GK MB800 & Carvin BX500 - Page 2

Jarrett · #21 01-15-2013, 09:59 AM

I thought of one other thing I like about the BX500 over the MB800, it has combo Speakon and 1/4 out jacks on the back. The MB800 only has Speakon and I have to carry a Speakon to 1/4" cable in my bag just in case I run into a backline with 1/4".

The amps can be made to sound really similar. It's just easier to grab the MB800 and go than it is the BX500. It's a minor thing, but one that sticks with when deciding what to walk out of the door with in hand.

Jim C · #22 01-15-2013, 10:26 AM

The BX500 sounds like an amazing ampr for the money.
Does it have its' own baked in voice, or, is it neutral and can adapt to other tonalities?
I can only assume that distribution makes it a rarity based on all the good things said here. In 3o some years I think I've only seen 1 carvin bass amp and 2 guitar amps.
One of the tube guitar amps sounded really good; it was brought in by a band I produced; my original plan was to use the house Marshall until I heard the kids beat up Carvin!

Jarrett · #23 01-15-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

The BX500 sounds like an amazing amp for the money. Does it have its' own baked in voice, or, is it neutral and can adapt to other tonalities?

It's much more tonally flexible than the MB800 due to all of the EQ'ing capabilities, imo. It also has the ability to actually get flat or very close to flat without the need for crazy EQ'ing which is interesting and useful in itself.

fenderslaper · #24 01-15-2013, 12:05 PM

I've been using a BX500 for a couple of years now, and I would call it a fairly flat amp tone wise. It is the most adjustible amp I have ever used. Def. a swiss army knife in that respect. I can't imagine any amp being more flexable than the Carvins.

Jarrett · #25 01-20-2013, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrett

I gigged with the BX500 last night and it sounded great. I wish I would have been able to A/B the MB800 on the gig, but just didn't have time. The one thing I noticed is the BX500 is much bigger than the MB800 and due to its size and lack of handles, its a little tougher to carry around than MB800. Really a minor deal, but the MB800 is so small, I usually just hook a single finger through one of its handles and carry around like a set of keys or something, very easy.

I played the same gig with the same gear (Carvin SB5001 fretless, SWR Golight 2x10) except with the MB800 last night and was having a bit of a tough time cutting in the mix. The band leader even walked up mid gig and said he was having trouble hearing me. Turning up didn't seem to be the fix, more of an EQ difference between the MB800 and BX500.

I spent most of the night trying different setting of mids and master volume trying to cut through a little more. I was certainly missing the BX500 EQ for sure. I was running the master much higher than I had to with the BX500. Kind of walked away displeased with the sound issues at the end of the night. Will be taking the BX500 on this gig from now for sure.

On a side note about portability. The BX500 has some screws that are there for the rack mount face plate to screw on to. I was thinking if I could find a place to machine me a like handle like on the MB800 (pictured above) it would make it easier to transport the BX500 around like the MB800. If anyone has a suggestion on where I could get something like that made, I would really appreciated it.

husky123 · #26 01-20-2013, 07:14 AM

Hmmm, I can't begin to imagine a scenario the MB800 not "cutting" through. That head is the epitome of cutting tone (if it needs to be). Must've been a tough room.

Jarrett · #27 01-20-2013, 07:23 AM

Not a tough room, just incompatible I think. It was a MB800 (scooped baked in sound) with a SWR 2x10 (scooped baked in sound) with a fretless bass (needing mids to cut). The EQ on the BX500 can compensate for that, but couldn't really make it happen with the MB800.

I just noticed the BX250 has handles built in like the BX500, but no graphic and 100 less watts at 8 ohm. Trying to decide if I want to drop the $298 on it or not. Bass amps are so inexpensive now, it makes it nice.

themarshall · #28 01-20-2013, 07:53 AM

Check Mcmaster-Carr or Mouser for handles. They probably have something that will work.

swspiers · #29 01-20-2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by husky123

Hmmm, I can't begin to imagine a scenario the MB800 not "cutting" through. That head is the epitome of cutting tone (if it needs to be). Must've been a tough room.

My thoughts exactly, Husky. I remember playing your MB800 last year, and it cut through no problem, even with the Schroeder cab.

However, the Carvin EQ is hard to beat...

Jarrett, it's great to read good things about the BRX10.2's. I had a pair last year that I sold for a fEARful 1212/6/1. The fEARful is superior in a lot of ways, but I keep thnking back to how close the Carvin's were.

I'm actually thinking about picking one or two of those up again!

swspiers · #30 01-20-2013, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Not a tough room, just incompatible I think. It was a MB800 (scooped baked in sound) with a SWR 2x10 (scooped baked in sound) with a fretless bass (needing mids to cut). The EQ on the BX500 can compensate for that, but couldn't really make it happen with the MB800.

I just noticed the BX250 has handles built in like the BX500, but no graphic and 100 less watts at 8 ohm. Trying to decide if I want to drop the $298 on it or not. Bass amps are so inexpensive now, it makes it nice.

Yeah. I'm thinking about the BX250 too, then couple it with my Crown power amp for gigs. Not sure I'd miss the graphic at all.

Jarrett · #31 01-20-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swspiers

Jarrett, it's great to read good things about the BRX10.2's. I had a pair last year that I sold for a fEARful 1212/6/1. The fEARful is superior in a lot of ways, but I keep thnking back to how close the Carvin's were. I'm actually thinking about picking one or two of those up again!

Yeah I am pretty impressed with this cab. I originally bought one of the other Carvin 2x10 cabs. I forget the model, but not the BRX and it was really just so so. People were telling me that the BRX was much better and I was think yeah, yeah. Finally when I heard they were getting rid of the Neo BRX cabs, I grabbed one. And man I'm glad I did. It's such a better cab than their other 2x10 design. Sounds great with the MB800 or the BX500.

I'm still on the fence about trying to find handles somewhere for the BX500 or just grabbing a BX250 for the small gigs. If the BX250 is literally half as loud as the BX500, it will be plenty for volume for all of my smaller gigs, as the BX500 is really conservatively rated, imo.

fenderslaper · #32 01-20-2013, 05:28 PM

Carvin has a pretty nice case/bag for the BX500 for not much coin. I use one and like it a lot.

Troph · #33 01-21-2013, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderslaper

Carvin has a pretty nice case/bag for the BX500 for not much coin. I use one and like it a lot.

Hmm, I think it's a little overpriced myself, especially when you add shipping. For about the same money, you can get a nice laptop backpack with a padded compartment and more room for other accessories and cables... plus you can use it for your laptop when you're not gigging and the amp is at home.

Jarrett · #34 01-21-2013, 07:45 AM

Yeah, I had the BX500 case previously. Also rackmounted it another time. Didn't really like either. My bass gig bag has all of the storage I need for cables and such.

I know its a minor thing, but I've been spoiled carrying the MB800 around. I just hook a finger through the handle and off I go with my gig bag on my back. Would like to have that with the Carvin as well.

Troph · #35 01-21-2013, 07:47 AM

Interesting... I just noticed Carvin raised the price on the BX500 by $30 (from $399 to $429), and shipping seems to have gone up as well... Or is this one of their temporary price fluctuations?

I got mine new (but tubeless) on eBay from them about 8 months ago for $349... (Which, IMO, was a smoking deal.)

**WoodyG3** · #36 01-21-2013, 09:17 AM

It still says $399 for the BX500 on the web site. Where did you see $429?

I just noticed that the BX250 has a pre/post switch for the DI out. That's the one feature I'd like that is missing on the BX500. I think I might just have to try one of these little BX250s out. Hmmm...

TheAngryPocket · #37 01-21-2013, 10:40 AM

I have a BX250, and love it. It's mainly for home recording, but is nice. I have it running through a 4ohm 15" Neo woofer of theirs, and it is loud and pounds. Also, Jarrett, check Carvin's website, cause I coulda sworn I've seen the handles you like being sold individually. Idk if they'll work for the BX500 though.

Jarrett · #38 01-21-2013, 12:27 PM

I called Carvin about the BX500 handles and also looked at McMasters-Carr and couldn't find anything that would work. Carvin said you could do the rackmount kit and that would have handles, but it also makes the face plate rack mount width which seemed counterproductive.

So I went ahead and ordered a BX250. I remembered I had a $20 off coupon, so the whole total was $278. I'll post some info on the BX250 compared to the BX500 and MB800 when it comes in. Hoping it will be here in time to gig with this weekend.

Troph · #39 01-21-2013, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodyG3

It still says $399 for the BX500 on the web site. Where did you see $429?

I just noticed that the BX250 has a pre/post switch for the DI out. That's the one feature I'd like that is missing on the BX500. I think I might just have to try one of these little BX250s out. Hmmm...

Methinks some reverse-IP shennanigans are at work here. From my laptop at home when I checked this A.M., the price showed a $30 increase across-the-board:
"List Price: $925.00"
"Direct Price: $529.00"
"Instant Rebate: $100.00"
"Final Price: $429.00"

However, checking now from work the web site shows the older prices. When I get home later today I'll check it out again and take a screenshot if I can get a repro.

In any case, I really dislike it when websites change prices depending on who happens to be visiting like that...

jamiroquaisub · #40 01-21-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Does it have its' own baked in voice, or, is it neutral and can adapt to other tonalities?

There are scopes and how to set it flat here:

Carvin BX500: Pt. 3