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Carvin Amps

G

gotmule?

Apr 24, 2008
223
2
#1
I have been looking at Carvin bass amps and some of them are in my price range. Unfortunately, I have no way of trying them out since I live in NJ. Does anyone hear use Carvin? Are they versatile? Any opinions on them? I am trying to get a jazz sound similar to Chris Wood but I'm on a tight budget. Any other suggestions as far as amps to get this sound would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

P.S.- The most I can spend is about $600 and I need about 175-200 watts.
 
#2
Some Carvin amps are very highly regarded here. The DCM power amps, the B1500 head, and the LS1503 PA cabinets in particular get a lot of respect. Try searching here on the specific model numbers you're interested in, I bet you'll find some threads about them.
 
#3
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I think that would be your best bet from Carvin. It has the BX600 head, and though I think it only puts out 225 watts through the mounted speaker(8-ohms), it's capable of making 600 with more cabs. That plus a 210 or 212 later on makes a really nice portable rig.

You can also take out the head and use it with other cabs..

It is a solid state, and very clear sounding...like Hartke or Peavey.(which is a very good thing in my book) It does not sound like an Ampeg, so if you're looking for a tube sound you might want to go elsewhere.
 
#4
at first ididnt like the amp to much eq on it and didnt have the sound i wanted. but ive been giging with it one to 2times a week since ive had it and ive had it about 6or7momths now and ive had it max, it comes with carvin best 15in speaker rated at 600 watts but the amp its self only puts out 400 but if you add more speakers you can get 600 watts the speaker in it is a 4ohm speaker after breaking the speaker in i guess iam really liking this amp we play almost max all the time with a 15 jbl cab for the drummer to hear and it keeps on cooking night after night so far. it made here in the usa and its not cost you an arm are leg to buy it, i payed 569 bucks for mine we bought this after we fried my buddys swr working mans amp and blew a speaker in the other. so far it s been great.
 
#6
I've never had one but have read numerous positive posts on this site. Seems to be a lot of amp for the money. The newer models are the ones with the positive comments. This one especially seems to be liked and has caught my interest. I tend to like amps that down to 2 ohms.

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#8
I've played the same Carvin rig since the early or mid '90's. Never had a lick of trouble with it, and I've had other bass players tell me that the tone is awesome.

I think that Carvin is a whole lot better than other amps in the same price range. You can get better stuff for more money, but I guess it's all about what you want.
 
#9
I've had two Carvin amps over the years, a Cyclops and a Pro Bass with a 2X15 Cabinet. Their customer service ranged from above & beyond (first amp) to ***?!?!?! (Cyclops). I won't order anything from them ever again as ***?!?!?! trumps above & beyond.
 
#10
I live very close to the Santa Ana, CA store and I visit regularly... But everytime I come out dissapointed by their amps until I went to a GTG over at Jorg Schroeder's place and heard a Carvin head through a Schroeder cab. Now I realize my dissatisfaction comes from their cabs. I think you'll be ok with a Carvin head just get a Schroeder cab or something better. IMHO.
 
#11
YCBass said:
I live very close to the Santa Ana, CA store and I visit regularly... But everytime I come out dissapointed by their amps until I went to a GTG over at Jorg Schroeder's place and heard a Carvin head through a Schroeder cab. Now I realize my dissatisfaction comes from their cabs. I think you'll be ok with a Carvin head just get a Schroeder cab or something better. IMHO.
Click to expand...

Until recently, I had the very same opinion of Carvin cabs, i.e. the ProBass, the Redline, etc. But I've read so many positive reviews of the BRX line of cabs, that I'm convinced they're a major improvement.

Would you happen to recall the model(s) of Carvin cabs you were using?

MM
 
#12
My SBR1018 is more than enough amp that I'll ever use. I've had this one for 2 yrs. and have never had a single issue with it; I play almost every weekend. Most of my indoor gigs, I just use the 4x10 and for outdoors, obviously I use the whole rig. It took some time to dial in the eq, but thru any of my basses this thing will rock the stuff off of walls.:smug:
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