Carvin Enters The Acoustic Preamp Market!

[SpruceTop]

The new Carvin KOA Acoustic Preamp looks interesting and it has Compression, too! Why, Oh, Why, did they demo this prosumer unit with a UST-equipped guitar? Probably because a UST-equipped guitars are what the majority of acoustic-electric players use. This new preamp is currently on sale for $239.00 ($299.00 regular price)

CARVIN KOA ACOUSTIC GUITAR PREAMP

[Rudy4]

The list price is the same as what the Baggs Venue sells for, but the Baggs has the nice built-in tuner. The Carvin even looks a lot like the Baggs Venue.

I'm a bit suspicious of Carvin stuff now, with the economic difficulties the Company has been through in the last few years.

[varmonter]

I had one of Carvins electric guitars back in the 80s...it was sweet.
If I DC didn't have the grace felix I might try one of these...I like the comp...

[jricc]

Looks pretty cool. The comp feature is a plus.
Thanks for the alert Sprucetop.

[DavidE]

I'd bet $5 that this is some rebranded cheap stuff. Just like their wireless unit.

[rokdog49]

Quack, quack……

[edward993]

Originally Posted by DavidE

I'd bet $5 that this is some rebranded cheap stuff. Just like their wireless unit.

I'd bet $6

So similar chassis and color scheme as a Venue, but no notch, one sweep band, and a compressor of dubious value. I haven't even tried it but am skeptical from the get-go. With several road-quality DIs from notable companies who have enjoyed street cred from pros and amateurs for decades, I can't see this as making any headway.

Edward

[Murphy Slaw]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

I'm a bit suspicious of Carvin stuff now

As am I.

And I've bought a lot of Carvin gear over the years, the AG100D, the R1000 bass amp, a monitor, a friend had piles of their p.a. gear.

Now they are just re-branded stuff, it seems.

[Br1ck]

My AG 300 is a well loved amp I could sell in ten minutes. Glad I bought it when I did.

[Rickenbacker1]

I have a Carvin AG 200 with the speaker cabinet . All snakeskin . I tried selling it for grins and nobody wanted it . It is really top quality . Lots of people don’t know of the old Carvin …..made in USA…

[JackB1]

looks like a Baggs Venue clone

[SpruceTop]

Could be the Kiesel Kids wanted to maximize profit with their off-shore-made gear and party-down. I wonder what their Dad, Lowell, RIP, would think about the new direction of his company? At least the guitars are still Made In The USA, correct?

[Twang Banger]

I tried one of these … compressor is WAY TOO strong. Instant “squish”. Otherwise, it was okay, decent eq, the blend is a nice feature.

[Br1ck]

Ok, let's dispel the myths. Today's Carvin has nothing to do with the old Carvin company except the name. Yes, they buy gear from offshore manufacturers. How much design they do or don't due is speculation. The old Carvin designed and made gear in the US and sold direct, to the ire of the traditional dealer network, so they always fought bad press from the industry. The sold off that part of the company, all the non guitar stuff, as I expect, like Peavey before them, they saw the non viability of made in US consumer gear. My AG 300 has been a versatile amp for acoustic instruments running from bass to mandolin, and it's three way speaker cab is one of the few acoustic amps that has a great vocal tone. It was half the cost of the better acoustic gear like AER. It is very much a powered PA speaker. It sounds better to me than the Fishman amps. It's moot because you can't get them.

Keisel has nothing to do with Carvin now. They continue to make very nice electric guitars and basses at a rather mind blowing price for what you get. They will continue to be snubbed by any retail store because they cut the middleman out of the picture. If you have ever played either a Carvin or a Kiesel guitar, you will know how well made they are.

[rockabilly69]

I thought the demo was weak, and their was not one moment in it where I thought it sounded good enough to peak my attention. The compressor is threshold and make-up gain only with no adjustment for ratio/attack/release. It's just too generic for me. And even the way the bottom end was dimed in the demo bugged me. Of course it's going to sound bigger that way, but you could just as easily do that at your guitar amp or PA mixer.

Every piece of Carvin electronic gear (mixers/amps/speakers) that I have been around in my life broke way before any piece of quality gear that I have bought. I have played some of their guitars that were pretty nice, but not nice enough to make me want to buck up for one.

Comparing the Carvin preamp to a Grace preamp would be like comparing a Volkswagon to a Porshe.