carvin legacy steve vai

Take one of the best, most influential guitarists of our time, then let him design his ultimate amp, and you've got the Legacy amplifier by Carvin. A seamless combination of art and tone, the Legacy is the product of countless hours or development and testing, to create this one-of-a-kind amp.

"When I considered having a signature series amp built, there were several important issues that needed to be addressed. First, it had to sound superior to any other amp I’d ever come across and it had to be built to withstand the abuse that a world tour could give it. It also had to be something affordable for most musicians and not just a few privileged ones! It had to have the appearance of class and integrity that reflects the sound. I’m thrilled to say The Legacy is all that I dreamed it could be." - Steve Vai

Steve Worked very closely with Carvin Engineering to develop the sound and look of the Legacy Amplifiers from the choice of EL34 tubes to the Celestion™ Vintage 30 speakers. His involvment with Carvin goes back to the early '80's when Steve played the Carvin X100B amp as a member of Frank Zappa's band. Discussions of the possibility of a signature amp had been ongoing for several years. Finally, Vai's and Carvin's schedules allowed for serious work on a new amp project. Exhaustive listening tests of various tube and electronic circuits were performed by Steve. He also tested dozens of enclosures loaded with various vintage speakers. His ear kept coming back to the Celestion™ speakers. After final approval of the amp and speakers, Steve then put his focus on the styling of the Legacy. His personal touches include the classic color scheme and his personal anagram logo on the nameplate.

The Legacy features 2 incredible sounding channels (clean and overdrive/sustain), with separate Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, and presence controls for each channel. Master Reverb for both channels, 4,8, and 16 ohm speaker impedance switch, & effects loop. All tube design: four-EL34 matched Groove Tubes™, five 12AX7's (V1, V2, V3 are Groove Tubes™).




VL100 HEAD
- Dual channels (clean & overdrive/sustain) - Separate Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble & Presence for each channel. Master Reverb for both channels
- 50/100W output switch
- Bias switch for 5881, 6L6GCÍs or EL34 power tubes (supplied with EL34)
- Cabinet voiced line output - 4, 8 or 16 ohm speaker imp. switch
- Effects Loop
- All tube: 4-EL34 matched Groove Tubes™
- Five 12AX7's (V1, V2, V3 are Groove Tubes™)
- Hand crafted 7-ply poplar wood cabinet
- Optional FS22 foot switch for selecting channels & reverb
- VL100: 24.25" W x 10.5" H x 9.5" D
- Weight: 37 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year.
- Made in San Diego, California

steve vai

Steve Vai, born Steven Siro Vai, is an American guitarist and composer, born June 6th, 1960 in Long Island, New York (making him six years old on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1966, as he noted in the introduction to his guitar transcription book of Frank Zappa). Vai is best known for his self-composed, performed and produced guitar instrumental music, but he has also played on the recordings of several other rock acts.

Steve Vai made his name playing 'stunt guitar' with the legendary rock performer, composer, music producer, and publishing mogul Frank Zappa. In the early 80's he replaced Yngwie Malmsteen (a good friend) as lead guitarist in Graham Bonnett's Alcatrazz. Then he joined former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth's group to record the albums Eat 'em and Smile and Skyscraper. Vai also stepped into guitarist Adrian Vandenberg's shoes to record with British rock legends Whitesnake (after Adrian Vandenberg injured his wrist due to some exercises he found in a book and tried out) shortly before recording was due to begin for the album Slip of the Tongue.

Steve Vai continues to tour regularly, both with his own group and with his one time teacher and fellow Grammy award winning guitar instrumentalist friend Joe Satriani (on the G3 series of tours). Steve recently teamed up with former David Lee Roth band member Bassist Billy Sheehan for a world tour. G3 2003 features Steve, Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Steve Vai's music has featured in a number of feature films, including Dudes, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and Ghosts of Mars. He appeared onscreen in the 1986 Ralph Macchio vehicle Crossroads, playing the demonically-inspired Jack Butler. At the film's climax, Vai engages in a guitar duel with Macchio (with Ry Cooder dubbing Macchio's part). The 32nd note quick tempo pseudo-classical-baroque track (entitled Eugene's Trick Bag) with which Macchio wins the competition was composed by Vai, heavily based on Paganini's Caprice Op. 1 # 5, and has become a favorite apprentice-piece among many guitar students. Vai received a Grammy Award in 1991.

Where Vai's contributions to others' material has been constrained by the largely rock or heavy-rock style of those bands, his own material is considerably more esoteric. Vai is an accomplished studio producer (he owns two: 'The mother ship' and 'The harmony hut') and his own recordings combine his signature guitar prowess with novel compositions and considerable use of studio and recording effects.

Steve Vai owns 'Favored Nations', a recording and publishing business which specialises in looking after both newly discovered and already high profile recording artists from around the world.

Vai is married with two children (Julian Angel & Fire) to Pia (former Bassist of All-Female Group 'Vixen', which can be seen in the movie 'Hardbodies'). He also enjoys keeping bees, which regularly produce a crop of honey that Steve sells for his chosen charity every year through his web site.

Vai also helped design his signature Ibanez JEM series of guitars. They feature a handgrip cut into the top of the body of the guitar. They also use a humbucker-single coil-humbucker pickup set-up and a locking tremolo bar.