Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

[DJ Bebop]

Test the tube? If one doesn't have a tube tester, it might be easier to buy a new tube and try it out, or take one from another amp that is working and see if it fixes the bx500.

Also use the switch to disengage the tube. It should work without a tube present.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Was wondering if I could get some advice from the crowd. I have this head - gigged it for years. Now, if I use it with an effects pedal between the bass and the head, everything is fine, but without it, there is a loud hiss. Seems like an impedance issue. No one around here wants to work on it. I've tried the standard ribbon cable clean, but no change.

Any ideas?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Was wondering if I could get some advice from the crowd. I have this head - gigged it for years. Now, if I use it with an effects pedal between the bass and the head, everything is fine, but without it, there is a loud hiss. Seems like an impedance issue. No one around here wants to work on it. I've tried the standard ribbon cable clean, but no change.

Any ideas?

Could it be, the bass itself?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Could it be, the bass itself?

Nope - everything fine with numerous other basses and heads

 

[FunkHead]

Nope - everything fine with numerous other basses and heads

Have you tried bypassing the tube?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Nope - everything fine with numerous other basses and heads

Have you tried to disengage the tube with the button/switch?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Have you tried bypassing the tube?

Great minds think alike

 

[buldog5151bass]

Have you tried to disengage the tube with the button/switch?

Had tried that as well. If I have a pedal between the bass and the amp, everything is dead quiet. That's why I was figuring impedance. I have it upstairs in my practice room, because at real quiet levels it's not too bad. But no way I could gig with it.

 

[FunkHead]

Had tried that as well. If I have a pedal between the bass and the amp, everything is dead quiet. That's why I was figuring impedance. I have it upstairs in my practice room, because at real quiet levels it's not too bad. But no way I could gig with it.

How about straight into the Effects loop(Return)?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Will try that later tonight

 

[Passinwind]

Was wondering if I could get some advice from the crowd. I have this head - gigged it for years. Now, if I use it with an effects pedal between the bass and the head, everything is fine, but without it, there is a loud hiss. Seems like an impedance issue. No one around here wants to work on it. I've tried the standard ribbon cable clean, but no change.

Any ideas?

Passive bass I assume?

 

[Passinwind]

Also use the switch to disengage the tube. It should work without a tube present.

Mine didn’t, it went into protect mode if there was no tube plugged in.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Passive bass I assume?

yes

 

[DJ Bebop]

Mine didn’t, it went into protect mode if there was no tube plugged in.

Oops
I thought they were the same as the BX1500. I remember Carvin was selling them with no tubes for a while.
I think they called them BX1500 NT, I thought they did that with the BX500 too, my mistake

 

[Passinwind]

Oops
I thought they were the same as the BX1500. I remember Carvin was selling them with no tubes for a while.
I think they called them BX1500 NT, I thought they did that with the BX500 too, my mistake

They did, but there were a lot of revisions and I think the one I had was very short lived.

 

[DJ Bebop]

They did, but there were a lot of revisions and I think the one I had was very short lived.

Yep, I was thinking of getting a BX500 to go with my BX1500, I think we talked about that.
But at this stage in life, I figured I'd go with a company that is still in business and went with a Mesa WD 800 instead

Good Times!

 

[Passinwind]

yes

The one I had went intermittently into a distorted hissy mode caused by a leaky FET in the DI and/or mute circuit, I have no idea if that was a common failure mode though. The input impedance is arguably a bit on the lowish side for passive instruments but I never tried mine with a passive bass since I don’t own any. Given how much Carvin charged to work on these it’s not surpising that most techs want nothing to do with them IMO.

I liked the amp a lot but the previous owner didn’t get on with the widget I traded him for it so we swapped back after a while. Mine was mostly a spare and I never really needed to carry a backup very often anyway.

 

[KJMO]

"I have no idea if that was a common failure mode though."

Not to be a weener, but I think there are a lot of common failure modes for the BX500 ;-)

 

[eli]

Not to be a weener, but I think there are a lot of common failure modes for the BX500 ;-)

I did buy a couple of BX500s, both of which eventually died or became unreliable. The package and controls and flexibility are so nice, though (I'm a knobs guy), that I gave Carvin one more chance and bought a BX700 -- the red one with the LEDs behind the faceplate. This one has been a solid workhorse and has never given me a moment's trouble. Guess they finally figured it out.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I did buy a couple of BX500s, both of which eventually died or became unreliable. The package and controls and flexibility are so nice, though (I'm a knobs guy), that I gave Carvin one more chance and bought a BX700 -- the red one with the LEDs behind the faceplate. This one has been a solid workhorse and has never given me a moment's trouble. Guess they finally figured it out.

Yeah, too bad it was right before they closed the doors that they figured it out

So, I too like that line. I have the BX1500 the is still working but after they closed up shop I figured tome to invest in something that would have support after the sale and it was time not to be budget conscious as I have been all along.

I saw this amp that looked similar but without the graphic EQ and like you, I'm a knob guy myself

I went with this and never looked back...