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Recommendations?
- Thread starter pecBass
- Start date
If the tech can't find the issue, could it be with your cords or bass?
Sounds like you're looking for another combo?
Tons of suggestions, depends on your tone/volume goals, and how big you're willing to schlep. Are you going to stick with a 110 or are you looking to branch out?
For example, here's a bunch of new 110s under $500
Bass Guitar Combo Amps | Sweetwater
Sounds like you're looking for another combo?
Tons of suggestions, depends on your tone/volume goals, and how big you're willing to schlep. Are you going to stick with a 110 or are you looking to branch out?
For example, here's a bunch of new 110s under $500
Bass Guitar Combo Amps | Sweetwater
What is the issue with the amp? Of course with an amp of that age you kinda never know what issues it may have but maybe we can narrow it down.
Wonder if cycling the wiring harness connectors with perhaps a touch of DeOxit will be a fix similar to the BX500 problem?
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,030
- 5
- 220,909
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Or break it further? (Not that it matters much if it really is already broken)
Buy a Fender Rumble 100 or 200 combo , can't go wrong with one of those .
I recently got an Elf 1-10 combo. I used it in a pit band with FOH support. It was the right tool for that job. Because I play BG and EUB (or DB), I split the input and used a Tone Hammer preamp pedal to EQ the EUB differently than the BG.
The FOH company only allocates one channel for the bass on this gig.
The FOH company only allocates one channel for the bass on this gig.
The amp repair shop tried for hours to reproduce the error to no avail. The checked all connections. Could not find the issue. I had tried a different bass with a new cable and had the same problem. At the end of an hour set - lost signal and sound from the amp. I need an amp I can trust. Thanks for the suggestions.
I had an MB210 that I "donated" to a church I play at once in a while. It died on one of the other bassists. I knew when I bought it during the Carvin shutdown that it was a throwaway amp. I just wish it had lasted longer.
Spent the money on a Rumble 100. It was a big step up.
Spent the money on a Rumble 100. It was a big step up.
Very good choice for many needs.it works well for me.
As a huge side note: mine received a promotion today and by the end of day it will take its rightful place in the living room, knocking out my stepsons Rayland keyboard amp. We live full time in a fifth wheel trailer, placement and dimensions of everything is important.
Being honest, I’m not sure what “unreliable” means. Does it cut out, make a weird noise, volume dips, fail to power up? Is the problem intermittent, if so what is the time interval between events, is the result the same every time under the same operating conditions?
It’s hard to believe a qualified repair tech can’t diagnose a problem assuming they have the proper schematics. One thing, a good thorough diagnosis could be pretty expensive. Is it possible he just put it on the bench just powered it up as opposed going through each component?
While I have not priced new amps for a while I still think $500 can get you a very workable amp, maybe not the world's best but very workable.
In the used world some pretty decent stuff for sure. In the DFW area there must be a fairly decent amount of music stores.
In the used world some pretty decent stuff for sure. In the DFW area there must be a fairly decent amount of music stores.
Since Talkbass is one of my prime procrastinating tools, I do remember reading about a number of the Carvin BX series (500, 700, 1200, 1500) amps having problems with the ribbon cable connectors.
this reminds me of when I used one [Rumble 100] as a chair for my computer desktop. I later moved to a 15" combo and lost that ability.
I got a Rumble 500 on sale last January for about $550. They turn up used on occasion. Or maybe a similar deal open box or Labor Day Sale.
The Bar Band Bassman
The Bar Band Bassman
I ran into that with a Carvin mixer, and a couple Carvin PA Amps. But I've got a BX1500 that has been rock solid for more than 10 years. I'd stay away from the redline and the micro amps. I've got 2 that are nothing but dust collectors now. Seems a lot of shops don't want to work on them.
I had a Carvin BX500 back in the day that totally bit the dust. I'd never even cracked it open, and it was treated with the utmost care wherever I went. I opened it after it went dead and the inside could NOT have been more pristine, nothing even looked jostled.
Reached out to support and it was either going to cost me 2/3rds the cost of a new amp to fix or I could go pound sand. I went back to GK after that and after owning 5 GK amps following that BX500, I never once regretted it.
Just my story with Carvin amps and their support
And remember, any carpet-covered cab can also fully replace a cat scratching post!
Back OT, I had a Carvin PB200 combo that was unreliable. Crapped out on some gigs, and somehow fried a capacitor in the compressor. Was not impressed by component quality when I popped the hood, compared to my GK and Mesa amps. Also had a lot of weird design decisions - single volume control rather than gain/master; 2 power amps bridged that put out considerably less power when an extension was plugged in; 2 mid cuts at different frequencies that could be toggled but not bypassed (I suspect because the stock speaker had really rough midrange).
