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Never used any Carvin stuff before...

#43
I use a BX1200 and their 4x10 Neil cabinet. Very nice overall as referenced by many posts - quality, value for money, tweakabikity, etc. The only real knocks against them are that outside of CA, you probably can't try before buying, that they're not an iconic name, and that they don't have a signature sound like Ampeg, Fender, Orange, etc. I use mine more as a power amp, running my VT Bass into the back. Carvins are very clean, so they do this sort of thing well.
 
#45
I have used Carvin for years and they are really a GREAT deal for the money...

The best cabs they have and really do sound good are the BRX10.4 cabs...

The MB series really do sound good for what they are...It really comes down to your taste.
 
#47
I have a MB115 with the 115 cab its a awesome light weight rig I've used it at rehearsal for three different bands. And it has done great.
20161107_213448.jpg
 
#50
I had a Carvin PB100 combo amp that lasted about 14 years before dying last year. It was decent for playing at home. After it died I went with a BX 250 amp combined with Bugera's BT115 and BT210 cabs. The amp is nice but can be a "fiddly" process to find a good tone with all the knobs on it.
I also bought a B4 bass the first year they came out. Excellent build quality and decent tone but Carvin has really advanced with their pickups since then. If I still had it I'd probably install their newer pickups.
Overall, you can't go wrong with Carvin. IMO, they're just as good as most other brands.
 
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#53
My main amp and cab since may of 2015 is a carvin bx500 and 4x10 cab. I personally like them, and have no plans to replace them right now. They work fine, sound good to me and the eq options on the head are fantastic.

My practice amp is a smaller (30 watt?) fender rumble. It sounds good as well, though definitely colors the tone more (a bit mid-scoopy to my ears). Not bad, just different.

I've heard that carvin amps are "sterile," maybe that's true. My bass has a good tone, and I am able to get that tone to come through loud and well eq'd with the carvin.

IMG_3796.JPG
 
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#54
gustophersmob said:
I've heard that carvin amps are "sterile," maybe that's true. My bass has a good tone, and I am able to get that tone to come through loud and well eq'd with the carvin.
Click to expand...

If sterile means flat response so what you get is the sound of your bass - as you say, no problem with that. That's my experience with the B1000, subject to the EQ options which are very good. In contrast - I love my Streamliner 900 (and gig with it more than I do with the Carvin) but the SL 900 adds its own color. All good, just different approaches.
 
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#56
Mustang Surly said:
Opinions?

Specifically, I was looking at their MB-210 combo as a possible practice amp candidate.

Anyone have first-hand experience with this one?

MB210 Micro Bass Amp 2 X 10 Inch

Anyone have strong feelings about Carvin in general, one way or the other?

Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

I was a Carvin fanatic for a number of years, until they closed the Hollywood store and the change in management, direction and name. As a 5 string player, I had one of their MB15 stacks for a while and it never let me down. I have also owned the BRX10.2, 10.4, BX500, BX250 and BX1200 amps. Briefly I owned an MB210 but found it somewhat anemic even for practice with a rock cover band. That's why I went to the 2x15's and that was fine. FWIW, my tastes changed, I've switched to Ampegs and have to say that the Ampeg MicroVR/210AV is able to cover the needs I couldn't get from the MB210.

As far as Carvin Audio as a company, IME they make excellent gear that is very solid. I'll likely never spend a penny at Kiesel, but I'll buy Carvin audio gear without hesitation.
 
#57
My first and only bass amp so far is a Carvin BR510 I got used, I agree with the "most bang for your buck" post. It sounds good to my ears, could be better but could be a lot worse and it has all the features I really need and then some. My favorite part is the partially parametric low/high mid EQ but it also has a classic 9 band EQ that can be switched on or off, and has a tweeter with a high frequency attenuator so you can really shape the tone a ton. Great for guitar and keys too.

That is all I have hands on experience with but I have seen lots of very nice Carvin custom guitars that I would buy in a heartbeat if I could justify it :roflmao:

All in all they seem like one of if not the best brands for deals on gear made in the USA, just look at their custom guitar work:
carvin custom guitar - Google Search

760ca3b4ed58aae6609a3ddd6030f4a2.jpg

drool
 
#58
Not direct to the OP request, but I recently bought a BX500 amp to backup an aging Markbass LM II. At first I was pretty disappointed in the Carvin. It was voiced way different than the MB. Actually - not voiced at all and I guess I wasn't used to that. I paired it with a 8 X 8 cab and have been working it. The more I use it and get accustomed to it, the more I like it. At this point I'm pretty happy I bought it instead of dropping 2X the money for another Markbass. I will look at Carvin again in the future as my need for amplification requires.
 
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#59
"After it died I went with a BX 250 amp combined with Bugera's BT115 and BT210 cabs."

After hearing the not-so-complimentary stuff about their cabs from people who are fine with the heads, I was thinking that a BX-250 with someone else's cab(s) might be another way to go.



"FWIW, my tastes changed, I've switched to Ampegs and have to say that the Ampeg MicroVR/210AV is able to cover the needs I couldn't get from the MB210."

That's another amp I've been looking at. Kinda like that Carvin's are US-made (which the Ampeg is not). But I understand that not everybody cares about that, which is a personal matter (not interested in starting a political discussion here).
 
#60
Mustang Surly said:
"After it died I went with a BX 250 amp combined with Bugera's BT115 and BT210 cabs."

After hearing the not-so-complimentary stuff about their cabs from people who are fine with the heads, I was thinking that a BX-250 with someone else's cab(s) might be another way to go.



"FWIW, my tastes changed, I've switched to Ampegs and have to say that the Ampeg MicroVR/210AV is able to cover the needs I couldn't get from the MB210."

That's another amp I've been looking at. Kinda like that Carvin's are US-made (which the Ampeg is not). But I understand that not everybody cares about that, which is a personal matter (not interested in starting a political discussion here).
Click to expand...
I'm happy with my Carvin/Bugera setup although I'm tempted to make it an all Bugera rig.
 

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