Does anyone mod modern solid state amps?

[FenderBassBass]

I have a carvin bx500 head that I really like. I can always get a good tone out of it whether I'm using my upright or electric its really a pretty good doubling amp.

I have two things I'd like done to it, first and more easily, I'd like to add a pre/post switch to the direct out. It seems weird that the amp wouldn't have this feature, but it doesn't.

Second since I'm using the dpa 4099b mic for upright I have to bring an extra preamp that can supply phantom power to the mic. It would be amazing if there were a way to put a combo 1/4" / XLR jack on the front of the amp and build in the phantom power supply with a switch to turn it off.

There's plenty of physical room inside the amp so I guess its just a matter of if it will work from an engineering standpoint. Does anyone know of someone who could take this on? I'm in michigan but I could mail the amp out I suppose if there were someone who could do it.

Thanks,
Jon

PS Carvin said they don't do that kind of stuff themselves, but they sent me schematics if I found someone that would.

 

[MarkA]

No help, here, but it is cool that they sent you schematics -- or is this normal for amp manufacturers?

 

[FenderBassBass]

Well, I'm not sure if it's normal industry wide, but carvin does have them up on the site if you take the time to search for it..

 

[esa372]

He's not near you, but I would talk to Stretch at Valley Sound in Los Angeles. I'd be surprised if he couldn't do what you are asking; he may even know someone closer to you that can handle it.

Link Removed
(818) 755-2801

He's done some great mods on my SS amp.

 

[BassmanPaul]

It would be a fairly easy modification to do. Your warranty would be void. It might be better if you think about using a pre designed for the upright and use an A/B switch in the FX loop.

 

[DWBass]

Just remember, modding your amp voids the warranty. Honestly, I wouldn't bother. Just use external components and leave it at that.

 

[FenderBassBass]

thanks, esa372 I'll check out the valley sound guy.

I'm out of warranty anyway, and the reason I want to make the mods is so I don't have to set up a bunch of other components to get the amp to do what I want. (mic pre and separate direct box)

 

[Passinwind]

thanks, esa372 I'll check out the valley sound guy.

I'm out of warranty anyway, and the reason I want to make the mods is so I don't have to set up a bunch of other components to get the amp to do what I want. (mic pre and separate direct box)

I had an older BX500 for a while, and found it to be fairly picky about what mods it would accept happily. The power supply protection circuits were pretty tweaky in mine. Be sure to find a tech who's conversant with surface mount technology, since there's a lot of that going on in the BX500. It's not too bad as far as component size and spacing though, for SMT.