Carvin BX-1500 Bass Head

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

So many choices but this one seems to excel in many areas.

Two stage Class A tube preamp (voltages?)
Three band parametric EQ for separate level and freq. controls
Foot switchable 9 band graphic EQ
Foot switchable effects loop
Tuner output
10LBS weight
2 power amps deliver 300w at 8 ohm, 450w at 4 ohms, and 750w at 2 ohm each or 900w at 8 ohm bridged or 1500w at 4 ohms bridged
Compressor
Active/Passive switch to tailor the input for different pickup configurations
stereo amp patch inserts
CLASS D power amps

Has any tried any of the Carvin bass amps for steel?

John Limbach · From: Billings, Montana, USA

Greg:

That's amazing. Not being a gigging person its hard for me to comprehend needing that kind of power. If I run the gain on my NV112 or either of my old Traynor's above 3 or 4 I could get bleeding from the ears.

The last time I ran that much power was from my ham radio amplifier. It uses a single tube with 1,500 watts of plate dissipation with 4,000 volts @ 1.7 amps on the plate. The RF deck is light, but the home made power supply weighs about 300 lbs. Whoa!

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I'm using a BX500 and from reports others are too. I replaced an MB200 with the BX500 and much improved sound. The 12AX7 with High Voltage and one side is a "real" amplifier (not just a starved plate buffer).

I run the Drive (input gain) on 2 and the Master on 3. Even at that, I use a POD X3 (for effects only) and that is between my volume pedal and the amp input and its gain is only 50%. Still Loud.

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

I have been using the BX500 for 3 or 4 months. I really like it, The sound is excellent, there are virtually unlimited EQ options, and it has a bargain price. I've posted this picture a few times; here's the BX500 with the rack mount kit, mounted in a custom cabinet, with a Sica 15" speaker. I've also tried this along with another 15" cab plugged into the 2nd output, amazingly loud and clear!

Edited to add; Greg, I see that you were referring to the BX1500. I haven't tried that one, but the 500 is amazing. It probably has all the power anyone would need. 300 watts at 8 ohms, 500 at 4 ohms. With the capability of going to 2 ohms if desired. I think the controls are about the same.

Nathan Guilford · From: Oklahoma City

I found a really discounted bx-500 at Guitar center. You know , that's where I found my severely discounted nashville 112 too. Seems they don't know what they have. Shocker!

Anyway I'm reserving judgement until I get my hands on a good speaker. (I'm running through a peavey scorpion plus right now.) But early results are promising. Love all the eq shaping!
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Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

I dropped into the Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek, AZ on Thursday to hear Danny Sneed. Low and behold, he was sounding fantastic, playing thru a Carvin Bass head.
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Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Thanks for all the input. I did a forum search and found a lot of comments on Carvin gear. Getting all the EQ options, swithcable effects loop, 12AX7 with high voltage plate and lots of clean class D power at this price seems unreal. I see their PC boards are high quality epoxy coated altho I didn't notice whether the pots are direct board mounted.

One of the searhced posts was this from Glenn Demichele:

Bill, I think you will love it. I'm a bass player too, and the contour and eq works great with my 18's. For psg, I drive a 15 telonics neo in an open back. For effects I just got a gt-001. I'm finally happy with my setup. I built a mini rack out of light 1/4" plywood for the amp and effects, and I have it sitting facing up next to my seat on my right, with only the speaker behind me, so no more falling backwards off my seat to adjust amp tone/volume.
One thing though, carvin put in a mild mid-boost for more bite with bass. I was having a little trouble dialing it out for psg. I removed the (surface mount) capacitor responsible for the boost from the circuit board, and it sounds much better for psg, and the amp measures flat now. I can still get plenty of mids using the eq. I say which cap I removed in an earlier post of mine. Glenn

P.S. It was C118, and here's my earlier post:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=258482&highlight=

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