Carvin Bx1500 vs LittleMark Tube 800

rockiezz · #1 01-06-2011, 10:47 AM

Hay all,
I've been to Guitar Center and back at least 5 times. Tried every amp in the place, like/love the M6 Mesa but it's just a bit heavy and expensive for right now. Feel like I need to get used to the Class D amp sound. So I've been toying with Little Mark's Tube 800 amp and I kind of like it. So I look around and I see the BX1500 by Carvin, a little more flexibility with two amps and a bridge mode, a 9-band graphic and a tube preamp, maybe save a little $$ for a couple new speakers only one problem... No where to play through one! So I come here looking for some reference. Has anybody out there done any shootouts with these two amps? Opinions? Tone and reliability that's what I'm looking for. Me and my back thank you (just like Ray Charles liked to be paid) in advance.

BassmanPaul · #2 01-06-2011, 11:56 AM

Buy one and you have ten days to play around with it in your own home. I can't speak for the Mark Bass amp - only seen a few, never played through one. I did buy the BX1500. A little more power than I was looking for but it had the flexibility to run either a pair of my Acme B2s one per channel or all four two per channel. I don't use the "bells and whistles" and run the EQ flat but I consider it a great amp.

rpsands · #3 01-06-2011, 12:08 PM

One big thing to keep in mind which is that the Markbass warranty is transferable with the original receipt. The Carvin warranty is not, and requires shipping for service.

jeff7bass · #4 01-06-2011, 01:19 PM

That’s true but Carvin fixes their stuff quick, in my experience. Two weeks or less.

The BX1500 is just more amp than the Markbass as far as features, power and value. It’s complex though. For some it’s too much, for others it’s the bomb. I like the fact you can drive a sub and a full range cab while setting the volume and the cutoff frequency for each. I also like the switchable graphic EQ, which comes in handy for different basses. You can also drive two 4 ohm cabs individually at 450w each.
Dang, imagine having two Avatar TB153’s sitting under this head.

rpsands · #5 01-06-2011, 01:25 PM

The BX1500 would be amazing for retrofitting a 4 ohm TB153 for biamping, IMHO. That's a huge sack of awesome. The internal crossover on those things is probably OK, but not as good as an electronic crossover would be

BigOldHarry · #6 01-06-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

One big thing to keep in mind which is that the Markbass warranty is transferable with the original receipt. The Carvin warranty is not, and requires shipping for service.

Doesn't GC still have that "If you don't dig it, return in 30 days" policy??

That said - buy used. Save big $$$

rpsands · #7 01-06-2011, 01:41 PM

These days the big box companies are discounting so heavily I have been buying new. I know that's weird but when you can get 20-25% off of new prices, getting 30-33% off to get preowned stuff that has half or more of the warranty period used up doesn't seem like such a bargain. When an 800 dollar head is 640 new after discounts, or 600 used, the choice is pretty easy to me.

* Note, this is another reason why I don't recommend Carvin as highly as I used to. They don't discount hardly at all, so their prices aren't so great after you take 20% off any price from Music123/Musician's Friend.

Deflation is a biatch.

rockiezz · #8 01-06-2011, 01:43 PM

Some nice feedback here. Couple things, why buy it if your gonna sell it? All the salesman at G.C. are commissioned and even though they say it, they hate it when you return a high dollar item, I know I've done it and the one guy still doesn't help me if he doesn't have to. As far as buying used? I just bought and returned a Aguilar AG500 from a eBay auction that the guy misled me on, I spent $38.00 shipping the thing back and forth, not to mention the 60-miles I put on my car to have it check at the repair center. Used = troubles someone else doesn't want. I'm leaning toward the Carvin.

rpsands · #9 01-06-2011, 01:44 PM

- When you buy sight unseen you don't know if you're gonna want to keep it.
- Tastes change over time, directly proportional to talkbass viewing time :P

BassmanPaul · #10 01-06-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

requires shipping for service.

Only if it goes wrong RP and MarkBass require shipping if they choose the service it. Not everyone lives next to a GC tha' knows!

You get up on the wrong side of the bedd today or what???

rpsands · #11 01-06-2011, 02:34 PM

I really don't know what I've said that could be construed as grouchy but *almost* everyone including the OP lives close enough to a GC to have their MB head serviced there. It's something to keep in mind, that's all.

jeff7bass · #12 01-06-2011, 03:38 PM

The internal crossover on my BX1200 has an amazing effect on my sound (bi-amp mode only) but I have two different DRB cabs, one of which acts as a sub (12” woofer, deeper cab, no tweeter) and the other a 12” 3-way. If you are running two identical cabs then some of the advantages of the Carvin are lessened. Keep in mind also that the Carvin comes stock in the rack version while the head version cost around 40 bucks more.
With two 8 ohms cabs (or one 4 ohm cab), you can bridge the two Carvin internal amps at 1500w. The bi-amp features are unavailable in bridge mode.

39-Bassist · #13 01-06-2011, 03:47 PM

The BX1500 is a VERY good sounding amp....and for the money you can't go wrong. I,ve had 3 Carvin amps and they have been great. Plus your trial period is worth it.

RNV · #14 01-06-2011, 07:34 PM

I love the versatility of my Carvin BX1500. I keep the 9 band as a on/off switch/channel to adjust my tone for different songs. The bi-amp crossover is very versatile because you can adjust the frequencies that are being sent to which cab. Once you learn it you'll find it to be an amazing piece of underrated equipment.

McCartyLS · #15 01-10-2011, 03:03 PM

I am glad to have found this post. After much considering, I am about to pull the trigger on the BX1500 as well. It looks like it has everything I want and the price is decent. Just waiting until it goes on the "specials" page. It seems to flip flop from week to week on which heads they have on special. When it hits $499.00, it's time to buy.

BassmanPaul · #16 01-10-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

I really don't know what I've said that could be construed as grouchy but *almost* everyone including the OP lives close enough to a GC to have their MB head serviced there. It's something to keep in mind, that's all.

You're just not your happy positive self today is all

We don't have GCs in this country. That's our own fault for living in the far North I guess.

dug dog · #17 01-10-2011, 03:16 PM

I'd be awfully surprised if you see it for $499, but if you do, be sure to let us know!

McCartyLS · #18 01-10-2011, 03:52 PM

I might have been imaging things, but I thought it was at that price like a month ago but at that time I was still up in the air about what to get. I called their customer support folks today and tried to weasel some info out of the rep about when it would be going on sale again and he said they did not have that info but to just keep checking back daily as they do flip flop the specials regularly. That led me to believe if I was patient I could get a better deal that 599. I will definitely let you know.

rockiezz · #19 01-11-2011, 07:31 AM

I'm about to pull the trigger too! I'm wondering what will come out of The Namm Show this month though. makes you curious doesn't it.

McCartyLS · #20 01-11-2011, 04:01 PM

Whatever comes out at the NAMM this year I won't be able to afford for at least 2 more NAMMs after that.

:-)