BX500 Settings

[Eekum]

On my BX250 and BX1500 I find the contour to be nice on its own but as soon as you add a band, cranking the contour makes the sound disappear. I also find that if I'm using an active bass and want more bass sound through these amps, turning up the bass eq on the bass itself helps a lot. If your bass is passive, roll off the tone knob a bit.

Another thing to think about is that the low mids, can help you perceive more bass. So, try taking out the graphic EQ and turn the low mids knob to around 1:00 (+3 according to Carvin) with the frequency between 100 and 200. Also, slightly bump the bass and take out some treble. When you do this, keep the contour at 9:00 or less and take out the compressor. Should help a bit.

I'll post pics later of my favorite settings on both and maybe that will help.

EDIT: Wow, how many times can I use the word bass in a sentence?

I would appreciate that man!

This works nicely for me in a very small room :
Tube bypass (tube off)
graphic eq off

All settings "o-clock":
Drive 12:30
Contour 9:15
bass 2:00
1st mid frequency 8:45
1st mid level 2:15
2nd mid frequency 9:00
2nd mid level 10:00
treble 11:00
compressor 8:00

Okay thanks, I will try that out tonight.

I had this same amp and gigged it for a few years, it always gave me a great tone; it was my most complemented tone out of any amp I've owned. My settings are below (for an alternative band that was loud). Granted this was for a live mix, much different than a bedroom tone.

All settings described in "o'clock settings"

Drive 1 (or a touch off when the clip light would be on from my hardest playing)
Contour fully off
bass 11
1st mid frequency 10
1st mid level 1 (combo set to bump some low mids)
2nd mid frequency 1:30
2nd mid level 10 (combo set to take away some clank)
treble noon
graphic eq off (for me this was the biggest trick to a great tone for me, I hate graphic eqs)
compressor 9

any room and it was gravy

Okay, I will test this as well.

 

[PullThePlug]

Hello! I play melodic punk rock, a la Strung Out, Lagwagon, etc.

Best tone I get for this genre is generally:

A slight roll back on bass
A bump in the low mids
A decent amount of high mids scooped out
Treble is flat, or slightly boosted to taste

I like this general rule when playing with a pick - the attack really comes out. After getting a good sound, start cranking the contour knob to taste. You'll have to fiddle back and forth with the treble knob and the contour knob to avoid harshness.

Good luck on the quest for tone!

 

[Eekum]

Hello! I play melodic punk rock, a la Strung Out, Lagwagon, etc.

Best tone I get for this genre is generally:

A slight roll back on bass
A bump in the low mids
A decent amount of high mids scooped out
Treble is flat, or slightly boosted to taste

I like this general rule when playing with a pick - the attack really comes out. After getting a good sound, start cranking the contour knob to taste. You'll have to fiddle back and forth with the treble knob and the contour knob to avoid harshness.

Good luck on the quest for tone!

Awesome, yeah I am playing with a pick on a p bass. I am going to try a lot of these different settings at home tonight, but I am sure it will change in the band setting.

 

[jeff7bass]

This works nicely for me in a very small room :
Tube bypass (tube off)
graphic eq off

All settings "o-clock":
Drive 12:30
Contour 9:15
bass 2:00
1st mid frequency 8:45
1st mid level 2:15
2nd mid frequency 9:00
2nd mid level 10:00
treble 11:00
compressor 8:00

Pretty close to mine.

 

[BadExample]

It takes some time. The massive eq is great, but it takes experimentation. Let us know what works for you, sir!

 

[Eekum]

I had this same amp and gigged it for a few years, it always gave me a great tone; it was my most complemented tone out of any amp I've owned. My settings are below (for an alternative band that was loud). Granted this was for a live mix, much different than a bedroom tone.

All settings described in "o'clock settings"

Drive 1 (or a touch off when the clip light would be on from my hardest playing)
Contour fully off
bass 11
1st mid frequency 10
1st mid level 1 (combo set to bump some low mids)
2nd mid frequency 1:30
2nd mid level 10 (combo set to take away some clank)
treble noon
graphic eq off (for me this was the biggest trick to a great tone for me, I hate graphic eqs)
compressor 9

any room and it was gravy

I went with your setup and like it so far. I did have one question, when you say “contour fully off”, do you mean turn it to all the way to flat or in turn it to the middle of flat and scoop?

 

[twc1313]

I went with your setup and like it so far. I did have one question, when you say “contour fully off”, do you mean turn it to all the way to flat or in turn it to the middle of flat and scoop?

all the way flat

 

[BadExample]

That would be full counter clockwise. (I don't recall how it's labeled, so sorry if I'm being Mr. Obvious )

 

[Eekum]

all the way flat

That would be full counter clockwise. (I don't recall how it's labeled, so sorry if I'm being Mr. Obvious )

Okay, I will try that out tonight. Thanks for the clarification. I will report back once I try it out.

 

[Eekum]

I had this same amp and gigged it for a few years, it always gave me a great tone; it was my most complemented tone out of any amp I've owned. My settings are below (for an alternative band that was loud). Granted this was for a live mix, much different than a bedroom tone.

All settings described in "o'clock settings"

Drive 1 (or a touch off when the clip light would be on from my hardest playing)
Contour fully off
bass 11
1st mid frequency 10
1st mid level 1 (combo set to bump some low mids)
2nd mid frequency 1:30
2nd mid level 10 (combo set to take away some clank)
treble noon
graphic eq off (for me this was the biggest trick to a great tone for me, I hate graphic eqs)
compressor 9

any room and it was gravy

I meant to ask, do you have the tube engaged?

 

[Eekum]

On my BX250 and BX1500 I find the contour to be nice on its own but as soon as you add a band, cranking the contour makes the sound disappear. I also find that if I'm using an active bass and want more bass sound through these amps, turning up the bass eq on the bass itself helps a lot. If your bass is passive, roll off the tone knob a bit.

Another thing to think about is that the low mids, can help you perceive more bass. So, try taking out the graphic EQ and turn the low mids knob to around 1:00 (+3 according to Carvin) with the frequency between 100 and 200. Also, slightly bump the bass and take out some treble. When you do this, keep the contour at 9:00 or less and take out the compressor. Should help a bit.

I'll post pics later of my favorite settings on both and maybe that will help.

EDIT: Wow, how many times can I use the word bass in a sentence?

I would appreciate the pic. Thanks.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Dangit, completely forgot. Will send soon.

 

[twc1313]

I meant to ask, do you have the tube engaged?

Yes, I always dug the tube.

 

[Eekum]

Dangit, completely forgot. Will send soon.

Thanks.

Yes, I always dug the tube.

Okay, thanks.

 

[Eekum]

Here are my current settings, I think it sounds pretty good. Any suggestions?

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Here are my settings on the BX250. Pretty much the same on my other Carvin too. Sorry it took so long.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Here are my current settings, I think it sounds pretty good. Any suggestions?

View attachment 3010199

Looks pretty good to me. Depending on bass, cab and room those would be great settings.

 

[Eekum]

View attachment 3010210

Here are my settings on the BX250. Pretty much the same on my other Carvin too. Sorry it took so long.

Thanks for posting this man. What cab are you using?

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Today I was using a Vanderkley 212MNT cab and I was playing my Peavey Axcelerator 5. It was a little heavy in the high mid and treble but still a pretty good tone for our quiet mix.

 

[Eekum]

New settings. They seem to sound pretty good!