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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
- Jan 17, 2002
- 1,249
- 23
- Disclosures
- I paid for all my gear myself. Well, me and MasterCard.
To get to the connectors on that front board (the preamp section of the BX), you have to remove it from the chassis by removing all the knobs and unscrewing the nuts from all the pots and switches. It's not hard, just tedious. With the right size nutdrivers it takes no more than 20 minutes to do the whole job.
The schematic from Carvin shows that the tube is in a simple cathode follower circuit, with both sections paralleled. I would not expect any 12AX7 (5751, etc.) operating within normal parameters to make much of a difference in the tone. I usually just bypass the tube.
Fixed it, and figured I'd share the solution
The problem was, as many guessed, the ribbon cable. The power connection became slightly loose and was 'leaning' out of place. I just nudged it in the right direction and pressed down a bit, sounds good as new.
Glad to hear you've resolved your problem. I have also resolved my previous issue with help from a TBer.
I was getting unwanted distortion with my pedals going into the effects loop. I was told that the loop is best used for rack effects. I put the effects into the front input and bye bye distortion. An easy fix for an effects noob.
An I am still loving this amp. It sounds great as a lower cost / wattage alternative to my ShuttleMax 9.2 .
I was getting unwanted distortion with my pedals going into the effects loop. I was told that the loop is best used for rack effects. I put the effects into the front input and bye bye distortion. An easy fix for an effects noob.
An I am still loving this amp. It sounds great as a lower cost / wattage alternative to my ShuttleMax 9.2 .
I bought several tubes as a fun experiment... There really isn't much difference at all. However I did like the SLIGHT difference with a Mullard tube. Is it worth changing? Only if you're bored with 20 bucks burning a hole in your pocket. I also tried a Tung-Sol. Again barely a difference but it gave a slightly thinner / mid range sound while the Mullard was punchier. I went back and forth with these to try them and kept plucking open strings evenly. I won't say that it's not all in my head but I did keep the Mullard in the head and the other two as spares.
For a real change in tubey-ness, I press the button on my VT Bass pedal. Much more effective.
I do love the BX500 - sounds awesome through both my Epifani PS115 and BRX 10.2. Just not both cabs at the same time.
I do love the BX500 - sounds awesome through both my Epifani PS115 and BRX 10.2. Just not both cabs at the same time.
Just received my BX500 from Zoomie tonight, who by the way is a fantastic guy to work with. 
It has a mullard tube in it and as soon as I began playing, I could feel the smile forming. What a step up from the Peavey Max 450 it replaces. WW
It has a mullard tube in it and as soon as I began playing, I could feel the smile forming. What a step up from the Peavey Max 450 it replaces. WW
Did an outdoor gig with the BX500 run through a Tec Amp 2/12 cabinet and it was awesome. Great tone and headroom
Need some help guys.
I received my BX500 yesterday and it appeared to be fine from it's cross-country trip. I received some BagEnd 15's today and I hear white static noise after about 10 seconds of being turned on.
- Static present without a bass plugged in
- Tried 2 different passive basses
- Using new speakon cables
- Tried different power outlets for ground issues
- Static noise present whether tube switch is engaged or not
- BagEnd speakers fine using another bass amp
- Opened up the top and ensured all connectors were engaged
Any suggestions?
Also, which ribbon connector has been giving many owners a problem and will Deoxit D5 be ok to use on it? Thanks WW
I received my BX500 yesterday and it appeared to be fine from it's cross-country trip. I received some BagEnd 15's today and I hear white static noise after about 10 seconds of being turned on.
- Static present without a bass plugged in
- Tried 2 different passive basses
- Using new speakon cables
- Tried different power outlets for ground issues
- Static noise present whether tube switch is engaged or not
- BagEnd speakers fine using another bass amp
- Opened up the top and ensured all connectors were engaged
Any suggestions?
Also, which ribbon connector has been giving many owners a problem and will Deoxit D5 be ok to use on it? Thanks WW
just got mine back from Carvin after it decided to intermittently work and I had replaced the tubes out...turns out it was the ribbon cable they said.
When are they going to realize that ribbon cables suck and that it's worth it to just solder some wires?
I had the same noise problems with two other amps and it turned out to be interference from those new energy saving light bulbs! Replaced them, hiss GONE!!
- Jan 17, 2002
- 1,249
- 23
- Disclosures
- I paid for all my gear myself. Well, me and MasterCard.
Ain't gonna happen. Ribbon cables save too much labor during manufacturing and repair. Do you really want to unsolder all those connections when the amp needs to come apart? And Carvin's not the only manufacturer who has had ribbon cable problems.
What should happen IMHO is that Carvin should quit using the cheapest possible ribbon cable connectors. Gold plated connectors don't add that much cost, and they significantly reduce intermittent signal issues.
+1 to the gold connector recommendation.
Another way to go would be to use a different (higher) class ribbon connector altogether. In the I.T. world we have large systems that have been running for decades, equipped with ribbon cables absent any gold at all. But they're well made, and lock in tight. Similar to those old IDE cables. They can even be had shielded. If crosstalk is an issue, games can be played with pinout.
OTOH, could just be another one of those otherwise-reliable pieces of gear that needs a (figurative) kick in the ass from time to time, that being cleaning+reseating those connectors. Do laundry, change oil in truck, wash kitchen floor, replace slide recoil spring in .45, clean BX ribbons, like that.
Another way to go would be to use a different (higher) class ribbon connector altogether. In the I.T. world we have large systems that have been running for decades, equipped with ribbon cables absent any gold at all. But they're well made, and lock in tight. Similar to those old IDE cables. They can even be had shielded. If crosstalk is an issue, games can be played with pinout.
OTOH, could just be another one of those otherwise-reliable pieces of gear that needs a (figurative) kick in the ass from time to time, that being cleaning+reseating those connectors. Do laundry, change oil in truck, wash kitchen floor, replace slide recoil spring in .45, clean BX ribbons, like that.
