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Carvin: The Neverending Suckfest

T

theAntihero

May 9, 2010
98
9
#1
So, you guys might remember my previous post about my bassist Carvin rig and all the problems with it? Well here's an update.


They promised to send him out a replacement the day that he called, they lied. They sent it out a week later and this one once plugged in had the clip light on without any input, clicked rapidly with various lights going on and off then died without ever actually amplifing any signal.

This is preposterous, first they cant put bolts in the speakers, then they send him out a defective head, then they lie and send it out a week later than they said, then to top it off they send him yet another defective amp. This one looks like it was repaired badly in the first place as thru the vents in back you can see a couple of ginourmous silicone blobs on the circuitboard and all the bolts on the head have the black coating worn off.

So here he is,again, with a faulty amp on the weekend so he cant get any help until monday.

He's lost total confidence in the rig and is going to send the whole thing back, hopefully Carvin wont try to f*ck him over on the whole thing, but i guess he can just dispute the charge on his Visa card.

So anyone have any recommendations on a high powered,1000w-ish, amp that actually works?
 
#2
like i've said before...I think Carvin instruments are pretty nice instruments (I own two, an LB75 Koa in fretted and fretless).

On the other hand, being an amp tech, I dread it when I see a Carvin amp...in fact, I have become quite choosy and if it is a Carvin solidstate amp, I steer clear of them....even the tube amps are not that well built, but they are relatively easy to work on. Carvin's SS amps are a nightmare.

Your friend's problems don't surprise me in the least...ship the whole thing back and ask for your money back. Buy a decent rackmount preamp and a QSC/Crown/Crest poweramp and be done with it.
 
#3
IME, Carvin's aren't really made to be repaired in the traditional sense. They're modular, you find which circuit board has the problem and drop in the whole thing, that's if you can get your hands on one. Try GK's 1001rb. It doesn't say 1000W but it sure sounds/feels like it.
 
#4
unfortunately, carvin usually won't send you a whole circuit board to replace the bad one with so you're stuck with either sending the whole amp back to Carvin or hoping your amp tech doesn't mind losing money trying to fix it...
 
#5
Since you asked. See above. World class customer service too.
I get mine from Ye Olde Music Shoppe in the Carolinas but some guys have found em even cheaper on E-bay.
The 9.0 is a single 4 ohm or 2 8 ohm cabs 900 watt or less at sinle 8 ohm cab model and the max 12 does two 4ohm cabs at 600 watts each side or less ea at 8 ohm.
If that is not in the budget you might still get the LG1000 Ashdown from Thomann.com in Germany for 360.00 bucks or so and only need to change the fuse and power cord.
Genz Benz is the best though
 
#8
My experiences with carvin are 10-20 years old. I had a couple of their bass amps and cabs, a PB500 and a RL600. Both eventually burned up in a few years but after considering that I was very busy then working them at dance hall with 100-250 people volumes at the time. (no PA support) or trying to be a rockstar with the redline, they really did stand a few thousand hours of working full steam (read abuse). They just did it all in a few years instead of gradually over decades. Throw into the mix that at the time I didn't know anything about power/bass boosting/mid-cutting/speaker stuff/frequencies/slotting a mix, whatever, they lasted through a pretty good beating.:D

I wouldn't mind finding another PB500 again if spare parts were available, the redline I'd pass on. I have had one of their kit basses for years and it's a great bass. Good piece of alder, great neck, stable, feels professional/expensive/well-done when you pick it up and play it.

But alas, when you can get that much for that little, there has to be a weak link somewhere. I would like to get my hands on a B1500ish line amp though. Seems much more simple, less bells and whistles, less stuff to go wrong, just preamp + a little effect knob + power.
 
#11
I have had recent problems with a new DCM2000L that I use for 2 Avatar B410 Neos...first the power plug vibrates out of its socket...it needs either a snap lock or a lock strap...but gaffers tape will do....second the whole power output section had cold solder joints...that Carvin suggested I fix instead of sending it back...you cant get to the bottom of the board unless you take the entire thing apart...and don't forget about the energized heat sinks...ouch! Our drummer is playing in London England this month (WT Feaster Blues Band...tell them Otis Thick sent ya! and give Chris Taylor the drummer a hard time about his NEW hair color!) I think I may send it back and use one of my backup amps while I have some down playing time.


:hiding:
 
#12
rbonner said:
I hate hearing this stuff. It's too bad.

BOB
Click to expand...


Me, too....I don't live too far from them. Kind of makes you sick...I remember seeing guys back in the 80s that SWORE by Carvin. I played them a couple of times and never had a problem, but nowadays I guess you never know...

Agreed...too bad...but you know, it DOES seem odd to have this many failures with one customer, doesn't it??

I guess what I'm saying is that is it me? or does something not seem right? Seems like they would have gone over the new one with a fine toothed comb, doesn't it?

As for what I'd recommend, SVT4Pro.....6 years of solid gigging and it has never let me down yet.
 
#14
I think the OP's bassist would be happy with a big GK 1001RB and 4x12 cab. It's a big loud full stack that will go pleny low.
One of the BIg Mesa Full stacks might be out of the budget, if not check those out as well.

I can't say I would keep trying with Carvin at this point if I were him. It's kind of scaring me, really.
 
#15
Sorry to hear about this horror story. Obviously, there are many here who have never had this crap happen to them with Carvin, and love their products, but there really is no excuse for this. I would try to get a hold of the Customer Service manager and hash it out with him.
 
#16
I find this interesting as the couple of small problems I have had with my Carvin equipment have been seen to in a timely manner and to my complete satisfaction. I own Four carvin basses, currently three of their power amps ,two of their EQs and a stereo crossover that I bought used via Ebay. The crossover had a problem when it arrived - Carvin sent me the schematic and I fixed the unit in about five minutes. Just a bad solder joint. I think Carvin equipment is about as good as it gets. I have to wonder if user error is contributing to the problem.

Whatever, If you have a Carvin product that has a problem keep sending it back until you get the problem resolved. Send it back for a refund an get something else. It really IS your choice but let us know how the next set up works for you!

Paul
 
#18
For real, get a used Crest CA-6 or a QSC RMX 1850 (either one under $500), and a used ($200) BBE BMAX preamp or Sansamp RPM preamp--even a VTBass pedal ($125 used) will drive a power amp. Add a used 4 space rack (extra deep for the Crest) and he is set with enough power to do any job. Total cost under $800.

You will even find entire racks ready to go on TB classifieds. I just found a Mesa M9 Carbine there for $850 (900 watts into 4 ohms).
 
#19
I've owned multiple GK heads and combos and I must say, they're built like tanks and their CS is second to none. There's a reason why Carvin stuff is less expensive than their competition but I still don't understand why GK stuff isn't much more than Carvin, yet GK stuff is so much more reliable, IME at least.
 
#20
WOW!

I have several bits of Carvin kit [admittedly all of it over 10 years old] and I think all of it is great stuff purchased at a great price... but if I had your experience they'd never get a another nickel out of me - ever. AND I'd warn everyone I know not to touch their crap with a 10' pole. Everyone makes mistakes - but your story is one of customer abuse.
 

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