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Carvin BX500: Part II

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#7
to all BX-500 owners,
will you please check something out for me?, I need peace of mind...
with the amp on, speaker connected, nothing plugged in, volume doesn't matter,
mute on or off.
and the tube "engaged"

do you hear a "hum" through the speaker? you might have to listen close,
when you dis-engage the tube it goes away, or at least becomes very faint...

please let me know, thank you
K
 
#10
unclekebm said:
to all BX-500 owners,
will you please check something out for me?, I need peace of mind...
with the amp on, speaker connected, nothing plugged in, volume doesn't matter,
mute on or off.
and the tube "engaged"

do you hear a "hum" through the speaker? you might have to listen close,
when you dis-engage the tube it goes away, or at least becomes very faint...

please let me know, thank you
K
Click to expand...
I got right up next to the amp and heard a very quite hiss, but that's normal and it did hum for a second when my head got real close to the amp head, but the hum was virtually inaudible. The hum went away when I moved away from the amp head, otherwise my amp is very, very quite. One other thing, it was one of the very first heads made and I've not had one single problem with it. Carvin has even asked if I wanted to send it back to be modded and I told them no thanks it's working fine like it is.
 
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#11
I had to send it back to Carvin due to hiss issues (hissues? :D) but I received it this afternoon. I plugged it in and it's fine now. (there is a slight hiss but well within normal levels) It sounds great and has plenty of volume! :hyper: Now I have to get familiar with all the tone shaping options.
 
#13
unclekebm said:
Thanks vinxbass,
what i'm hearing is a swirly, static hum
kinda like it's picking up a motor hum from somewhere...
maybe the fan motor?
Click to expand...

Try unplugging your refrigerator. If the compressor's motor is turning in the same direction as the fan it can cause hum. Don't forget to plug your refrig back in.:)
 
#14
I too wanted a lightweight combo with some power, so...
 

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#15
OK kids, who recognized the cab? yup, it's an old PB-200. Bought a Carvin (Eminence, right?) 15" 4-ohm Neo spk along with the BX, and stuck 'em in the old box after the PB-200 finally gave up the ghost... I call it my PBX.

I do have to say that the cab is probably a bit small to allow the 15's low end to bloom fully, but it will work very nicely for my smooth jazz and acoustic rock bands... and even with 3x the power, it's actually *lighter* than the factory PB-200. And the guy who answered the phone at Carvin's service dept (could it have been the now-famous Bart his very self?) told me that the tweeter with the attenuator could stay just like it was, so the whole project only took me about an hour. Sweet.

:D :bassist:
 
#18
Blues Cat said:
Try unplugging your refrigerator. If the compressor's motor is turning in the same direction as the fan it can cause hum. Don't forget to plug your refrig back in.:)
Click to expand...

thanks Blues Cat,
I tried...hum still there,

I notice when I cover the fan vent with my hand on the BX500 the pitch of the hum changes as the fan struggles...

could the tube circuitry be picking up a hum from the fan motor?
 
#20
unclekebm said:
thanks Blues Cat,
I tried...hum still there,

I notice when I cover the fan vent with my hand on the BX500 the pitch of the hum changes as the fan struggles...

could the tube circuitry be picking up a hum from the fan motor?
Click to expand...

If you don't have a dimmer on half way or any other funky vintage appliance on then it might be something in the head. If it's under warranty I'd send it back and get a new one.
 
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