Carvin: The Neverending Suckfest

[BassmanPaul]

I have owned 3 Carvin basses, a R1000 head and 810 cab back in the day. Basses are all well crafted, superb playing basses, with sub-par tone (fixed with aftermarket guts).

To an extent I'll agree with this. I didn't like the tone from Carvin's H50 mini hum-buckers. I felt they were not wide enough for a six string. I installed EMGs into all three of my sixes. The J99s single coils that came with my newest one OTOH, I loved. As I had already Bought the EMGs for that instrument, I built a bolt-on five string from Carvin parts to house the J99s. The result was another superb bass with a great R'n'R tone.

Paul

 

[ransombass]

Yes I like Carvin equipment - I own a lot of it. All of it sturdy, reliable and well designed.

Bash people? I merely respond to criticism I consider to be unwarranted.

As for your drummer, that goes without saying, we all know drummers!

Had you actually tried some Carvin stuff you'd have a different opinion. There is a tendency to knock Carvin That I have seen on this forum. Some of it based on abused used equipment that failed. Had it been SWR or another main line brand folk would have said "Oh well, it was used." Fir carvin it's the manufacturers fault.

Paul

I bought an RC210 combo amp (RL600 head and 2-10 cab similar to SWR Redhead) with a Carvin 1-15 extension cab. Decent tone and pretty red anodized knobs. I literally blew the head 5 times, three times on the originally purchased head and twice on the replacement head till it was "out" of warranty. Never pushed it too hard always used good power. Turns out the head couldn't handle the ohm load, although their techs told me it would and despite the fact that they advertised it in their catalog as a combo deal.

On the other hand, the first "real" bass that I owned was an LB70 fretless. I had that thing for many years and used it on many, many recordings and gigs. I finally traded it for a fretless jazz bass. It served me well.

In my opinion, I gave Carvin amps a more than fair chance and they failed to perform. Therefore, I will never buy, nor recommend, a Carvin amp to anyone. Their PA's seem to be sufficient in my experience though.

 

[Sam Evans]

The J99s single coils that came with my newest one OTOH, I loved.

Are they noiseless?

 

[BassmanPaul]

Are they noiseless?

Basically the same as Jazz pickups.

Paul

 

[Sam Evans]

Thanks, I was curious about that.

Back to our regularly scheduled topic ...

 

[lbwdog]

Hmm, well he's supposed to talk to bart here this morning, hopefully they'll get him his refund.

For the record, it was Bart whom told me the LS cab wasn't meant to play bass through. When I pointed out that the cab was designed for full-range applications, and that I wasn't abusing it with power (G-K 700RB), he said (get this!)"Well then, you're underpowering it.

 

[BassmanPaul]

I bought an RC210 combo amp (RL600 head and 2-10 cab similar to SWR Redhead) with a Carvin 1-15 extension cab. Decent tone and pretty red anodized knobs. I literally blew the head 5 times, three times on the originally purchased head and twice on the replacement head till it was "out" of warranty. Never pushed it too hard always used good power. Turns out the head couldn't handle the ohm load, although their techs told me it would and despite the fact that they advertised it in their catalog as a combo deal.

On the other hand, the first "real" bass that I owned was an LB70 fretless. I had that thing for many years and used it on many, many recordings and gigs. I finally traded it for a fretless jazz bass. It served me well.

In my opinion, I gave Carvin amps a more than fair chance and they failed to perform. Therefore, I will never buy, nor recommend, a Carvin amp to anyone. Their PA's seem to be sufficient in my experience though.

I have heard that the Red Line series were not that good. Their DCM power amps have been excellent for me. As to their actual bass amps I'll let you know. I've bought a BX1500. So far I'm loving it. One of my sixes is a fretless. Too many strings and no frets! I chickened out an bought a lined fingerboard. There's something so right about the feel of the strings on the wood. It's very satisfying!

Paul

 

[thudfromafar]

THAT"S your reasoned and thought out response??? I would have though that at 22 you could have done much better!!

No, my reasoned response was right before that post. This response was in jest to your vague post directed towards me instead of the topic at hand.

 

[thudfromafar]

Anyways, I don't think carvin is all bad. Something carvin has going for them is their custom basses. I have heard good things about those, and I love custom stuff, so I may try that in the future if I want a custom fretless or something. But I won't touch their electronics or speakers again :/

 

[Luis Fabara]

I was a Carvin Dealer/User.

Guitars= great.
Pickups= meh
Power Amps= solid,reliable.
Powered mixers= inflated power ratings, bad eq.
mixers= ok, cost effective, bland eq.
bass amps(R series) = meh, never fully liked my R1000.
bass cabs (R series) = boxy, inneficient,lacking bottom, midrangy
bass combos = prone to failures ( overheating, shut down, etc)
Guitar cabs: pretty good, the best is the Legacy.
Guitar heads: great sounding tube amps: MTS, Legacy, V3

They were always helpful on repairs, sent me replacing boards, tubes, etc at no cost.

 

[Jheake]

So your bassist doesnt like tube heads, but wants to abuse hybrids, and buys a carvin head and expects it to be able to take what ever he can trow at it?

My suggestion is for him to get a mesa 400+. This is, infact a tube head, but stick a 810 underneath it and there is no punishment that he could throw at it that the amp will not take. He will probably be replacing speakers however.

As far as the svt7pro is concerned (i used to own) that is a class D hybrid tube pre amp that is rated at 1000 watts. I have pushed an 810 with it and compared it to my mesa 400+ it didnt come close. The amp also clipped constantly under a significant load. But thats a tube vs Hybrid SS amp. So its like apples to oranges. I have heard great things about the 1001 RB GK head paired with the 412 cab, supposed to be beastly and at an affordable price range. I think maybe he just needs to spend more money?

Other then that i cant think of too many amp combos i would recommend. It seems maybe its just a blatant disregard for the correct usage of said equipment. Who knows though i certainly don't. It all depends on his price range, and i think what others have mentioned might be his best bet. A power amp with a preamp combo. Or multiple power amps and several sets of cabs in order to achieve this volume and tone he seeks. Certainly a class D 500 watt hybrid amp shouldnt be pushing cabs rated at say 800-1000 watts. should have probably tried the b2000 if anything. Sometimes its just best to do your home work before purchases, as not to exceed the expectations of the equipment you are using.

best of luck to you as well as your bassist.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

So your bassist doesnt like tube heads, but wants to abuse hybrids, and buys a carvin head and expects it to be able to take what ever he can trow at it?

My suggestion is for him to get a mesa 400+. This is, infact a tube head, but stick a 810 underneath it and there is no punishment that he could throw at it that the amp will not take. He will probably be replacing speakers however.

+1

The 400+ is a "tube head for people who like solid state." I'm a primarily solid-state guy, and I love my 400+.

Other then that i cant think of too many amp combos i would recommend. It seems maybe its just a blatant disregard for the correct usage of said equipment. Who knows though i certainly don't.

Another +1

If I recall from the orignal thread, the OP said his bass player was running a ton of low end at an obscene volume. I have to wonder if he put that head into thermal or smoked the outputs. It doesn't matter what the brand of an amp is; if you push it past its parameters, it's going to crap out. Of course, I could be wrong, too, and the original head was just a lemon.

 

[Musicbiz60]

All brands come in for complaints from time to time. Which manufacturer is perfect?

I just bought a Schroeder speaker and had a question about it. I was surprised that Jorge Schroeder himself answered the phone. Anyway we had a long conversation and I asked for an amp recommendation on upgrading from my Eden. He specifically recommended the Carvin BX500 which I received today. Apparently he's one working bassist and manufacturer of pro equipment who thinks Carvin products are quite good.

Jerry

 

[lowphatbass]

Unfortunatly i dont really know of high wattage older head he would like. He's played a Sunn Coliseum before and liked it well enough, but liked the added headroom of the carvin when it actually worked. He's not a tube fan so that takes out the SVT, various sunns etc.

Do you have a recommendation for the deep, high headroom tone he's going for?

Honestly? I realize your bassist doesn't want a pre/power set-up but they can mounted into a powered rack so all you have to do is plug-in your power cable, speakers and flip one switch. The advantages to running this set-up are the potential for massive headroom and the fact that it's "modular", he can carry an inexpensive pedal and drive the power amp if the preamp ever fails. I use a QSC PLX3102, after seeing these a few of these amps powering walls of speakers racked tightly together in direct sunlight in 100F+ temps running for hours on end I was completely sold.

 

[theAntihero]

For the record, it was Bart whom told me the LS cab wasn't meant to play bass through. When I pointed out that the cab was designed for full-range applications, and that I wasn't abusing it with power (G-K 700RB), he said (get this!)"Well then, you're underpowering it.

Hmm, forgive me if im wrong, but isnt bass(or at least bass unlike my bassist tone) pretty full range? And isnt that cab fairly close to the whole fEarful thing ive read about?

Certainly a class D 500 watt hybrid amp shouldnt be pushing cabs rated at say 800-1000 watts. should have probably tried the b2000 if anything. Sometimes its just best to do your home work before purchases, as not to exceed the expectations of the equipment you are using.

He did get the b2000. He ran it at 8 ohms and 1300w and according to carvin the Tube Bypass takes the 12ax7 totally out of the input and/or working amp which is where he ran it.

My suggestion is for him to get a mesa 400+. This is, infact a tube head, but stick a 810 underneath it and there is no punishment that he could throw at it that the amp will not take. He will probably be replacing speakers however.

Does the 400+ get the standard semi overdriven growl of tube bass amps? My bassist likes his tone to be as clean as possible without much if any growl.

As far as the svt7pro is concerned (i used to own) that is a class D hybrid tube pre amp that is rated at 1000 watts. I have pushed an 810 with it and compared it to my mesa 400+ it didnt come close. The amp also clipped constantly under a significant load. But thats a tube vs Hybrid SS amp. So its like apples to oranges. I have heard great things about the 1001 RB GK head paired with the 412 cab, supposed to be beastly and at an affordable price range. I think maybe he just needs to spend more money?

Hmm so in hybrid amps im guessing the tube is always in the input like the carvin? So basically, pun not intended, the input is being constantly overdriven?

If I recall from the orignal thread, the OP said his bass player was running a ton of low end at an obscene volume. I have to wonder if he put that head into thermal or smoked the outputs.

Im kinda sorry i was trying to compliment carvin by saying he got it so loud without clipping now because its always brought up. He did have it very loud for just a little while but when the first head died both the drive and volume were at around 9 oclock. I doubt i could play in the band if he always played at 126db.

He does push lots of low end though.

Honestly? I realize your bassist doesn't want a pre/power set-up but they can mounted into a powered rack so all you have to do is plug-in your power cable, speakers and flip one switch. The advantages to running this set-up are the potential for massive headroom and the fact that it's "modular", he can carry an inexpensive pedal and drive the power amp if the preamp ever fails. I use a QSC PLX3102, after seeing these a few of these amps powering walls of speakers racked tightly together in direct sunlight in 100F+ temps running for hours on end I was completely sold.

I agree, i thought a rack system would be great for him, if for nothing else a bridged 4000w amp would provide him with all the headroom anyone would ever need, but he doesnt really want to go that route. Ill show him all the people that are recommending it and we'll see if he changes his mind.

Could you guys recommend a simple preamp for him? Im almost wondering if since he doesnt like overdriven bass if something like a 31 band eq would work for him?

So he talked to bart and got his full refund and didnt have to pay shipping. Unlike the first CS guy he talked to Bart was very straightforward and helpful, so he's pretty happy. As soon a sthe money goes back in his account he'll breath asigh of relief.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Just as a matter of interest how is he going to get 4000W out of an AC circuit that can supply only around 1800VA?

I'm glad he has his refund coming. I had no doubt his purchase would be refunded. Just remember that while you can max out every control on a guitar amp and play through it the same is not true of a bass amp. It's better to leave the bass control flat and reduce the others EQs rather than boost the bass.

May I wish him better luck with his next purchase.

Paul

 

[Jheake]

Well the Mesa 400+ can certainly get very dirty but it can also stay clean as well, and has an on board graphic eq. so you can get really clean tones with it. Has bright pull out knob functions etc.

yeah almost every ampeg head i can think of that is on a pro level has a tube pre.
Give us some examples of tone he is trying to get, like Justin Chancelor from Tool or somewhere around there is kinda what im thinking hes going for right?, something very low freq's?

again if he absolutely is against tube heads then maybe you should try the GK 1001RB with the 412. you can test drive them at GC, its a very clean setup with lots of punch and from what i hear they seem to run pretty deep on bass tones.

OR you could just buy him a SS guitar head give him a guitar and get a bass player who knows what hes doing? also a possibilty. We arent just guitar players who arent as good that play with a pick. There is a science behind bass amplification as well as being bass players. Get a bass player to play bass.

 

[theAntihero]

Just as a matter of interest how is he going to get 4000W out of an AC circuit that can supply only around 1800VA?

I'm glad he has his refund coming. I had no doubt his purchase would be refunded. Just remember that while you can max out every control on a guitar amp and play through it the same is not true of a bass amp. It's better to leave the bass control flat and reduce the others EQs rather than boost the bass.

May I wish him better luck with his next purchase.

Paul

Honestly ive always wondered the same thing, wouldnt a true 4000w need 220 to work?

He was eq-ing sort of like an active control amp, start at noon and cut from there, which is what i assume you mean by leaving the bass control flat.

The EB-0 puts out enough lowend that he really doesnt have to push the bass contol, or even sub-bass control very high at all.

 

[theAntihero]

Well the Mesa 400+ can certainly get very dirty but it can also stay clean as well, and has an on board graphic eq. so you can get really clean tones with it. Has bright pull out knob functions etc.

yeah almost every ampeg head i can think of that is on a pro level has a tube pre.
Give us some examples of tone he is trying to get, like Justin Chancelor from Tool or somewhere around there is kinda what im thinking hes going for right?, something very low freq's?

again if he absolutely is against tube heads then maybe you should try the GK 1001RB with the 412. you can test drive them at GC, its a very clean setup with lots of punch and from what i hear they seem to run pretty deep on bass tones.

OR you could just buy him a SS guitar head give him a guitar and get a bass player who knows what hes doing? also a possibilty. We arent just guitar players who arent as good that play with a pick. There is a science behind bass amplification as well as being bass players. Get a bass player to play bass.

Mountains of Mars by Electric Wizard is his favorite recorded tone. Basically he likes his tone to be more base than bass, the earthmoving platform that the band sits on(direct quote by the way).

Believe me he can play bass and has done so for many years, i dont even know why you would even say this. Is it because he plays with a pick? Im sort of confused here....

 

[Jheake]

No all good bass players can play a variety of different styles be it with a pick or what ever, i wasnt exactly sure if you guys were in the "im primarily a guitar player but i can play bass for you guys" kind of situation ir not. I just cant understand why he would be so picky about the equipment he uses. I mean i can take any amp for the most part and find a decent tone on it. at least something playable.

im honestly out of suggestions and i think others might be too. just have him shop around, sorry about your experience with carvin and i hope you guys have better luck in the future.