Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

[DJ Bebop]

Although I like my 1001RB I think I like the functionality of the BX1500 more that I live dangerously and continue to use the BX1500 plus I have figured out what clubs have bad juice and plan accordingly.
And if it's a new club I carry backup first time out

 

[Cirk]

Just pulled the trigger on the amp, bag + footswitch. Can't wait!

 

[Lia_G]

Cool!

 

[Quackhead]

So if have a BX500 and you test the power at a gig and it's bad, what can you do? Use another amp?

The BX500 is an incredible Amplifier. IME All Class D Amps are susceptible to various degrees of damage from Crappy Power sources. I know from experience. I bought a $4 tester at Lowes Hardware and found a bad power strip at my Drummers house that fried 2 of them. I will never plug it in again without first testing the outlet.

 

[Lia_G]

Always carry backup.

Liam

 

[Lia_G]

I sometimes just carry a direct box in my gig bag for backup if I don't want to carry a second head. A Sansamp or something similar would be very good.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[Quackhead]

Thanks. I can't really afford another head. The Eden WTDI is a great box and would be a low cost solution.

I sometimes just carry a direct box in my gig bag for backup if I don't want to carry a second head. A Sansamp or something similar would be very good.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[Lia_G]

Agreed! I've never played through one but they look great.

Liam

 

[Quackhead]

It made my stock Squire Vintage Modified Jazz sound amazing. Seriously. They are built like tanks and simple to use. They don't do distortion, but the EQ is really effective. And for those who use compression, the compressor is nice.

Agreed! I've never played through one but they look great.

Liam

 

[gruvola]

I've been a Carvinite for years. My main bass is a SB5001, I use DCM power amps exclusively and I have a 10.2 neo that sounds great. But the BX500 just isn't doing it for me - though that seems sacrilegious on TalkBass.

I've tried to love it for 2 years but there is just something missing in the sound of this amp to me. It sounds sterile, toneless. The tube drive is absolutely worthless, if it does anything at all I would say it just adds a slight amount of unusable fuzz when dimed. The compressor that has received much love here is only OK to my ears (I've gone back to my EBS Multicomp). And many of you are right, the mute switch is a crap shoot. Sometimes it does it's job and sometimes I get a driver blowing pop when I change basses. To top it off, the BX500 went out on me at a gig. (Carvin fixed it immediately, perfectly and for free as I knew they would)

My frustration with the tone of the BX500 finally got to the point where I pulled out my trusty Ampeg V-4b and it made me remember why I loved it. All was good until I injured myself loading the V-4b into a gig last Friday. I've now hooked up my Yamaha PB1 to a Carvin DCM600 and that sounds fantastic but it's still 40+ pounds - maybe 50 with the power conditioner and rack.

Where do I go from hear, I mean here? For the blues, soul and r&b stuff we do, I would like some warmth but not 70 pounds worth. Is the Mesa Walkabout loud enough for a blues band with horns? What about the Genz Streamliner 900? A new Tech 21 VT Bass rack unit with a DCM1000L? I guess the GAS continues.

(oh, one last gripe on the BX500, why is it painted to match a National Guard truck?)

 

[craig.p]

Where do I go from hear, I mean here? For the blues, soul and r&b stuff we do, I would like some warmth but not 70 pounds worth.

Pick up a BBE BMax preamp and send its output into the BX500's effects return. That way you'll bypass the clinical-sounding BX500 preamp. The BMax should give you exactly the tone you're after.

 

[Jarrett]

Where do I go from hear, I mean here?

You can send me that crappy BX500. I'll do you a favor and take that toneless piece of junk off your hands

 

[bass4worship]

You can send me that crappy BX500. I'll do you a favor and take that toneless piece of junk off your hands

+1 or pass it on to me!

 

[gruvola]

You can send me that crappy BX500. I'll do you a favor and take that toneless piece of junk off your hands

I like the pre-amp into the FX return idea. I'm probably going to do that with a VT Bass DI (new case of GAS).

Or maybe I'll just learn to play better

 

[MostlyBass]

I like the pre-amp into the FX return idea. I'm probably going to do that with a VT Bass DI (new case of GAS).

Or maybe I'll just learn to play better

I tried my VT into the effects loop on my BX500 into a MarkBass cabinet the other day. Sounded AWESOME.

 

[Jim C]

It sounds sterile, toneless....
My frustration with the tone of the BX500 finally got to the point where I pulled out my trusty Ampeg V-4b and it made me remember why I loved it.
Is the Mesa Walkabout loud enough for a blues band with horns?

IMO, the Walkabaout doe not have enough clean power for a rock band unles you have a big effecient cab.
Maybe try the SVT 7Pro - Supposedly sounds very close to a tube Ampeg, 15 lbs, 1,000 watts

 

[KeithPas]

Gigged with my BX500 last night; warmed up and got my instruments tuned up and my rig set up and everything was fine then I take a short break before we begin, turn it on and nothing. Ended up getting my backup rig out of the car at the last minute. Tested it this morning and it is fine. I believe it went into "Protect" mode; I switched it to a 2 ohm load and it is now fine. Still makes me nervous to gig with this amp but matched up to my Tec 2/12 cabinet it sounds great.

 

[FunkHead]

So if have a BX500 and you test the power at a gig and it's bad, what can you do? Use another amp?

Yep, I would use My Hartke LH1000. I am not taking any chances.

 

[dug dog]

I switched it to a 2 ohm load and it is now fine.

Are you actually running a 2 ohm load?

 

[KeithPas]

No, I am running a 4 ohm load