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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

#421
Seriously, modern amps tend to be more sensitive to power issues, particular the new light weight amps. You need to check the outlet, and it doesn't hurt to know that you are getting full and clean power as well, which many outlet testers will not accurately convey, hence the use of power conditioners. I confess to only using a Radio Shack outlet tester myself and I did have trouble with insufficient power at 2 outdoor gigs where the band was strung off of one set of outlets. The BX500 may go into protect mode when facing insufficient power.
 
#423
MooseLumps said:
Get an outlet tester?

Seriously, bad power would hurt many amps, it's not just the Carvins. There has been a history of revision to beat the problems that this amp was released with. This to me means greater real world reliability in the newest designs, due to large scale real world testing. It sure sucks for those who helped with the testing, but a large portion of those individuals were given whole new amps.

I don't know if the GK has had similar issues, but to me, no amount of lab testing beats the trials of gig use.

Get the one you like the sound of more, and an outlet tester.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on the outlet tester . . . seems i always test when it's good but the one time you don't . . . BOOM.

I've had a Carvin amp for 15 years or so . . . I loved the old PB300 (and 500), but my experience with the R600 was lack luster. Seems like you add more knobs but it only means you have to fiddle with more knobs to get the tone you want. I just wondered how other owners were feeling . . . also my PB seemed more resilient (I know I dropped it off a truck on the way to a gig and it worked flawlessly).

Was it easy to get the right tone out of your rig with the new head?
 
#426
I was using mine @ 2 Ohms most of the time. Loved the head I just could not accept 3 amps dieing within 16 months. I truly believe I gave them (Carvin) the benefit of the doubt.
I have no regrets but 3 strikes and your out in my book. I am a working professional not a hobbyist so Amps dying on the gig is unacceptable to me. Yes I know amps die but this is more failures than I have had in the last 15 yrs working 200-300 or more dates per year.

peace Kirk
 
#428
mupchu said:
I agree with you on the outlet tester . . . seems i always test when it's good but the one time you don't . . . BOOM.

I've had a Carvin amp for 15 years or so . . . I loved the old PB300 (and 500), but my experience with the R600 was lack luster. Seems like you add more knobs but it only means you have to fiddle with more knobs to get the tone you want. I just wondered how other owners were feeling . . . also my PB seemed more resilient (I know I dropped it off a truck on the way to a gig and it worked flawlessly).

Was it easy to get the right tone out of your rig with the new head?
Click to expand...

I had an R1000 head when they came out and know what you mean by lackluster tone . Like you said with all the EQ options you would think getting a usable tone wouldn't be so difficult . I was forever tweeking mine and got a lot of decent tones but none that were great . The un-EQed sound was so dry and flat you had to EQ like crazy to get any kind of warm tone .

I just got a BX500 about a month or two ago and even though the layout of controls is much like the R 600 its tone with all the eq Flat is way better than the Redlines . I was worried that it might be voiced the same way but it's much better , you start with a good tone and can adjust from there . I don't know about the reliability yet but the power and tone are great .
 
#429
Sorry boys but I have to put my 2 cents in on this. I have owned every bass head Carvin has made since day one,and still own a pile of them. My Redline 1000 & 600 still sound better than any of the newer "B" series. And I have several of them too,including a new BR515N I just bought for small gigs. Considering pulling the BX500 out and putting a Redline 600 in the cabinet. The Redline Series heads and cabinets are still by far one of the best product lines Carvin has produced over the years. Attached is a picture of my tower of power!
 
#430
just got mine about a week ago. took a while to get my tone dialed in. but this thing sounds great. very powerful. going to try it out at practice tomorrow. but it sounds great at home. i can tell im going to get a lot of "hey can you turn that down a bit" comments tomorrow. lol
 
#431
Hi guys,

so I got the BX500 for a while now and I'm still looking for a good portable cab for it. I currently use the TC RS212, but it is a little hard to schlepp for me, I am not a big guy. I have looked into almost every cab possible for price/portability/loudness. I have narrowed my choices to:

GK 410MBE @ 4 ohms
GK 212MBE @ 4 ohms

AND, I was looking at the Ampeg SVT210AV, but they are rated at 200W @ 8 ohms. I was wondering if I could still use them with the BX500 that is rated at 300W @ 8 ohms.

The idea would be to use one for rehearsals and two for mid-sized gig. I don't think I would be running the head at full volume ever either at 8 or 4 ohms.

Please help.

Thanks.
 
#434
Blues Bass 2 said:
I just got a BX500 about a month or two ago and even though the layout of controls is much like the R 600 its tone with all the eq Flat is way better than the Redlines . I was worried that it might be voiced the same way but it's much better , you start with a good tone and can adjust from there . I don't know about the reliability yet but the power and tone are great .
Click to expand...

Yep, internally there are some similarities with Redline, but all the BX designs are internally a lot different. Bowlus's BASS GEAR magazine uses the BX500 as one of its reference amps due to its relatively flat uncolored default voicing and its power delivery. And on top of that, flexible EQ.
 
#435
greenboy said:
Bowlus's BASS GEAR magazine uses the BX500 as one of its reference amps due to its relatively flat uncolored default voicing and its power delivery. And on top of that, flexible EQ.
Click to expand...

True story. It's not like an official benchmark, or anything, but the BX500 is one of the amps that I often use when evaluating other gear (and other BGM reviewers have also used this same unit in a similar role). :cool:
 
#437
solarplexus said:
Hi guys,

so I got the BX500 for a while now and I'm still looking for a good portable cab for it. I currently use the TC RS212, but it is a little hard to schlepp for me, I am not a big guy. I have looked into almost every cab possible for price/portability/loudness. I have narrowed my choices to:

GK 410MBE @ 4 ohms
GK 212MBE @ 4 ohms

AND, I was looking at the Ampeg SVT210AV, but they are rated at 200W @ 8 ohms. I was wondering if I could still use them with the BX500 that is rated at 300W @ 8 ohms.

The idea would be to use one for rehearsals and two for mid-sized gig. I don't think I would be running the head at full volume ever either at 8 or 4 ohms.

Please help.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Personally, I would get myself a fEarful cab-either a 12/6 or a 15/6-it can keep up with most 4x10s and weighs less than 50lbs (in other words, a one hander).
 
#438
Thanks for the help guys, but I am also looking if the SVT210AV would do the job even if the wattage is a little low?

I have checked Avatar. The 212 is 56lbs, while my RS212 is 52lbs. The GK 212MBE is 34lbs.

I like the Shroeder 410 though, but is very expensive compared to the GK MBE410 which had some good reviews.

Don't know what to do. :/
 

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