Carvin vs. Mesa Cabs

[TJBass]

I've had several Carvin rigs over the years, a Probass 500 Stack from the 90's, a R600 series II with a stack of 4x10's, and finally a RL610 (I think thats what it was called) which is the R500 series III in a combo 2x10 for which I added a Carvin 1x18 cab to it to make a stack.

Bottom line is......it was boring an underpowered. I was "always" fighting to cut thru and get good tone. I could get good tone but then I wasn't punchy or loud enuff to be heard in the band setting, or I could get loud enuff but the tone was all distorted. I always felt limited by these rigs.

I tried a Mesa rig at a store in Cape Girardeau that was rated the same power ratings and was blown away. Crystal clear highs, thumping lows, all at extreme volumes.

So if you want to fight your rig all nite at a gig, go with Carvin, if your playing a small club and don't need too much volume you'll be happy and probably be able to coax some decent tone out of those cabs, but I'll tell you, their 2x10's won't handle very much.

 

[jeff7bass]

I'm fairly convinced by reading all these posts that nobody has actually compared a NEW Carvin stack against a Mesa stack. The Redline series are inferior in every way so the words "DO NOT APPLY" do apply in this case.

A BRX10.4 + B2000 half stack has no equal in Carvin history.
Not even close and that doesn't include Carvin's other powerful head, the BX1500, which can drive a pair of BRX 410's in bi-amp mode at 450w each.

I have tried many variations of the NEW Carvin stuff as well as the Mesa stuff, and if I have 1500 bucks worth of new Carvin amp against your 1500 bucks of new Mesa amp, you'll be picking up the pieces of your Mesa that just got blown off the stage.

As for customer service, Carvin's is as fast and as good anybody's.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I'm fairly convinced by reading all these posts that nobody has actually compared a NEW Carvin stack against a Mesa stack. The Redline series are inferior in every way so the words "DO NOT APPLY" do apply in this case.

A BRX10.4 + B2000 half stack has no equal in Carvin history.
Not even close and that doesn't include Carvin's other powerful head, the BX1500, which can drive a pair of BRX 410's in bi-amp mode at 450w each.

I have tried many variations of the NEW Carvin stuff as well as the Mesa stuff, and if I have 1500 bucks worth of new Carvin amp against your 1500 bucks of new Mesa amp, you'll be picking up the pieces of your Mesa that just got blown off the stage.

As for customer service, Carvin's is as fast and as good anybody's.

Well that would be kinda hard since most mesa amps start at $1000 or more for the head.

 

[georgestrings]

I'm fairly convinced by reading all these posts that nobody has actually compared a NEW Carvin stack against a Mesa stack. The Redline series are inferior in every way so the words "DO NOT APPLY" do apply in this case.

A BRX10.4 + B2000 half stack has no equal in Carvin history.
Not even close and that doesn't include Carvin's other powerful head, the BX1500, which can drive a pair of BRX 410's in bi-amp mode at 450w each.

I have tried many variations of the NEW Carvin stuff as well as the Mesa stuff, and if I have 1500 bucks worth of new Carvin amp against your 1500 bucks of new Mesa amp, you'll be picking up the pieces of your Mesa that just got blown off the stage.

As for customer service, Carvin's is as fast and as good anybody's.

And I'm conviced that you need to quit sniffing Carvin's glue, as it's obviously rotted your brain...


- georgestrings

 

[57pbass]

I have experience with both company's gear. Both get high marks and Carvin gives you a good bang for the buck. With that said my only complaint about Carvin would be the quality and fidelity of the actual speakers they use in their cabs. They fall short and lose clarity and quality when pushed. . but to the layman..sound fine...it's up to how critical you are about your sound.
My suggestion would be to buy if you cannot afford Mesa gear buy Carvin and upgrade the speakers. IMHO

 

[57pbass]

I have tried many variations of the NEW Carvin stuff as well as the Mesa stuff, and if I have 1500 bucks worth of new Carvin amp against your 1500 bucks of new Mesa amp, you'll be picking up the pieces of your Mesa that just got blown off the stage.

I'll put my two Mesa Powerhouse 15 Cabinets with my M9 Carbine and blow you and your Carvin amp off the stage ..

OK tuff guy

 

[rockstarbassist]

I heard a Carvin 410+410 stack about a month ago with a band that was on our bill who begged to use my amp b/c he forgot his at home. I was on stage a bit while he was setting levels and making sure he didn't change any of my settings, and yeah- compared to my PH212s it was a laughable difference.
Carvin isn't bad, but I mean Mesa is 1.B, if not 1.A IME of the major cab manufacturers. Right up there tied with Berg. Everything else is secondary that I've had through my mitts, and that's right at everything. My band fawns over my rig on a weekly basis as to how they like how it sounds and are starting hear the difference of other rigs with bands we share bills with.
Don't go broke buying something you can't afford; I started out on lower-cost gear too so it's nothing to be shamed about. But don't kid yourself in thinking those two designs are interchangeable or on par with each other.

 

[madbassplaya]

The way to buy cabs is to set a limit for how much you're going to spend and then compare the best cabs in that price range.

THIS!

If I could afford and wanted MESA, I would go with them over Carvin. However, If I could not afford to pay what MESA was asking for their cabs, the Carvin's are a fine choice and will be very reliable.

I do not own any Carvin Cabs. I have owned a couple of their basses. They are worth the money and are great basses. I do own a Carvin B800 head and for the money plus some it delivers. Solid, reliable, and sounds great! I love it!

I agree you get what you pay for, but sometimes it's nice to pay less and still get a good product.

 

[oddgrowth]

I'm fairly convinced by reading all these posts that nobody has actually compared a NEW Carvin stack against a Mesa stack. The Redline series are inferior in every way so the words "DO NOT APPLY" do apply in this case.

A BRX10.4 + B2000 half stack has no equal in Carvin history.
Not even close and that doesn't include Carvin's other powerful head, the BX1500, which can drive a pair of BRX 410's in bi-amp mode at 450w each.

I have tried many variations of the NEW Carvin stuff as well as the Mesa stuff, and if I have 1500 bucks worth of new Carvin amp against your 1500 bucks of new Mesa amp, you'll be picking up the pieces of your Mesa that just got blown off the stage.

As for customer service, Carvin's is as fast and as good anybody's.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHa

that's a good one.

my old set up w/ a 400+ thru a 2x10/2x15 melted many a face, and would melt the face of your toy carvin stuff with ease...even on 1/2 power.

 

[jeff7bass]

I'll put my two Mesa Powerhouse 15 Cabinets with my M9 Carbine and blow you and your Carvin amp off the stage ..

OK tuff guy

That’s fine, but for the price of your amp I can drive TWO Carvin B2000’s and two Carvin 810’s and blow your rig off the stage! Hahaha!!
Ok, half the stuff I say is just to get people riled up but comparing a Carvin rig to a Mesa rig used to be like comparing a Chevy Impala to a Lexus LS. Now, with improvements in quality and service, it’s like comparing a Hyundai Genesis to a Lexus LS. The whole point is the gap has closed considerably, much more so then the haters want you to believe, while the price difference has basically remained the same.

 

[57pbass]

That’s fine, but for the price of your amp I can drive TWO Carvin B2000’s and two Carvin 810’s and blow your rig off the stage! Hahaha!!
Ok, half the stuff I say is just to get people riled up but comparing a Carvin rig to a Mesa rig used to be like comparing a Chevy Impala to a Lexus LS. Now, with improvements in quality and service, it’s like comparing a Hyundai Genesis to a Lexus LS. The whole point is the gap has closed considerably, much more so then the haters want you to believe, while the price difference has basically remained the same.

Jeff - Fortunantely for me I took full advantage of the used marketplace for all my Mesa gear.

I agree..Carvin has made some strides forward...

 

[Mystic Michael]

With all the one-upsmanship and smack-talking going on here, y'all are starting to sound like a bunch of...guitarists (*shudder*).

Step back from the brink, boys. Nobody wants that...

MM

 

[ishouldbeking]

the fun part about all this is that the Carvin store and the Mesa Boogie store are right next to each other on Sunset Blvd. like, literally 20 feet from one doorway to the other. if you're ever in Los Angeles you could A/B the amps and cabs and get some instant gratification. for extra fun you could play a Carvin bass and compare it the ridiculous basses the Mesa store carries (Lull, Sadowsky, Lakland USA, Nash).

i won't lie, I've never actually been in the Carvin store. I've played through a Carvin 810 that was backline at a club... it was fine, kinda dull sounding, and not especially loud. My sealed 610 seemed a bit louder. I gather some folks like the newer lightweight Carvin cabs. Personally, I love my Mesa gear (walkabout scout stack). The head is the true monster, but the 12" scout cabs are pretty sweet too. With that said, I wouldn't say Mesa cabs are inherently "better" than most other quality cabs in their class... if you compare to some of the nicer cabs out there I would probably choose more on which sounds the best to you, and meets your needs. if weight matters, mesa will probably lose. but for sturdiness, mesa is definitely on top of the heap.

 

[lomo]

Lexus is superior to Toyota. Toyota is fine, however, and whether it's worth it to pony up the extra cash for the upgrade is a personal decision.

 

[georgestrings]

That’s fine, but for the price of your amp I can drive TWO Carvin B2000’s and two Carvin 810’s and blow your rig off the stage! Hahaha!!

So, what you're saying is that you'd need twice as much Carvin gear to match Mesa's performance??? - sounds about right, but your 2x "pile" of Carvin gear still wouldn't *sound* as good as Mesa - hahaha!!!


- georgestrings

 

[aqsw]

I have compared Carvin's BRX10.2 to Mesa's Powerhouse 210, have any of you?

Quite honestly I didn't hear TWICE the quality of sound coming from the Mesa, not even close.

The Mesa is a very solid cab, for $730.00. The Carvin is extraordinary for $369.00. The fact that you can stack a pair of the Carvin's for the price of the Mesa pretty much seals the deal for many people.

1 guy Carvin-
Everybody else-Mesa

Either this guy knows more than everybody else, or he knows squat.

 

[fourfinger]

I think Carvin is a great company but their bass cabs cannot compete with Mesa (and neither can a lot of other good companies' bass cabs).

Tone is subjective but if you like round and punchy tone, and if you don't mind rolling some heavy cabs around, Mesa is the ticket.

That said -- Carvin has fantastic products that usually meet or beat all in their price range. I'd say their best bass item is amplification (power amps as well as heads).

 

[georgestrings]

I think Carvin is a great company but their bass cabs cannot compete with Mesa (and neither can a lot of other good companies' bass cabs).

Tone is subjective but if you like round and punchy tone, and if you don't mind rolling some heavy cabs around, Mesa is the ticket.

That said -- Carvin has fantastic products that usually meet or beat all in their price range. I'd say their best bass item is amplification (power amps as well as heads).

I agree with all of the above...


- georgestrings

 

[MakiSupaStar]

Mesa.

 

[Mystic Michael]

That said -- Carvin has fantastic products that usually meet or beat all in their price range. I'd say their best bass item is amplification (power amps as well as heads).

Agreed. Though I'd say it's a toss-up between their power amps/heads and their bass guitars in the "best bass product" category...

MM