Background: a pedal from a relaunched company
MusicPlayers.com's reviewer Matt Abrams noted the X1 as one of the first all-new products to emerge from the re-energized Carvin1.
What it does and how it works
The X1's design goal, as Carvin Amps & Audio states it, was to deliver the classic sounds of the X100B amplifier in a compact package with added, modern connectivity1. Guitar World's review put it the same way: the X1 is designed to offer the tones and versatility of Carvin's X-100B amplifier in a compact format, and the reviewer noted that while the Carvin X1 is packaged in a pedal format, it's packed with features comparable to standalone multi-channel amps2.
The tube gain structure comes straight from the amp. The pedal incorporates two 12AX7 preamp tubes set up in four stages, just as found in the original X100B amplifier1.
"Used primarily as a tone shaping tool in front of an amp, this pedal delivers classic Carvin Amps tone."
Controls and connectivity
The tone controls for bass, mid, treble and presence use the original circuits of the X100B amp1. Beyond the standard EQ, the pedal has channel and voicing switches:
- Rhythm channel: gives clean tones3
- Lead channel: gives overdrive tones3
- Master volume: controls both channels of tone3
- Bright switch (rhythm channel): adds additional sparkling shimmer to the clean tones1
- Gain switch: built for even more intense leads3
For connections, the X1 has an effects loop with a pair of quarter-inch jacks for send and return, plus a standard mono out which can go to another pedal, directly to the front end of an amp, or back to an effects loop return1.
How it fits a rig
Because it is a full preamp with its own outputs, the X1 can sit in a rig in more than one way. Its mono output can feed the front end of an amp as a tone shaper, which is how MusicPlayers.com's reviewer primarily used it1. It can also drive another pedal, return to an amp's effects loop return, or, with its cabinet voiced output, run as a preamp in its own right31. Players comparing it with other tube preamp pedals may also know Carvin's earlier collaboration with Steve Vai, the Carvin Legacy Drive Preamp, a 12AX7 tube preamp based on the Legacy amplifier circuit. For more on the category, see Preamp Pedals.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review, published December 3, 2018, found the X1 offers the tones and versatility of Carvin's X-100B amplifier in a pedal2. MusicPlayers.com's Matt Abrams, reviewing it in November 2018, concluded that used primarily as a tone shaping tool in front of an amp, the pedal delivers classic Carvin Amps tone1.
Videos
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Questions
How many tubes does the Carvin X1 use?
The X1 uses two 12AX7 preamp tubes set up in four gain stages, the same arrangement MusicPlayers.com describes as found in the original X100B amplifier. Guitar World's announcement likewise notes that the pedal features real 12AX7 tubes and four gain stages, so the tube gain structure is carried over from the amp the pedal is based on.
Does the Carvin X1 have an effects loop?
Yes. MusicPlayers.com's review notes that the X1 has an effects loop with a pair of quarter-inch jacks for send and return. The pedal also has a standard mono output that can go to another pedal, directly to the front end of an amp, or back to an effects loop return.
Which Carvin amp is the X1 based on?
The X1 is based on Carvin's X100B amplifier. Guitar World's announcement says the unit features the original circuits of the X100B, and Carvin's own press release described the X100B as one of the company's most iconic guitar amps. The tone controls for bass, mid, treble and presence use those original circuits.
What is the difference between the Rhythm and Lead channels?
The Rhythm channel gives clean tones, while the Lead channel gives overdrive tones. Both channels of tone are controlled by the Master volume. The Rhythm channel also has a Bright switch that MusicPlayers.com says adds additional sparkling shimmer to the clean tones, and a Gain switch is built for more intense leads.
Can the Carvin X1 be used in front of an amp?
Yes. MusicPlayers.com's reviewer Matt Abrams found that used primarily as a tone shaping tool in front of an amp, the pedal delivers classic Carvin Amps tone. Its mono output can also feed another pedal, the front end of an amp, or an effects loop return.
Sources (3)
- Carvin X1 Tube Preamp Pedal, MusicPlayers.com, 2018-11-28
- Review: Carvin X1 All-Tube Guitar Preamp Pedal, Guitar World, 2018-12-03
- Carvin Announces New X1 All Tube Preamp Pedal, Guitar World, 2018-11-01
