Carvin Support (BX500)

[nboyer941]

I have a BX500 that I purchased new. All of a sudden i'm getting a distorted buzzing tone. I did some troubleshooting and it's not the bass, or the cabinet...it's the amp.

I called Carvin and they told me to bring it to my local electronics repair company. They said they can no longer service the BX500.

WHAT?! I've been out of music for a while now. What's going on with Carvin? I'm thinking it'd cost more than the amp is worth to have it repaired by a third party.

Any advice?

 

[twinfallsbass]

Doesn’t that amp have a 12ax7 preamp tube? Maybe it’s bad

 

[twinfallsbass]

If so, that’s a repair you could do yourself

 

[lz4005]

WHAT?! I've been out of music for a while now. What's going on with Carvin?

They split into separate guitar and amp companies, then bankrupted and ended the amp company, then started a new amp company that basically only does PA stuff. Now they don't service any guitar or bass amp they ever made.

 

[MCS4]

Yep, Carvin sadly is out of the guitar/bass amp business. Apparently the company couldn't withstand the loss of the instrument division, which split out into a new company rebranded as "Kiesel" and appears to be doing very well so far as I can see.

 

[nboyer941]

Doesn’t that amp have a 12ax7 preamp tube? Maybe it’s bad

yeah, it does. I don't know anything about amps. Should I just order the tube and try to replace it?

Something like this?
Invalid Link Removed

 

[nboyer941]

Another note... I believe my todler turned the amp on and it may have been left on for 2+ weeks without anyone knowing. Would this wear out the tube?

 

[mikewalker]

Leaving the amp on for a YEAR will not hurt the tube. Have you tried switching the tube out of circuit? (the little switch on the back will bypass it completely).

Though I very much doubt it's the tube. These amps are notorious for problems with the internal ribbon cable - mine was serviced for that (simply unlatched, cleaned with a little deoxit, and latched in again) before I got it, and it's been perfectly good for years now...

 

[nboyer941]

I hate this amp. I had it go out in the middle of a gig once. Super embarrassing. I had to send it to Carvin for repair.

 

[mmbongo]

The tube is only in the preamp and can be bypassed via the switch on the front.

 

[mikewalker]

The tube is only in the preamp and can be bypassed via the switch on the front.

Actually, back panel, on the 'grey face' units:

 

[twinfallsbass]

yeah, it does. I don't know anything about amps. Should I just order the tube and try to replace it?

Something like this?
Invalid Link Removed

Hi, yes. Even if the tube ends up not being the problem, you should have a spare lying around.

 

[mrjim123]

My BX500 no longer works with the tube enabled; if I disable it it works just fine. I have not replaced the tube because I honestly was never able to tell the difference with the tube engaged vs. disengaged.

The BX500 has a common failure mode wherein the ribbon connectors become corroded after several years and must be cleaned - do a search for this specific BX500 issue. As I recall, though, when mine failed there was no distortion, the amp simply shut down. Cleaning the connectors with Deoxit corrected the issue; some disassembly was required.

I'm not sure if your problem is related, but the above might be worth a try. Otherwise, I personally would not opt for repair.

 

[jjk2007]

Probably the ribbon cable issue as reported above. An easy enough fix. I had one for a short while and it started doing the distorted thing.....used a touch of Deoxit and it was back to sounding fine. I ended up selling it several months later but did not have any further issues.

 

[mikewalker]

... I have not replaced the tube because I honestly was never able to tell the difference with the tube engaged vs. disengaged...

Same story here, virtually no difference - and I actually prefer the sound without the tube engaged ( never use it!)

 

[flojob]

I have no helpful reply as to how to fix it, but wanted to say that I personally wouldn't put any more money into it at all. It's failed on you twice. Junk it and get something reasonably priced. Even the behringer stuff gets good reviews from folks, and would at least have a warrantee

 

[seamonkey]

Some trained listeners/techs can tell by sound if it might be a tube. You could post a clip to let people hear.

The bypass switch was a brilliant idea by Carvin. It probably saved them many hours troubleshooting and warranty returns.

 

[gary mitchell]

I bought a Carvin BX500 it started buzzing the first gig I used it, took to some one to look at it. And it had cold solder joints in it, is what he called it, I sent it back got my money and haven't bought a amp from since.

 

[mmbongo]

Actually, back panel, on the 'grey face' units:
View attachment 3328408

My mistake! Been a while since I've looked at my BX500

 

[JCW308]

Carvin closed a while ago and re-opened with no bass amps. We are all hosed.