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Author Topic:  Carvin BX 500
Rick Contino


From:
Brattleboro, Vermont
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2015 1:29 pm    
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http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/BX500

I've seen some talk of this amp lately and was curious if anyone else is using this for steel. If so, what re your thoughts?

Also, if you've also used the MB200 how does it compare sound-wise?

Thanks,

Rick
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Scott Duckworth


From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2015 1:39 pm    
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See this thread... http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=258559
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Bill Moore


From:
Manchester, Michigan
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2015 2:25 pm    
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I have two MB200 amps, and used them for a few years before I got the BX500. They are good, but there's no comparison, really. The Carvin just has so many EQ options, you can really fine tune the sound. It's a
little bigger, weighs a bit more, but has more power. I like the Carvin a lot. Smile
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Rick Contino


From:
Brattleboro, Vermont
Post  Posted 9 Mar 2015 6:17 pm    
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What effect does the 'drive' have?
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 10 Mar 2015 2:24 am    
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I'm using one. Everyone has good comments about it. No comparison with the MB200. The tube in the BX500 makes the amp.

The Drive is the input level control. I run the Drive on 2 and the Master on 3.
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Bill Moore


From:
Manchester, Michigan
Post  Posted 10 Mar 2015 5:30 am    
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There are several videos on youtube that review the BX500. They are mostly done from a bass players perspective, but explain the features of the amp.
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Robert Rhea


From:
Panama City, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 10 Mar 2015 6:38 pm    
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I'm fairly sold on the BX-500 amp, but my real question is, what speaker cabinet to use with it? A cabinet with a 15" speaker is probably the way to go, but I can't see lugging around a big heavy bass cabinet. How about using a 15" P.A. monitor? Much smaller and lighter. Maybe this a question for a new thread, but for those of you that are using a rack mount bass amp, what are you guys using for a speaker cabinet?
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Bill Moore


From:
Manchester, Michigan
Post  Posted 10 Mar 2015 7:00 pm    
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See this thread, for pics of some speakers:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=258559
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 10 Mar 2015 10:35 pm    
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Robert, a Tommy Huff closed back cab with a neo speaker is pretty light.
Denise says "I have purses heavier than this!"
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 11 Mar 2015 2:26 am    
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My speaker cabinet with the Eminence EPS-15C installed is 23lbs. It is a partial open back. The speaker cabinet is the same size as a Nashville 112 except 1" taller to accommodate the 15" speaker.

This picture was taken before I got the Carvin rack case for the BX500. The Carvin rack case is tweed and matches the speaker cabinet.


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Allen Peterson

 

From:
Katy, Texas
Post  Posted 11 Mar 2015 4:03 am    
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Here's a cabinet with a 4ohm 12" Blue Marvel that I built. I bought an 8' 1"X10" pine board from Lowes. I had them cut it, since I do not own saws. It is covered with tolex and I bought some vintage Fender grill cloth for the speaker baffel. The hardware was purchased from various online stores. It weighs about 15 or 16lbs.






Allen Peterson
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2008 D10 Rains Pedal Steel, 2000 D10 Carter Pedal Steel, BR-9 Lap Steel, Nashville 400, Nashville 112, '65 Fender Twin Re-issue, MB 200, Telonics Volume Pedal
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 11 Mar 2015 4:14 am    
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The Blue Marvel speaker, if its the one from the Nashville 112 is probably double the weight of an EPS-15C so that has to weigh more that "15 or 16 lbs".

Double the weight would put the speaker at 15 or 16 lbs, plus the cabinet.

I tried an EPS-12C in my NV112 and the Blue Marvel speaker was very heavy compared to the EPS-12C (which is nearly the same weight as the 15" version).
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Allen Peterson

 

From:
Katy, Texas
Post  Posted 11 Mar 2015 4:23 am    
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Jack, I don't know how much the speaker weighs, but the whole cabinet weighs 15 or 16lbs on my bathroom scale. Maybe the scale is off a little, but it can't be too far off. It's definitely less than 20lbs. The Blue Marvel is not from the Nashville 112. Maybe that's the difference.

Regardless if it's a Nashville 112 Blue Marvel or not, it really sounds good with the MB200. I am thinking of trying the BX500.

Allen Peterson
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2008 D10 Rains Pedal Steel, 2000 D10 Carter Pedal Steel, BR-9 Lap Steel, Nashville 400, Nashville 112, '65 Fender Twin Re-issue, MB 200, Telonics Volume Pedal
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Allen Peterson

 

From:
Katy, Texas
Post  Posted 11 Mar 2015 4:30 am    
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Jack, I just looked up the specs on the Blue Marvel: 7.5lbs or 3.4kg. Maybe you're thinking of a 15" speaker. I'm talking about a 12" speaker.

Allen Peterson
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2008 D10 Rains Pedal Steel, 2000 D10 Carter Pedal Steel, BR-9 Lap Steel, Nashville 400, Nashville 112, '65 Fender Twin Re-issue, MB 200, Telonics Volume Pedal
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 11 Mar 2015 7:12 am    
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I was talking about the Blue Marvel speaker in the Nashville 112.
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Robert Rhea


From:
Panama City, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 11 Mar 2015 10:04 am    
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Thanks for the input guys.

Jack and Allen, nice job on those cabinets.

If I get the gig I'm trying to get, I'll be running direct out thru the house P.A. So really, a 12" speaker cabinet is probably fine, and a 15" is not necessary because it's really only a monitor.
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