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Possible Rig Problem? (Carvin B800)

Blacksheep

Blacksheep

Destroyobot
Sep 7, 2006
289
0
Manitoba, Canada
#1
Hi, I recently played a show with my rig ( Carvin B800, on an Avatar 4X10) The rig is at 4 ohms right now, so pumping 500 watts. Well, the problem I think may be a problem is that the "Clip" light on the B800 was lit up like a christmas tree the whole time I played. There was no PA so I was at about 4 volume, playing a junky beater bass. My tone sounded fine, but that light kept flickering almost every note I played, and I dont know if I am just paranoid but the speakers seemed to be jumping alot. Is this normal? The amp can run 800 watts at 2 ohms, and the cab can take up to 1000 watts, so it shouldnt be.
 
#2
Its not recommended to play with your christmas tree lights on!! was it INPUT clip light or output clip light. I couldn't find a "b800" carvin amp. if the input was clipping your speakers might be fine. if the output was clipping too much, your speaker MIGHT be in danger. Do they sound ok? you might have been lucky...
 
#3
If you renamed your thread more specifically you might attract someone who has a Carvin B800 or B1500. But offhand I'd say you need to know your rig better and read the manual and all ; }

The cab itself can't take as much power as you think before mechanical overexcursion, the 1000 watts is just a rating of its ability to work hard without melting voice coils. It sounds like you probably had too much gain and maybe too much low EQ as well. You might be lucky you didn't break the cab.
 
#6
I guess a simile was out of everyones grasp...

I've read the manual, so Im asking here. It sounded fine, but the light kept flashing. Nothing is past seven. The Drive is at 6, the volume at 3. The controls go to ten, what's the point if they cant be safely used....
 
#7
"Nothing is past seven. "

Do you mean ALL your eq's (sub-bass, bass, low-mid etc) is set to 7?

What are your exact settings?

If so I would recommend you put every thing flat, play it for a while, then start adding a little EQ.


Mike
 
#8
If you had your sub-bass turned up, there's no suprise it's clipping. If you have to boost your knobs more than a notch or two to get what you want, try cutting what you don't want instead and make up for it with volume. Point of fact: I've had Carvin amps before and while I was always able to get a good sound out of them, the master volume knobs are anything but linear, I don't know if this goes for the B series or not but with the others, the entire power of the amp seemed to be contained between 0 and 5, anything over 5 was clip city no matter what you did. (Talking master vol. here, not eq knobs.) Try cutting what you don't want instead of boosting what you want and also don't get all tied up in the wattage ratings, they're a good marketing tool but most if not all bass cabs will hit other physical limits by at best half their wattage rating, sometimes a lot less than that, this isn't a Carvin exclusive. The wattage rating tells you how much power the voice coil can take before it fails, there are a lot of other parts to a speaker than just the voice coil.
 
#9
billfitzmaurice said:
Those lights are colored 'red' for a reason, and it's got nothing to do with Santa Claus. :rollno: RTFM.
Click to expand...
Do you hate your Carvin? Do you hate your cab? You must because you are definately abusing both of 'em! I don't think the B800's clip light was just messin' with you either. :smug:

Your EQing needs some adjusting immediately .. I'd start with backing way off on the 'Sub Bass' and the 'Bass' too. A little 'Sub Bass' goes a looooong way.
 
#10
I've never been able to get my B1500 to clip.

I've tried playing at low volume w/the drive all the way up and the active swith engaged too with my Dingwall in series and the Aggie bass boosted at 40hz.

You've got to be pushing your EQ too much if you're seeing your clip light IME.
 

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