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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

#641
When I first got the Cyclops, DJ, I think my expectations were way too high. When I was first dialing it in and everything, I was actually kind of crestfallen because of the lack of oomph that it had (and also how ineffectual the 12AX7 was). I don't know if it was the cabinet itself (you can really expect only so much from such a shallow cabinet) or the head itself. I had hoped for a lot more because of the head's wattage. I ultimately took the head out of it and just ran a SVT Isovent (man that thing was ridiculously heavy), and it still didn't push like I though it should. Now, I'm knowledgeable in the way of EQs, and I'm not a smiley face kinda guy. I usually just leave it flat, and if I need more push, I boost the mids. But I just couldn't get enough out of it. Maybe it was the head, I dunno. Shortly after taking it out the cabinet, it blew. It was a manufacturing defect (optocoupler or something?) that Carvin ultimately changed in the next release, but I still had to pay for the repair and the shipping cost from coast to coast was tough to swallow. As soon as I got it back from Carvin, I wound up selling the cab and head separately. I was done.

I'm drawn to the BX500 because it's one of the few things left in this world that is actually made in the States, and I've read a lot of good things about them. Also, the customer service is better from wehat I've read. I've weighed the ratio of failure rate to dependable ones, and I guess I'll just have to take that chance. I guess they're like Fords (or Chryslers, or Chevy, or...). Some people swear by them and othwers just swear *at* them.
 
#642
mm_stingray said:
When I first got the Cyclops, DJ, I think my expectations were way too high. When I was first dialing it in and everything, I was actually kind of crestfallen because of the lack of oomph that it had (and also how ineffectual the 12AX7 was). I don't know if it was the cabinet itself (you can really expect only so much from such a shallow cabinet) or the head itself. I had hoped for a lot more because of the head's wattage. I ultimately took the head out of it and just ran a SVT Isovent (man that thing was ridiculously heavy), and it still didn't push like I though it should. Now, I'm knowledgeable in the way of EQs, and I'm not a smiley face kinda guy. I usually just leave it flat, and if I need more push, I boost the mids. But I just couldn't get enough out of it. Maybe it was the head, I dunno. Shortly after taking it out the cabinet, it blew. It was a manufacturing defect (optocoupler or something?) that Carvin ultimately changed in the next release, but I still had to pay for the repair and the shipping cost from coast to coast was tough to swallow. As soon as I got it back from Carvin, I wound up selling the cab and head separately. I was done.

I'm drawn to the BX500 because it's one of the few things left in this world that is actually made in the States, and I've read a lot of good things about them. Also, the customer service is better from wehat I've read. I've weighed the ratio of failure rate to dependable ones, and I guess I'll just have to take that chance. I guess they're like Fords (or Chryslers, or Chevy, or...). Some people swear by them and othwers just swear *at* them.
Click to expand...

I liked my Cyclops, I got mine the first run, R600 head. It held up until the series 3 heads came out then, it died. Did a core swap for the R1000 head. Another great run, about 9 years, still kinda works, noise issues.

Now I have the BX1500, same but better than the RL series sound wise, to me. Using it sometimes with the old Cyclops cab, and yes if the box was bigger for the 15'' it would sound better. I have thought about building something like a fearful, Cyclops kinda deal. Staying with the 2x8 with horn top end and building an optimal cabinet foe the 15".

What I do now is, run the Cyclops with the BX1500 head as normal but, I add my Aguilar GS112 on the low side with the Cyclops !5'' and run the high end, the 2x8's and horn as always. It works for me :)
 
#643
Can anyone here help me with tube choice for my BX500. I'm having some problems with mine, and remember somewhere in the first thread people talking about replacing the tubes with different, possilby better ones. I know nothing about tubes. All I know is I can choose from one of these, but don't have a clue which. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/search/search.jsp?sB=r&question=12AX7+tube Help?
 
#647
jay loren said:
Great video, Joe.
I found this on the tubes for thew BX500. Hope that helps:

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

Thanks for the video comment. :)

Thanks for the link. Made me laugh. That's been my feeling too. I thought it was cuz I'm half deaf. I never really heard any difference with the tube engaged or not. Still love the head though.
 
#648
Joe Nerve said:
Thanks for the video comment. :)

Thanks for the link. Made me laugh. That's been my feeling too. I thought it was cuz I'm half deaf. I never really heard any difference with the tube engaged or not. Still love the head though.
Click to expand...
I just found out, that when I thought the tube was engaged, the button in, is actually out and the button out, the tube is in the circuit :hmm: Which kinda confirms how it sounded to me and made me feel better 'cause I thought it sounded better with the button out which I thought it was out of the circuit. So' I guess I am saying, I think I can hear a difference :confused:

BTW, how I found this out, I pulled the tube to experience the NT option and then realized the button function :D
 
#652
MostlyBass said:
What are your thoughts / opinions / experiences with the power / wattage capabilities of the BX500? I recently ordered one and now I'm thinking if I should have ordered the BX1500... My gigs don't justify 1500 watts but it's only a few hundred bucks more... Currently my cabinet is a singe 8 ohm Epifani PS115.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Depends on the environment. I have a *loud* drummer with a mic'd kick, and I need 500 watts into 8 ohms. But if you're playing string bass with a lighter drummer and not-so-overdriven guitars, then the 300 watts should work fine, especially if the Epi has a better sensitivity than the 97 dBA I think my cab does.
 
#653
MostlyBass said:
What are your thoughts / opinions / experiences with the power / wattage capabilities of the BX500? I recently ordered one and now I'm thinking if I should have ordered the BX1500... My gigs don't justify 1500 watts but it's only a few hundred bucks more... Currently my cabinet is a singe 8 ohm Epifani PS115.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

I played with some guys a couple of weeks ago using the BX500 and the 10.2 NEO. (It's a 4 ohm cabinett to be clear.) MOderately heavy handed drummer with bass and snare miked. The amp volume made it to 2.75.

That said, I read two different posts on TB that stated that volume on this head does not rise at the same incremental volume between 3 and 10 and it does on 1-3.

Due to my paranoia going back to the old days when I was broke and pining for headroom, I elected to grab a big boy head. I would rather have it and not need it.

As for the bx 1500, a friend of 20 years or so has giggled 1-3 times per week the last two years and has never come close to having a problem with service or volume. He is driving a huge beast of an 8 ohm cab.

My humble recommendation is to grab a bx500, then save for a 1500. You'll have the best of both worlds and an emergency back up. You can also add a second cab which would help.

You can never put too much water in a nuclear reactor, and never have too much headroom ! :p
 
#656
Chef said:
I've asked this before, long ago:

Anyone pistol whipping their Bx500 at 2 ohms, regularly?
Does it lay there and take a beating?

thx
Click to expand...

That’s a good question. I would be weary of doing that and I love my Carvin amps (BX1200, MB10, PB100/115).
Mostlybass is asking whether or not he should buy a BX1500 instead of the BX500. I say if there’s a chance you’re going to drive a pair of 4 ohms cabs, the BX1500 is worth the extra money. Two internal amps @ 450 each (@ 4 ohms) and the ability to lower/raise the volume independently and/or run in bi-amp mode, it’s a lot of extra goodies very a little (comparatively) extra money.
 
#658
MarTONEbass said:
I played an outside gig attended by a few hundred people on Friday night. The BX500 was powering my 2 AE112 cabs. The band was LOUD and I never turned the amp past 3 the whole night! I can't imagine ever needing the 1500. As it is, my ShuttleMax 9.2 is getting jealous because I take the BX500 more often nowadays!
Click to expand...

That's the exact same rig I'm using. 'Love it!
I just got another BX500 for gig backup.
 
#659
georgiagoodie said:
That's the exact same rig I'm using. 'Love it!
I just got another BX500 for gig backup.
Click to expand...

Are they 8 ohm cabs? If they are, the money you save by buying the BX500 (instead of a BX1500) can be used to buy a backup head (BX250).
The question is whether or not you run (or trust to run) a pair of 4 ohm cabs with the BX500. In that case, the BX1500 might be worth the extra bucks because if something does go wrong, I would think it's more likely to go wrong at 2 ohms than 4 ohms. I could be wrong.
 
#660
Chef said:
I've asked this before, long ago:

Anyone pistol whipping their Bx500 at 2 ohms, regularly?
Does it lay there and take a beating?

thx
Click to expand...

Never used mine at 2 ohms, the AE112's are 8ohm cabs.


georgiagoodie said:
That's the exact same rig I'm using. 'Love it!
I just got another BX500 for gig backup.
Click to expand...

I'm happier than I thought I would be, the Carvin/Berg combo is really doing it for me lately!
 

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