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New Carvin Micro bass combo amps!

#161
This is interesting to me. I hadn't seen these yet. I just left the band I had been with for a long time. The only playing I will be doing is in a small church with 250 people at most in the congregation, and I usually just DI into the system, but one of the other bass players (we trade off) has been using an amp and DI lately and it sounds great. I'm thinking this will be a nice option for that situation. My current rig is a Phil Jones Bass Buddy into a Stewart World 1.2 driving a Euphonic Audio CXL 210, and that is just too much to haul around.

I may have to get one of these.
 
#163
The AC inlet location is in an awkward, true. But the amplifier part/box is "modular" in the sense that the same amp is used in all the MB-series models. It makes perfect sense to have all the connections on the amp chassis itself and not on the speaker cabinet part of the amp. Makes for quick assembly and easy servicing.

I'm still interested in the MB series; as the days go by, more vids of them in action are out on Youtube. I watch and listen to every new video closely. And of course, read every new post in this thread! Many thanks to those that have an MB amp and post their thoughts here.
 
#166
craig.p said:
It does NOT mute the speaker. I just went upstairs and checked it on my unit. Tried it first with a mono phone plug and then again with a stereo phone plug. Speaker stayed on both times.
Click to expand...

That makes sense, because if it muted, you couldn't leave a tuner plugged into it. So if you have headphones inserted, and you switch the mute switch, I'm guessing it DOESN'T mute the headphone out.
 
#168
GrooveWarrior said:
That makes sense, because if it muted, you couldn't leave a tuner plugged into it. So if you have headphones inserted, and you switch the mute switch, I'm guessing it DOESN'T mute the headphone out.
Click to expand...
Straight outta da manual:

3. MUTE SWITCH
The MUTE switch turns off the signal to the amplifier and the
DIRECT OUT. The JEWEL LIGHT changes to RED to indicate the
MUTE switch is on. The MUTE switch is ideal for changing basses,
silent tuning on-stage, or headphone-only practice. The
TUNER/PHONES output is never muted.
 
#169
I got thrown off a bit because the volume for the headphones is actually the DI LEVEL knob. I thought something was wrong, but then I figured it out. MUTE ON and turn the DI LEVEL knob to the right.
By the way, my MB10 has the most kickass headphone tone I've ever experienced from a combo amp. Wicked.
 
#170
jeff7bass said:
I got thrown off a bit because the volume for the headphones is actually the DI LEVEL knob. I thought something was wrong, but then I figured it out. MUTE ON and turn the DI LEVEL knob to the right.
By the way, my MB10 has the most kickass headphone tone I've ever experienced from a combo amp. Wicked.
Click to expand...

How about the amp tone? I'm trying to decide between the 10 and the 15. I'm worried the 10 may not have enough booty.
 
#171
The MB10 gets LOUD and is very in-your-face and punchy. The tone is simply amazing. The reason I bought it instead of the MB15 is I already have a gigging amp and extra cabs. I like the sound of the MB10 so much though that I've considered using it to gig with (on top of an extension) just so I could mic it live.
If it will be your only amp, get the MB15.
 
#172
jeff7bass said:
The MB10 gets LOUD and is very in-your-face and punchy. The tone is simply amazing. The reason I bought it instead of the MB15 is I already have a gigging amp and extra cabs. I like the sound of the MB10 so much though that I've considered using it to gig with (on top of an extension) just so I could mic it live.
If it will be your only amp, get the MB15.
Click to expand...

Is the MB15 flabby? I like punch. I've been used to a 210, but I'm paring down to one portable amp.
 
#173
The MB15 is not flabby at all. It's not colored either but it's gets fat enough with tweeking. 369 bucks right now. Great deal. Judging by what you've said so far, the MB15 sounds like the right amp for you. It's very compact so size/weight are not an issue at all.
 
#174
Afew questions for you guys, anyone who has either of them..

First off, Can these speakers be replaced with an Eminence Deltalite or Kappalite?? Im looking for more of a PA/high frequency tone.. which is also why I think the MB12 is the best option with that midrange driver, but its also more money so hmm.

I was looking at getting the Carvin AG100D, and replacing the speaker with a Deltalite, that way I'd have a very clear amp with a good speaker/tweeter, but the AG100D is WAYbigger than these (like 27" in height, while these are 18"?).. so I am not so sure on that anymore. That was my first idea though, since I have a BX500 already and can place the BX500 in that slot.

Now my main goal, is to use it as a bass amp for small gigs/practices, but also be able to use it as a small monitor for other instruments if I need to.. It seems to work fine for guitar (using my BX500 and Eminence Basslite 1x12) when needed in a pinch, but also wondering how it'll do on other instruments like Alto Sax (mic'd) if im at a gig which needs it, but no PA.. Theres lots of tone controls on there that im sure it would be fine, just wondering if anyone has tried any other instruments thru it (piano, etc).. Id test but dont have the proper cables right now for those instruments, nor do I have a keyboard that costs more than $20 =[
 
#176
whats the opinion on the 1x10 with the low B?? does it work decently enough for small practices/maybe 3piece jazz bands very small shows??

How are the upper frequencies too? I'd like to get one possibly and use it as a small vocal PA too at times. hmm
 
#177
I'm seriously thinking about buying a Microbass. How quiet are they? Do they hiss?
Click to expand...
There is a TINY amount of hiss coming from the tweeter but you have to get your ear right up to the thing to hear it. It's not a problem.

whats the opinion on the 1x10 with the low B?? does it work decently enough for small practices/maybe 3piece jazz bands very small shows??
Click to expand...
That lands pretty far off from this amp's intended purpose, in my opinion, in terms of both low-end extension and volume. The audience will be able to detect the presence of a bass instrument, but the problem is that it'll be frequency-slotted too high and it'll be too quiet by the time you get done EQ'ing the crap out of it to fix its two huge (but premeditated) compromises: the fact that it's a tiny cab and the fact that that tiny cab contains a tiny speaker. There's only so much you can do with tone controls when there's that high of a wall to get over. With an extension cab, though, different story.

How are the upper frequencies too? I'd like to get one possibly and use it as a small vocal PA too at times. hmm
Click to expand...
The upper frequencies are present, but the tweeter contributes nothing to voice -- other than irritating sibilance -- and the woofer (if you want to call it that) is going to beam like crazy in the upper part of the vocal range. Could you press the MB into vocal-duty service? Yeah, I suppose. But the experience probably won't leave you sore from grinnin'.
 
#179
craig.p said:
That lands pretty far off from this amp's intended purpose, in my opinion, in terms of both low-end extension and volume. The audience will be able to detect the presence of a bass instrument, but the problem is that it'll be frequency-slotted too high and it'll be too quiet by the time you get done EQ'ing the crap out of it to fix its two huge (but premeditated) compromises: the fact that it's a tiny cab and the fact that that tiny cab contains a tiny speaker. There's only so much you can do with tone controls when there's that high of a wall to get over. With an extension cab, though, different story.
Click to expand...

Well put. People need to get over their illusions about what can be done in small boxes with relatively low wattage. There are no exceptions to the rules of physics. Every time a bass cab gets designed either wittingly or unwittingly it follows certain physical laws about bass extension, sensitivity versus potential sub-100 Hz output, etc.

In a small box, unless you use real inefficient and usually pretty expensive drivers that are designed to do a lot of bass and handle a lot of power, you are NOT going to hear much sub 125-Hz content. Cheaper small boxes are going to fart easily if you try to make big bass happen at big stage SPL. Combos have ALWAYS been about small affordable packages that trade off lower bass performance for sensitivity, so that lower wattage amp sections can seem fairly loud. Wishing for crushing lows will not make it so no matter how much someone clenches their ____ and wishes.
 
#180
GrooveWarrior said:
I'm curious about the contour control. If I set the EQ up with a slight mid bump for fingerstyle, when I turn the contour to scoop, does it override the EQ to give me a scooped slap sound, or simply add another type of EQ to the mix?
Click to expand...
It would pull your mid bump back down.

You won't need a mid bump with the MB series, unless you want the thing to sound like a 9V transistor radio from 1968, or one of these:

atlas-sound-GA-15T.png


My review from last summer emphasized how "middy" the MB15 is. Might be worth a look back through this thread.
 

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