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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

#1,081
Dont buy this head. Got mine used here, and never got a chance to really use it. Went to protect mode, and never worked right again. Brought it to a respectable repair shop. After numerous attempts to fix it, they ordered a whole new circuit board from Carvin, and still could not fix the issue. JUNK I tell you!
 
#1,083
Hi all,
I'm going to be ordering a BX500 in the next few weeks and have a question about the EQ. Someone had posted EQ settings for "true flat." Yes I have searched but can't seem to find it. Was it a post from passinwind? I remember seeing but can not find it.
Thanks for the help all
 
#1,084
HELP!!! ????

SUGGESTIONS!!!! ?????

I love this head - yet it's become unreliable. Last I played it cut out a couple of times, and I didn't think a whole lot about it. Thought it might have been a loose cable or something.

Played a gig today, and it cut out more. I happened to be looking at the amp when it happened, and noticed the light went red when it cut out, telling me it was the head and not anything else in the connections. Thankfully, I was doing the show with another bass player who quickly swapped the head out while I was playing, and we didn't miss a beat... but I need a solution. I got very used to this, I love it, I don't really want to drop the change on a brand new one, and I don't want to waste money bringing it to someone who knows nothing about this amp.

Input please, my friends.
 
#1,086
Thanks. Yeah.. I did that fix a while back, and it worked. Mine is one of the very first released. Finding that information again would take a lot of digging. I'm wondering if it's the same issue?

I replaced the tube also at that time, but am I correct in thinking that there wouldn't be any tube issues, if the tube isn't engaged? Seems to make sense.

If anyone remembers or knows what that fix was, please remind me.

Also, is it a known fact that Carvin resolved that issue? As in, did they make any sort of announcement regarding it? Do they construct the head differently now?
 
#1,087
Joe Nerve said:
I got very used to this, I love it, I don't really want to drop the change on a brand new one, and I don't want to waste money bringing it to someone who knows nothing about this amp.
Click to expand...

A while back I traded for a broken one and did manage to get it working, but it's not the sort of design that old school techs are going to do well with unless they have kept up to date on surface mount technology. And even then, Carvin tech support for schematics and parts has tended to be a mixed bag in the past IME. Just take a look on the website for the cost of factory repair, it's a sticker shock moment for sure.
 
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#1,088
Tube should not be any issue, especially with the bypass.

All I know is there have not been any problems in the last couple of years, but no major announcement that I know of. I'm guessing you have that same problem again. This thread goes back to 2010, and has a predecessor link on page 1. I'm guessing the fix is in there. If you find it post the fix so it's here.

Good luck.
 
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#1,092
I'm pretty sure I still have my deoxit, just need to find it. I'm hoping that's the issue again. Is the amp cutting out the issue others were having, that this fixed? I don't even remember if that was my original issue. I have to go a searchin for them early threads now...

KeithPas said:
Same exact thing happened to me and I sold it. I ended up getting a couple of the micro combos and they have been very reliable.
Click to expand...

Uhh... does this mean I should put you on my list of people to never buy from? Not looking to taking a jab. Hoping maybe I'm missing something here.
 
#1,096
Joe Nerve said:
Found the link to my original problem I'm afraid of my amp. Help?

It was a little different than what I'm experiencing now. I think I'm gonna write a letter to Carvin and see what they advise.
Click to expand...

Ya know, I would call them and ask for the service dept. They heard a *lot* about this problem, believe me! Mine has something similar: if I *turn it off* after playing a while, it does the same "protect" thing for like 10 minutes until it totally cools down. Now I just leave it on and turn vol to zero during breaks. But I never gig it without a backup in the car.

It *is* a charming little bugger, I must say. Mine is in a PB-200 cab with a 4-0hm 600W Neo speaker. Cute package.
 
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#1,099
Mine stopped working and I don't know when. I must have left it on, muted, connected to my 4 ohm speaker, in my music room. When I sat down to play one day, it wasn't on but the power switch was in the on position. No light. Fuse looks ok, but when I opened it I saw a broken piece. Here it is:

broken 2

broken 2

  • Media owner macribas
  • Date added

broken 1

broken 1

  • Media owner macribas
  • Date added

broken piece

broken piece

  • Media owner macribas
  • Date added

Any idea what that is? Is it replaceable? Can it be the cause of the "dead" issue?
 

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