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Chef's Carvin B1500...

Yeah, sorry to hear that, too. Would they give you a refund?

I gotta admit, when I first plugged mine in it started to cut out something fierce... Chef, you were the first person I thought of. I turned it off and tried a different output plug, realizing that my cable end didn't fit very snug-ly in the plug. This seemed to take care of the problem. I must not have had it plugged in all the way. Now I am using a Neutrik adaptor for my speaker cable, and all is well.

When I first tried this puppy out, it was like a wild animal that was going to pounce on me. That 'drive' knob seems to really give it some juice when used in conjuction with the Master. EQ seems to be nice, but I won't be able to tell much until I gig with it. I should have to worry about not being heard. :smug:

I had my two avatars plugged into it (4 ohms) and it pretty easily was shaking stuff off my shelves around my music room. Very impressive low end - even moreso than my SVT had. Massive low end, to be more precise. Really, really powerful. :eek:

As for gigging experience, I will know more by next weekend, but unless something happens with it, it's a keeper. It's by FAR the most powerful head I have ever had. It really makes the SVT look like smaller potatoes. :hiding:

As I read this back to myself, I realize that I have hijacked your thread, Chef. My apologies. Great amp, though. I hope you get a refund, or a repair, and have a chance to really give this baby a whirl. :bassist:
 
Got email from the bench tech today saying he was hoping to open her up today...
I reiterated that 1) it arrived broken the first time, 2) failed on stage the second time, and 3) that I had pushing 200 dates in my books this year between 4 bands, and failure on stage was a really crummy option for me, personally;)

Hopefully they can help a brutha out here.
I paid for a working amp, it'd be nice to have one, at some point...
 
Carvin switched to commission about 2 years ago. The sales guys double as CS email guys. If I was on commission I wouldn't get caught up in tech questions, only probable sales emails. It's the nature of commission.

Chef your wheel is gunna have to get squeakier if you want a new one at a discounted price. [Huge wink]

I wouldn't even let the one on the bench back in to your house. It's uncomfortable to get lubed up but long awkward pauses/silence will you usually get you what you want when speaking with CS.
 
Chef, with 200 dates...I'd cut bait. Carvin has strung you along for too long. I am sure that the B1500 can be an awesome head...if it works...and continues to do so through all the grief that we routinely put equipment through. The customer service is sorely lacking. Chalk it up to experience and get something else.

Kim
 
Apparently my persistant, kind pressure to do the right thing has resulted in...Carvin doing the right thing:

Hi Alan,

Just spoke with the bench tech and we are going to do a defective unit exchange.

thanks,
xxxx


names dropped to protect the nice; I dunno if it's kosher to leave their names in public...

I'll report back again when the new one gets here!

alan
 
Apparently my persistant, kind pressure to do the right thing has resulted in...Carvin doing the right thing:

Hi Alan,

Just spoke with the bench tech and we are going to do a defective unit exchange.

thanks,
xxxx


names dropped to protect the nice; I dunno if it's kosher to leave their names in public...

I'll report back again when the new one gets here!

alan

Aaah ... nice to see that happen. Enjoy your new amp when you get it.
 
So, now that the unit has been diagnosed, here's what happened...condensed verion of email from the bench tech who was very nice to take time and answer several emails from me and explain what happened:

The fan failed to engage the higher of it's two speeds, and the high current module supplying it also failed-perhpas from shipping back and forth those several times? Heat damage ensued. A new unit will be shipping today.

I should have more for you guys by the end of next week, but it's actually some time now before I have a "biiiig venue" gig...

KUDOS TO CARVIN for doing the right thing here!!!
 
It's been a long process, but it's finally turned out right. Very cool! Thanks for the reporting, Chef, I'm looking forward to your reviews.

I already own the B800, but it works so well with my Epifani cabs that I'm considering the B1500. I'm not certain I need the watts... but it's better to have 'em and not need 'em, yadda yadda. Also, the B1500 is rackable. So anyway, it's cool to know that Carvin's CS has come through for you.