Who all here uses Carvin amps?

madbassplaya · #1 07-18-2011, 02:12 PM

I recently had a bad experience with a Carvin bass. I was considering selling my trusty Carvin B800 amp because of it. I ended up playing the amp yesterday and I don't think I can get rid of it unless I find something that REALLY works for me better. Currently my rig is really portable with a Dr. Bass 2x12 and the B800. I would eventually like to get a larger cab like a 4x12 and pair it with the B2000 they currently have out. That way I would have a light portable rig and a larger rig for those big venues I ALWAYS have to play.

Who else uses Carvin amplifiers?

Here's a picture of my B800:

georgiagoodie · #2 07-18-2011, 02:27 PM

I've been playing thru my BX500 for 6 months, or so. I have not had any issues. I like that it is light, and has all the EQ options to dial in my sound with different basses, including double bass. I'm currently playing it thru (2) Berg AE112s. They sound like buttah......

jeff7bass · #3 07-18-2011, 02:41 PM

I have or have had the following;
Carvin PB100-15 combo. Solid as a rock for 5 years. Sold it to a friend, still going strong now after 6 years.
Carvin 1000w, 12 channel powered PA system. Included 15”, 3-way speakers. Great buy, outstanding performance per dollar.
The powered mixer took a 5 foot fall (right on its face) during rehearsal. It shut itself down, we bent back a few knobs, and it was fine (no repairs).
Carvin BX1200 head. Extremely versatile head. Very powerful, flexible and so far reliable (3 years).
Carvin MB10 combo. Crazy loud little 10” combo with amazing tone and features. I want to record with it, mic’d.
As for the B2000 head, I just love the thing. Get two of those Berg AE212’s and stack them vertical with this head on them. LOOKOUT!!
I bet the B800 sounds pretty damn good on top of that DB 212.

Richard Lindsey · #4 07-18-2011, 02:43 PM

I have a B1500 and a BX500. Love 'em both.

No offense, but why on earth would you even think of selling a perfectly good *amp* you already own just because you had a bad experience with a *bass*? That's sort of like selling your perfectly good Honda Accord just because you had a problem with a Honda motorcycle, no?

Don't get me wrong, it's 100% your choice, but you kinda had me scratching my head there.

babebambi · #5 07-18-2011, 02:44 PM

slaps76 · #6 07-18-2011, 02:49 PM

Yup, have the B1500. No issues, has more than enough power.

madbassplaya · #7 07-18-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

As for the B2000 head, I just love the thing. Get two of those Berg AE212’s and stack them vertical with this head on them. LOOKOUT!!
I bet the B800 sounds pretty damn good on top of that DB 212.

Dude, that's a rig I would LOVE to own. The 2 Berg 2x12s with the B2000!

And yea, the B800 does sound really good with the DB212.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Lindsey

I have a B1500 and a BX500. Love 'em both.

No offense, but why on earth would you even think of selling a perfectly good *amp* you already own just because you had a bad experience with a *bass*? That's sort of like selling your perfectly good Honda Accord just because you had a problem with a Honda motorcycle, no?

Don't get me wrong, it's 100% your choice, but you kinda had me scratching my head there.

I figured this would get asked. I really didn't like the way that the company handled the situation. The bass was a custom order and had cosmetic problems on arrival. I notified Carvin of that and included a note about it (they asked me to). They then put the bass in the In Stock section and didn't disclose the problems that it had. It's new owner posted he bought it in the SB5000 thread and I messaged him with the issues that it had. He got the bass and it had the same issues. Carvin didn't fix them, didn't disclose them, and charged him more for the bass than I paid for it. He was VERY displeased and had to send the bass back as well.

jasonbraatz · #8 07-18-2011, 03:37 PM

I used a DCM1000 for about ten years, never blinked through heavy touring.

Jarrett · #9 07-18-2011, 03:44 PM

I be do:

This picture makes me laugh when I see it. I have the graphic EQ on but its set completely flat. I guess I just wanted more pretty LEDS in the pic

I never use the graphic live. Otherwise, that pics shows my typical settings. Drive high, pretty flat EQ, little bass bump, little compression on. Oh and 8 months straight for home practice, rehearsals, lots of gigs and works perfectly every time. Although I have to admit I have been hauling my TC Electronics BG500 2x10 combo a little more lately. It's heavier, but man does it sound good and has such a useful feature set.

Jarrett · #10 07-18-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

The bass was a custom order and had cosmetic problems on arrival. I notified Carvin of that and included a note about it (they asked me to). They then put the bass in the In Stock section and didn't disclose the problems that it had. It's new owner posted he bought it in the SB5000 thread and I messaged him with the issues that it had. He got the bass and it had the same issues. Carvin didn't fix them, didn't disclose them, and charged him more for the bass than I paid for it. He was VERY displeased and had to send the bass back as well.

I'm an SB fanboy but that straight up sucks right there. I've experienced similar. Makes me think their QA process consists of "Aw, they probably won't notice"

madbassplaya · #11 07-18-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrett

I'm an SB fanboy but that straight up sucks right there. I've experienced similar. Makes me think their QA process consists of "Aw, they probably won't notice"

Yea man, that was gonna be THE bass, lol! I didn't like the way it was handled and it kinda worries me on returned amps as well, but I've never had a problem with my B800 and when I started looking at other amps, there really wasn't anything out there that REALLY interested me.

BassmanPaul · #12 07-19-2011, 09:29 AM

Don't blame the entire company for the actions of a salesman. I bought my first LB76 fifteen years ago and it has been faultless. My Koa fretless LB76 developed a small split in the back. Carvin took it back and built me a new one. My third, LB76WP had a stiff mid range control - they sent me a complete new electronics module. Same bass, the piezo elements failed on the bottom strings and they sent me an entire new bridge.

I also assembled a bolt on five string from their parts. I had them tung oil the neck and the body. The result is a really nice instrument.

Carvin's power amps are first class and have given me no problems. I currently own a DCM150 that is in my computer system, DCM1000 that is spare, a DCM1204 that runs my PA monitors and a BX1500 that is my spare amp.

Carvin offers great value for money and if there is something that I need I go to them first.

Marko5657 · #13 07-19-2011, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

...

I figured this would get asked. I really didn't like the way that the company handled the situation. The bass was a custom order and had cosmetic problems on arrival. I notified Carvin of that and included a note about it (they asked me to). They then put the bass in the In Stock section and didn't disclose the problems that it had. It's new owner posted he bought it in the SB5000 thread and I messaged him with the issues that it had. He got the bass and it had the same issues. Carvin didn't fix them, didn't disclose them, and charged him more for the bass than I paid for it. He was VERY displeased and had to send the bass back as well.

Well, Carvin already got your money for the amp; you’re not hurting them by selling it, just yourself, especially since they don’t typically have a good resale value.

Just my thought.

Richard Lindsey · #14 07-19-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko5657

Well, Carvin already got your money for the amp; you’re not hurting them by selling it, just yourself, especially since they don’t typically have a good resale value.

Just my thought.

Yeah, that was basically what I was getting at. If the OP wants to make a point to Carvin, I don't see how selling the B800 is going to accomplish that.

But it's no big deal; it's the OP's dime and the OP's choice either way. My own experiences with Carvin have been very good, but I can certainly see why the OP would have been upset with the situation described.

MyMusic · #15 07-19-2011, 04:04 PM

I've been using a BX500 and BRX10.2 cab since Nov. No problems. I'm thinking about getting another BRX10.2 to stack on the first one. So far price, quality and reliability are excellent.

vinxbass · #16 07-19-2011, 04:23 PM

I've been using a BX500 since Feb. '09 and BRX10.2 and BRX10.4 cabs. Sound great and have been very reliable.

Jarrett · #17 07-19-2011, 04:36 PM

I say I do, but I am quickly becoming a TC Electronics convert. If Carvin had a built in tuner I probably stick with them, but the B and R series TC stuff is pretty dang slick.

bassteban · #18 07-19-2011, 04:46 PM

Grabbed a clean BRX-212 from a TBer awhile back- coupla gigs later I'm lovin it.

brotherbassj · #19 07-19-2011, 04:58 PM

I have two Carvin B1500's in my stage rack that get used through a Bergantino NV215 (the illusive unicorn you all NEED/WANT) and a Schroeder BMF412. I had the bx500 for a while but sold it. I love my Carvin amps. I have never owned their basses but had two of their guitars in the late 80's that just screamed! I UNOFFICIALLY endorse the Carvin B1500 AMP........LOL..........soon to have a 3rd!

Bass_Pounder · #20 07-19-2011, 05:05 PM

Cool...............

I'm not the only one that owns two B1500's.

Also have a BX500, and in the past have owned a DCM1500, R1000, HD1800, and a bunch of different cabs.

No problems, and I don'e foresee me getting rid of my B1500's anytime soon.