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Carvin's BX1500 and B2000
- Thread starter vinxbass
- Start date
It didn't work!Make sure you leave them in the car, not home.
The VT Bass is so great... I am hooked!
Tonight near the end of a 3hr rehersal I noticed my input jack had disassembled itself. The chrome nut had backed itself completely off and the cable and jack were just dangling. When I unplugged the cable the jack assembly remained in the amp and the chrome nut and plastic washer remained on the 1/4 inch plug.
The plastic washer that sits under the chrome nut is the culprit. Its too thick and due to it being plastic you cant crank down on it. Here it is next to a penny for comparison:
I was able to find a direct replacement in a thin metal washer that is from a chassis mount 1/4 inch jack I had. Its thinner then the plastic washer (about half as thick) and allows the chrome nut to protrude deeper into the BX1500 input jack. This set-up is really solid now and is not going anywhere:
Here is the input board on the inside of the front panel (input jack is mounted to this board). You need to hold this board with one hand when tightening the chrome nut or the assy will spin:
Its all really solid now and I have no fear it will happen at a gig. I will still run my cable thru the 2 rack space handle just to be safe
The plastic washer that sits under the chrome nut is the culprit. Its too thick and due to it being plastic you cant crank down on it. Here it is next to a penny for comparison:
I was able to find a direct replacement in a thin metal washer that is from a chassis mount 1/4 inch jack I had. Its thinner then the plastic washer (about half as thick) and allows the chrome nut to protrude deeper into the BX1500 input jack. This set-up is really solid now and is not going anywhere:
Here is the input board on the inside of the front panel (input jack is mounted to this board). You need to hold this board with one hand when tightening the chrome nut or the assy will spin:
Its all really solid now and I have no fear it will happen at a gig. I will still run my cable thru the 2 rack space handle just to be safe
I used my B2000 with a LDS 1212/6/1 last night at an outdoor show with loads of PA support. There was no back wall or anything to reflect sound except the stage.
2 things -
First, the B2000 and this cabinet were PLENTY loud on stage with the master volume around 4. All the monitors, guitars, and drums were no match for this beast. This is the first bass amp I've owned where I can truly hear myself with full clarity on stage.
Second, I have been struggling to get enough high end in my sound at rehearsal. I have the mid and tweeter on full, and still was cranking the treble controls on the B2000. I just thought it was a "dark" amp and learned to live with it. Well, on a big stage, with the amp turned up, and another 12 feet away from the speakers, it has LOTS of high end. I ended up turning down my treble and bringing up the low end slightly. It sounded, in my opinion, EXCELLENT.
The apparent "darkness" of the amp was my only criticism, but that was an incorrect perception caused by a less-than-ideal practice room. Now I give this amp a confident A+.
2 things -
First, the B2000 and this cabinet were PLENTY loud on stage with the master volume around 4. All the monitors, guitars, and drums were no match for this beast. This is the first bass amp I've owned where I can truly hear myself with full clarity on stage.
Second, I have been struggling to get enough high end in my sound at rehearsal. I have the mid and tweeter on full, and still was cranking the treble controls on the B2000. I just thought it was a "dark" amp and learned to live with it. Well, on a big stage, with the amp turned up, and another 12 feet away from the speakers, it has LOTS of high end. I ended up turning down my treble and bringing up the low end slightly. It sounded, in my opinion, EXCELLENT.
The apparent "darkness" of the amp was my only criticism, but that was an incorrect perception caused by a less-than-ideal practice room. Now I give this amp a confident A+.
Just an observation Jason, even if it were possible to rewire an 8Ω cabinet to 4Ω it won't be twice as loud. Not even close!
Paul
Paul
I was messing with my bx1500 today. It was sitting next to my 70's svt and 8x10. I was trying to get some of the svt tone with the carvin and swapped out the stock tube with a jj12ax7. That improved the tone slightly though, the tube doesn't add a lot to the sound with this design. Here's the kicker. I usually use the on-board compressor instead of my boss lmb3 but, switching back and forth between the 2 amps, I left the boss in line. It really lifted the tone out the mud! More of an impedance matcher, like active electronics. Man, now if I max the drive knob I get a really gritty, even sound. A bit like the real svt. Maybe more like the GK g.i.v.e. effect. Without the boss pedal, my bass sounds a bit dark with the carvin but not with my other amps. I play a billy sheehan attitude bass with passive dimarzios. Anyway, what a great sound. I'll have to experiment some more.
Do you have a boost? I wonder if that would get more grit out of the amp with gain cranked.
First time I've heard the BX1500 described as 'dark' -- maybe something is wrong with yours.
Most describe theirs as fairly bright sounding.
Chef
In Memoriam
of you asking way back there, how a F1 would sound as a pre thru a B1500 or B2000. Well, don't know I never tried it. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn recently. 
No, but that was my plan, til I found a second, used F1 at MF, talked em into a lower price then snagged it. So I'm doing two, F1's in two of my GB Neox 212T's ( each 4 ohms). I mostly used my Neopak with those 2 cabs ( + VT pedal as always). And used my B1500 with those 2 cabs for a couple outdoor gigs.
The two F1's work real well into the two Neox cabs, its my much lighter outdoor rig now. I also use one Neox 112T + Neox 212T, for 3x12's at some med-large clubs. I just really dig the tone of the F1 head and now I can use two of em to get potential 500 watts to each cab. Much lighter than if I'da ran it thru the B1500.
So the B1500 stands 5th in line behind the two F1's, LMII and Neopak. But I'll prolly drag it out again to use this fall when its not so hot out to carry the big mother around. And I still just might try running a F1 into the B1500. I gots-ta know.
No, but that was my plan, til I found a second, used F1 at MF, talked em into a lower price then snagged it. So I'm doing two, F1's in two of my GB Neox 212T's ( each 4 ohms). I mostly used my Neopak with those 2 cabs ( + VT pedal as always). And used my B1500 with those 2 cabs for a couple outdoor gigs.
The two F1's work real well into the two Neox cabs, its my much lighter outdoor rig now. I also use one Neox 112T + Neox 212T, for 3x12's at some med-large clubs. I just really dig the tone of the F1 head and now I can use two of em to get potential 500 watts to each cab. Much lighter than if I'da ran it thru the B1500.
So the B1500 stands 5th in line behind the two F1's, LMII and Neopak. But I'll prolly drag it out again to use this fall when its not so hot out to carry the big mother around. And I still just might try running a F1 into the B1500. I gots-ta know.
of you asking way back there, how a F1 would sound as a pre thru a B1500 or B2000. Well, don't know I never tried it. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn recently.
No, but that was my plan, til I found a second, used F1 at MF, talked em into a lower price then snagged it. So I'm doing two, F1's in two of my GB Neox 212T's ( each 4 ohms). I mostly used my Neopak with those 2 cabs ( + VT pedal as always). And used my B1500 with those 2 cabs for a couple outdoor gigs.
The two F1's work real well into the two Neox cabs, its my much lighter outdoor rig now. I also use one Neox 112T + Neox 212T, for 3x12's at some med-large clubs. I just really dig the tone of the F1 head and now I can use two of em to get potential 500 watts to each cab. Much lighter than if I'da ran it thru the B1500.
So the B1500 stands 5th in line behind the two F1's, LMII and Neopak. But I'll prolly drag it out again to use this fall when its not so hot out to carry the big mother around. And I still just might try running a F1 into the B1500. I gots-ta know.
That's really cool -- two 500W amps together the size of an LMIII (well, approximately...)!
That should sound killer!
it does work pretty well, cept most gigs lately have called for only a single cab, usually a single Neox212T or Eden 410xlt. Its just so damn hot here now, I try to just carry one cab for a quick setup/teardown. I love the F1 with 410xlt w/55-02D for the soul/funk band.
Now, I only bought a used LMII here on TB cause I just had to know what the difference was btw F1 and LMII. Well the LMII works really well with my Am St P5 w/VT pedal into a single 212T for my Tx Blues band. So I kinda pulled apart the two F1's/tuner/pwer cond outta the 4 space Gator since Im ony using a single cab mostly for now. I usually carry the F1 and LMII in a leather satchel to gigs to have a backup amp.
And I still like to use my Neopak with Neox 112T/212T for 3x12's for those tight stage setups where this taller, slimmer rig fits in nicely. I hope to use the two F1's with two cabs again soon, just giggin smaller rooms these days. Oh sorry, to keep this on the Carvin tip, if anyone is crazy enuff to wanna trade their B2000 for my year old, pristine B1500, drop me a line. I'd like to get more use outta my Carvin but in a lighter package be cool, old fart rant.
Now, I only bought a used LMII here on TB cause I just had to know what the difference was btw F1 and LMII. Well the LMII works really well with my Am St P5 w/VT pedal into a single 212T for my Tx Blues band. So I kinda pulled apart the two F1's/tuner/pwer cond outta the 4 space Gator since Im ony using a single cab mostly for now. I usually carry the F1 and LMII in a leather satchel to gigs to have a backup amp.
And I still like to use my Neopak with Neox 112T/212T for 3x12's for those tight stage setups where this taller, slimmer rig fits in nicely. I hope to use the two F1's with two cabs again soon, just giggin smaller rooms these days. Oh sorry, to keep this on the Carvin tip, if anyone is crazy enuff to wanna trade their B2000 for my year old, pristine B1500, drop me a line. I'd like to get more use outta my Carvin but in a lighter package be cool, old fart rant.
My BX1500 finally arrived today (a 3 week wait seems like an eternity)!! I open the box to take a look at my toy... and the mute switch is smashed!! So I make the call to Carvin to send it back and looks like I'll have to wait another 10 days or so to get a new one. Hopefully their shipping dept will pack the next one correctly (I'm guessing they just jammed the head into the foam, severing the switch).
The good news is, I'm betting that amp works fine and will at least do for you until the other one comes, so at least you don't have to go without.
I sold my BX1500 a few days ago. I still think its a great amp, its more of a money issue/too much gear issue.
I bought the BX1500 specifically to use with my 15/6, but now that I have my LDS 112s coming I doubt my 15/6 will be seeing as much action aside from those gigs where I need to be really loud. I found my peavey dpc 1000 + VT Bass works great with the 15/6 and it was a bit redundant to have more or less two 'amps' meant for the same purpose.
I almost always used the VT Bass infront of the bx1500 and that tone was fairly similar with just dpc 1000 + VT Bass. Close enough anyway. I chose to sell the BX1500 instead of the DPC 1000 because the BX1500 has higher re-sale value and the DPC 1000 is more versatile as I can use it to run a PA system or other preamp etc.
The only gripe I had with the BX1500 is the volume control layout. When you bridge at for 900w at 8 ohms you use 'poweramp 1' level control to adjust the volume. With that vol control, plus the master, plus the gain knob, plus the level knob on the VT Bass, I had essentially 4 'volume' controls which drove me a little nuts. No biggie for sure, but not ideal either.
Still recommend the BX1500 though.
Great amp.
I bought the BX1500 specifically to use with my 15/6, but now that I have my LDS 112s coming I doubt my 15/6 will be seeing as much action aside from those gigs where I need to be really loud. I found my peavey dpc 1000 + VT Bass works great with the 15/6 and it was a bit redundant to have more or less two 'amps' meant for the same purpose.
I almost always used the VT Bass infront of the bx1500 and that tone was fairly similar with just dpc 1000 + VT Bass. Close enough anyway. I chose to sell the BX1500 instead of the DPC 1000 because the BX1500 has higher re-sale value and the DPC 1000 is more versatile as I can use it to run a PA system or other preamp etc.
The only gripe I had with the BX1500 is the volume control layout. When you bridge at for 900w at 8 ohms you use 'poweramp 1' level control to adjust the volume. With that vol control, plus the master, plus the gain knob, plus the level knob on the VT Bass, I had essentially 4 'volume' controls which drove me a little nuts. No biggie for sure, but not ideal either.
Still recommend the BX1500 though.
Great amp.
Dr Funk
"If you ain't appearing then you be disappearing"
