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Carvin R600 Amp Head problems

EUB or fretless? Advantages and disadvantages.

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H

hmwallace

Guest
May 2, 2013
3
0
#1
Hi, first time posting here, but long time admirer of the site.

I have had a Carvin R600 Redline Stereo Bass amp head normally paired with a Carvin Reline Series 4x10 Cabinet 8ohms 600 W for about 3 or 4 years. The amp has always been reliable and pretty loud for most gigs until recently. The head seems to go in and out, as in it completely loses volume while the amp's power is still on. I have tried several different basses, cables, and cabinets to try to eliminate the problem and it has narrowed down to the amp head. There is no clip or crack on any of the inputs and I have tried all of the multiple inputs and speaker outputs. I also tried to set the amp all the way to normal setting rather than tube as to eliminate the possibility of the tube having gone bad. The amp is set to full range since I only use one cab, but I have tried setting it to bi-amp using two cabs and still had the same issue.

Any insight for my recent tragedy would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Harrison
 
#3
Try "looping" an instrument cable from the effects send to effects return. If the problem goes away the internal contacts on the effects return jack have corroded (you can't see this by eye). This happens with any brand/model that has a serial effects loop especially if you never use the return jack.

I don't understand your poll?
 
#5
Thanks for replies, and I meant to post the poll separately from the thread, apologies. I tried looping the effects send to effects return as suggested, and the problem has not occurred in a few hours (very promising). So I assume if it is the corroded effects return jack I just need to replace it. Do you think this would be a possible job for someone with intermediate electric expertise, or should I take it to a professional?

Thanks again
 
#6
hmwallace said:
Thanks for replies, and I meant to post the poll separately from the thread, apologies. I tried looping the effects send to effects return as suggested, and the problem has not occurred in a few hours (very promising). So I assume if it is the corroded effects return jack I just need to replace it. Do you think this would be a possible job for someone with intermediate electric expertise, or should I take it to a professional?

Thanks again
Click to expand...

You don't need to replace it. Just use a good electronic contact cleaner like DeoxIT or RidOx. Spray a plug and a very quick shot into the jack, work in and out several times. Wait at least 15 minutes before plugging the amp back into the wall and turning on. It is a micro corrosion called "fretting" that happens on low voltage/low current contacts.
 
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#9
Very old thread I see, but I recently bought a Carvin R600 head that was listed as "cutting out." I got it and my eagle eye saw the tube had fallen out of its socket.
Plugged it in and it worked great, BUT it had a habit of not working if I hadn't used it for a while.
And when it did work volume increasing or decreasing if you jostled the chassis.
I read the tip here about "contact spray" and since I didn't have any just blew on all the components as hard as I could (no jokes please).
Probably better to do with real contact spray of course. Couldn't find my sons.
It appears to have worked great. No more dropout, there must have been a spider web behind the front circuit board where the guitar plugs in.
I also sprayed some electronic spray (Autozone lol works great) in the input and output jacks.
Thanks! I think I just saved $200 repair bill. It's now loud as sin again, and I think it sounds quite nice. They are just too complicated and easy to hook up wrong.
 
#10
B-string said:
You don't need to replace it. Just use a good electronic contact cleaner like DeoxIT or RidOx. Spray a plug and a very quick shot into the jack, work in and out several times. Wait at least 15 minutes before plugging the amp back into the wall and turning on. It is a micro corrosion called "fretting" that happens on low voltage/low current contacts.
Click to expand...
I tried it just using myself as the contact spray blower. It worked great, probably a spider web behind the front panel. Also the tube had fallen out during shipping which was an easy fix fortunately.
 
#11
Don’t go spraying anything on the components unless you’re good with additional damage. Those internet tips are more often bad rather than good advice.
 
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