Vai’s Legacy II Amp Specs Are Out

Steve Vai said on his website that a new Carvin Legacy amp, the Legacy II, would be announced in a couple weeks at the winter NAMM show. Well, the newest Carvin catalog is available on the Carvin site via PDF, and Vai is on the cover with his Legacy II. One download later, and here’s the info.

But first, one noteworthy item is that the amp circuitry was designed – apparently at Steve’s request – by Ben Fargen of the well-known boutique maker bearing his name: Fargen Amps.

The Carvin catalog has a quote from Ben which reads, “When Steve Vai personally asked me to redesign his signature series Legacy guitar amplifier, I was truly excited about the project. The new Legacy II includes many of the tricks and tweaks I’ve developed over 15 years of custom made tube audio design work. The result is a powerful blend of high-end boutique sound and rock-solid American manufacturing. If you’re looking for singing sustain, organic harmonic complexity and roadworthy features that work in the real world, there’s simply no better amplifier than the new Carvin Legacy II.”

Specs:
> 3 channels: clean, clean boost, lead.
> A Master Volume that “controls overall output” (sounds like an attenuator of sorts)
> The way Carvin lists the controls doesn’t make sense, so check out the photo blow-up of the head, below.
> 25/50/100w output switch.
> 5 12AX7 (V1, V2, V3 Groove Tubes) and quad EL34 matched Groove Tubes tubes.
> But a bias switch for 5881, 6L6GC or EL34 tubes.
> “Cabinet-voiced” line out.
> 4, 8, or 16 ohms.
> Effects Loop.
> Weight: 39 pounds; 1-year warranty.

Here’s Steve’s quote from the catalog:
“The Legacy II is a dream amp. It’s simple, versatile and the sound is creamy and warm. Finally there is an amplifier that has a Master Volume control that can raise or lower the overall sound coming out of the speakers without changing it’s saturation or tone. Although the sound has retained the integrity of the original Legacy, there is now an added channel that acts as a boost on the clean channel giving it a bit more hair. No need to keep dreaming, it’s here.”

Interesting. Sounds like it will be a good amp, and one playable at bedroom volumes – key for us older fans, and different from the original Legacy.

Pricing:

The head is listed for $1,500, but it says under that price that there’s a $200 instant rebate. It’s not clear whether the price reflects the rebate or not. Either way, $1,500 or $1,300 puts it in boutique – and a little cheaper than EVH 5150 III – territory.

Cabs are $700, again not sure if a $100 rebate is reflected in that price. Cab specs are the same as for the original Legacy cabs: Celestion G12 Vintage 30s at 120 watts total, 16 ohms. Full- and half-stack prices, which do include the instant rebates, are $2,500 and $1,900 respectively.

The combo is $1,900, ditto about being unsure on the $200 rebate. The combo has two Celestion G12 Vintage 30s, rated at 60 watts each. Cab can be open or closed back, and is 8 ohms.

Category: Carvin, Fargen Amps, Steve Vai