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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

#261
I've got a question for you guys: Have any of you BR515N combo owners tried running a 4 ohm BR115 extension? The BR515N is the BX500 in a 1x15 combo running at 8 ohms, for those who don't know. If I add the extension cab, I'll have one Neo 15 and one standard 15, and the impedance will be 2.66667 or whatever.

There's a good local deal on a BR115 cab, and I'm just hoping somebody here can give me an idea of what I can expect. If nobody has tried this exact setup, has anyone tried the BX500 with a 2x15 at that low impedance?

Thanks in advance! And btw, I know that tone is subjective... I'm really just interested in how the mismatched types of 15s (neo/non-neo) will physically work together at just over 2 ohms. For all I know (not much), that could be an explosion waiting to happen... I doubt it, but I'll trust those with more experience! :D
 
#263
This is where I get a bit hairy on details, but I do know that the 4ohm cab will get more power than the 8. If neo v. non-neo means anything, I couldn't tell you. I think the 4ohm will get about 333 watts while the 8ohm should get 167. I may be wrong.
 
#264
I ordered one yesterday, should be here Friday. I got the BX500 and a BR210N-4. The plan is to run the either the BX500 and BR210-4 together for small gigs or run the BX500, BR210N-4 and my SWR MM Golight 4x10 together for larger gigs.

I'm also going to be comparing my Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 to the BX500. From what I've heard the Shuttle 9.0 is a little overrated at 900 watts and the BX500 is a little underrated at 500 watts, so I'm hoping they are comparable.

Right now I've finding that the Shuttle 9.0 into the SWR MM Golight 4x10 doesn't quite provide enough volume for bigger gigs even though its supposed to be 900 watts/4ohms. I'm hoping that the combination of the six 10's even at the lower 500 watt/2ohm load will move more air and yield a better result. We shall see.
 
#266
If people are running a good 4 ohm, 4x10 cab with the BX500, they should never have to add another cab to be heard onstage. Simply EQ things differently to cut through the mix because you should get stupid loud with that setup. Cut the lows and add some mids. It works. The amp will work more efficiently and produce better sound. Lows are added by turning up the volume anyway. You need to cut unwanted frequencies.

The BX500 also has a switch for the graphic EQ, which allows you too just flip the switch for stupid loud situations.

Simple.
 
#268
I got the BX500 and BR210N-4 in yesterday and got to spend some time on it. Initial impressions are the BX500 appears to be as powerful as the Shuttle 9.0. I was hoping they were close, but I think its better than close. One bummer is the BX500 really brings out the single coil noise from my J99As in my SB5000 where the Shuttle does not. The Shuttle has always been dead quiet from that standpoint. ALso with the Shuttle, I run the EQ pretty flat to get my sound, I had to do a little tweaking with the BX500 to find my sound in it, but once I did I was fairly happy with it.

The real shocker to me was I able to get pretty close volume wise with the BX500 and BR210N-4 to my Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 going into a 4ohm SWR Marcus Miller 4x10 Golight cab. I really didn't see that one coming. And the big finale was running the BX500 at 2ohms with both the SWR and Carvin cab together. That was thunderous.

The bummer is I think there is something wrong with the Carvin cab. It's got a bit of a crackle/static noise if I get up to gig volumes and the highs are severely attenuated. It I run the BX500 through the SWR the highs are so piercing at the same settings that I have to roll them back a bit, but with the Carvin cab, its kind of dull even with the attenuator on 0 in the back.

Is it possible the crackling/static noise and lack of high end is coming from a faulty tweeter? I tried to call Carvin support yesterday but missed them by 5 minutes and they don't open again until Monday. Any ideas? Anyone had something similar?
 
#269
"I had to do a little tweaking with the BX500 to find my sound in it, but once I did I was fairly happy with it."

Thats not a glowing recommendation of the amp.
I once blew out my tweeter & had a crackling\static fuzz. If you raise up the tweeter volume is it worse & go away when its off? Thats what happens with mine.
 
#271
Tunaman said:
Thats not a glowing recommendation of the amp.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I didn't intend it to be, just stating what I'm experiencing. I do feel more attached to an amp that I don't really have to tweak to get my sound from, I admit. But as long as its not anything really crazy, its ok. I have to caveat that saying the EQ'ing options on the BX500 are pretty powerful and easy to get lost in. This morning I've been taking a little different approach and I'm finding that I don't need quite as wild EQ settings as I was using yesterday to get to the same goal.

Tunaman said:
I once blew out my tweeter & had a crackling\static fuzz. If you raise up the tweeter volume is it worse & go away when its off? Thats what happens with mine.
Click to expand...
That's a good idea, I will try it the next chance I get to crank it up. Thanks.
 
#272
I've been playing with the rig all morning and the strange noises seem to have disappeared. My only guess was it the cabinet loosening up a bit? Not sure, but its sounding good. Now I'm torn between the Shuttle 9.0 and the BX500, I dig them both, but not sure which one I want to keep.
 
#273
The engagable graphic EQ is a nice feature on the Carvin. For 399.00 out the door, you won't find a better amp IMO. Carvin's set flat are very clear by design. All the sounds you want are in there though, just lets your ears guide you.
 
#274
Yep that's what I've been doing. Trying different ways to get at the same tone. I find the Carvin has more of an "Ampeg" voicing to it by default and the Shuttle 9.0 seems more "SWR" by comparison. I wouldn't have expected that. Now just trying to figure out what fits me better. I've got a jam today and I am going to haul it all out and see what's what.
 
#275
$369 for the Carvin now... i'm tempted which is why I'm trolling. I did see that it had a lot of DI fuzz which would be a problem. The MB500 by GK seems to have more people who LOVE it while this amp gets a mildly warm review overall. Having so many tonal options can sometimes be frustrating.
 
#276
Can't you keep them both? Always need a backup if you're gigging and the price of the Carvin is somewhat "painless". I have a room full of painless gear!! LOL
Yeah it will be cool to see what your jam brings out. The Benz is a great amp though. Both will do the job in a band setting IMO. It's a matter of tweeking. I played the Carvin B2000 in San Diego recently and it's a very simple, great sounding head.
 
#279
Tunaman said:
this amp gets a mildly warm review overall. Having so many tonal options can sometimes be frustrating.
Click to expand...

Home now from my first band practice in, what, 20 years? (I hate even thinking about it :rollno: ) Very loud double kick drummer, one guitarist with a Mesa half-stack, playing rock covers and some very loud NWOBHM-style metal originals in drop-D. :bassist: I played a four-stringer through my new (to me) Carvin BX500 + a GK 212MBE (the ultralight version @ 8 ohm, tweeter off), with a compressor and Hartke Bass Attack in the chain.

I got asked to turn down. Twice. I ended up with the master at about 3. Three. This thing is silly loud. And on top of that, sounded just boobies. I'm *very* happy with the result. My metal rig weighs about 40 pounds total, and cost about $600.

Best of all? Another bassist shares the space. He runs an SVT 4 Pro, an Ampeg 410 and a 115. The Carvin sounds as good. I think a large part of that is the tonal control available. I enabled the tube pre, and use the parametric mid controls and graphic EQ to add a fat pile of mids. The result is more than enough volume, excellent clarity, with plenty of big bottom.

We ran through a few covers (Space Truckin, Cheap Sunglasses, Hash Pipe), and while I rolled off the highs at the instrument for Sunglasses, the Carvin really filled the mix nicely, with just a touch of tubey sounding grind. Fairly busy Steve Harris-y bass lines and some high register stuff in the originals were loud and clear.

Tuesday's practice adds a second guitarist and half-stack. Then I'll decide if I need to add a second 212 cab. I don't think I will. Even if I do, there will be tons of headroom with the Carvin, pushing 500 watts though four 12s at 4 ohms total. Hmmm ... in fact, maybe I'll just do that regardless :D
 

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