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How about a Carvin Micro Bass MB1215 stack?

Bard2dbone

Bard2dbone

Aug 4, 2002
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Arlington TX
#1
I may be misremembering that model number. The stack I'm picturing is a MB12 combo with a 115MB extension cab.

I currently have what had been a good rig for quite some time. It's a SWR Redhead into an SWR Triad extension cab. It's tired. Volume has gotten inconsistent from moment to moment. The sound quality varies frequently. It's generally acting possessed.

My drummer and guitarist are teasing me that it's time to retire that rig and just be glad I got as much time out of it as I did, Some days I'm sure I can get a couple of more years out of it with a well-executed round of maintenance. Some days I'm as fed up as they are.

During my last fed up phase I was trying to think what I liked and who made good versions of it. I was picturing a Little Mark Tube 800 into a Schroeder 1215L.

Then somehow that got me to that same Markbass head into a pair of Avatar cabs, an SB112 and a TB153.

Eventually I got around to the current idea. What is the current impression on Carvin's MicroBass line? Especially an MB12 into a 115MBextension cab?

It's around the power level of my current rig with my usually preferred pairing of a 12 and a 15. But I don't really know Carvin's bass amps from experience. I've had several great experiences with Carvin GUITAR amps. But no bass amps.

How are they? Has anyone here used them?

Let me know.
 
#2
General consensus is that the MB12 loses too much low end response when it is off the ground, so you have to have both cabs on the ground rather than in a stack. If you can live with that go for it, otherwise you might consider the MB1515 or MB1015 stack instead.
 
#3
Low Class said:
General consensus is that the MB12 loses too much low end response when it is off the ground, so you have to have both cabs on the ground rather than in a stack. If you can live with that go for it, otherwise you might consider the MB1515 or MB1015 stack instead.
Click to expand...

+1. I've heard the same thing about the MB12.

On the other hand, I still absolutely love my MB1515 stack. Light, loud, clear and handles my 5'ers like a champ. I must say that for the first time in a long time, I am totally gas free on the amp front. The band loves it (Classic Rock, Funk, R&B) and would get pissed if I ever tried to swap it for something else anyway...
 
#6
I'm in the market for a light weight combo and I love the price of the Carvin gear over, say, the GK micro combos which start at more that twice what the Carvins are going for. Of course, the GK amps are 500 watts and the Carvin only 250. Are the Carvins powerful and loud enough? Do they suffer at all in the tone department as compared with the competition's comparable, albeit more expensive, gear? I'd be looking at a MB15/15 as well.
 
#7
I tried every combination at the store and the MB12/115 stack sounds great to me but I like clarity in the mids, which I can manipulate. Since the BX250 head has all the mid-range versatilty you could ever want, it works. Also since the 115 extension is a somewhat small and sealed box, they work together well unlike a bigger deep ported box would (with the 12" combo). I rehearse and do parties with an MB10 sitting on an Avatar SB112 and it won't be THAT much different. Good tone, loud enough for most situations (yours will be louder).
 
#8
Mike Sorr said:
I'm in the market for a light weight combo and I love the price of the Carvin gear over, say, the GK micro combos which start at more that twice what the Carvins are going for. Of course, the GK amps are 500 watts and the Carvin only 250. Are the Carvins powerful and loud enough? Do they suffer at all in the tone department as compared with the competition's comparable, albeit more expensive, gear? I'd be looking at a MB15/15 as well.
Click to expand...
I've gigged my MB15/15 stack many, many times without PA support and have never gone past 11 o'clock on the Master. We're playing a big outdoor block party on Saturday and that's all I'm taking. No PA Support. Report to follow.
 
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#9
Mike Sorr said:
I'm in the market for a light weight combo and I love the price of the Carvin gear over, say, the GK micro combos which start at more that twice what the Carvins are going for. Of course, the GK amps are 500 watts and the Carvin only 250. Are the Carvins powerful and loud enough? Do they suffer at all in the tone department as compared with the competition's comparable, albeit more expensive, gear? I'd be looking at a MB15/15 as well.
Click to expand...


I have the mb210 and extension cab on sale right now on talkbass classifieds. Plenty of lows
 
#10
I am both a jazz guitarist seeking an absolutely clean tone as well as a bassist (4 string primarily). After much research, I bought the MB1215 and am blown away for each application. I was leery of the down facing 12 inch driver but do not find it problematic. It does deliver a bit more punch placed on the floor but performs admirably stacked on the 15 cab. Place it on a lean back amp stand if you have a problem.

For clean jazz guitar, the MB12 alone delivers a straight ahead, uncolored sound. Handles pedals well and the combination of tone controls surpasses nearly any amp I have used (Fender Twin, Fender Deluxe, Fender Super Reverb, Mesa Boogie Mark III, several Polytones).

For bass - I was looking for a clear sound combining crisp high end, clean mids and thick lows. The 1215 really delivers. The MB12 is a little thin alone but with the 15 external cab - boom, a whole other story, the real deal. I have to cover scooped slap to classic R&B to standard rock and I can cover each without an external eq pedal. Weight is optimal for me. As to volume, yeah, I wish it was double the wattage but it is enough. I'll buy another rig if I ever do arenas again (assuming there are roadies to carry the gear!). My primary venues are small to mid-size, up to a few hundred people max. Beyond that, you would need sound system support of course.

Inexpensive, light weight, excellent construction, American made, great sound - what's not to like?
 

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