Carvin bx500

[::::BASSIST::::]

I have the bx500's big brother the bx1500. Its about 4LBS heavier, but has more power and features. I like it alot. I also own an LMII, a gkmb500 and have owned the genz Shuttle 6 and max 6.

These days I use a VT Bass to fatten up whatever amp I am using and the VT tends to prefer brighter/clearer amps. It sounds REALLY good with the bx1500.

They are all great amps in their own way.

My personal opinion I'd rank them:

1. bx1500 - features out the wazzoo, tons of power, perfect for my 15/6
2. LMII - very trustworthy, excellent tone, not much I dont like.
3. mb500 (very close second) - powerful, lots of low-end, nice features
4. gb shuttle (just not my tone) - great company, a little underpowered comparatively speaking.

The bx1500 is pretty much perfect for me. 900w at 8ohms does very well with my 8 ohm cabs. But it has tons of ways it can drive various cabs, including 1500w bridged and 2 ohm load. Its a full featured amp and takes no short cuts. You have a lot of eq to shape your tone however you like and I find both the graphic and parametric eq extremely useful. All that in a 10LB package and reasonable price.

[jondog]

I've had mine for awhile and I like it, but recently the tube has started acting up. It adds crackles and static that goes away when I switch the tube out. I've swapped two different tubes, a GT 12AT7 and a vintage Sherwood 12AZ7 with similar results. Any ideas? The amp still sounds great most of the time and I don't really need to engage the tube . . .

[darius8]

I don't understand whats the difference between the BRX10.4NEO cab and the BR410N-4 cab besides the grill and bottom port.
Both have:
4 10" NEOs
Titanium horn drivers
4Ω/1200W
one is 13 lbs nd $40 less than the other

Really, not much of a difference. IDK, I guess I'd go for the 63 pounder.

[77 StingRayBass]

Originally Posted by jondog

I've had mine for awhile and I like it, but recently the tube has started acting up. It adds crackles and static that goes away when I switch the tube out. I've swapped two different tubes, a GT 12AT7 and a vintage Sherwood 12AZ7 with similar results. Any ideas? The amp still sounds great most of the time and I don't really need to engage the tube . . .

jondog,
I've been reading that folk's with this amp have been disconnecting the ribbon connector, and spraying the contact's with a good contact cleaner...from the Carvin site;

"Back in May (? I think) I picked up a used BX500 from someone at the TalkBass forums. It seemed like just what I needed for a portable rig for a jazz camp. I found the power more than adequate and the tone controls extremely flexible. I had no trouble getting a range of tones I liked.

It had a minor problem with the tube channel, but worked fine with the tube bypassed. I used it that way for several months.

Then it started going silent intermittently. The problem got worse until it left me silent at a band rehearsal.

BUT... I am not afraid to tinker with gear I own out of warranty. I pulled the lid off and reseated all of the ribbon connectors that I could reach. That fixed the problem for the rest of the rehearsal.

Yesterday I had some time to take the BX500 apart and hit every ribbon connector and the tube socket with my favorite contact cleaner (Caig DeoxIT D5). Whaddya know, even the tube is now working correctly!

So, if you're having problems with your BX500 going silent on you, and you're comfortable poking at its innards, unplug it from AC power and give it the full "deep tissue massage" treatment with some good contact cleaner, and it'll probably work just like new again.

I hope someone finds this helpful."

[jondog]

Cool! I'll try that today.

[bassgrooves2]

Is it just me?
I have tried a couple of tubes in my BX500 and I get absolutely no change in tone, compression, drive, or anything. The amp sounds exactly the same whether or not I have the tube bypassed.

A while back I was scouring the Carvin users forum and there was a post on there that said the tube would serve no function for changing tone based on where it is wired in the circuit.

I had a look at the schematic, but I am no amp builder. It appears as though the tube is just sort of there, but if you guys are getting differences in tone and gain etc, maybe I should try cleaning my jumpers?

[MyMusic]

From everything that I have seen written on this, there is no difference. I noticed the same thing when turning the tube bypass switch on and off.