• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Carvin bass amps

#43
OMG! Don't stand right in front of that thing and whack a low B, you could give yourself internal injuries!!

Looks like the cabinets have gotten considerably lighter from when I got mine. That's my one big downside is the weight.

That rig is going to kill!!
 
#44
southgabass said:
I think this is the set up I'm gonna go with... in pimp white no less... just the price and the fact that 98% of stuff I hear about Carvin amps is just great adds up to be a HELLZ YEAH over my current set up.
Link Removed
Click to expand...

That is a great rig, it will be more than enough bass amp you'll ever need - great choice. A bit of advice, order casters for at least the BR118 and get yourself covers for the head and cabs, it will keep them looking real nice and new.
 
#45
Yeah a few years ago I ordered (for lack of a better term) a piano dolly from Carvin for my current rig... so the wheels are taken care of =D. I do have another question though... in comparison which cabs are better the Carvin ones or Avatar? I dont think there will be a substantial price difference between the two... and then my next step will be a new bass, still using my Ibanez EDC 700 that I bought when I first started playing and then I SHOULD be set for at least a little while :hiding:
 
#48
southgabass said:
I do have another question though... in comparison which cabs are better the Carvin ones or Avatar?
Click to expand...

I've played thru the Avatar B410 Neo for 2 4 set nights and still chose the Carvin BRX10.4 because when playing multiple notes, each note seemed to stand out much more clearer. The BRX10.4 costs about $200. more, but I think it's built more solidly - just my take.
 
#49
Anyone here have the BX600? I noticed that it's only 600 watts at 2ohms, 450 at 4ohms. I'd be using it at 4.

Are they still pretty loud at 4 ohms?

How would you guys describe the overall tonal character of these amps? I am looking for something warmer sounding than my SWR Bass 350, but still very clean. I have two Avatar 2-10 neos.
 
#50
I have had a Carvin RL410 cab for a few years now. I put alot of stress on it with my Peavey Mark VI amp head and it never fails me. It has been all over the country riding in trailers, trucks and trunks. It's been bumped and dropped and still works great. Very sturdy. My only regret is not getting the casters that go with it. It's a pain to move around since it's a little deeper than most cabs. Not very heavy though. I'd buy another.
 
#51
Big White Brick said:
I have had a Carvin RL410 cab for a few years now. I put alot of stress on it with my Peavey Mark VI amp head and it never fails me. It has been all over the country riding in trailers, trucks and trunks. It's been bumped and dropped and still works great. Very sturdy. My only regret is not getting the casters that go with it. It's a pain to move around since it's a little deeper than most cabs. Not very heavy though. I'd buy another.
Click to expand...

My main cabs are a Carvin RL210T and RL118, and like your's, mine have been all over, bounced and bumped and played way too loud, and are ready to go always. And not too heavy.

However, I found that you can buy casters in any hardware store that plug right into the caster receptacles on my 118. They snap in, and don't come out unless you pull hard enough to overcome the capture mechanism. I got casters that were less than half the price of Carvin's.
 
#52
TJBass said:
I've owned multiple Carvin amps and cabs. I still own a Carvin R600 2-10 Combo.

I had an R600 series II hybrid with the tube preamp and a RL410 cab. Sounds good and was very reliable until someone stepped on my guitar cord and the plastic input jack solder joints broke off the input card. Carvin sent me a new replacement jack but my soldering skills sucked at that time so I geeked up the card but eventually got it working again. Since Carvin had moved to the series III they said they would take my series II in as trade on a new one, but I sold it instead. Before I sold it I sold the cab and bought an Avatar 4x10 cab when Avatar first came out, man what a loud and fastic sounding rig.

Then later on I bought an 80's era Probass 500 head and a V410 and V15 cab ( I think thats what they were called). Great rig, tons of power, biample, great tone, but they took a tumble and the amp hit the floor face first and broke all the pots from the circuit card they were soldered to. I trashed the whole amp, not wanting to go thru what I had with the R600. But that was a killer rig.

Fast forward to now, I sold my Peavey Combo 300 and bought a Carvin RC210T 600 watt 2x10 combo. I love the head, its a series III tube emulator but the 2x10's just can't handle the low end of my Schecter bass. I've never been fond of their 2x10 cabs anyway. Even they're 4x10 cabs are a little dull.

But if I could find an older 1x18 cab for my combo I would be set, I'd biamp the highs to the 10's and the lows to the 18. That would be a nice rig.

Otherwise I need to get some eminence delta's to replace my 10's to get a little better power handling and maybe even better tone.
Carvin RC210 combo

Carvin R600 Series II with Avatar 4x10
Click to expand...


I got the same thing you did, I haven't had a problem with it until I played on a Markbass LMII... then I hated my rig! haha. But I got over all of that non-sense, realizing that my 600 series III redline amp does the job. Replaced the speakers to some eminence delta's, and that really opened up some hardcore sound! Made it heavier too... that was a downside. Then I got the LS1503 cab, and have been running straight to that and it sounds really nice.

I will suggest the Carvin amps over the cabs (at least the old redline series cabs), I have a RL410 that I just need to get rid of cuz it sounds super muddy, and it's old too...

Other then that, carvin is good stuff for the price, solid, gets the job done. Haven't had a chance to try their BRX series stuff, but from the reviews on here, doesn't seem like you'll be disappointed.
 
#53
No experience with there speakers, but I've had a BX1200 amp for several months now.

In a nut-shell: it's got a clear sound, not particularly warm, but not brittle, and you can adjust the EQ options in so many ways it's ridiculous. The controls are easy to understand and are powerful. I'm only running it at 8ohms unbridged into a Powerhouse 410 and I never turn it past noon. Unless I'm outside or in the mood to become ill. It's very well constructed. Not very heavy.

I guess I'd say that it's an amp that doesn't have anything really supafantastic, but is just all-around good. It's got good sound and I'm not running out of power this decade. Then when you take the price into consideration, I think it's a winner.
 
#55
You're looking at a great amp...US made,and EXCELLENT price. I play two Carvin basses and I have a PB100 to practice on or for small venues...I use a B800 for larger gigs. I've been more than pleased with both. I also play 2 Carvin basses, and I love em both! For the price,I don't think you would do much better,
Kent:bassist:
 
#57
Hello, I just got two of these Carvin BRX 10.2 4 ohm cabinets and play a vintage SVT 300 W tube amp through them. I just played through them last night and they sound great. Since they have 600w power handling, they are very honest at reproducing the amp tone and do not distort the same way my swr workingmans 2x 10 did or even the aguilar 1 x 12 did. The amp has some natural distortion and great midrange growl and it is plenty meaty sounding, so I did not want the speakers flopping around. I would recommend getting a pair as they are basic, heavy duty good sound speakers sans the carpet. I have had an eden 1 x15 which I toasted the horn and the carpet molded. I have had GK, SWR and Eden gear. the 800 bucks for the pair is about as much as I have ever spent on speakers. My super gnarly rig, fits into the trunk of my accord. The speakers weight about 46 lbs each but the SVT is about 90.
 
#58
I was just checking out the BX1200 and B1500 online today. Can anyone offer a comparison between the two in terms of tone? Are they pretty similar (tonally, that is)? I currently play through an Ampeg B2R (350W @ 4ohms) and it's just not cutting it for some gigs.

Was thinking of going for one of the Carvin heads and either the Neo10.4 alone or the BR210 with the BR115. Any advice?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back