Carvin BX1500 tube, can ANYONE hear a difference?

[JLS]

In or out, I detect no change. Curious to hear what other owner/operators have to say.

[5port]

I notice a very,very subtle diff when in the mix with the band. At bedroom volume no I dont.

[jnewmark]

Personally, I don't use the tube on my BX1500, and I doubt I would notice it anyway ( not much of a tube geek ). I have read where some have done some tube rolling and have noticed a difference.

[DONZI97]

I just got one, and yeah, I can't figure out which switch position engages it......

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by DONZI97

I just got one, and yeah, I can't figure out which switch position engages it......

I push mine in for bypass.

[KJung]

If I remember correctly, the tube in the Carvin amps (at least the big ones) impacts the power section (or at least relatively late in the signal chain), versus the more typical tube execution of hybrids at the input stage. So, it would be pretty subtle, and has more of an impact when the power section is really pushed.

[JLS]

Drop the tube section, drop the price of this amp.

[LAG]

I have a BX500.

I hear an audible difference in sound between the tube pre and the SS pre channel. To best describe the change, the tube pre channel sounds a bit smoother than the SS pre, like one would expect.

Disclaimer - I bought my head from another TB'er and he swapped out the stock tube with a JJ brand-12AX7, so that may have changed things perhaps.

[jeff7bass]

I have a BX1200 and the DRIVE knob makes a noticeable difference. It’s not a tube though, it’s a circuit. Might be a case where the emulation is better than the real thing. I would swap out the tube for a better one like the other TB’er.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by DONZI97

I just got one, and yeah, I can't figure out which switch position engages it......

(More or less my point)

[RockFistMusic]

BX1500 just arrived, love it absolutely love it, kills the B2000 that I had LOL

My opinion -
step 1 = remove the screws on top lid
Step 2 - remove the cheap ass chinese 12ax7 tube
step 3 - borrow a BB gun and target practice with said chinese 12ax7 tube until nothing remains
step 4- install a nice fat,warm, 12ax7/ecc83/s tube of your choice
step5 - screw top lid back on
step 6- enjoy the much improved BX1500

I am doing that as we speak : )

[JLS]

Originally Posted by RockFistMusic

BX1500 just arrived, love it absolutely love it, kills the B2000 that I had LOL

My opinion -
step 1 = remove the screws on top lid
Step 2 - remove the cheap ass chinese 12ax7 tube
step 3 - borrow a BB gun and target practice with said chinese 12ax7 tube until nothing remains
step 4- install a nice fat,warm, 12ax7/ecc83/s tube of your choice
step5 - screw top lid back on
step 6- enjoy the much improved BX1500

I am doing that as we speak : )

That has come up more than once, at least the changing of the tube.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by JLS

That has come up more than once, at least the changing of the tube.

You might as well try it. It almost seems as a rite of passage when someone gets one of these heads with a tube in the preamp. It's a fond pastime for the Walkabout, and Streamliner folks !

[cableguy]

Originally Posted by RockFistMusic

BX1500 just arrived, love it absolutely love it, kills the B2000 that I had LOL

)

Sooooo.....You want to sell that B2000?

[::::BASSIST::::]

I bypass the tube in my bx1500 as well. I think if you use alot of treble / high mids in your tone, you are more likely to notice it. I prefer warm and thumpy so no tube needed.

[BassmanPaul]

I leave the tube in circuit. I can't vouch for hearing a difference as I've never run the amp with the tube bypassed.

[grass132456]

I have the BX500 and I can hear a subtly warmer difference with the tube. It's not a big diff tho.