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Those exposed knobs on your Carvin B800...

keyboardguy

keyboardguy

May 11, 2005
3,439
5,138
#1
I finally got around to modding my Carvin B800.

I didn't really want to invest in a rack mount, but those knobs hanging out just ready to be broken off scares me.

So..... I removed the case, and drilled the mounting holes 1 inch toward the rear and Voila !!

Problem solved.

(If you do this drill bigger holes and it will make re-installing the unit much easier.)

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Regards,

Mike
 
#5
Very nice mod. Dosen't look like that's an option for BRX combo users.

How could Carvin have overlooked something so simple that would cost them nothing extra to manufacture better. It's still an awesome head.
 
#6
""How could Carvin have overlooked something so simple that would cost them nothing extra to manufacture better.""

I agree. Just moving it back 1 inch makes a world of difference. The backside stays protected too; nothing sticking out.

Mike
 
#7
keyboardguy said:
""How could Carvin have overlooked something so simple that would cost them nothing extra to manufacture better.""

I agree. Just moving it back 1 inch makes a world of difference. The backside stays protected too; nothing sticking out.
Click to expand...
This is quite a useful idea. It is a shame the darn unit is no longer a production model, or you could have submitted this common-sense mod to the San Diego engineers for a next-year upgrade. Congrats, well done. :)
 
#9
Rattman said:
This is quite a useful idea. It is a shame the darn unit is no longer a production model, or you could have submitted this common-sense mod to the San Diego engineers for a next-year upgrade. Congrats, well done. :)
Click to expand...
I'm still hoping that Carvin has plans of introducing a re-formatted B800. Rack mountable would be a start.

I'll be living about 5 minutes from the Carvin factory in Carmel Mtn in another 3 weeks. I will definetly be stopping by the showroom to see if they have any B800's lying around on dusty shelves.
 
#10
Originally Posted by Rattman
This is quite a useful idea. It is a shame the darn unit is no longer a production model, or you could have submitted this common-sense mod to the San Diego engineers for a next-year upgrade. Congrats, well done. :smug:

tbrannon said:
I'm still hoping that Carvin has plans of introducing a re-formatted B800. Rack mountable would be a start.

I'll be living about 5 minutes from the Carvin factory in Carmel Mtn in another 3 weeks. I will definetly be stopping by the showroom to see if they have any B800's lying around on dusty shelves.
Click to expand...
This could be a very good thing for you and of course for your 'Brothers in Bottom'. I'm also hoping the very same thing: for a "new" or re-formatted, rack-mountable B800 WITH...with recessed controls!! :p
 
#11
Rattman said:
Originally Posted by Rattman
This is quite a useful idea. It is a shame the darn unit is no longer a production model, or you could have submitted this common-sense mod to the San Diego engineers for a next-year upgrade. Congrats, well done. :smug:


This could be a very good thing for you and of course for your 'Brothers in Bottom'. I'm also hoping the very same thing: for a "new" or re-formatted, rack-mountable B800 WITH...with recessed controls!! :p
Click to expand...

The engineers at Carvin are not accessable.

To bad they don't check in on threads like Aged Horse and Hasbeen do for Genz Benz.

If I had designed an amp that helped take Carvin to the next level I'd want to be proactive in engaging users and potential customers.
 
#12
keyboardguy said:
""How could Carvin have overlooked something so simple that would cost them nothing extra to manufacture better.""
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm just not as particular, or I'm missing something, but what's the big deal about the knobs "sticking out"? I've been playing since the '60's and most of my amps had exposed knobs. Fender Bassman, Ampeg SVT, etc. I've never had an incident where I broke a knob. I've got the B800 also, and it just sits on my speaker cabinet, happy as can be!
Just take care of your equipment, most folks don't throw their amps around.:confused: :confused:
 
#13
A clever and sensible modification, IMO.

I will say that like Gary, I'm not as bothered as some by the knobs sticking out. I mean, you can look at literally thousands of Fender amps--to name just one brand--that have been around for years with the knobs sticking out just as much as on a B800, and the sky didn't fall. I've owned amps with knobs like that for decades. It's not something that would ever have kept me from buying the B800. (What kept me from that was my slowness and lack of funds when they were blowing them out!) Still, all else being equal, I think protecting the knobs is an improvement: you lose nothing, and you gain a little security.
 
#14
GaryLC said:
Maybe I'm just not as particular, or I'm missing something, but what's the big deal about the knobs "sticking out"? I've been playing since the '60's and most of my amps had exposed knobs. Fender Bassman, Ampeg SVT, etc. I've never had an incident where I broke a knob. I've got the B800 also, and it just sits on my speaker cabinet, happy as can be!
Just take care of your equipment, most folks don't throw their amps around.:confused: :confused:
Click to expand...



Quite simple. Driving. Yes, you can pack your gear as carefully as you can, but if some freak driver comes careening at you and you have to pull jet-fighter dogfight evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision, and you send your amp flying across your trunk or backseat, you cannot guarantee that the door handle won't crack off a knob.

I'll never use gear that I can't fully protect. My rack is quite efficient in keeping my gear safe, and is also flying-beer-proof.

Carvin makes SOME of their gear with excellent quality. However, I'm still dealing with crap-designed speakers whose crossover circuit boards are failing on a yearly basis. For every cool item Carvin has, I find a totally foolish lemon to kill my faith in the company.
 

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