The Carvin Legacy VL212 100W STEVE VAI Model. I got it for $725 brand new. For those of you who don't know, its a 100 watt tube amp with 2 channels and 2 12-inch speakers. I've heard great stuff about this amp and besides: Steve Vai uses it! I'll post a video of how it sounds when it comes in.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/s ... duct=VL212

Enjoy replacing your EL34s every 6 months. =D

Depends on how hard you drive the amp, really. I've heard tubes lasting 24 months before. Its pretty situational. I DIDNT KNOW YOU PLAYED GUITAR, PRIEST

looks alot like my old "Blue Angel" dual rectifier from mesa boogie.

I have a old Crate Blue Voodoo 120H Full Stack and ive never had to replace the tubes yet. I also have a Marshall JCM2000 Half-Stack and never had to replace the tubes. Carvin amps are really well made. What kind of effects are you gonna use?

Yeah, I'm super stoked about getting it. I think every guitarist falls in love with tube amps after they play one for the first time. I have to admit, though, that my dream amp is a Mesa Boogie Mark IV, but I need to get a real job before I can invest in that beast. This Carvin Legacy I've heard is right up there with Mesa and Bogner, though. I've heard TONS of awesome stuff about the Crate Blue Voodoo, I was actually looking to buy one before I found this Carvin.

I have a Digitech RP300 processor pedal that I intend on using but I've heard to just plug directly into the amp and use its overdrive. I'll do some experimenting...

My brother has that same full stack.

My next aim is to get a 4-speaker cab so that I can really blow some heads off. I'm thinking a crate or Randall cab, as long as it has Celestions. F*CK, I also need to get a Floyd Rose Original to replace my shitty-ass Lo- TRS trem on my Ibanez S.

My old setup and suggestion box guy quit his job at ye olde guitar hub and I lost his phone number, and he had what I wanted my tone to be nailed. Right now I'm trying to find the list of tubes your amp SHOULD have come stock with...I'll kill myself if I threw that away, because it also applies to the Dual Rectifier.

Dude, that list would be invaluable as I have no experience with tube amps and their biases and the like...

F*CKING can't find the list. It probably got tossed when I got a new desk. F*CK..

From memory... JJ's and Ruby's. I forget in which sequence. I'll take a wild stab and say five Ruby ECC83's and two JJ 6L6GC in a quad with two JJ E34L. That sounds right in my head, but ask someone at your guitar hub before you go ahead replacing. I've long since stopped with any sort of distortion. I just use my Schecter Lmtd. Strat and a little Fender Hot Rod Deluxe...maybe with a Fulltone Wah and H20 Liquid Chorus.

Damn, thats a shame. What are the differences between the tubes you mentioned and the EL34s that come stock with it? Also, it says it comes equipped with "4-EL34 matched tubes," yet you said you have 9 tubes in your head. So does that mean I'm being supplied with 4 tubes yet I'll be able to put a further 5 tubes in? Forgive my ignorance, but I'm new to the whole tube thing as you can tell

You have preamp and power tubes. Your amp comes with "choice" five 12AX7 tubes (preamp) and four EL34 tubes (power). The ECC83's fit in preamp, and both the 6L6 and E34L tubes go in power. The differences? Every tone will be better. Dirty, mids, lows, highs, cleans... they'll all sound better (if I gave you the right list).

I do want to say that tone is subjective unless you play for other people.

Thats very helpful. So that means that the ECC83's replace my 12AX7's, the 6L6's replace my 5881's and the E34L's replace the EL34's? What will I have to switch the bias switch to if I'm putting two different types of tubes in the power?

I have to say, though, that I'm going to have to wait to buy those aftermarket tubes until after the stock tubes burn out. I don't have the $$$ to buy those tubes at the moment, but I will by the time the stocks burn out.

http://www.carvinmuseum.com/pdf/Ka-Boom_v1a.pdf
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ruby-ECC83-12AX7A-Preamp-Tube?sku=212034
http://thetubestore.com/tesla6l6gc.html
http://thetubestore.com/teslael34l.html

Like I said, consult your local guitar guys about it. They know more than I do. I also don't know what kind of tone you're after - you might like the stock tubes...I doubt it, but who knows. Odds are, one of the folks at the guitar hub would be willing to bring in their amps to let you hear the difference between stock and aftermarket.

I just read through the first 14 pages of that biasing guide and I'm already a little nervous. I gotta do it, though, or I'll never be able to tech amps and guitars. Thanks so much for the links, Priest. HUGE help.

When's the wedding, guys?

In a few weeks. You can be the gay male stripper at the party, though.

Gotta pay by the pound for me, and that shit is expensive.