Amps in between 5 lbs and 80 lbs

[baxter_x]

The SVT-7 PRO was a good format, but unreliability killed my like for that amp

Go for it! One of the best amps I've owned. And I have owned some big ones.
If you buy one new it'll be a revision H which is totally reliable.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

In literally every used music store I go to there are multiple rack mount bass amps and preamps looking for a home. I don't understand how this is a struggle.

I probably didn’t explain well in the OP, but I don’t want used gear that’s hitting the end of life. It’s not really a struggle, just most new gear is the super lightweight variety.

 

[agedhorse]

I get what you're saying - if you've been burned in the past with a brand, you steer clear - but unlike a company like Line6 that knowingly has built their hardware with absolute garbage quality (hot glue and plastic parts and pots/jacks soldered directly to the boards).... Carvin has excellent build quality. Something fails with any brand - but you're in good hands with most of the known-well-built brands, specially since they try to stand behind their work even if you aren't the original owner.

So, I'm going to turn your very argument against you here...

You say pots and jacks directly soldered to the PCBs are garbage quality, yet that's EXACTLY how the Carvin amps are built and you say that "Carvin has excellent build quality". You can't have it both ways.

Now perhaps you are unaware, but most of the very best quality gear in the world (including $50,000 consoles) are also built this way. There is absolutely nothing at all wrong with doing so when it's done right, and in fact is a MORE reliable way to do it.

I also wouldn't suggest that all of the Line 6 build quality is garbage, in fact many of their better products appear to be quite well built. Because of the large feature set and compact size, as well as some of the parts they use ONLY being available in SMT format, they are not as easily serviceable to those who do not have this kind of experience, but this is due to the level of integration rather than build quality.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

I probably didn’t explain well in the OP, but I don’t want used gear that’s hitting the end of life. It’s not really a struggle, just most new gear is the super lightweight variety.

FWIW, most of the used solid state gear I've bought has been money for YEARS. I'm currently rocking a Peavey Alphabass that's going into it's 20th year (at about 45 lbs) and is absolutely solid.

Another option is to build a fake plate into a rack case, mount a Quilter (or equivalent) inside of it, and enjoy how light everything is.

 

[chupacerveza]

Maybe the problem isn’t that your amp is too small, but rather that your cabs are too large....

 

[Element Zero]

I've had a "less than pleasant" experience in this thread. Unsubscribed.

Lol

 

[dkelley]

So, I'm going to turn your very argument against you here...

You say pots and jacks directly soldered to the PCBs are garbage quality, yet that's EXACTLY how the Carvin amps are built and you say that "Carvin has excellent build quality". You can't have it both ways.

Now perhaps you are unaware, but most of the very best quality gear in the world (including $50,000 consoles) are also built this way. There is absolutely nothing at all wrong with doing so when it's done right, and in fact is a MORE reliable way to do it.

I also wouldn't suggest that all of the Line 6 build quality is garbage, in fact many of their better products appear to be quite well built. Because of the large feature set and compact size, as well as some of the parts they use ONLY being available in SMT format, they are not as easily serviceable to those who do not have this kind of experience, but this is due to the level of integration rather than build quality.

there are always exceptions. You're right of course given a certain subset of data - I was incorrect in the general way I described line6 versus carvin. They both use a PCB with buttons mounted on it.

I also agree the current crop of top of the line line6 gear seems to be better built than the period I was thinking of.

However, my specifics are about examples like this:

I not only encountered my X3 Live foot buttons dying after a couple months of use, but I also found it to be discussed online on a few boards, which suggests I wasn't the only one. The buttons on the X3 live were, if I recall correctly, held in place purely by hot glue, and they pressed against little short throw buttons on the pcb - the type I'd put a little soft rubber button on for finger use, if I were designing, but I woudl not put a foot button on it mounted with hot glue. In my case, it was repaired under warranty. I never knew exactly what went wrong with it, however the symptoms were that the entire row of buttons went out intermittently.

I saw another musician's older (non-warranty) X3 live opened up with the same symptom, and it was clear that one of the foot buttons had come loose from it's hot glue enough that it could move around a little bit, and his entire row of buttons no longer worked, and the button clearly would move down into the unit further than intended when stepped upon. I don't recall if there were also screws holding the physical buttons, but the design was clearly insufficient for the stress it would go through.

I wish I could remember which carvin guitar head I was running a few years ago - I think it was solid state, but it had a main PCB for amp itself, jacks individually attached to the back, and yes there was another pcb on the front with the pots and switches on it... thinking back.... but still it was leaps and bounds better built than the line6 gear I've briefly owned. But yes, of course you're right - carvin does it too, as do many. Probably my genz benz el diablo 60 combo does it too... but I can't imagine for a second that my guitar amp's build quality in any way shape or form is similar to any line6 product I've used. That's not sucking up to you and your employer - it's just completely different build, design, of course it's a tube amp, different level of cabinet quality, etc etc. I do assume the control panel uses a pcb - but if mounted properly, without any stress on teh PCB while using the controls, then it's great. If controls can cause stress on the PCB, as in the X3 live example, then it's not as well designed/built. Clearly.

I know many manufacturers put pots and switches and jacks directly onto pcbs - and some of those are well installed and strong. I shouldn't have generalized that it was a bad thing.

However I've seen it executed badly by some manufacturers - or maybe their assembly lines are the cause of the bad reliability versus other company's products?

Anyhow - I appreciate you catching my over generalities Sir .... as always, you're right in that context. My meaning was correct, however my example was far to general - I should have pointed out the specific models in question.

 

[dkelley]

I've had a "less than pleasant" experience in this thread. Unsubscribed.

HAHAHAHA

What happened?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

HAHAHAHA

What happened?

I don’t love Carvin and he took offense.

 

[Phil508]

I used to the the Ampeg PF50T (19lbs) on top of my two 12L Schroeder cabs, I now use my Mesa D800+ (6.5lbs) on those cabs. I guess you could always get a brick or block and glue it to the Mesa to make it heavier, but I wouldn't know why.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I don’t love Carvin and he took offense.

I had a Carvin R600 head with 4x10 and 1x18 cabinet in the mid 90's. It looked intimidating, but had a very underwhelming overall sound. Ended up selling head and cabinets in 2000 and don't regret it one bit. Gigged with a Fender combo amp after that and it was much better. Carvin bass amps look nice on paper, but the sound is uninspiring and generic, IMHO.

 

[dkelley]

I don’t love Carvin and he took offense.

Ok! Boy, you'd better not say anything critical about my carvin icon bass or I might quit playing.

cheers

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Ok! Boy, you'd better not say anything critical about my carvin icon bass or I might quit playing.

cheers

Carvin is defunct only Keisel now.
Unless you want NOS or overpriced pedestrian accessories.

 

[Rib 13]

I had a Carvin R600 head with 4x10 and 1x18 cabinet in the mid 90's. It looked intimidating, but had a very underwhelming overall sound.

lol...I briefly had almost that exact rig in the 00s (I had a bigger amp, I think it was the 1000)....as you say, looked intimidating but underwhelming lol..........it wasn't bad --it just lacked something, like it was one-dimensional sounding - I know that doesnt make sense but I have no other way to describe it

 

[Alehouse]

I wanted to get an SVT CL so bad, but just couldn’t think about hauling that much weight around. Ended up with the the Traynor YBA 300 and at 51 pounds it is bareable. Works great with my Barefaced Retro 610.

 

[jastacey]

I guess it boils down to what you have to spend, lotts of good reliable good used gear, from lite-weight d class stuff, to the large transformer based amps, one really has to try as many amps, with the cabinet you are going to use it with, to determine, if it's a right fit, chasing the newest stuff will drain you bank account, having the TB resource, will help you weed through, the so called iffy stuff, as said many times in other threads, choose with your ears, not your eyes, however, the stuff we have available, is just the "cat's meow", wish we had those choices, we have now, back then, when I started playing bass, oh one other thing, if you do buy older gear, get it checked out by a good reputable service tech, I say this, as, amps from ten/15 years ago, are not for the person, who wants to learn about electronics, via there own gear, you'll most likely make things worse

 

[dkelley]

Carvin is defunct only Keisel now.
Unless you want NOS or overpriced pedestrian accessories.

Not exactly... but apparently so for Bass amps anyhow.... but I know what you're saying. Carvin always was a brand in the Kiesel family, and it still is, but it's strange they kept the Carvin brand for new things, but moved the existing carvin instruments to the Kiesel brand... makes zero sense to me.

Overpriced pedestrian accessories? LoL, yea, I'm assuming you mean the newer Carvin doodads they are selling? I agree... it seems like a different direction, for sure, although they might be really good doodads...... who knows?

 

[Nephilymbass]

Seems like there isn't a lot in the amp world between the lightweight class D amps and the SVT beast at ~ 80 lbs. The Milkman Half and Half is around 12 lbs and a standalone unit. Even considered getting a head case made for my Trickfish 1K to give it the appearance of a large amp but I need to look at it and see if it need side vents. Yeah, I know it's stupid, why would you want something bigger / heavier? Maybe partially for aesthetics, looking to simplify to cabs / head / bass. The little bump on top of the cab is a technical wonder, but kinda silly looking. The lead sleds are ok, but most of those are out of production and now getting some years on them. The SVT-7 PRO was a good format, but unreliability killed my like for that amp. Thunderfunk - interesting, but I've heard there are issues with support if you ever have a problem. I've never played a V4-B, maybe I should try that.

I can deal with “silly looking” because it’s soooo nice to wrap up band rehearsal, leave my big cabs and just take my 5lbs amp to the house.

I used to dread rehearsing because I didn’t want to move gear. Now when I get to rehearsal I can carry a bass, the Mesa, and my pedaltrain mini all in one trip without killing my back.

 

[BioWeapon]

Don't think they're produced anymore, but Acoustic's last generation of B-series bass heads are similar to what you describe - wide enough to fit the top of a 410, about 35 lbs (B600H).

 

[TonyP-]

I don’t love Carvin and he took offense.

That not the first time He has been offended on here. He went into with me out of nowhere on the quility of DIs.