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Carvin Comparision Question

A

AboveTheBridge

Jun 12, 2007
29
0
Little shack down the road
#1
Hey guys,

I've been looking at Carvin lately and I'm wondering about the quality of their gear. Most of their stuff seems to be sold with ridiculous amounts of quality at really low prices. I'm wondering... Is it a joke?

The reason I'm wondering is 'cause I'm thinking about getting a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout (1x12). Problem is, I just recently saw a BR610 Bass combo going for $550, while the Mesa is a minimum $900. The BR 610 provides twice the wattage w/ a 9 band graphic equalizer and 3 band parametric EQ.

I'm honestly wondering whether Carvin is the better deal, and even if I weren't to get that specific Carvin, the SBX210 halfstack ($800) seems a lot better than the Mesa.

What should I do?

- AboveTheBridge (ATB)
 
#2
Carvin vs Mesa?:hmm: Carvin is descent stuff for the money. Mesa is built to be the best it can be reguardless of the money, and you will have to pay for it. I own a Carvin 12 channel PA head that I've had for over 10 yrs. Great piece. I also own a DCP 1000 power amp. 1 channel has gone down. The only way I can get it fixed is by sending it back to Carvin. I have always felt that the DCP1000 was a bit over rated powerwise. (jmho)
 
#3
No joke. It's for real...

Carvin delivers pro quality gear for a great price, because their business model allows them to do so, while still making a good profit. That's the reason why the value is excellent for the price.

Whether 1) Carvin is a better deal than Mesa, or 2) Carvin is better than Mesa, are subjective matters for each player to decide. Most would say that Mesa is superior in absolute terms, based on the quality of the components, workmanship and performance. As to whether Carvin is a better deal, at the end of the day you will have to judge for yourself - according to your own particular set of purchase criteria, playing requirements, performance preferences and available budget... :hmm:

MM
 
#4
i have been spending thousands of dollars over the last 2 years trying to find what i consider the best bass(something that i can play while not thinking about the instrument so that i can become immersed in the music). i bought the following basses: sadowsky mv4, peavey usa cirrus, peavey usa millennium(used), alembic elan(used), music man hs stingray, g&l jb-2(usa), tbc jt400-jj, warmoth mm+j black korina with bartolini preamp and nordstrands, and a carvin b4(which is the lowest price/model of their basses). my conclusion: the carvin has better balance and playability than all of the other basses i bought. the pickups were not good, the preamp was their old one, since i bought the bass in '06. i replaced the preamp with an aguilar obp-3. i replaced the pups with seymour duncan active basslines(the ones that do not have exposed pole pieces--you will have to buy two bridge pups while replacing carvins with fender replacements). now this bass not only plays better but sounds better than all of the other basses that i bought. carvin basses are not a joke. not only do they far outperform similarly priced basses, but they compare favorably to basses in the $2000-$3000 price range(my carvin absolutely slays my $2200 sadowsky). i think a carvin takes care of all your fingerstyle and slap needs. if you want to play with a pick i would suggest keeping that old precision with high action as i would not touch a carvin with a pick---just doesn't feel right.

my suggestion: if you like clean tone, really nice action, super high quality craftsmanship, and a fair price--stop listening to all the people on here talking about how carvins are crap and just buy one. let them spend $3000 on basses that aren't really any better.
 
#6
hm..

I like the current line of solid state amps they produce, the bx series heads. Ya get a nice warm, clear sound. I'm currently split between the bx1200 and the genz benz gbe1200, both sound similar, but the Carvin is less than half the price.


The older Carvin bass amps (specifically the redline) were IMO complete failures. Whenever I try to eq mine, I either get pure mud or a horrible old-radio sound with TONS of high midrange and treble.

the bx series is a HUGE improvement.
 
#7
mccartjm said:
i have been spending thousands of dollars over the last 2 years trying to find what i consider the best bass(something that i can play while not thinking about the instrument so that i can become immersed in the music). i bought the following basses: sadowsky mv4, peavey usa cirrus, peavey usa millennium(used), alembic elan(used), music man hs stingray, g&l jb-2(usa), tbc jt400-jj, warmoth mm+j black korina with bartolini preamp and nordstrands, and a carvin b4(which is the lowest price/model of their basses). my conclusion: the carvin has better balance and playability than all of the other basses i bought. the pickups were not good, the preamp was their old one, since i bought the bass in '06. i replaced the preamp with an aguilar obp-3. i replaced the pups with seymour duncan active basslines(the ones that do not have exposed pole pieces--you will have to buy two bridge pups while replacing carvins with fender replacements). now this bass not only plays better but sounds better than all of the other basses that i bought. carvin basses are not a joke. not only do they far outperform similarly priced basses, but they compare favorably to basses in the $2000-$3000 price range(my carvin absolutely slays my $2200 sadowsky). i think a carvin takes care of all your fingerstyle and slap needs. if you want to play with a pick i would suggest keeping that old precision with high action as i would not touch a carvin with a pick---just doesn't feel right.

my suggestion: if you like clean tone, really nice action, super high quality craftsmanship, and a fair price--stop listening to all the people on here talking about how carvins are crap and just buy one. let them spend $3000 on basses that aren't really any better.
Click to expand...

I find it difficult to buy the thoroughness of your research when you could not even read enough of this post to realize that the OP is asking about Carvin's amps.

....just saying....:)

In my experience, for whatever its worth, I've been very disappointed with Carvin's amps. Most of the stuff I've seen has been older and a fair percentage has been guitar stuff, but none of 'em made me want to go out and spend money on it. They all worked, I guess, but none of them sounded particularly good.
 
#8
Their new lines of bass heads and combos are light years better than the old Redline series. Sounds great, almost tougher than Chuck Norris and way cheaper than the high end boutique gear. The equipment gets accolades from bassplayer magazine and gigging musicians. You really can't go wrong with thier new bass equipment.
 
#9
I can understand sending your stuff back to Carvin for warranty work but why would you need to send something to Carvin after the warranty expires for work...shouldn't ANY competent electronics repair shop be able to do it???
Bill
 
#11
Ah, there's the rub. Carvin refuses (or at least used to) to sell copies of their amp schematics to third parties, which makes it nearly impossible for a local tech to work on one of their amps. Quite annoying.

silversport said:
I can understand sending your stuff back to Carvin for warranty work but why would you need to send something to Carvin after the warranty expires for work...shouldn't ANY competent electronics repair shop be able to do it???
Bill
Click to expand...
 
#12
GreyBeard said:
Carvin vs Mesa?:hmm: Carvin is descent stuff for the money. Mesa is built to be the best it can be reguardless of the money, and you will have to pay for it. I own a Carvin 12 channel PA head that I've had for over 10 yrs. Great piece. I also own a DCP 1000 power amp. 1 channel has gone down. The only way I can get it fixed is by sending it back to Carvin. I have always felt that the DCP1000 was a bit over rated powerwise. (jmho)
Click to expand...

I used to have Carvin Red line series 600 with 4x10 speakers. Carvin has to many features for very little money, the head blew out a few years ago and sold it really cheap. I now run a Mesa Boogie 400+ w/ 4x10 RoadReady and could not be happier. I'd say: stay away from Carvin,
 
#13
IconBasser said:
hm..

I like the current line of solid state amps they produce, the bx series heads. Ya get a nice warm, clear sound. I'm currently split between the bx1200 and the genz benz gbe1200, both sound similar, but the Carvin is less than half the price.


The older Carvin bass amps (specifically the redline) were IMO complete failures. Whenever I try to eq mine, I either get pure mud or a horrible old-radio sound with TONS of high midrange and treble.

the bx series is a HUGE improvement.
Click to expand...


I sure did get Robbed in buying the Red Line Series. Boy did they suck:spit:
 
#16
bass-shy said:
I know that I'm in the minority here, but I really like my Redline combo. It has been through A LOT and is still pounding it out loud and clear. From my perspective, my Carvin has proven to be a great gear purchase. Different strokes, I suppose.
Click to expand...


Yeah your right. I guess I beat the hell out of it. Do you get any kind of distortion sounds out of the rig, I heard it a lot while i was :bassist:
 
#17
Bass_Bandit420 said:
Yeah your right. I guess I beat the hell out of it. Do you get any kind of distortion sounds out of the rig, I heard it a lot while i was :bassist:
Click to expand...

No. I have the input gain set so I don't clip the preamp. I mainly play active EMG equipped basses and run through a pedalboard that gives me the OD/distortion/fuzz tones that I want. I also run it in bi-amp mode, rather than bridged. It seems as though most of the issues I have heard about people having with the Redlines are overheating and shutting down. Bi-amping my amp really seems to help keep it running cool while still getting LOUD. The tone issue is subjective, of course, but unreliable is the last thing I could call my Carvin.

It sounds like you have a sweet rig with that Mesa. Congrats.
 
#18
My experience with Carvin bass equipment is pretty positive. I've played a combo with a 15" and a couple of 10"s (maybe they were 8"s) and it pumped rather nicely. I used a couple 2x10 cabs (not the red line series though) and a older head, it also perfomed well. It is inexpensive gear but good middle of the line equipment.. you can certainly pay more for other gear and get less.

Mesa on the other hand has had a long history of advanced tube technology and brute power. It's twice as much and straddles the boutiques level but it certain fills a niche.
 
#19
These things are subjective, of course. For myself, I can say that I freaking love my Carvin B1500. Mesa doesn't make, and never has made, an amp that I would want in its place. If someone gave me a 400, I'd sell it and get a backup B1500. Seriously.

Don't assume that the Mesa necessarily must be better for your purposes simply because it's a Mesa. It may be better for you, or it may not. The right amp for you is the right amp regardless of what it costs or what anybody else thinks of it. That said, the Walkabout is a fine little amp, toneful and gigworthy. I haven't yet played the BX combos, but if they're anything like the B1500 in sound and quality, they could be serious too.
 
#20
I Currently use a B1500 and I find it fits my needs quite well, I have dealt with them for a few things, including a bass, that I love its playability so much I just do not see me ever selling it.
Obviously there is a lot a good American made products out there, it just seems Carvin is a good value. Most of my dealings with them have been satisfactory.
They do have a program on their Bass heads where you can trade your dead one in and get quite a bit of trade in forgot how much (far better than selling it needing repairs) problem is you have to send it back first vs credit back on a new one after you have rec'd your new one and sent back the old one. Heck I know what I meant LOL.
I was going to buy another head after my old R600 fried, but I needed to get one on the way, I was going to get a real trade value toward any bass amp they had but I had to send mine back and they would notify me when they rec'd it and I could then order, told them did not have the time and I bought an Ampeg B4R. I ended up selling it when I went to call the factory(Ampeg) was on hold 20 min 3 times never did talk to anyone. I sure wish the good companies would quite going to Asia.....
 

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