Carvin BELAIR Instruction Manual

VINTAGE16 SPECS:

RMS Power:

16/5 watts

Output Imp:

8

Ω

Input Imp:

100,000 ohms

Tone Controls:

BASS:

80Hz

MID:

600-700Hz

TREBLE: 11k Hz

Sensitivity:

1mV for clipping

16mV for full output

Preamp Tubes:

3—12AX7’s (dual stage)

Power Tubes:

2—EL84’s

USA Model:

120VAC,

300VA

USA Fuse:

1A 250V slow blow, 5 x 20mm

Export Model:

240VAC

Export Fuse:


Cabinet Size:

16W x 17.75H x 8.5”D, 31 lbs.

Cabinet:

7-ply poplar wood

Warranty:

One Year

Options:

CV16

cover

CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA

OPERATING MANUAL

NOMAD & BEL AIR COMBO SPECS:

Speakers:

One/Two

Celestion G12 Vintage 30

12” spks

RMS Power:

33 watts Vintage 33, 50 watts all others

Output Imp:

4, 8 & 16

Ω

Input Imp:

100,000 ohms

Tone Controls:

BASS:

80Hz

Both Channels:

MID:

600-700Hz

TREBLE: 11k Hz

Ch 1 Sensitivity:

1mV for clipping

Ch 2 Sensitivity:

16mV for full output

Channels:

2—switching

Voiced Line Out:

1.5 VAC @ 100 watts RMS

Preamp Tubes:

5—12AX7’s (dual stage)

Power Tubes:

4—EL84’s

USA Model:

120VAC,

300VA

USA Fuse:


Export Model:

230VAC,

300VA

Export Fuse:

1.5A 250V slow blow, 5 x 20mm

112 Cabinet :

19.5W x 10.25D x 17.5”H, 44 lbs.

212 Cabinet :

26W x 10.25D x 17.75”H, 56 lbs.

Cabinet:

7-ply poplar wood

Warranty:

One Year

Options:

CV3212

cover,

FS22

footswitch

76-10302C

0705

12340 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA

92128

800.854.2235

carvin.com

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

Serial No._____________________

Invoice Date_______________

212 Bel Air™

NOMAD, BEL AIR COMBO & VINTAGE16 GUITAR AMPS

Congratulations on your purchase of the VINTAGE TUBE SERIES

all tube ampli-

fier.

Carvin has been building tube guitar amplifiers since 1949.

They have been

used by top professionals like; Joe Walsh, Chet Atkins, Jeff Beck, James Burton,

Jorma Kaukonen, and many other great musicians.

You will discover that these

amplifiers represent a significant sound improvement over conventional tube ampli-

fiers.

Spend time with your new amp and get to know it’s many sounds.

TECHNICAL DESIGN OF THE VINTAGE TUBE SERIES

The VINTAGE TUBE SERIES is 100% tube design—no IC’s, FET’s or transistors.

The design

criteria was to build an all-tube guitar amp that sounded better than anything else on the market.

This meant that the VINTAGE TUBE SERIES was going to be totally new from the ground up

and that it was going to be an all tube design.

DYNAMIC EL84 POWER TUBES

Premium EL84 power tubes are selected for their excellent saturation and power soak char-

acteristics.

Just like early VOX AC30 amps, EL84’s are used for their ideal transconduc-

tance delivering a tight bottom and soft drive with superior definition.

HIGH IMPEDANCE GUITAR INPUT

Carvin has long known about the effects of miss-loading a guitar pickup which can cause

high frequency loss.

The VINTAGE TUBE SERIES guards against this loss with its ultra high

input impedance.

Also, we considered the capacitance of the average shielded guitar cable

which can reduce the high frequency response of your guitar pickups.

Unlike other ampli-

fiers, we purposely avoided adding capacitance anywhere in the preamp to control high fre-

quency oscillations.

Instead, we controlled oscillations through careful component layout

and lead placement allowing its shimmering highs to be reproduced.

CLEAN AND SOAK CHANNELS

The equalization of the clean and soak channel is designed to offer clarity to your instru-

ment.

Special mud-cutting circuits eliminate the unwanted sounds in the 500 to 700 Hz

range which normally take away the tone definition of your instrument.

You will also take

notice of the clean channels rear PRESENCE control which adds acoustic voicing to your

instrument.

This control boosts only the guitars very highest harmonics which are in the

10k Hz range instead of the normal 3K Hz of a bright switch.

TONE CONTROLS

The T-Bridge passive BASS, MID and TREBLE tone controls offer a wide range of tone set-

tings.

Take full advantage by setting them where they sound best.

Your sound may not be at

center (5 on the dial).

Instead, the treble and bass may need to be at 10 while the mid con-

trol at 0 (or) the treble at 1 and the bass at 10 depending dual or single coil pickups.

These

controls will not affect or color your sound when set at extreme settings, nor do they interact

with each other.

The greater range of these controls comes from the high impedance 1 meg

sealed pots (most guitar amps use 250k pots).

The frequency of the bass control is set at 80

Hz while the mid control is set at 650 Hz.

The treble control is set at a very high 11k Hz giving

the VINTAGE TUBE SERIES

it’s dynamic highs.

REVERB

The FS22 footswith for the long tailed REVERB system in the VINTAGE TUBE SERIES

switches

only the reverb “send” leaving the tail of the reverb to decay naturally, the way it’s done in

the studio.

A special pre filter eliminates the spring “boing” normally heard in other sys-

tems giving it a “lush” sound.

The all tube reverb system offers vibrant clarity with full depth

reminiscent of the sixties tube amps.

Guitar Player magazine rated this system as one of

the best they have heard. The Vintage 16™ does not have the footswitch option.

RECEIVING INSPECTION—read before getting started

INSPECT YOUR AMP FOR ANY DAMAGE which may have occurred during shipping.

If any

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.

GETTING STARTED QUICKLY

If you are like most players, you probably want to plug in your new amp and get started play-

ing it right away.

You can read the rest of the manual later to learn the finer points of operat-

ing your amp.

In order to get started you will need your VINTAGE TUBE SERIES

amp, a 120

or 230 AC grounded power outlet, your instrument and a standard guitar cord.

With the amp

turned off, you may now plug it into the proper AC voltage.

Now turn all the volume and drive controls off and set tone controls at their mid center posi-

tion.

If you have purchased the FS22 foot switch,

plug it into the rear foot switch jack for switch-

ing the channels and reverb.

Note:

The channel SELECT switch must be selected for channel

1 for the FS22 to function (a hum will be heard if it’s in the wrong position).

Now, turn the power switch and allow a few minuts for the tubes to warm up then turn on

the standby switch.

Gradually raise the volume controls and re-adjust the tone controls and

your ready to go.

Please call if you feel your amp is malfunctioning.

Occasionally tubes are

damaged in shipping.

Nomad 112™

Vintage16™

c

FEATURES

CELESTION

SPEAKERS!

Carvin BELAIR Instruction Manual

Carvin BELAIR Manual

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