1990

The roster is broad: arena and club rock players, session musicians, producers, and bands across hard rock, fusion, pop, and touring acts. Rather than leaning on just one or two marquee names, Carvin uses the page to show adoption across multiple corners of the professional market, from Steve Vai and Frank Zappa associations to Warrant, White Lion, Heart, Rush, and Oingo Boingo connections. It is one of the clearest signs that the 1990 book wants to frame Carvin amplification as stage-proven gear for professionals. X-Amp artists / endorsers: Joey Allen, Steve Vai, Frank Zappa, Craig Chaquico, Warrant, Starship, Jennifer Batten, Bob Bradshaw, Bunny Brunel, Vito Bratta, Warren Cuccurullo, Steve Lynch, Alex Lifeson, Nancy Wilson, Dweezil Zappa, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Chris Degarmo, Michael Wilton, Jack Blades, Roy Clark, Jeff Cook, Izzy Stradlin, Lee Rocker, Pete Sears, Mitch Perry, Robbie Robertson, Erik Turner Pro audio artists / endorsers: Peter and Dan Akroyd, Jefferson Airplane, Jay Azzolina, Jennifer Batten, Jack Blades, Bob Bradshaw, Vito Bratta, Craig Chaquico, Warren Cuccurullo, Oingo Boingo, Buzz Feiten, Ray Fuller, Jay Ferguson, Bobby Gonzales, David Rosenthal, Guy Thomas, Tora Tora, Tony Bonjovi, Karyn White Band

• Mix of guitarists, bassists, bands, producers, and touring users
• Strong presence from hard rock, pop, fusion, and session circles
• Supports X-Amp, SX, FET, and bass product credibility

The FX2444 is the largest mixer in the new FX44 family and marks one of the clearest 1990 expansions in Carvin’s live sound and recording lineup. Carvin presents the FX44 series as a true dual-purpose platform: four sub groups, six programmable busses, dual input capacity, powerful channel EQ, and routing that works for both PA use and home or project studio recording. Within that family, the FX2444 gives Carvin a 24-channel flagship in the new series, pushing beyond the powered FX844 and FX1244 into a larger-format console intended for more demanding live reinforcement and recording tasks.

• Four sub groups and six programmable busses
• Dual input capacity with separate mic and line controls
• Four band channel EQ
• Quiet operation and long-throw studio faders
• Designed for live sound and recording

The MX620 remains a practical, rackmountable compact mixer in 1990 even as Carvin introduces the newer FX44 series. It is positioned as a 6-channel mono powered mixer with enough output and routing flexibility for full-size band use in smaller auditoriums, churches, and compact portable PA rigs. In the 1990 book it also anchors complete 802, 852, 962, and 973 packaged sound systems, showing that Carvin still treats it as a useful system core rather than a leftover utility mixer.

• 6-channel mono powered rack mixer
• 200 watt power amp
• Balanced XLR inputs and 1/4 inch inputs
• Graphic EQ, monitor control, effects send, and tape returns
• Rackmountable OZITE cabinet design

The 852 is one of the clearest examples of Carvin’s compact-but-serious PA thinking in 1990. Carvin describes it as a small-format two-way system that still delivers useful bass output, stronger projection than the 802, and enough versatility for clubs, halls, and modest outdoor use. In the broader 1990 pro sound section, it functions as both a standalone speaker and a foundational building block in multiple small-to-mid sound system packages.

• 200 watt 2-way 15 inch loudspeaker
• PS15 woofer and PS800 high frequency horn
• Smooth response to 17 kHz
• Compact, portable enclosure with OZITE covering
• Optional TS33 stand and TM4 mount

The SXR900 is Carvin’s modular answer for players who want the SX preamp sound in a rack format rather than a combo or conventional head. It pairs the SX15 preamp with the FET900 and a C10 rack cabinet, translating the SX line’s tube-simulator voice, channel switching, and active EQ into a more professional rack system. In the 1990 catalog it stands as a bridge product between guitar amplification and pro-grade rack hardware, showing how Carvin was packaging instrument tone generation with its broader FET power architecture.

• Rack system built around SX15 and FET900
• Dual channel design with SX Tube Simulator
• Four band active EQ on each channel
• Effects loop and line output
• Rack cabinet format for modular setups

The PB500 is one of the strongest bass products in the catalog because it combines head power with rack-style signal processing. Carvin positions it as the central component in a modern bassist’s system, and the feature list backs that up: internal bi-amping, graphic EQ, parametric mid control, compressor, noise gate, crossover functions, and rackmountability. Rather than being a simple loud bass head, it reads as a bass control center designed for both stage and recording use

• Two 250 watt power amps / 500 watts bridged
• Active bass and treble controls
• Parametric mid band EQ
• Five band graphic EQ
• Variable compressor and noise gate
• Internal bi-amping and crossover control
• Headphone and line out for recording