio interference and ungrounded pots marred the experience but were reportedly resolved in later models. Overall, it's a steal for its price and feature set, but not the best fit for modern metal enthusiasts.

positive
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 6 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
roansounds

Still in love after 4 years.

I could gush about this amp, but no amount of adjectives would do it justice. In an case, here are three nuggets of opinion: (1) Mid-gain settings on channel 3 are butter. (2) The clean tone with its built in reverb is dreamlike. (3) I want to build a pedalboard, but with this head it seems glaringly unnecessary.

jimmarchi1

I've been curious about these every time I think about getting a compact channel switcher to supplement my horde of ac30s

ty_kaufman

Amazing pedal platform!

I only use the clean channel on this amp, currently

Artist usage

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See how Steve Vai uses Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head

Steve Vai

Guitarist

Whitesnake

...
Verified via YouTube

"You want to continue to evolve and try to improve, so we came up with the Legacy 2 amp...and I ended up not liking it as much as I like this one, the Legacy 1. But I was feeling limited because there were only two channels and there was no master volume. I like to be able to turnthe level down without changing the tone, which is very rare because a lot of times the master volume is before the pre-amp on most amplifiers. So we designed the Legacy 3 which actually has three channels - same infrastructure as the Legacy 1. It sounds more like the Legacy 1 than the Legacy 2 sounds like the Legacy 1. It has another channel and has these sections that affect all the channels so you get more variety. And then I come out of the amp and then I go straight into the pedalboard," explains Steve Vai about his Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head.

See how Brendon Small uses Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head

Brendon Small

Guitarist

Dethklok

...
Verified via YouTube

Seen here in "Danger Tits"

See how Brian Klemm uses Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head

Brian Klemm

Singer, Guitarist

Suburban Legends

...
Verified via Photo

in this post brian shows off the amp he was sent by carvin

Genre Usage

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Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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