Redline 600 Vs. Bx1500

[arkainzeye]

I was wondering if anyone could please help me? I have a R600 II i just started playing again and noticed the NEW bass amps Carvin has out now! Im interested in the BX1500. can anyone please tell me your opinion between these two amps as far as TONE goes.. I find myself not being to thrilled with the R600 II anymore..

(btw i thought about the bx500 but i dont like how the effects loop cant be controlled by a footswitch and i actually like to choose between pre and post Eq on the DI)

Thanks!

[Vintage Guy]

I prefer the Redline 600. I like the biamp mode so my two cabinets can be dialed in. I am using newer Carvin cabinets. I have a BR410 Neo,and a BR15 Neo that I run this through. I also just picked up a Carvin 4 ohm RL810 and used it this past New Years Eve at a gig. All I have to say is,WOW! I have a Carvin BX 600 which is just a lower powered version of the BX1500. It is ok,but the Redline 600 still sounds better. I also have a Redline 1000 in my Carvin 6 space rack as a backup for the 600. Have not needed it yet. I don't know what you don't like about your RL600,cause you didn't really say what the issue is. Anyway just stating my preference.

[arkainzeye]

my r600 II just gave me my first problem tonight. Im in Full Range mode, but speaker out 1 is to my 4x10 cab and speaker 2 is to my 2x10 cab. Well today i turn on the R600 and notice the 4x10 sounds like ym battery is low/dead in my lb76.. so i changed the battery and still the same thing. so THEN i plugged the 4x10 cab into the speaker output #2 and it sounds great! so im guessing something is now wrong with the speaker/amp output #1 ? if i plug my cabs into the bridge outputs sounds great, it i plug into #2 sounds great. just #1 all the sudden sounds REALLY bad and distorted..

[Gearhead17]

Originally Posted by arkainzeye

I was wondering if anyone could please help me? I have a R600 II i just started playing again and noticed the NEW bass amps Carvin has out now! Im interested in the BX1500. can anyone please tell me your opinion between these two amps as far as TONE goes.. I find myself not being to thrilled with the R600 II anymore..

(btw i thought about the bx500 but i dont like how the effects loop cant be controlled by a footswitch and i actually like to choose between pre and post Eq on the DI)

Thanks!

You can chose Pre/Post output on the back of the head. I have the BX1200 and the BX1500 has more wattage plus a 12AX7 tube in it. You can chose to not use the tube in the signal path - when I talked to Carvin, it only featured a slightly warmer tone. As far as tone, I don't think the Carvin tone is very unique. There is a lot of high end in the signal (between 1khz and 5khz), and the tone overall is mostly flat across the other frequencies. It does not have a mountain of low end in the signal and I feel it recreates the tone of my bass really well. It's not like an Ampeg head where you are dealing with a specific "Ampeg" tone. The mids are smooth sounding and when boosted, they do not sound heavily nasally. The tone controls are great and you can get nearly any clean tone you can imagine. Don't expect a tube amp in a lightweight amp - not going to happen with the Carvin. It's light, reliable, plenty loud, and easy to tweak. If you are looking for an amp with a signature tone, look else where. If you want a clean tone that represents your bass well and is plenty loud, Carvin is a great way to go. The price is amazing too!

Sorry, no experience with the Redline 600.

[arkainzeye]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

You can chose Pre/Post output on the back of the head. I have the BX1200 and the BX1500 has more wattage plus a 12AX7 tube in it. You can chose to not use the tube in the signal path - when I talked to Carvin, it only featured a slightly warmer tone. As far as tone, I don't think the Carvin tone is very unique. There is a lot of high end in the signal (between 1khz and 5khz), and the tone overall is mostly flat across the other frequencies. It does not have a mountain of low end in the signal and I feel it recreates the tone of my bass really well. It's not like an Ampeg head where you are dealing with a specific "Ampeg" tone. The mids are smooth sounding and when boosted, they do not sound heavily nasally. The tone controls are great and you can get nearly any clean tone you can imagine. Don't expect a tube amp in a lightweight amp - not going to happen with the Carvin. It's light, reliable, plenty loud, and easy to tweak. If you are looking for an amp with a signature tone, look else where. If you want a clean tone that represents your bass well and is plenty loud, Carvin is a great way to go. The price is amazing too!

Sorry, no experience with the Redline 600.

thank you for the reply, Ive had (3) carvin amps so far. PB300, r600 I & R600 II. now im looking for something more. i was wondering if the technology in the carvin BX1500 is that much different from my aging R600? and intersting enough my R600II gave me problems last night when i turned it on.. so my search my be a little more serious/rushed. I noticed with my R600II that it doesnt like a distortion pedal through the effects loop. but if you run it from the bass into the Input its just fine.. i would Rather use the effects loop and hide the pedal behind the rack.

[jeff7bass]

I’ve played them all and I prefer the Carvin B2000 myself but the BX1200 I own is a great head, especially for mismatched cabs. The BX1500 has all the options, more power plus the pre-amp tube so it’s better than mine. If you’re running identical cabs and want a simple head, consider the B2000. It’s very easy to dial in tones and sounds fantastic. Warm to bright and everything in between. The BX1500 is more complex and more versatile though.

[Gearhead17]

Give Carvin a call and they can tell you the differences. The salesmen are really familiar with the older products.

[arkainzeye]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Give Carvin a call and they can tell you the differences. The salesmen are really familiar with the older products.

Thanks, ill try to call them Again.. the last time i called them to ask about the BX500 the guy had to put me on hold for simple questions like "does the bx500 have a footswitchable effects loop" and to confirm if the DI was pre or post EQ. I was shocked he didnt know this without having to ask someone else? So im a little doubtful they will have Specs on or opinions of the R600 II.. but i could be wrong? (hopefully!)

[tocs100]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

You can chose Pre/Post output on the back of the head.

Just to clarify, that is true of the BX1500, but not the BX500 the OP was referring to. The BX500 DI is pre-eq only.

[Gearhead17]

Originally Posted by arkainzeye

Thanks, ill try to call them Again.. the last time i called them to ask about the BX500 the guy had to put me on hold for simple questions like "does the bx500 have a footswitchable effects loop" and to confirm if the DI was pre or post EQ. I was shocked he didnt know this without having to ask someone else? So im a little doubtful they will have Specs on or opinions of the R600 II.. but i could be wrong? (hopefully!)

Strange, I got a really smart dude when I called them.

[Gearhead17]

Originally Posted by tocs100

Just to clarify, that is true of the BX1500, but not the BX500 the OP was referring to. The BX500 DI is pre-eq only.

Thanks for clarifying.

[arkainzeye]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Thanks for clarifying.

yeah, when i found out the BX500 was PRE-eq only that was the deal breaker for me. mostly because i like to have a say... my R600, it has pre and post EQ. and swat itchable effects loop, so for me at that moment it felt like the BX500 would be taking a step backwards in terms of features.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by arkainzeye

my r600 II just gave me my first problem tonight. Im in Full Range mode, but speaker out 1 is to my 4x10 cab and speaker 2 is to my 2x10 cab. Well today i turn on the R600 and notice the 4x10 sounds like ym battery is low/dead in my lb76.. so i changed the battery and still the same thing. so THEN i plugged the 4x10 cab into the speaker output #2 and it sounds great! so im guessing something is now wrong with the speaker/amp output #1 ? if i plug my cabs into the bridge outputs sounds great, it i plug into #2 sounds great. just #1 all the sudden sounds REALLY bad and distorted..

I have a similar problem with mine, one side cutting in & out, and finally dying. Carvin's refusal to support their older products is an annoyance.

[arkainzeye]

Originally Posted by JLS

I have a similar problem with mine, one side cutting in & out, and finally dying. Carvin's refusal to support their older products is an annoyance.

i took the lid of my r600II and looked around and blew around inside of there thinking MAYBE there was some dust laying around in there? so far my BOTH amp section (1&2) are now working. for how long i guess i will see...

[jeff7bass]

Originally Posted by JLS

I have a similar problem with mine, one side cutting in & out, and finally dying. Carvin's refusal to support their older products is an annoyance.

I was at the store in San Diego when a guy came in with a very old (and very used) Carvin powered mixer. Carvin told him they don't even carry the parts for it but they offered him a credit towards a new powered mixer. I thought it was generous, considering.

[Gecko 5]

I'm not familiar with the 1500, but I had a R600 for several year sand loved it. I liked that I could bi-amp for bigger stages.
I actually had it in a 210 combo. To bi-amp, I just put a 115 below it.
Never had a problem.

[JC Thunder]

Originally Posted by arkainzeye

my r600 II just gave me my first problem tonight. Im in Full Range mode, but speaker out 1 is to my 4x10 cab and speaker 2 is to my 2x10 cab. Well today i turn on the R600 and notice the 4x10 sounds like ym battery is low/dead in my lb76.. so i changed the battery and still the same thing. so THEN i plugged the 4x10 cab into the speaker output #2 and it sounds great! so im guessing something is now wrong with the speaker/amp output #1 ? if i plug my cabs into the bridge outputs sounds great, it i plug into #2 sounds great. just #1 all the sudden sounds REALLY bad and distorted..

I had a similar issue when in bi-amp mode on my R600 I. High / Amp 2 was 'fuzzy' and very low volume while Low / Amp 1 worked fine. I switched cabs and the issue stayed with Amp 2. I went to the Carvin forum and got a lot of recommendations so I tried them all. I used de-ox-it pot cleaner on all of the ¼ jacks…I also sprayed a ¼ male with de-ox and inserted into each jack port several times. I opened the top of the amp and blew out all the dust and cleaned each fan blade (a small amount of dust on the blades can cause a significant loss in air flow). Then proceeded to use de-ox-it on each Amp pot turning several times and sprayed the bi-amp switch. I then unplugged each ribbon wire connector de-ox and plugged back in (careful not to bend the pins). Lastly I wiggled all the spade connectors, reassembled and “wah-la” it works fine now. Problem is…I’m not sure what fixed it…but hey it works.