Carvin BX500 : need tech help.........

kevbassman · #1 05-28-2011, 12:32 PM

Hey Gang!

Need some help & trouble-shooting here.......I own a Carvin BX500.........used on gig last night with a Carvin 2x10 4 ohm cab for a med-sized gig. I've uses this set up for the last month........anyhow...midway in the first set.......the amp cuts out, goes in protect mode. Unplugged the amp, boots back up........get another song in........same thing happens. My amp was about 4 on the drive & 4 on the master.......no way in hell was I pushing this thing. All my cords, etc. are fine. I called Carvin today but there tech dept. is closed on Saturdays. Could this be a bad tube. Carvin runs a 12 Ax7 in the pre-amp. Would this cause the amp to go into protect mode?
For the second set the amp stayed powered on to at least use the DI in it........then it completely farted. I'm going to mess around with it today.......the only thing I didn't do last night.......was to by-pass the tube. It didn't seem the fan was working either..........but I'm not sure about that.

My bass is a passive Nordy Vj4. Cables, etc. were fine.

Any input would be appreciated. I find it very unprofessional when on a gig, tech problems arise. Last night I was about to throw this amp throw against a brick wall..........but that solves nothing.

Please.Carvin tech people out there...............help!

will33 · #2 05-28-2011, 01:50 PM

The fan not working would explain the rest of the shutdown problems. Let's hope the protection kicked in before it burned anything else.

mmbongo · #3 05-28-2011, 01:53 PM

A preamp tube will not normally cause an amp to go in to protect mode. But you should be able to bypass the tube to make sure, Carvins usually have a tube bypass button on the back.

Protect mode means you're driving it too hard, or trying to drive too low of an impedance with it, or the speakers have a short....something like that. It's protecting itself from something. Try a different cab.

BassmanPaul · #4 05-28-2011, 02:40 PM

I think maybe you were pushing the whole rig too hard. A single 2x10 would not work for me at any gig. I always use a pair.

Other thought is there not a switch on the back for differing impedances??

kevbassman · #5 05-28-2011, 03:06 PM

Thanks everyone. I also have a Epifani UL410 Series 1 cab.....which I try........but I really don't think I was pushing the cab/ amp hard......I mean at 4 on the trim & 4 on the master? That's not nearly the volume that amp can reach.

kevbassman · #6 05-28-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

A preamp tube will not normally cause an amp to go in to protect mode. But you should be able to bypass the tube to make sure, Carvins usually have a tube bypass button on the back.

Protect mode means you're driving it too hard, or trying to drive too low of an impedance with it, or the speakers have a short....something like that. It's protecting itself from something. Try a different cab.

Thanks.........will do..........I'll hook up the Epi UL-410 S1 to the amp.

kevbassman · #7 05-28-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

I think maybe you were pushing the whole rig too hard. A single 2x10 would not work for me at any gig. I always use a pair.

Other thought is there not a switch on the back for differing impedances??

Thanks.

This is my small set up............for outdoor venues I use my Epi UL410 & another amp. The cab is rates @ 4 ohms, 400 W......so I really don't see that as a problem............like I said.......I've used this rig for over two months.........no problem until last night.

kevbassman · #8 05-28-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

A preamp tube will not normally cause an amp to go in to protect mode. But you should be able to bypass the tube to make sure, Carvins usually have a tube bypass button on the back.

Protect mode means you're driving it too hard, or trying to drive too low of an impedance with it, or the speakers have a short....something like that. It's protecting itself from something. Try a different cab.

The amp has a 2 ohm/ 4 ohm push button on the back.......I and it was on the 4 ohm load. I wonder if that switch is where the problem is?

Floyd Eye · #9 05-28-2011, 03:23 PM

Isn't there a well known issue with these things?

Send it back to Carvin.

BassmanPaul · #10 05-28-2011, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevbassman

This is my small set up ..... The cab is rates @ 4 ohms, 400 W......so I really don't see that as a problem............like I said.......I've used this rig for over two months.........no problem until last night.

I still say that a medium sized gig needs more than a single 2x10. A 400W rated cabinet can only use about 200W before it starts running out of excursion and adding more power will make it no louder.

kevbassman · #11 05-28-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Isn't there a well known issue with these things?

Send it back to Carvin.

Tech support not open on Saturdays.

Never had a problem until last night.

will33 · #12 05-28-2011, 03:25 PM

You said it seemed the fan wasn't working correct? That means the amp will overheat and shutdown to protect itself, check the fan.

Also on a redline carvin I had the entire volume of the amp was from 0 to about 4 or 5 on the dial. Don't know if the bx is like that or not but just because your volume is on 4 out of 10 doesn't always mean you're using 4/10ths of available output.

Floyd Eye · #13 05-28-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevbassman

Tech support not open on Saturdays.

Never had a problem until last night.

Pretty much everyone who has problems with these ( It's also the BX1500) never had a problem until last time they played it. Know what I mean?

These things have warranties and even if yours is out of warranty, Carvin is really good about taking care of it anyway. I think they have a fix for these amps. Call them Tuesday and ship it back to them. If it lets you down just once on a gig, are you ever going to trust it again?

BassmanPaul · #14 05-28-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Pretty much everyone who has problems with these ( It's also the BX1500) never had a problem until last time they played it.

My BX1500 has given me no problems what so ever so I have to disagree with this statement.

Isn't your statement applicable to anything?? Anything works until it goes wrong!

locriansharpsec · #15 05-28-2011, 06:31 PM

alot of these bx500's had this same problem when they first came out so if this is one of their earlier models then it makes sense. I had one for a year just out of warranty and then it started doing exactly the same cutting out (without being pushed hard). I took it back they fixed it (free) and a week later same thing. I took it in again and they felt bad and handed me a brand new one instead and this thing has been perfect for the last year. I run it hard too and its flawless.

They know there was a problem with these so it shouldnt be a hassle to get it fixed probably? for free.

kevbassman · #16 05-28-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Pretty much everyone who has problems with these ( It's also the BX1500) never had a problem until last time they played it. Know what I mean?

These things have warranties and even if yours is out of warranty, Carvin is really good about taking care of it anyway. I think they have a fix for these amps. Call them Tuesday and ship it back to them. If it lets you down just once on a gig, are you ever going to trust it again?

To be honest......no...once bitten twice shy.

kevbassman · #17 05-28-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locriansharpsec

alot of these bx500's had this same problem when they first came out so if this is one of their earlier models then it makes sense. I had one for a year just out of warranty and then it started doing exactly the same cutting out (without being pushed hard). I took it back they fixed it (free) and a week later same thing. I took it in again and they felt bad and handed me a brand new one instead and this thing has been perfect for the last year. I run it hard too and its flawless.

They know there was a problem with these so it shouldnt be a hassle to get it fixed probably? for free.

Thanks. I'm hoping. I like the amp.........when it functions properly.

kevbassman · #18 05-31-2011, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locriansharpsec

alot of these bx500's had this same problem when they first came out so if this is one of their earlier models then it makes sense. I had one for a year just out of warranty and then it started doing exactly the same cutting out (without being pushed hard). I took it back they fixed it (free) and a week later same thing. I took it in again and they felt bad and handed me a brand new one instead and this thing has been perfect for the last year. I run it hard too and its flawless.

They know there was a problem with these so it shouldnt be a hassle to get it fixed probably? for free.

I was told my amp is out of warranty......and it would be $250.00 to even look at it. That's highway robbery. I will never ever purchase a Carvin again. They lost me as a customer.

locriansharpsec · #19 05-31-2011, 11:43 AM

sorry to hear that! I would call them and speak to someone higher up telling them that you know these things had design flaws in the beginning and you should not have to suffer for their screwup and also that they lost you as a customer. This might work as they were pretty fair to the hundreds of customers that purchased one of these lemons. Once fixed they are pretty good little amps.

Bass_Pounder · #20 05-31-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locriansharpsec

sorry to hear that! I would call them and speak to someone higher up telling them that you know these things had design flaws in the beginning and you should not have to suffer for their screwup and also that they lost you as a customer. This might work as they were pretty fair to the hundreds of customers that purchased one of these lemons. Once fixed they are pretty good little amps.

+1

You may want to remind them that they are up to revision F on that amp, and that you feel you should not penalized for having an earlier model.

In February, my BX500 was at 11 months old. I was not really having any problems with it (other than a slight hiss that I had not noticed before), but called the service dept and spoke to Emerick. He had me send mine in, and upgraded it to the most recent revisions before my year was up for nothing.