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Double Bass Carvin MB10 or MB12?

matt holt

matt holt

Apr 5, 2005
613
599
Cincinnati OH
www.mattholtmusic.com
#1
So, I'm generally more of a separate head/cab guy, BUT I have realized that it would be nice to have something that's more plug-and-play for certain occasions. To make a Long story short, after a lot of research, I have decided on the carvin MB combos for a number of reasons. I am leaning toward the MB10, which should be more than adequate for most of the gigs I do-jazz dinner music and such. However, I do periodically do things where it gets a little louder:Noisier Club dates and big band gigs and such. Would I be able to get by with the MB10, or should I go ahead and get the 12? how about with PA support?

Thanks
 
#2
I've tried these combos and to be honest, I didn't like them for upright bass. They have lots of bells and whistles, but I don't think they are particularity suitable for piezo pickups and took a lot of knob twiddling to dial in an acceptable sound. Personally, I'd look elsewhere for your combo needs.

- Steve
 
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#3
bassfiddlesteve said:
I've tried these combos and to be honest, I didn't like them for upright bass. They have lots of bells and whistles, but I don't think they are particularity suitable for piezo pickups and took a lot of knob twiddling to dial in an acceptable sound. Personally, I'd look elsewhere for your combo needs.

- Steve
Click to expand...
Hmmm, that's interesting: I've read some people who really like it for upright. Out of curiosity, what pickup are you using?

The thing that is particularly attractive about this amp to me is that it has a parametric low mid that will go down to 50hz. I love my bass/pickup combination, but it does have a large bump right around 70hz. Normally I use the parametric eq on my preamp to knotch that out, but it would be nice to have an amp with that built in as well.
 
#4
i agree with steve - it's a little tough. but, with an Fdeck, i can get a pretty good sound out of an MB210. does take a little fiddling with the knobs to get it right but can be done.

i've got a bassmax piezo on both my basses.
 
#5
I have an MB10. The eq section is good but not great. That said, I was able to get a very usable sound with both the APTflex and a Copper Realist with an Fdeck in front.
I don't use an amp much but for the price, weight and size, this lil' guy is a winner.
-Jeff
 
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#7
The Fdeck makes a big difference with piezo pickups into these amps, IMO.

Matt- the parametric eq points are pretty useful but it takes some tweaking. I'd go for the MB10, it gets plenty loud if you need it.

Steve- running a better/higher impedance input definitely helped me to get a usable sound with piezos. Francis's pre is a really amazing and simple tool.
-J
 
#8
I am not a DB'er,but thought I'd chime in on how I like the MB10.

I'm using an MB10 and an MBE115 with my Longhorn and it is perfecto! No contour, low mids at 1, high mids at 3, everything else flat, and direct out to SONAR. A great bass tone IMO live and recording.
 
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#12
I had a MB10, and had a really hard time finding a usable sound for my plywood with gut/bassmax/Fdeck combo. I really liked the form factor and all of the controls and options, but I never could really get them to come together. I ended up selling it and going GK. Both the MB200 head and MB150S combos I've owned have had a much more DB friendly eq than the Carvin, IMHO.
 
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#13
HateyMcAmp said:
I had a MB10, and had a really hard time finding a usable sound for my plywood with gut/bassmax/Fdeck combo. I really liked the form factor and all of the controls and options, but I never could really get them to come together. I ended up selling it and going GK. Both the MB200 head and MB150S combos I've owned have had a much more DB friendly eq than the Carvin, IMHO.
Click to expand...

Yea, my main amp is an MB500, I agree it's eq is pretty upright friendly.
 

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