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Carvin BX1500 or BX1600, or ???

#22
Just saw a Peavey preamp pop up on the stuff for sale. Cableguy has it. Put that together with a Crest Pro-Lite 2.0 and declare victory.

The other option is the much loved ART ProChannel as a preamp. They work really good with a decent power amp and a fearful. If you get down to Madison, you can gig mine a whirl.
 
#23
I used to use a Peavey MAX preamp and really dug it. Still, despite all the great things about certain power amps (weight to power ratio), or preamps (tonal flexibility), there are none that have all that I'm looking for. I'd still need to find a great graphic EQ to go with it. It would still all need to fit into my rack (with two spaces available).

And to top it all off, all of the features I'm looking for are really all rolled into this one unit. I'm still on the fence as to which to get...the 1500 or 1600? Is it really worth another $100 for power overkill or color? I'd bridge either one, so I'm throwing at least 900 watts into the fEARful or my 210/6, or 1500 watts into both. All I really want power-wise is clean headroom. That's a lot of headroom.

Of course I am totally familiar with what either of those can do. Been there. Loved it. Close to doing it again. Then I think to myself, geez the wife gives the go ahead on a new amp purchase and maybe there is something else out there I haven't tried. And I just haven't found anything that comes close to these. So, unless I do find something it's just a toss-up here between those two.

Now watch, I'll end up going in a completely different direction. :D
 
#24
Anyone else happen to notice the front panel on the BX1600 is back-lit? Yes, it is red (which I kind of like and would go with my rack and cabs). But the front panel is recessed in the metal housing and there are LED's all along the inside at the top. Not the front panel control LED's. The front panel itself is lit by LED's along the top, which makes it very easy to see in any lighting situation.

Now I have no idea how bright that front panel is, but I kind of like that. Hmmm.
 
#25
I don't think you could go wrong with either of them.

900 watts bridged into a fEARul is awsome.
Still, in accordance with More's Law, I am tempted to build a second 15/6/1
to get the ful 1500 watts.

On a side note, someone mentioned weight being relative...
when I was lugging a Crown DC 300A (45 pounds for just the power amp),
I used to tell myself
'at least it's not an SVT'. ;^D
 
#28
Bill Whitehurst said:
I don't think you could go wrong with either of them.

900 watts bridged into a fEARul is awsome.
Still, in accordance with More's Law, I am tempted to build a second 15/6/1
to get the ful 1500 watts.

On a side note, someone mentioned weight being relative...
when I was lugging a Crown DC 300A (45 pounds for just the power amp),
I used to tell myself
'at least it's not an SVT'. ;^D
Click to expand...

Funny thing is I was REALLY GASsing for an all tube head and almost pulled the trigger on a Peavey VB2. Then I thought again how much I hate the weight of anything heavy at the end of the night. And then I got the Sansamp VT Bass Deluxe. Now I no longer want an all tube head.

I was one of the very first DIY fEARful builders from Dave's plans. Dave and I talked a lot back and forth while he was designing the 15/6/1 and I was designing my 210/6. They both were being designed and built simultaneously. The tonal profile of my 210/6 is damn close to my 15/6. And I used to run them together with my BX1200 bridged. HUGE sounding.

I wanted to build a 15Sub, but now I'm almost thinking of building two 12/6 fEARfuls instead.
 
#29
Think I'm gonna get the BX1600. Just because I can. It's red and will go perfectly with my red cabs and rack. It's got push buttons instead of switches. It's 100 watts more (and who doesn't love more power?)! It has a nifty little marketing preamp tube (with another push button switch to engage or not), it has lots of pretty lights, and the red faceplate is backlit by LED's so it will look cool and I can adjust controls even in complete darkness. Best of all? 8.5 lbs. That's 23 lbs. lighter (and almost 9" shorter) than the current Kustom Groove 1200 that's in my rack right now.

5 String ESP-LTD (or my 4 string SR400) > Sansamp VT Bass Deluxe > Zoom B2 > BX1600 > fEARful 15/6 and 210/6 cabs. 1600 watts with complete tone control.

Yeah. I think that will work.
 
Last edited:
#35
Sundogue said:
I'm sure the 1500 will be phased out, but it still comes with that awesome 1 year warranty that Carvin famous for. :D
Click to expand...

I too was disappointed with the one year warranty. I made the assumption that the BX1500 would be the same as the three years on my Carvin power amps. The tuner out didn't work properly from day one. As I didn't use it I wasn't that bothered. When I decided to send it back for repair the warranty was up. The problem turned out to be a dirty ribbon cable. Simple cheap fix.

All in all I have to say that I've been more than happy with my purchases from Carvin. :)
 
#37
i own the BX 1500 as my spare/rehearsal head. run through two Bergantino 1x12 w/horn cabs. with everything set flat the amp sounds thin,klanky completely toneless.total worthless bass sound.
I find that very odd. that said...and after playing withe head I now know the amp very well and I can get any killer sound I want by HEAVILY tweaking the controls. i would buy another if needed.I just
really question the design theory that went into the finalization of the way the head was ultimately going to sound without engaging any tone shaping. someone approved that sound. if there are any Carvin personel here please explain that to me.anyone else can please chime in......
 
#38
I agree with you...having owned the BX1200. I don't think much of anything has changed with the BX line. They are all killer ampheads with tons of tonal options. But you are right, there is a lot of tweaking that needs to be done. I've always felt they were overly bright with the controls set flat (not that it is flat, just the controls set to neutral, like no boost or cut). Still, great amps IMO.

Still glad I got the ShuttleMax 9.2. Best amp I've ever had.
 

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