I know. I thought the drive control was an "icing on the cake" feature, not a necessary volume booster.
Most of my info comes from reviews of the B1500. The B2000 may be differently engineered.
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Carvin's BX1500 and B2000
- Thread starter vinxbass
- Start date
I know. I thought the drive control was an "icing on the cake" feature, not a necessary volume booster.
Most of my info comes from reviews of the B1500. The B2000 may be differently engineered.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,943
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Hmmm... I've never had any problem getting plenty of volume out of either my B1500 or the BX500 without having to dial in a lot of the Drive circuit, but as a fellow fan of the tube, I am bit surprised by your aversion to the Drive circuit (which basically introduces increasing harmonics along with gain).
Chef
In Memoriam
I like tube tone, sometimes, but prefer big, fast clean most generally.
M6
I don't like being "forced to use fx to get at the power."
With the drive off, I sure didn't feel like I was getting my 1500/1900 watts worth out of the Carvin B1500, and at the time I had a Mesa 400+ I much preferred for tube-o-rama; and a pre/rack rig that delivered tone I liked at what felt more like the power level I wanted.
I reckon if you want to use the drive fx, and like it, it's very much of a non-issue.
When I was gigging the B1500, I didn't, and sold it.
ymmv, etc.
M6
I don't like being "forced to use fx to get at the power."
With the drive off, I sure didn't feel like I was getting my 1500/1900 watts worth out of the Carvin B1500, and at the time I had a Mesa 400+ I much preferred for tube-o-rama; and a pre/rack rig that delivered tone I liked at what felt more like the power level I wanted.
I reckon if you want to use the drive fx, and like it, it's very much of a non-issue.
When I was gigging the B1500, I didn't, and sold it.
ymmv, etc.
Chef only said that it had insufficient power with the drive control off (fully counter-clockwise).
Maybe he found it colored the tone too much at lower or medium settings, but that seems not to agree with what some others have posted.
Yes, Chef, I'm picking on you.
...and I'm in good company!
I really wonder if the BX series power section is the same stuff used on the DCM-L's.. since they are both power sections which are incredibly light. Basically just wondering if using the power section of the BX1500 (from the Amp 2 input in the back) would chop off any higher frequencies if I used it with another instrument.. Hm
Chef
In Memoriam
Clearly, if you use all the B2000's available power and eq, you'll be capable of hurting that cab.
However, used judiciously, it'll be fine.
Head with more power than the cab is a case of "prudence is the better part of valor," as it were.
I almost always use a head with more power than the cab is rated for. Just don't jack up the bass, input gain, and master volume and hammer it...ya see?
However, used judiciously, it'll be fine.
Head with more power than the cab is a case of "prudence is the better part of valor," as it were.
I almost always use a head with more power than the cab is rated for. Just don't jack up the bass, input gain, and master volume and hammer it...ya see?
Chef
In Memoriam
If you're listening, and watching cone excursion, your cab will tell you when you're asking too much.
If you throw a 2000 watt spike at it, it won't complain for very long
If you throw a 2000 watt spike at it, it won't complain for very long
If you're listening, and watching cone excursion, your cab will tell you when you're asking too much.
If you throw a 2000 watt spike at it, it won't complain for very long
well see here's the deal:
I need a first bass amp. I am getting a Avatar neo 210 (500W) and I eventually plan on getting a 112 to put below it. If you get the ceramic magnet 12 it can handle 500W; the neo is 250.
So I'm looking at either the Carvin B800, the Carvin B2000, or the GK 2000RB.
Thoughts?
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,943
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I like tube tone, sometimes, but prefer big, fast clean most generally.
M6
I don't like being "forced to use fx to get at the power."
With the drive off, I sure didn't feel like I was getting my 1500/1900 watts worth out of the Carvin B1500, and at the time I had a Mesa 400+ I much preferred for tube-o-rama; and a pre/rack rig that delivered tone I liked at what felt more like the power level I wanted.
I reckon if you want to use the drive fx, and like it, it's very much of a non-issue.
When I was gigging the B1500, I didn't, and sold it.
ymmv, etc.
Yes, this does certainly accentuate the YMMV aspect of this whole sharing opinions thing. One person's "mostly transparent gain knob, with added harmonic richness if I really push it" is another's "undesirable fx."
I'm not really trying to give you a hard time, Alan. I just hear that Drive control very differently than you do, I guess.
But, this is all IME/IMHO, and YMMV!
Chef
In Memoriam
That's what makes discussion fun.
It also points out that when researching gear, you really need to read a bunch of opinions, because opinions vary quite a bit by personal impression, range of use, expectations and a lot of other variables.
To be totally fair with the B1500, at the time I was trying to find something with big horsepower that would also work for DB use.
The EQ points read ok for that, as I recall; but in practice: ick!
And the drive knob sure didn't help with that.
It was at this time that I bought the wt800b, which has similar power specs bridged at 4 ohms, and a much better voice and eq for db use.
Had I been using it solely for electric, I might have tolerated that differently. Maybe.
It also points out that when researching gear, you really need to read a bunch of opinions, because opinions vary quite a bit by personal impression, range of use, expectations and a lot of other variables.
To be totally fair with the B1500, at the time I was trying to find something with big horsepower that would also work for DB use.
The EQ points read ok for that, as I recall; but in practice: ick!
And the drive knob sure didn't help with that.
It was at this time that I bought the wt800b, which has similar power specs bridged at 4 ohms, and a much better voice and eq for db use.
Had I been using it solely for electric, I might have tolerated that differently. Maybe.
Sorry Nick I havent tried this out as I have no bass preamp here. Perhaps someone with a BX1200 can comment as the two are the same in that respect.
Dr Funk
"If you ain't appearing then you be disappearing"
I have been using the #5 setting on my drive by choice and ending the night with the master at #4. With the Epi UL410-4 it is thunderous. I have run the drive anywhere from 3-7 with great results, no distortion. I am not into any distortion in my sound. I do notice an increase in girth when increasing drive up to 7 or so but definitely no distortion. I have to say I like this amp more every time I use it. The list of high end and boutique amps I have had in the last 2 years is staggering. I have to stand by my statement that the B2000 is clearly the best I have used to date. The challenge is to wrap my head around the fact it's a Carvin and I'm doing it. It is undoubtedly the best amp I have ever used in conjunction with Epi UL2-410 cabinets. Yes I have owned a 902C and a 502 this year and there is no comparison really. This amp is warmer, thicker and a huge dollar value.
BTW Chef, this is not a B1500 even though it is compared to it by many, it is a different beast for sure.
BTW Chef, this is not a B1500 even though it is compared to it by many, it is a different beast for sure.
Ok, now you're making sense.
I thought from what you posted earlier that you opposed using the drive control for ideological reasons.
Now I can go back to thinking you are sane indeed.
Have a great day!
That's right about where I like to keep it as well. It's kind of the "sweet spot" for me. It still sounds somewhat clean...but with a little "bite" (the only way I can think of to describe it). Although, at last night's gig I noticed I was getting a bit of a dirty/distorted tone which is unusual for me. When I checked my B2000 settings I noticed my drive control was at #8 LOL. I don't remember setting it that high but I couldn't decide for sure if I liked it or wanted to back the drive down to 5 again. I ended up leaving it for the rest of the gig.
BX1500 & LDS 15/6
I drove my BX1500 hard for 4 hours last night with not one single problem. This is the biggest place we play. Its hard for me to say where my volume settings were at because I was using my VT Bass to help shape the tone. I actually could easily skip the VT Bass with the BX1500 as the amp has a great, warm sound all on its own, but what the hell... I like my toys. I "think" the BX1500 was at about 4 on the master and 5 on the drive. The VT was 1:00 on the level, 10:00 on the drive and 11:00 on the mid and character. 1:00 on the VT bass eq knob. The cab I used was the LDS 15/6. I was getting lots of volume with those settings, but I had a lot more volume on tap. The sound was big, girthy, and full. Gotta say this cab is simply astounding considering the big, full sound I was getting with the volume I had it at, combined with the portability factor. Wow.
I have the same gig tonite and I'm going to try the first set with my LMII and see how that goes.
I drove my BX1500 hard for 4 hours last night with not one single problem. This is the biggest place we play. Its hard for me to say where my volume settings were at because I was using my VT Bass to help shape the tone. I actually could easily skip the VT Bass with the BX1500 as the amp has a great, warm sound all on its own, but what the hell... I like my toys. I "think" the BX1500 was at about 4 on the master and 5 on the drive. The VT was 1:00 on the level, 10:00 on the drive and 11:00 on the mid and character. 1:00 on the VT bass eq knob. The cab I used was the LDS 15/6. I was getting lots of volume with those settings, but I had a lot more volume on tap. The sound was big, girthy, and full. Gotta say this cab is simply astounding considering the big, full sound I was getting with the volume I had it at, combined with the portability factor. Wow.
I have the same gig tonite and I'm going to try the first set with my LMII and see how that goes.
Ive set my drive knob at 8 or 9 (from 1-10), master @ 2-3 with my 55-02D totally scooped, treble/bass wide open, mid knob fully cut, most all knobs on B1500 at noon. This into 2 vertically, stacked Neox 212T cabs is a tower of power,
This works best with the big 8 pc disco band. But man, it works great. Dirty Dave, says he knows this tone, es betty cool. Que no?
This works best with the big 8 pc disco band. But man, it works great. Dirty Dave, says he knows this tone, es betty cool. Que no?
