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Carvin BX1500 or BX1600, or ???

Sundogue

Sundogue

Apr 26, 2001
8,795
481
65
Wausau, WI
#1
I'm in the market for a new amp and I always find myself liking the features of the Carvin BX line. It has been quite a while since I've been in the market for an amp so I'm not even aware what is all out there now.

I'm going to run it through a fEARful 15/6 for most gigs and my own 210/6 at rehearsals and both for the ungodly (albeit rare) loud outdoor gigs.

I have looked at almost every lightweight amp out there I could find available (although I'm sure I missed a lot) and I always come back to these two as the options I like most. I am familiar with the amps as I owned a BX1200 a while back (traded it for a bass I really wanted, like a dumb a**), but I do not want the weight. I want an amp around 10 lbs. (+ or - a few lbs.), at least 500 watts into an 8 ohm load and would prefer parametric and graphic EQ's. I'd prefer new, but used in mint condition is alright too. I'm looking to spend about $600.

I use a variety of tones and play many different genre's and like everything from vintage to modern, smooth to bright and grindy ala Squire or the Ox. I also use a Sansamp VT Deluxe programmable pedal.

I'm currently running a Kustom Groove 1200 and while it has all the EQing features (along with a mute, DI, etc.) it is just too damned heavy and it's old and scratchy and would love to keep it as only a spare.

I'm open to suggestions of other amps, but they must meet the price, weight, wattage and tonal capabilities so even if you don't suggest either the BX1500 or BX1600, what's your opinion (and please tell me why).

Thanks.
 
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#2
Not sure, but I think Carvin has a discount on the BX500 and BX1500 due to the new models taking over. I have a used BX500 that I got here on TB for a killer price. Sounds good and I really enjoy the features and the light weight. It doesn't stack up to my LH1000 tonally (for me) but it has plenty of knobs to twist to find a sound that works. It has become my practice amp and when I use it on the gig it's one less piece of heavy gear to move at 2am.
 
#4
The newer carvins run smps/class d power sections, so although they are a standard 2-rackspace leadsled size, weight is dropped considerably. (Their poweramps that are basically the power section of those bx amps weigh 10 or so pounds, so add the preamp to that).

I don't know of much else that'll get you that much eq shaping at that power and price.

They are wholly clean amps. Any grit or Ox stuff will have to come from your VT or other pedals.

This coming from a guy who has a soft spot for carvin, but hasn't had any of their new stuff. Last one was a redline600. The old PB500 mosfet I had before that kicked mucho ass and sometimes wish I still had it.
 
#5
Looking at the site now, the features are pretty much the same. The extra $100 gets you 100 more watts (split between 2 channels at various ohms, pretty much meaningless IMO and might not even measure any real difference on a techs bench at fixed input voltage/% distortion, etc.).

It also buys you 8.5lbs. instead of 10, again meaningless IMO.

Pretty much comes down to if you want red with lots of lights or gray with less lights. :)

I vote BX1500. Likely never hear the difference between the two and take your wife out to nice dinner.
 
#6
Despite it's weight, my BX1200 kicked ass in every way. A powerful beast with gobs of tone control. And even with the "Drive Control" (and now a preamp tube that I'm sure does almost nothing...like most single preamp tubes) it never was really gritty or overdriven. But now I have that VT Deluxe pedal that is superb.

But I could kick myself for ever getting rid of the BX1200 years ago. Now I'm thinking of getting another, but the BX1600 looks damned attractive at that price, power and weight savings.

My Kustom Groove 1200 is actually pretty damn close to my BX1200 in tonal sculpting and power, but damn...it's over 30 lbs. by itself and I have it racked with my Zoom B2. My rack weighs more than either of my cabs.
 
#7
will33 said:
Looking at the site now, the features are pretty much the same. The extra $100 gets you 100 more watts (split between 2 channels at various ohms, pretty much meaningless IMO and might not even measure any real difference on a techs bench at fixed input voltage/% distortion, etc.).

It also buys you 8.5lbs. instead of 10, again meaningless IMO.

Pretty much comes down to if you want red with lots of lights or gray with less lights. :)

I vote BX1500. Likely never hear the difference between the two and take your wife out to nice dinner.
Click to expand...

Good points and I'm kind of leaning towards the BX1500 as it's just a lighter version of the BX1200 I had.

And taking the wife out for dinner is a given because she's cool with a new amp purchase. ;)
 
#8
Sundogue said:
Good points and I'm kind of leaning towards the BX1500 as it's just a lighter version of the BX1200 I had.

And taking the wife out for dinner is a given because she's cool with a new amp purchase. ;)
Click to expand...

That certainly helps. :)

I just don't see much technical difference between the two, unless there is some tech glitch I don't know about that some companies would label "rev 2" or something.

IMO, pretty much comes down to looks and what a pound-and-a-half is worth to you.

Warranty support, if there is a difference in that between to two, could be a factor. Apparently the red 1600 is the new thing and 1500 will be phased out?
 
#10
I'm sure the 1500 will be phased out, but it still comes with that awesome 1 year warranty that Carvin famous for. :D

And I really did love virtually everything about the BX1200, except the weight. The weight wasn't terrible but after a couple of years of hauling my rack around with that 30lb. + Kustom head in it, I'm looking to lighten that a bit. Getting old is, well...getting old. :D
 
#11
As far as I can tell, the 1500 is basically your 1200 at 1/3 the weight...again as far as I can tell.

Is it just me, or is Carvin making new stuff/changing up their line every couple years now?

It seems they would come up with something and stick with it for a few years, now there's quicker rollover.

Or it could just be me aging. I still look at leadsleds as something we all used to use "just the other day", when apparently the clock is moving faster than I am. :)
 
#12
will33 said:
As far as I can tell, the 1500 is basically your 1200 at 1/3 the weight...again as far as I can tell.

Is it just me, or is Carvin making new stuff/changing up their line every couple years now?

It seems they would come up with something and stick with it for a few years, now there's quicker rollover.

Or it could just be me aging. I still look at leadsleds as something we all used to use "just the other day", when apparently the clock is moving faster than I am. :)
Click to expand...

No, it does appear they change their amps often, though not by a lot. Maybe their engineers are bored.
 
#13
I've got the BX1500 and, for me, it's been nothing short of amazing. I'm able to dial in just about any sound I need and on top of that it's got power that can melt your face. Before I got it, I always wanted an Eden WT800, but now I just can't imagine that I would like it any more as I've been able to dial in everything I used to get on borrowed or rented WT800s and more.

As for the tube, I have been able to get it a bit driven, but it took trying a handful of different tubes to get it. I think the one that's in there now is a 9th Gen Chinese tube. It's not night and day, but I can certainly hear the tube doing it's thing.

I also don't see much difference in the 1500 vs the 1600 beyond aesthetics, and really, IMO the red is kind of over the top, but to each their own.
 
#16
Sundogue said:
Are there any other lightweight amps out there that come even close to the Carvin BX line, with regards to weight, tone control and power, even at a higher price?

I've been out of the loop for some time.
Click to expand...


I don't know if anybody else has those sweepable mids with a foot-switchable graphic. That's basically two tone profiles you can setup in one, "one-channel" amp.

Peavey might have something comparable, though maybe not as involved?

I admit, I'm not up on all the latest offerings from everybody. Carvin has been offering that kind of eq versatility for decades, not years.

Other option might be something like an ART pre + poweramp.
 
#18
will33 said:
I don't know if anybody else has those sweepable mids with a foot-switchable graphic. That's basically two tone profiles you can setup in one, "one-channel" amp.

Peavey might have something comparable, though maybe not as involved?

I admit, I'm not up on all the latest offerings from everybody. Carvin has been offering that kind of eq versatility for decades, not years.

Other option might be something like an ART pre + poweramp.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I toyed with the idea of a separate power and and a pre. But nothing tripped my trigger for a pre. I really desire both parametric (OK, so semi-parametric) and graphic EQ sections.

And really it has more to do with being able to control my own sound in any venue than it does just tone. Using my Zoom B2 and my VT Deluxe, I could almost play through anything and still cop the tone for the most part. I think it is more about being able to keep my tone in any venue, rather than allowing the room to limit it. It's so nice to be able to find an offending frequency in a room and dial it out and still maintain the tone I desire. Robust EQing gives ME control over it.
 
#19
Sundogue said:
Yeah, I toyed with the idea of a separate power and and a pre. But nothing tripped my trigger for a pre. I really desire both parametric (OK, so semi-parametric) and graphic EQ sections.

And really it has more to do with being able to control my own sound in any venue than it does just tone. Using my Zoom B2 and my VT Deluxe, I could almost play through anything and still cop the tone for the most part. I think it is more about being able to keep my tone in any venue, rather than allowing the room to limit it. It's so nice to be able to find an offending frequency in a room and dial it out and still maintain the tone I desire. Robust EQing gives ME control over it.
Click to expand...
I can dig that.

Found anything that has a couple/few bands of fully parametric eq rather than a ton of bands that are limited slices or fixed Q?

Again maybe mic pres or channel strips?

Again, just throwing stuff out there, see what sticks. Can't point you in some specific direction. It's still hard to get what Carvin has to offer, especially at that power/cost/feature set.
 
#20
FWIW, if you really liked your bx1200, I say get another of the same, meaning pretty much either of these.

I'm a miser, I'd go with the 1500. You're a visual artist with a cool wife.....you decide. :)

Regardless of which you pick, both are great values. You'd be hard-pressed to find any amp with that much eq capability without upping it to close to twice the price....at least 1-1/2 times to get close.

Remember also, I assume you'll be spending a good deal of time with this thing and making many, many hours of music with it. $100 spread out over that much use and enjoyment amounts to some 1/1000th of a penny per note played. The difference between cost and investment...or cost and value. :)
 

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