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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
I have a strange issue going on with my Carvin BX500. A while back it was not working, I could barely hear my bass through it, it sounded very muffled and quiet. I opened it up and checked the connections and cleaned them. It seemed to have solved the problem. Lately though Ive noticed that sometimes I will have a similar issue to what I was having before but if I insert and remove my jacks from the amp and bass several times quickly, the problem resolves. Is this possibly the input jack or maybe the output jack of my bass? It only happens sometimes and after I fix it it doesn't do it for a good while. Are the jacks dirty? Any help is appreciated, I really like this amp and want to keep liking it.
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Yes, sounds like oxidation in the jack(s). Use a light (as in very little) amount of contact cleaner on a 1/4" cable. (Rubbing alcohol can work in a pinch) Plug it in and out of output jack of bass about ten times. Repeat on input jack of amp. Also do it to the in/out of the FX loop jacks. This is a common problem in high humidity and/or salt air areas. I do it twice a year as regular maintenance since I live about 15 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico.
Hope this helps and keep us in the loop.
Hope this helps and keep us in the loop.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I had similar issues, then sadly it crapped out completely. At a gig. I traded it in for a BX700. So far so good, but the trade cost me more than I feel it should have. Whatever. I love the head. Some sentences, like that last one, just sound wrong.
Hey Joe,
Is the 700 voice the same as the 500 but with a few more features or is it a different sound?
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Cool, I do like that they added the pre/post switch to the DI out on the 700. Pretty much the only thing I miss on my 500.
Is it just me, or is anyone else more than a little surprised that ANYONE would design a tone circuit for a bass amp that's - 5 dB @ 40 hz set flat... this make sense to anyone?
Makes perfect sense. Below 40 Hz most ported speakers are starting to unload from their enclosures (excessive movement without sonic benefits). Muddy, stage rattle sound starts there and wastes amp power that could be used for more usable frequencies. That is real world, second harmonic is more dominant with EB.
Well, I got my brand new BX500 tonight, hooked it up to my cab, played it for about 5 minutes, and it went into protect mode and started to pop through the speaker. I unhooked all cords to see if I had a bad cord or something (they worked fine with my other set up), and the protect light still came on. Took the top off to make sure the tube was seated, still no joy. It pulses. The light comes on and the power light blinks and the mute light blinks also, then it goes off and starts over-almost like a cap is charging. I'd really like this to work because I'm putting it in my PB200, and nothing else will fit in there. Any ideas?
A lot of people on this thread have said the ribbon cable or cables inside needed cleaning on their units. I guess they mean the connectors. This thread goes into the issue in great detail.
Hasn't happened to me, yet.
Hasn't happened to me, yet.
That is a bad head...my ribbon cable issue just messed up what was coming from the preamp and didn't go into protect mode. Plus, the DI would still work. I would exchange it ASAP. Protect mode=bad news.
Eeesh. Still with the quality issues??!? Send it back. They've got to send you another one.
My BX500 in a PB200 cab (with a 500W 4 ohm Carvin neo!) is a delightful little amp, but I always bring a backup if I'm going to gig it. It's behaved for a couple of years now. The one thing I can't do is turn it off and turn it back on -- that's when the protect mode happens. Mine is a rather earlier one, but I thought they'd have gotten this taken care of by now...
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I'd advise you to immediately return it, and throw in the few extra $$ for the 700. I had issues with my 500 like you describe, used Deoxit which worked for a while, then the head totally crapped out on me at a gig. Not cool at all. They took that head back on a trade in for a BX700 but only knocked about $75 off the price which I though was kinda uncool, but whatever. No issues thus far with the 700.
I can't help to wonder also if you got my old head, in a new case :/.
Apparently the BX500 Boards are Still Crap(Sorry Carvin). I went through 5 or 6 BX500's each with a new board Revision C,D.E.F,G etc. Each one self destructed. Finally the "G" board revision seemed to do the trick. I then sold it. You can pop the cover and look at the board. There's a Revision stamped right on it. I hope the BX700 has a completely different Power Supply/Board Combination. My problems were 100% NOT Ribbon Cable related.
Edit: I usually don't slam a company but my problems were well over a year ago. It is just UN-acceptable for Carvin to still be selling people these crappy heads after all this time.
I had two different BX500s go into protect mode on gigs. Never again. I loved the amp's tone and functionality, but I will never trust a BX500 again. I'm leery of all their amps now due to this, sadly. I loved the old B1500, which was absolutely rock solid, but it weighs as much as a boulder.
And the sad part is that it is otherwise a great amp; great tone, portable, great features, adequate power.
Fully agreed. Carvin should have fixed the Power Supply/Board issue years ago. I say Board & P/S because it's all self contained. I guess maybe you could solder a better Power supply to the board somehow. Which would have been Carvins responsibility. If you think there's even a slight chance of "dirty" power at a venue than The Carvin will self-destruct. No More Carvins for me because I can't play right when I am in fear of my amp Croaking.
