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Carvin: The Neverending Suckfest

Sorry to hear bout your dilemma, but I've been using Carvin basses and amps exclusively since early '07' and i've only had one problem with my BX500 and that was after owning it for 9 mths, they replaced it no questions asked and haven't had a problem since then.

Going on the board to bash a company whose been building and selling equiptment for over 60 yrs serves no purpose except to let the OP speak for his bass player who up to now hasn't said or mentioned a word himself or herself about any of their equipment. **** happens, I understarnd that but to produce a thread about a reputable company that's totally derogitory is IMO lame.

My Carvin amps (R600, R1000, BX600, with Carvin cabs) have been flawless as well.

BTW, practicing/playing @ 126 db: you're just asking for problems. Now, with the equipment. Later, with your hearing...
 
The CS person called my bassist .

So why don't you just butt out and put your bassist on????? I'm sorry but your whole response to this has been biased from the start. Your friend had a problem but you seem to have taken on a personal crusade against Carvin when, really, it's not your business. Carvin is a good responsible American (how many can say that?) business. They make good quality low cost equipment which they sell direct. As I have said before: take your money elsewhere. Go to a music store and pay their inflated prices and receive worse customer service. If you think I,m exaggerating just read some of the posts on this forum. Whatever!!! Please, just give us a rest from your bitching!!!!

Paul
 
So why don't you just butt out and put your bassist on????? I'm sorry but your whole response to this has been biased from the start. Your friend had a problem but you seem to have taken on a personal crusade against Carvin when, really, it's not your business. Carvin is a good responsible American (how many can say that?) business. They make good quality low cost equipment which they sell direct. As I have said before: take your money elsewhere. Go to a music store and pay their inflated prices and receive worse customer service. If you think I,m exaggerating just read some of the posts on this forum. Whatever!!! Please, just give us a rest from your bitching!!!!

Paul

I don't see any problem with him voicing his opinion based on a bad experience with the company. Even if it was his "friend's"....
 
Send me the bass player of this supposed horror story and then we'll talk

He's not even online nor is he really computer savvy. Ive shown him everything you guys have said when we practice, i bring out my laptop and he reads all the posts.


I just don't trust guitar players...

So you're not in a band, or at least in a band with a guitarist? Or are you one of those guys, the ones with the huge chip on his/her shoulder?

Seriously what is it with the people on here that seem to think this is all some part of some super elaborate scheme involving guitarist and possibly the Illuminati to get my bassist to buy a rig he wont like?


BTW, practicing/playing @ 126 db

We dont practice anywhere near that volume, i did mention that when he got the original rig that he got up to 126 without it clipping as a compliment towards carvin for all the headroom available. The last gig was measured at i believe 95db.

So why don't you just butt out and put your bassist on????? I'm sorry but your whole response to this has been biased from the start. Your friend had a problem but you seem to have taken on a personal crusade against Carvin when, really, it's not your business. Carvin is a good responsible American (how many can say that?) business. They make good quality low cost equipment which they sell direct. As I have said before: take your money elsewhere. Go to a music store and pay their inflated prices and receive worse customer service. If you think I,m exaggerating just read some of the posts on this forum. Whatever!!! Please, just give us a rest from your bitching!!!!

Paul

Actually i was asked to post again to say what ended up happening with Carvin, because forums are a way to share experiences and info, but apparently this disturbs your delicate sensibilities.

If you dont want to read what i have to say, dont.

Going on the board to bash a company whose been building and selling equiptment for over 60 yrs serves no purpose except to let the OP speak for his bass player who up to now hasn't said or mentioned a word himself or herself about any of their equipment. **** happens, I understarnd that but to produce a thread about a reputable company that's totally derogitory is IMO lame.

If it wasnt true it would be derogatory, but this is reality my friend. Im not bashing them, im telling my bassist experience so people out there are aware of it.

And again, my bassist isnt online, if i didnt want to try to help i wouldnt be on this website, because frankly wading thru yet another derogatory post about how im trying to f*ck over my bassist is not how i like to spend my off time, but here i am yet again.
 
With a title like "the neverending suckfest" it is clear to me that you were just trying to share the unvarnished truth for informative purposes.

Well it has been a neverending suckfest for my bassist, and really with the experience he has had could you describe it as Flowery Happiness, or whatever.

Im just relaying his experience, and it has been a bad one.
 
Me too. Somethings are worth compromising on the cheap side.

Carvin has fans on this site, as there's an ethic on tb to go for cheap, to go for online-only. But even a cheap amp is too much $, too important to the task.


I understand that, i mean harmony central went thru an Agile/SX/Rondo and an Avatar phase awhile back. Ive tried both and while Avatar isnt really an online only sort of thing because i live by them they both have their upsides.

And i understand people liking whatever brand they use but i dont understand the rabid fanboy-ness that im running across. I use Epiphone, Peavey, and Genz-Benz for amps,cabs,and guitars respectively and while i have had good luck with them i dont think that means no one can have a bad experience with them. Hell, ive used behringer fuzzes and had good luck but that doesnt mean that ill attack anyone that says anything bad about them.
 
I don't know why you need 1000w's so, here's my suggestions.

shuttle 12.0 1200w's
svt 4PRO 1200 w
svt 8PRO 2400 w
any decent preamp such as a sanamp combined with a power amplifier.

but over all, I love TC RH 450. only 450 watts. but man.. you know it's there.
 
OP:
I remember you originally posting for advise as to what kind of rig your bassist should use. It sounds like the Carvin stuff isn't going to work out.
Being that your bassist is kind of an "old school" kind of guy, just wanting a simple stand-alone head and playing a short scale with flats and a felt pick I suggest he go old school as far as an amplifier is concerned.
Whether Carvin gear is good or not is debatable, many folks here are obviously fans/users so we know it works for some people. When I look product specifications and realize that a given piece of gear would be a bargain at twice the asking price , combined with the fact that it's not being used by very many people I take a step back. Bassist are a pretty savvy herd, if there's something really good out there at a really good price you tend to see a lot of them out in the clubs and out on the road in no time flat.
 
OP: Whether Carvin gear is good or not is debatable, many folks here are obviously fans/users so we know it works for some people. When I look product specifications and realize that a given piece of gear would be a bargain at twice the asking price , combined with the fact that it's not being used by very many people I take a step back. Bassist are a pretty savvy herd, if there's something really good out there at a really good price you tend to see a lot of them out in the clubs and out on the road in no time flat.

The fact that Carvin equipment is not available f/s at your local GC, nor, for that matter, at any local retailer (outside their own showrooms in California), probably contributes as much as anything to their limited popularity.

I was a Peavey owner/user until I took a chance and ordered a Carvin combo for my son when he graduated 8th grade. Once we got it set up I was amazed that this little 160 watt combo had better (by far!) tone than my Peavey equipment.

Subsequent amp purchases have all been Carvin, and I have yet to be disappointed. But I don't think I would have shelled out the $$$ for a bigger Carvin if I had not had the opportunity to hear, and test, one 1st.
 
The fact that Carvin equipment is not available f/s at your local GC, nor, for that matter, at any local retailer (outside their own showrooms in California), probably contributes as much as anything to their limited popularity.

I was a Peavey owner/user until I took a chance and ordered a Carvin combo for my son when he graduated 8th grade. Once we got it set up I was amazed that this little 160 watt combo had better (by far!) tone than my Peavey equipment.

Subsequent amp purchases have all been Carvin, and I have yet to be disappointed. But I don't think I would have shelled out the $$$ for a bigger Carvin if I had not had the opportunity to hear, and test, one 1st.

First-off, I think a lot folks order their equipment online, most manufacturers have a return policy. Obviously, selling 50,000 units to Guitar Center to get on the front page of their mailer would boost sales a bit.

Also, a comparison to Peavey isn't exactly an earthshaking testimonial. I'm very familiar with Peavey equipment over the last 25+ years, they've built a lot of really dependable, rock solid gear. A friend of mine works with one of their old engineers, back in the day they were handed a competitor's product and told to make something that did the same thing, but costs half as much without patent or copyright violations. The final test was a tailgate drop in the parking lot to make sure it was solid. I have a lot of respect for Peavey gear, but it's not what I think of when I think of great bass tone.
 
Also, a comparison to Peavey isn't exactly an earthshaking testimonial. I'm very familiar with Peavey equipment over the last 25+ years, they've built a lot of really dependable, rock solid gear. I have a lot of respect for Peavey gear, but it's not what I think of when I think of great bass tone.

Roughly comparable in price, so Peavey vs Carvin is a natural comparison.

Peavey sounded ok, did the job. Carvin does it somewhat better...IMO...

Obviously amps that cost 2- 3 - 4 X what these brands cost should sound better, don'cha think? I mean, watts is watts, so the tone should blow away the cheaper brands. Of course,, tone is subjective...very subjective. I've played examples of the more expensive brands. Sound good? Yeah they sounded ok. 2 - 3 - 4 X as good? Ah, nooo...:rollno:

As stated previously, I'm happy, quite satisfied...by the tone... and the reliability...of my Carvins. No need to delve further.
 
IF carvin was a bad as the OP is insisting they wouldn't currently be operating in today's economy, plain and simple. I don't own any carvin gear i use fender and swr.

Even if i had dealt with said company that treated me this way i would also steer clear of them, and let others know what happened. I think the problem was the approach. Its one thing to share an experience, its another altogether to come into a bass player community and completely rip apart a company that many have come to know and stand by.

Just sounds like trolling imo.

Btw, i have owned An Svt 7pro, tone wise it was decent but it wont handle what your bassplayer is attempting to throw at it. It will clip then you will be posting about how ampeg sucks on here as well, because i can guarantee that ampegs customer service would be similar if not worse to "your bass player" That is a much larger scale company.

just my personal opinion of course, and what do i know?
 
So why don't you just butt out and put your bassist on????? I'm sorry but your whole response to this has been biased from the start. Your friend had a problem but you seem to have taken on a personal crusade against Carvin when, really, it's not your business. Carvin is a good responsible American (how many can say that?) business. They make good quality low cost equipment which they sell direct. As I have said before: take your money elsewhere. Go to a music store and pay their inflated prices and receive worse customer service. If you think I,m exaggerating just read some of the posts on this forum. Whatever!!! Please, just give us a rest from your bitching!!!!

Paul

Why hello Mr. Pot, have you met Mr. Kettle?
 

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