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NAD: Carvin BX700

#21
BadExample said:
Hey Benny, I tried a good handful. The Carvin tube with no label sounds about the same as the SS channel, but the JJ is way better. Then I tried 5 or 6 or 8 NOS/OEMs I scammed at work, and they varied from about the same as the JJ to way better to my ears. I have about 4 to 8 hours to go on a cab I'm building and once finished, I'd be glad to try and record some audio files to post if interested.
Suggestions on pre-amp settings would be welcome. I also have to find my stroboscope I packed up ten years ago, so I can use its good mic. That's the hard part! If it's in the attic, I'm not going up there until fall. Too dambid hot!

I'm up for starting a Carvin BX or a Carvin amp club if there is interest. That would be the perfect place for tube test files and amp settings that work well for a certain cab and tone goal. I can't see it being a big deal to "run," but if I am tracking and issuing numbers, I need at least one person to be available as a backup. I can get pretty OCD sometimes, and as much as I love music, I could suddenly drop out for a while and be off in another direction. Of course I wouldn't just disappear and would pass on the file with usernames and numbers. IMO, we should have about ten people interested up front for it to worthwhile, and need to check in with TB staff or search for rules on clubs. Anyone interested, post up now or forever hold you peace! BTW: I can track numbers, but anyone else could do it if someone wants to be "leader."
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I would love to hear the differences in pre-tubes if you would be so kind. I have had tube equipped pre amps as well as component pres with tubes but never got to tinkering with rolling them. It would be nice to be a bit thicker on the tube side to contrast the SS (which sounds pretty nice).

Benny
 
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#23
Who uses the crossover for biamping? I've yet to mess around with this as I have no cab to dedicate as a "lows only" cab. What are you guys who are doing it using for cabs and whay frequencies are you crossing over at. Been toying with the idea of grabbing a high output 15" cab to throw under my sealed Neo 408 cab that is beyond punchy.

-Benny
 
#24
I've played aournd with it quite a bit. Health issues this year have really held me back, and I started building a 15" cab last Feb or March and it's just now close to done. I've paled the 15" driver in it's shipping box and used sealed back mids, high power titanium horn tweeters or a (huge) home stereo speakers. I've set the crossover all over the place. It's fun. I got really great tone doing that. I imagine with good cabs it would sound great. Hopefully I'll know soon on the 15; I just finished the Tolex this week and just need to trim the baffle and back to fit, add the dish to the back and bold stuff together.
 
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#25
BadExample said:
Hey Benny, I tried a good handful. The Carvin tube with no label sounds about the same as the SS channel, but the JJ is way better. Then I tried 5 or 6 or 8 NOS/OEMs I scammed at work, and they varied from about the same as the JJ to way better to my ears. I have about 4 to 8 hours to go on a cab I'm building and once finished, I'd be glad to try and record some audio files to post if interested.
Suggestions on pre-amp settings would be welcome. I also have to find my stroboscope I packed up ten years ago, so I can use its good mic. That's the hard part! If it's in the attic, I'm not going up there until fall. Too dambid hot!

I'm up for starting a Carvin BX or a Carvin amp club if there is interest. That would be the perfect place for tube test files and amp settings that work well for a certain cab and tone goal. I can't see it being a big deal to "run," but if I am tracking and issuing numbers, I need at least one person to be available as a backup. I can get pretty OCD sometimes, and as much as I love music, I could suddenly drop out for a while and be off in another direction. Of course I wouldn't just disappear and would pass on the file with usernames and numbers. IMO, we should have about ten people interested up front for it to worthwhile, and need to check in with TB staff or search for rules on clubs. Anyone interested, post up now or forever hold you peace! BTW: I can track numbers, but anyone else could do it if someone wants to be "leader."
Click to expand...

The stock tube sounding nearly identical to the ss channel is why I asked. I wasn't sure how much difference a single tube might make to the tone of the head. I'm definitely interested in hearing recorded files, that would save me a lot of time and money on buying and trying tubes to see what I do or don't like.

As for starting a BX club, I'm not entirely sure I'm clear on how clubs work but I'd be okay with joining this one since I accidentally sparked the idea for it's creation.
 
#26
It might take a few weeks for me to finish the cab, find my strob-o-tuner (the good mic) and do it, but I'll get some sound files. It should be fun, and interesting for me too, as I could compare the sound files. It takes just long enough to get in and change the tube to where I could be imagining a difference.

Including me, we at least have the makins of a three man club! Anyone else? If we have a good handful, we can decide, BX club, Carvin amp club, general carvin club or ??? I know there is already a combo club, pretty sure I saw a "B" model amp club, pretty sure there are no other Carvin clubs here. As far as how they work, I think they are just ongoing threads. Creators of clubs sometimes set a couple of "mild" rules, like most own model "X" of brand "X" or must post a pic to get your number. As I see it, just a watering hole for some fellas (or gals!) that have something in common. I'm in the "Grumpy old fart" club and I lurk the fender rumble club. Both very relaxed and never saw anyone complain of off-topic, clean jokes etc. Informal fun and a place to share info from what I gather. It should be just for fun and helping each other out if needed, in my opinion. I don't care who leads it if a leader is required, or who tracks the numbers. Anyone else interested?
 
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#27
I took a hiatus from TB for a few years and I for the life of me can't remember what clubs I am already a member of lol.

I'll post up my settings later, I got a tip on what is mostly flat on this amp from the seller (I almost always buy used and save huge) and I tweak the low mid a bit, cut the highs a little bit and do most of my tone shaping otherwise on the fly from my Bongo. Would love to open up the tube channel and use it more like a 2 channel amp.

I'll post up a pic if of the tone stacks and amp face if I remember. I'll at least give values.

-Benny
 
#28
svlilioukalani said:
I got a B1000, and it is awsome. I would put it up against any of the new crop of class D amps. And it was on sale for $320 last January. It's a great gigging amp. Great tone, 2 ohm stable, and big power.
Click to expand...

I kicked myself for six months about missing that deal before buying one anyways a few weeks ago to use as a backup for the Baer. Killer, killer amp.
 
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#29
Hmm...

Admittedly, one of the things that were holding me back from taking a look at Carvin is the complaint by owners that the tube drive didn't yield an appreciable difference from the transistor drive.

If swapping out the preamp tube addresses this issue (I'm not expecting Lemmy tone from this thing, just a bit of classic rock grit), then I might have some thinking to do. Several of their models "check the right boxes" for me...
 
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#30
jasonbraatz said:
I kicked myself for six months about missing that deal before buying one anyways a few weeks ago to use as a backup for the Baer. Killer, killer amp.
Click to expand...

I know you're refering to the amp, but I see in your profile that you have ML-112's as well. How does the Carvin sound through those? I've been pulled into so many directions on gear in the last few months that GAS has been an issue like it has never been before. The ML-112's have been slugging it out with the Genzler BA 12-3's. Then some Epifani PS 112's come up for sale. I just need two of each, right everyone?

But for real haha, from what I read is the Baers have a sweet top end and pretty even response but with an aggressive upper mid presense. Firm, solid, articulate bottom.

Similar things are said of the BA 12-3 but a bit more even of a response, with more authority in the lower mids and smooth top send. The off axis clarity seems to be a huge part/ selling point of this cab.

The only comparisons I find are of the differences in mid range and not much otherwise. I understand they are different, are expensive and the Genzlers are way newer yet compared to the Baers but there doesn't seems to be much cross testimoney.

I wish I could try them, but closest place is Chicago and I'm outside of Madison WI.

Something tells me, the open nature of the Carvins would jive well with the Baers and the ability to take EQ.

Seems the Genzler would as well though.

I'm definitely not hanging out with lots of extra money or both would be in the arsenal.

Man, GAS is tough.

-Benny
 
#31
The ML112s and the B1000 match very well for my taste, although I haven't played the B1000 into anything else. Similar vibe to the Valkyrie, actually - clean, tight lows, excellent mids and perfect punch & definition everywhere. The Valk obviously has more depth, width, character, charm, etc, but definitely the same ballpark.

I play very aggressive sounding basses with light, stainless strings, a lighter touch, low action, and my hand normally over the bridge pickup, and I normally EQ stuff as close to flat as possible. That meshes very well with heads that are warm without being fat or pillowy yet still respond immediately, and cabs that have really good upper mid extension without having super high frequency extension from a horn. (I also think it sounds amazing with an upright or a P-bass with flats, though.)

If I still lived in Madison I'd give you a test drive. Little far of a drive nowadays, though. :)
 
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#35
Saetia said:
I would love to hear the differences in pre-tubes if you would be so kind. I have had tube equipped pre amps as well as component pres with tubes but never got to tinkering with rolling them. It would be nice to be a bit thicker on the tube side to contrast the SS (which sounds pretty nice).

Benny
Click to expand...
Believe it or not, still working on it and not forgotten. Just go too busy to have fun.
 
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#39
BadExample said:
What cab(s)? Any pedals? If you didn't already, try turning gain down, turn on the active bass switch, push all the graphic eq sliders down and turn that on. Probably any two of the three should do it I'd guess.
Click to expand...

I'm using the BRX2.10 as a cab, I have a small pedalboard but none of them were on, I have the gain knob around 4 because it gives me a nice bit of overdrive that I like but I can try messing with it, I didn't have the active button idea until after I left but it's probably going to be my first attempted solution tomorrow at practice. I had never had an amp drown out everyone before, I'm used to practicing with a rumble 100 that can barely keep up. Thanks for the ideas, I'll let you know what I try after practice.
 
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#40
Hopefully that will be enough. If needed, I guess you could set your tone, then back down the para eq's equally to lower it some more. Maybe back down what you can on your axe as long as it still sounds good. I guess you could get a volume pedal or some other pedal that has volume control in the loop or before the amp.
 

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