Carvin BX500: Part II

[thudfromafar]

Return it while you still have the 10 day return period. Carvin is the best for that.

ugh I already waited nearly a month... (dont pay by check unless you have to...)

 

[Chef]

that's to return it for your money back.
customer service should stil be able to take care of you.

 

[Hippernicus]

Hey guys!

I'm currently play through a R600 head, and I'm really interested in the fact that the B500 has a real tube in it.

I appologize if this has been answered somewhere already (there's only 2 threads devoted to this thing now... =)

I'm wondering how good of an overdriven sound this amp gives with the tube on and the drive turned up. I play in a Grateful Dead tribute band, and it's important for me to be able to get a bit rough around the edges when I really dig in and drop the double-stops, without losing my solid lows, and without having to use a pedal.

I really like the sound I get from my R600 now, but I'm seriously intrigued by the real tube and lighter weight of the B500.
Everything I've read boasts what a great clean tone it has, but I haven't read much about how it sounds dirty.
Anyone out there use it in a similar fashion and have any feedback?

 

[Turlu]

Hipper,

I really dig the overdriven tone I get from the BX500 head, just enough grit for what you want to achieve.

This is a very versatile head !

 

[thudfromafar]

I noticed with my avatar cab, the BX500 with tube engaged wasn't humming nearly as badly. So I had an idea, I turned up the tweeter... and yep, the more I turned it up, the louder the hum got. Anyone have an idea what could be wrong?

 

[thudfromafar]

Also a funny inconsistency, for EQ points carvin is saying 3 different things.

One spot in the manual states Bass control @ 50hz and treble @ 10khz.
Another spot in the manual says Bass @ 80hz and treble @ 5khz.
Website says Bass @ 60hz and treble @ 8khz.

 

[BlacksHole]

To Hippernicus - I think the BX500 may be too clean for your tastes without a Sansamp or some kind of pedal. The amp really is clean and the effect of the tube is not that strong. Granted, I go for a pretty clean sound, so I have not tried real hard to get what it sounds like you are looking for and perhaps someone else knows of some settings that match your description.

 

[thudfromafar]

I noticed with my avatar cab, the BX500 with tube engaged wasn't humming nearly as badly. So I had an idea, I turned up the tweeter... and yep, the more I turned it up, the louder the hum got. Anyone have an idea what could be wrong?

any ideas? i did send carvin an email...

 

[jnewmark]

any ideas? i did send carvin an email...

Don't really know, but I would call Carvin instead of emailing them. They are'nt the fastest to answer emails.

 

[jondog]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a bx500, any comments?

 

[optikhog]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a bx500, any comments?

Woo hoo! Seriously, if it's like mine you'll love it.

 

[tombowlus]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a bx500, any comments?

Prepare to be impressed.

 

[rpsands]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a bx500, any comments?

While the BR515 combo is on sale on Ebay might want to get it there Believe it's removable, and not much money for an airhead 115.

 

[xbassmanx]

While the BR515 combo is on sale on Ebay might want to get it there Believe it's removable, and not much money for an airhead 115.

yep...it is removable.
But.....It is not a standard 2 space.
My Genz GBE-400 wouldn't fit in mine.

Actually though.... the 515N rocks pretty hard for a 115 combo.

 

[bajistapromedio]

I bought one of these a few days ago at the Hollywood store. Played it on a rehearsal and a gig, and it was more than loud enough with the volume at 3 playing through my Epifani NYC T-210 cabinet. It was a band with a 4 piece horn section, an electric guitar, a drum kit, percussionist, keyboard player, and vocalists. We played funk, Motown, and pop rock tunes to an audience of about 200.

I think that this head is very flat (as in uncolored). It would have plenty of power for about 90% of the gigs I do. However, since my cab is also a very flat sounding cab (IMO, compared to my previous Ampeg SVT cab), and because I mainly play a bass with active EMG pickups, I don't think that this head suits my needs, so I am returning the head. However, I can definitely see myself picking one of these up later on as a backup, if I find a used one for a good price.

I would, however, not hesitate to recommend this head to someone who has a bass and/or cab that has a strong character of its own, and needs a head that will neither add nor take away from that. The quality of construction, the excellence of the customer support, and the fact that this is made in the good old USA, all make the decision to return it that much more difficult.

 

[ster]

Still got my BR515 combo and have been gigging hard since May and it has bee fantastic. Doesn't even get hot and sounds great.

 

[Chef]

You know, I'd been contemplating the head for a while.
That combo isn't very much more expensive; and they've changed to what looks like a nice titanium horn now. And, it's 40lbs. And it tilts back.
And the head comes out.

I wonder if that sum-buck would work with double bass...cause that'd be kewl and stuff.

 

[thudfromafar]

Don't really know, but I would call Carvin instead of emailing them. They are'nt the fastest to answer emails.

They replied relatively quickly, it was no Genz Benz but things got worked out. Now I just need to call and they're going to send me a new tube.

Otherwise been happy with the amp, tho haven't gigged with it yet...

 

[jnewmark]

I bought one of these a few days ago at the Hollywood store. Played it on a rehearsal and a gig, and it was more than loud enough with the volume at 3 playing through my Epifani NYC T-210 cabinet. It was a band with a 4 piece horn section, an electric guitar, a drum kit, percussionist, keyboard player, and vocalists. We played funk, Motown, and pop rock tunes to an audience of about 200.

I think that this head is very flat (as in uncolored). It would have plenty of power for about 90% of the gigs I do. However, since my cab is also a very flat sounding cab (IMO, compared to my previous Ampeg SVT cab), and because I mainly play a bass with active EMG pickups, I don't think that this head suits my needs, so I am returning the head. However, I can definitely see myself picking one of these up later on as a backup, if I find a used one for a good price.

I would, however, not hesitate to recommend this head to someone who has a bass and/or cab that has a strong character of its own, and needs a head that will neither add nor take away from that. The quality of construction, the excellence of the customer support, and the fact that this is made in the good old USA, all make the decision to return it that much more difficult.

Wow, I'm kinda surprised at this, because when I owned this amp, setting everything flat on it, was still not flat at all, imho. I had to crank down the bass and treble a few notches, and I tried this head in 3 different cabs. I believe most of the initial comments on the head were that it was very bright sounding. I wonder if Carvin has monkeyed around with the eq in subsequent versions of the BX500 ?

 

[jnewmark]

You know, I'd been contemplating the head for a while.
That combo isn't very much more expensive; and they've changed to what looks like a nice titanium horn now. And, it's 40lbs. And it tilts back.
And the head comes out.

I wonder if that sum-buck would work with double bass...cause that'd be kewl and stuff.

Chef, as I've said before with this head, you get more options than any other 5 lb head in it's price range: compression, para eq and graphic eq, or both at the same time, tube or not, etc. I wish the two that I had for awhile did'nt have issues, or I would still be using it, instead of my F1 head. Maybe it's time to try again as it seems like Carvin has the bugs worked out.