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BX-500 Review and Write-up

#43
Umm. It's gone. Back to Carvin first thing tomorrow morning. Why?
If you haven't been following my OTHER GAS attack, cause I bought a BX600!

here's the reasoning that made me pack it back up:
Build Quality: I found the knobs and switches on the BX500 to feel a bit on the cheap side. My first impression handling the amp was that it felt like a toy, and not only because of the light weight. The knobs felt like they would break off while the BX600's metal knobs feel robust and more exact.

Sound Quality: Using the BRX 2.10, I found the BX600 has more inherent bottom end than the 500. Also, the drive knob actually muddies up the sound a bit, something which the 500 just doesn't do. For a rock band, the 600 has the grittier, harder hitting sound that the 500 just doesn't give you. While the 500 has a very clear, flat, crisp sound that never gets dirty, the 600 can grasp that clean sound and get heavy.

Features: This is the only thing I had trouble with. The 500 has just about every feature imaginable. Tube Pre, DI, EFX loop, tuner out, 2x Speakon, mute, active switch, the lot. The 600 has a few less features but I feel it has the better of them. I really enjoy the option of selecting pre/post EQ for the DI, a feature the 500 sorely lacks (DI is only Pre-EQ). I would have liked a speakon jack on the 600, but frankly, I'll live. (my new custom made speakon cable will be used for daisy-chaining.)

so, here's my advice for rock players looking for a carvin bass amp: Get the BX600 before they stop making it!
 
#44
GearHeadBassMan said:
... Also, the drive knob actually muddies up the sound a bit, something which the 500 just doesn't do.
Click to expand...

I hope they eventually bring back that winning "drive" they put on the bx600, bx1200, and b1500. You can find write-ups on how it works. It's quite clever and forces asymmetric clipping. Giving total predictable control and the "ideal" drive sound.

Bx500 is just a weak tube marketeer trick. At least you can switch it out and insert the drive of your choice.

Besides that, I still think the bx500 has great potential.

The other points you mention on the feel of the knobs, to me it just matters if they work well, don't get dirty crackle, and stay put when you put the head away or pull it out. Metal knobs are better than plastic but Wooden knobs would be best. :)
 
#45
seamonkey said:
The other points you mention on the feel of the knobs, to me it just matters if they work well, don't get dirty crackle, and stay put when you put the head away or pull it out. Metal knobs are better than plastic but Wooden knobs would be best. :)
Click to expand...

to me, it matters if they're durable, because with all hope, I'll be doing alot of touring in the next year or two, and I need an amp that can take a ding or two.

I'm not sure the BX500 was that amp, even in a road case. A swinging mic or my headstock coming around might jumble it's teeth up a bit.

the BX600's front reminds me alot of old peavey heads, with proven reliability. I think it could take a ding or two.

i think the drive circuit is a great little knob, But wouldn't it be great if the drive for the bx500 put more and more voltage into the tube pre to really get that tube breakup? thats what I think it should be for. whats the point of dropping a 12AX7 into an amp if it can't really distort at all?
 

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