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Carvin BX500: Part II

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#401
Codger said:
The only thing you can really do with any of these new switching amps is wait for the reliability information to slowly flow in. Agreed, for the Carvin BX500 and the GK MB2, it has not been too reassuring up to now. These things will be worked out. These amplifiers employ a technology that appears to be new to these manufacturers but in time they will get it sorted.

My personal opinion is that at this time I would not use one without carrying a backup - for that reason I will not buy one. That said, I am confident that in time the negative reports will taper off. Then I will buy.
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This is good advice, but I feel that if a manufacturer is putting a product out for sale, the beta-testing should be over already. If I take your stance then it becomes obvious that these companies are using paying customers as product testers. It doesn't inspire confidence, and I'd like to believe that isn't the case.
 
#403
Akito said:
This is good advice, but I feel that if a manufacturer is putting a product out for sale, the beta-testing should be over already. If I take your stance then it becomes obvious that these companies are using paying customers as product testers. It doesn't inspire confidence, and I'd like to believe that isn't the case.
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It really isn't the case. The manufacturers of today have a product development budget, schedule, cost performance index, schedule performance index and more MBA crap than you ever want to know about or endure. Even so, they purport to put a product out only when they think it is ready. And there is nothing like an unhappy customer or the idea that you are selling a product that has some fundamental problem to cause people to work unpaid overtime.

One problem is that with a new product that uses a new (as a manufacturer) technology, you can't predict all of the issues that will arise when the user gets his hands on it and really starts ringing it out in ways that the you never thought of. And if it is anything but the most banal design (and if you haven't done your homework), then parts selection and batch lots in manufacturing can become an issue. Then real headaches ensue.

All of these manufacturers appear to stand behind their products completely. After all, it is only the reputation of the company that is at stake.

Genz Benz and Markbass seem to have worked out the techniques but they have been doing it longer and perhaps their initial problems did not get the scrutiny that the most recent entries into this phase of the market have been getting.
 
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#404
Akito said:
I appreciate your response, and I do believe you have a point. Bad news travels fast and gets a lot more notice. I find it encouraging that a lot of players have posted on this thread that they love this amp.
When considering which light amp to go with, reliability is one of my top concerns. I'm not just thinking about 10 days or 30 days or 90 days, I'm considering the next 8 months of shows I have booked and beyond. Am I reasonably confident that my gear can hold up well with 25+ hours of use a week? I'm willing to shell out the extra dollars if I am more likely to get what I am paying for and ward off trouble down the road. However, if this amp can deliver at this price point, I'm all over it! I understand that everything wears out with use, and electronics are notoriously short-lived these days, I just want to avoid as many headaches as possible.
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yeah man, I dig the concern as well. One thing you gotta figure though is that for every user whos had problems, there's probably nth many more people who aren't having any problems at all.

however, I trust that my carvin with either be DOA or work for the next 300 years.
 
#405
Thanks for the well thought out responses. I'm on the fence about trying one of these out still, but if I do I will definitely share my experiences here. You guys all make good points, and again, I do realize that all equipment can suffer a breakdown for any number of reasons at any time. One of the top reasons probably being user error! I'm glad we can all discuss a piece of gear objectively without becoming combative. That's one of the reasons I love talkbass!
 
#406
Akito said:
This is good advice, but I feel that if a manufacturer is putting a product out for sale, the beta-testing should be over already. If I take your stance then it becomes obvious that these companies are using paying customers as product testers. It doesn't inspire confidence, and I'd like to believe that isn't the case.
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Years ago, I worked for an electronics firm. With all the testing that was done in house, nothing we did could simulate real world usage. You have to take in considerations of different power conditions at your house/stage/arena, different RF interferences in your area and frankly, how it's going to be "abused". So, when you think you have it all ironed out and working correctly, you roll the dice...you put the product out. Only to find out it fails. You make the adjustments, you make it work.
 
#409
so a little update. I haven't gotten any emails from carvin or UPS with tracking numbers or anything so I called carvin CS today. They looked up my order and it should be in my hands next tuesday... but they couldn't figure out why I hadn't gotten any email updates (they had my correct email address).

kinda weird, I assume they put a hard copy receipt in the box? because I won't have any other way of proving I bought it besides my bank statement.
 
#412
jnewmark said:
I'm waiting for the BX1000 ! :cool: :bassist:
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Me too. I know it's just rumor right now, but it seemed to begin with a side comment from I think salesperson at Carvin to someone here a few months ago, so MAYBE there is something to it.

Just my musings about what I think might happen (arm chair marketing). Right now it seems like the BX500 must ultimately be a replacement for the BX600 (too similar to keep selling both). I expect that once the BX500 production is stable enough then the BX600 will be discontinued. Then, it doesn't seem to make sense to jump from a 5.5 lb 500 watt amp to 32 lb amp to get about twice the power (i.e. BX1200). In comes a BX1000 with the same phase in as the BX500. Ultimately, the BX1200 could be phased out. They did seem to do this with their DCM power amp line so it's not that big of a stretch. The B1500 would probably hang around awhile as the big brute it is for those who appreciate the lead sled raw power and tone. Again, just my opinion (note that I'm enjoying a glass of wine right now while I'm watching the tube so take this for what it's worth.:smug:).
 
#413
gerryjazzman said:
Me too. I know it's just rumor right now, but it seemed to begin with a side comment from I think salesperson at Carvin to someone here a few months ago, so MAYBE there is something to it.

Just my musings about what I think might happen (arm chair marketing). Right now it seems like the BX500 must ultimately be a replacement for the BX600 (too similar to keep selling both). I expect that once the BX500 production is stable enough then the BX600 will be discontinued. Then, it doesn't seem to make sense to jump from a 5.5 lb 500 watt amp to 32 lb amp to get about twice the power (i.e. BX1200). In comes a BX1000 with the same phase in as the BX500. Ultimately, the BX1200 could be phased out. They did seem to do this with their DCM power amp line so it's not that big of a stretch. The B1500 would probably hang around awhile as the big brute it is for those who appreciate the lead sled raw power and tone. Again, just my opinion (note that I'm enjoying a glass of wine right now while I'm watching the tube so take this for what it's worth.:smug:).
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Sounds perfectly logical to me! Maybe if we keep bringing it up, the folks at Carvin will get the idea. As it stands right now, I'm a one cab user , and it's 8 ohms. Don't really want to haul 2 cabs to the gigs I have now, so a more powerful, inexpensive, lightweight head would be great. C'mon Carvin !
 
#414
Update: had my first gig last night and actually had my rig used by all three bands. The venue isn't large to say the least (those of you familiar with New Orleans, it was the Circle Bar), but the amp was plenty loud enough and versatile enough for all three bands (a goth/new wave band, a straight up rock band and a pop rock band) to not require anything more than the 2x10 neo it was hooked up to - i.e. no PA support or additional cabs were needed.

I know this is cheesy, but at first sight, the bassist in the first band was very clearly unimpressed by my setup, esp. considering the rigs his two guitarists were playing through. However, he seemed totally convinced by the end of the set (and from an audience standpoint, he was very clear in the mix). We played in the middle, and then the bassist in the band after us also had no complaints and cut through very well too (though I didn't have a chance to ask how he felt about the low B response from his 5-string Fender, I thought it sounded pretty punchy).

It was pretty cool to hear 2 bassists who play very differently than I do go through my rig and sound great, and comforting to know that the head can withstand 3 hours of continuous use at stupid volumes (thank the heavens for earplugs). I haven't run it at 2ohms yet, but it seems like I won't need to any time soon.

Anyway, I like it a lot, so far so good, etc. Running it through the paces tonight again, though at a considerably larger venue and with PA support and a sound guy. I guess I'll try to get him to run direct (if possible) to see how the DI fares, but yeah - good stuff.
 
#415
yamark said:
i am trying to decide between this and the hartke lh500. Its a big go for the carvin if the ones being shipped now have the kinks worked out. Any info on this?
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liam_g said:
Well, hate to say it, but I got a lemon. Mine has a high-pitched constant whine anytime it's on and connected to a cabinet, with tube engaged or not, bass and cable plugged in or not. None of the knobs moving has any impact on it. I tried it plugged into different outlets as well, and then got my B1500 and plugged it into the same outlets with no whine.

This one's going back. Now my only decision is, do I get it repaired / replaced, or just return it and go somewhere else for a lighter backup to my B1500?

We'll see ...

Cheers,
Liam
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Mine was received last week, and has issues. Funny thing is that I wavered back and forth between the BX500 and LH500 too! I'm still undecided on returning the BX500 for repair / replacement, or just returning it and grabbing an LH500.

Cheers,
Liam
 
#419
So, I was in San Diego last week on vacation and stopped by to check out some Carvin stuff. I've been eyeing a BX500 for a few months, but really wanted to put my hands on one before ordering. Also, I was considering getting a combo since they're really not that much more expensive than just the head and rack adapter. While I was there, I checked out a BX1200 and several cabs. Anyway, here are my impressions.

The BX500 is surprisingly powerful. No matter what cabinet it was connected to, I pretty much couldn't turn the master up over about 2 before I was getting ugly looks from other customers and the walls were buzzing (this was in a closed, separate "bass room"). I loved the flexibility and sound. Compressor works pretty well it seems.

BR510N/515N are both nice. I liked the 15 much better, but ultimately I'm pairing the head with a 15" cab, so I couldn't justify getting an extra in combo form. The 2-10 combo sounded pretty nice, but I guess I'm just a big driver kinda guy. It lacked bottom and sounded generally thinner than I like.

The BX1200 is just a beast! I tried it bridged to a 4X10 + 1X15 setup and it was really yummy! Also tried biamped into the same cabs. Definitely a different sound and the speakers seemed to be enjoying life much more at the same output levels. If I had this head, it would be great to run my pa mains + subs as a ridiculous bass rig, but I don't know where I'd ever use it.

Ultimately, I ended up liking the BX500 more than others I've tried considering price, size, features, sound, etc. I ordered one this morning and was told it would ship today and I should see it by mid next week. We'll see how that goes, but I'm really excited and wanted to share my story.

Later!
 
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