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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

#581
HUnt49 said:
Hi all -

So I picked up a used BX500 a few weeks ago for two bills.

I've been gigging every weekend with a B1500 and an ACME B4 cab. It's a killer combo (particularly with the VT Deluxe in front), but it's killer heavy, and I was never tapping all that power. I always have PA support with the new project.

So, my new workhorse rig:

100_2402.jpg


It's paired with an Acme B2 that I picked up for $100. Best 3 bills I ever spent!

It didn't take much tweaking to dial in what (in the house) sounded exactly like my b1500/B4 tone. These Acme cabs are very scaleable - and the bx500 is extremely tweakable, without being unwieldy.

So, the gig report:

We had 2 nights at a biker roadhouse outside of Phoenix, followed by a Sunday afternoon poolside at the Pointe Hilton resort in Scottsdale. Both were outside settings.

Gig 1 & 2: Outdoor raised, permanent covered stage. Temps still in the 90's. Outdoors at volume, I had plenty of stage monitor volume set on Active with drive at 10 and volume at noon. Our guitarist is opposite-stage from me, and likes to hear lots of bass- and he was happy.

Only issue happened during gig 1 - the sound cut out on me. I flipped the "Active" switch off and back on, and it was fine.

Gig 3: 112 degrees, outdoors under shade by the resort pool. The amp ran hot, but not hotter than my b1500 has there. Raised temporary stage, and it was boomy - I dialed out lows, and turned up a bit. The amp handled the 3 hour gig like a champ, no issues at all. I suspect that turning it off may have been a problem, so I left it on to keep the fan running. But - the fan doesn't seem to do much.

The only notable difference is this: At volume, there's a heft to the b1500 - a sledgehammer with sharp edges... The bx500 provided plenty of hammer, but it was a bit rounder on the edges. Don't know if that makes sense, but I can feel the b1500's monoblock massive headroom, and it's subtly absent with the bx500. Not that it's bad - if I didn't have the incredible b1500 tight dropped D to compare to, I'd never know it wasn't there.

The setup felt more like a good 15" speaker than a good 10" speaker setup - a little rounder, but still every bit as solid. The "sharp edge" tightness difference was most evident when detuned to D.

It's a difference that only we bassists would pick out. The rest of the band said the bx500/b2 combo sounded great. Our lead singer (sick and running sound) actually turned my PA support down for the pool gig, because I turned the amp up a bit and it was carrying the space.

I'm thrilled - an easy to pack in/out, Mini-Rig-0f-Doom, that can throw down a huge tight solid clean bass tone suitable for modern country.

I can't imagine ANY situation with PA support where this wouldn't be enough amp.
Click to expand...

That’s a killer little half-stack for a sick price! How did you get that cab for so cheap? NOT FAIR!! :spit:
 
#584
Just got lucky on the local CL - I'm on there way too much... Guy that had it felt it was way too middy. Don't know what he was running!

I have a b2w that I got used with my b4, and planned to run both with a bx1500. The bx500 runs both, but it's not as good tonally.

All in all, I'm stoked. Maybe I'll buy that Mini Cooper now...
 
#586
I'm thinking of getting one of these. The features it has for the money is unbeatable. I have a few questions for all the BX500 owners:

How is the compressor, is it fairly transparent or can you hear it kicking in?

There is no clip light that I can see. How strong is the preamp, can it take a very hot input signal without clipping out?

How is the reliability of the new revisions? Have they sorted out the problems?

Thanks!
 
#588
*bump*

PluckyThump said:
I'm thinking of getting one of these. The features it has for the money is unbeatable. I have a few questions for all the BX500 owners:

How is the compressor, is it fairly transparent or can you hear it kicking in?

There is no clip light that I can see. How strong is the preamp, can it take a very hot input signal without clipping out?

How is the reliability of the new revisions? Have they sorted out the problems?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
#589
I like the comp and don't notice the attack.

I haven't measured the output, but my SX has an 18v Demeter pre installed that seems pretty hot and the Carvin has no problem w/ it.

I have had no mfr. problems, only the extra long extension cord/low power problem I noted earlier.
 
#590
I just ran into an issue the other night at a gig. The amp didn't seem to have as much omph and there was static on the notes. Flicked the switch to run without the tube and everything was fine.

I haven't opened it yet to see if the tube is not seated correctly. Seems kind of quick to eat a tube (but I only ever run it on tube). I hope to check it tonight.
 
#591
HUnt49 said:
Hi all -

So I picked up a used BX500 a few weeks ago for two bills.

I've been gigging every weekend with a B1500 and an ACME B4 cab. It's a killer combo (particularly with the VT Deluxe in front), but it's killer heavy, and I was never tapping all that power. I always have PA support with the new project.

So, my new workhorse rig: <pic>

It's paired with an Acme B2 that I picked up for $100. Best 3 bills I ever spent!

It didn't take much tweaking to dial in what (in the house) sounded exactly like my b1500/B4 tone. These Acme cabs are very scaleable - and the bx500 is extremely tweakable, without being unwieldy.

So, the gig report:

We had 2 nights at a biker roadhouse outside of Phoenix, followed by a Sunday afternoon poolside at the Pointe Hilton resort in Scottsdale. Both were outside settings.

Gig 1 & 2: Outdoor raised, permanent covered stage. Temps still in the 90's. Outdoors at volume, I had plenty of stage monitor volume set on Active with drive at 10 and volume at noon. Our guitarist is opposite-stage from me, and likes to hear lots of bass- and he was happy.

Only issue happened during gig 1 - the sound cut out on me. I flipped the "Active" switch off and back on, and it was fine.

Gig 3: 112 degrees, outdoors under shade by the resort pool. The amp ran hot, but not hotter than my b1500 has there. Raised temporary stage, and it was boomy - I dialed out lows, and turned up a bit. The amp handled the 3 hour gig like a champ, no issues at all. I suspect that turning it off may have been a problem, so I left it on to keep the fan running. But - the fan doesn't seem to do much.

The only notable difference is this: At volume, there's a heft to the b1500 - a sledgehammer with sharp edges... The bx500 provided plenty of hammer, but it was a bit rounder on the edges. Don't know if that makes sense, but I can feel the b1500's monoblock massive headroom, and it's subtly absent with the bx500. Not that it's bad - if I didn't have the incredible b1500 tight dropped D to compare to, I'd never know it wasn't there.

The setup felt more like a good 15" speaker than a good 10" speaker setup - a little rounder, but still every bit as solid. The "sharp edge" tightness difference was most evident when detuned to D.

It's a difference that only we bassists would pick out. The rest of the band said the bx500/b2 combo sounded great. Our lead singer (sick and running sound) actually turned my PA support down for the pool gig, because I turned the amp up a bit and it was carrying the space.

I'm thrilled - an easy to pack in/out, Mini-Rig-0f-Doom, that can throw down a huge tight solid clean bass tone suitable for modern country.

I can't imagine ANY situation with PA support where this wouldn't be enough amp.
Click to expand...

Nice! What you have is almost exactly what I use, except that I use two vertically stacked B2s with my B1500 in my "big(ger) rig." Your experience with your "little rig" resembles mine so for; the BX500 into one B2 is capable of surprising tone, but the B1500 just has that something extra.
 
#595
Richard Lindsey said:
Nice! What you have is almost exactly what I use, except that I use two vertically stacked B2s with my B1500 in my "big(ger) rig." Your experience with your "little rig" resembles mine so for; the BX500 into one B2 is capable of surprising tone, but the B1500 just has that something extra.
Click to expand...

Are your b2's 8 ohm?

I actually have a B2W and have considered a stacked approach - but they're both 4 ohms, and emails with Acme were clear that the 1900 watts at 2 ohms from the b1500 was a bad idea...

I've run the bx500 into both cabs, but it was oddly thick and low-middy (I thought it'd be too much ultra-low). Much better definition with the b2 alone.

The b2W came used with the b4, with wiring to put all 6 in sequence at some odd ohms (5.something?)... creating a "B6" stack! Overly heavy on the lows, and not fun to haul around.
 
#596
HUnt49 said:
Are your b2's 8 ohm?

I actually have a B2W and have considered a stacked approach - but they're both 4 ohms, and emails with Acme were clear that the 1900 watts at 2 ohms from the b1500 was a bad idea...

I've run the bx500 into both cabs, but it was oddly thick and low-middy (I thought it'd be too much ultra-low). Much better definition with the b2 alone.

The b2W came used with the b4, with wiring to put all 6 in sequence at some odd ohms (5.something?)... creating a "B6" stack! Overly heavy on the lows, and not fun to haul around.
Click to expand...

No, they're both 4 ohms. I would have been perfectly happy with (and, all else equal, would likely have preferred) two 8 ohm B2s for the bigger rig, but I already had one 4 ohm B2, and I'm cheapskate enough that I preferred buying one more 4 ohm to buying two additional 8 ohms. However, I'm careful with volume and use the 'skinny stack' as much for size of tone as for volume. 950W max per cab could definitely pose a problem if you're not careful, but that level of power will only hurt you if you're actually using it or something close to it--and at the levels I play at, I'm not. I've even used the B1500 into a single B2 (1250W max)--recorded a whole live-in-the-studio EP that way--but, again, very carefully.

I probably would not be inclined to use a B2W with a B2; these cabs seem to do better matched, IME.
 
#598
OK, not a problem with my BX, but possibly with a new cab. Backstory:

I have a couple of workhorse Carvin heads, an R600 and an R1000. Both are rated down to 4 ohms in bridged mode. Had 'em both for years, and neither has ever given me a bit of trouble until I got this Schroeder 1515+L that's supposed to be 800W @ 4 ohms. I used to run the R1000 into a 4-ohm 118 I had loaded with a Carvin private-label Eminence with nothing but a kick mic plugged into it. Never a whimper. Also ran the R600 into that 118, no problems.

When I run either one into the Schroeder (at loud but not extreme volume levels), the amps shut down their power sections, though the direct out continues to work (which saved my @$$ more than once as I was plugged direct to house also). Electrical engineer buddy of mine tells me the Schroeder may be exhibiting an impedance dip that the R600 and R1000 circuits don't like.

So here's the question for the collective wisdom here assembled: If I want to use my BX500 into this Schroeder cab, should I set the pushbutton at 4 ohms or 2 ohms? If it's set at 2 ohms, will it misbehave in any way if the actual cab impedance is 4 ohms?
 
#599
eli said:
OK...
...
So here's the question for the collective wisdom here assembled: If I want to use my BX500 into this Schroeder cab, should I set the pushbutton at 4 ohms or 2 ohms? If it's set at 2 ohms, will it misbehave in any way if the actual cab impedance is 4 ohms?
Click to expand...
I think your friend is correct, or at least that sounds most likely to me too. And given that, run it at 2 ohms, you won't have a problem. All that does is limit the rail voltage so the amp can't be coaxed to try and push more power than it safely can when/if the load dips too far below 4 ohms.
 

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