Carvin RL1018

[rickbass]

Originally posted by Mudbass
"... how could any review worth it's salt have failed to comment....

Notice I stated those comments were an excerpt from a review of the RL1018. Those 2 paragraphs are perhaps 10% of the entire review.

"I don't know who "Vintage Guitar" is, but their review sure doesn't reflect my impressions of the RL1018 when I tried it."

Check out a copy if you get a chance, (some bookstores like Barnes & Noble carry it). George Gruhn is one of their columnists. Invalid Link Removed has a little about the mag.

FWIW, I often don't wholly agree with gear reviews. As I said, I thought that one on the Carvin was "too kind" in regard to the cabs. But, these reviews, like Bass Player's, typically have a strong "price/value" influence.

 

[SCH]

I'm new to TB, but not to Carvin. I bought a series III R-1000 right after they came out. I also got the Carvin RL-210 and RL-115 along with it.

The first time I gigged with my Carvin rig the head crapped out on me. To their credit Carvin replaced the head and paid for the shipping as well. The replacement head has worked well in full range. It gets hot and twitchy when bridged. If you like twiddling with knobs you'll love Carvin heads. I've found it difficult to find a tone I consistently like.
I think Carvin's power ratings are a bit inflated.

I think their cabs adequate. They are not very efficient, but they aren't very expensive either. I have since replaced them with a pair of Bag End S-15D's. The Bag Ends are great.

Carvin meets a certain market nitch; they provide fairly good gear at fairly good prices. In the final analysis you get what you pay for. It you're looking for a decent head at a decent price, get a Carvin. If you are looking for good cabs, save your money and look elsewhere.

 

[npbassman]

I own a Carvin R1000 and 2x10, 18 setup. The speakers are not efficient at all. They fart and have almost no definition. You can get a decent sound out of the head if you tweak it but it will have absolutely NO power until you engage one of the three preset filter buttons. After that, it's loud but headroom is limited and it'll start to clip early with a hot bass. I have used the R1000 as a backup head ever since I purchased my Ashdown ABM500. The carvin isn't even in the same league as the Ashdown.

Surprisingly enough, I have more good things to say about my Carvin PB-200 combo than I ever will about the R1000 head. In certain playing settings, it blows the doors off of the R1000 head. Add a little Sansamp bass pedal and it's even more killer. The quality of the combo led me to the head purchase but I probably won't buy another Carvin anytime soon.

Hope this helps,

Mike

 

[Torfinn]

I have an older RL118 cabinet that I use with a TubeWorks 300 watt Head. It has great sound with my Fender P. I originally purchased it with the intent of later getting a 2x10 cab also. But after I got it I was pleasantly surprized to find that it had all the punch I needed without being too bright. So I am able to get a phat tone with the right amount of definition with just the RL118. I never did get the 2x10 cab.

Of course, YMMV.

Torfinn