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Topic: Carvin BX 500 Amp |
DALE WHITENER
From:
TRINITY,NC USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2014 5:19 pm |
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Has anyone tried a Carvin BX 500 amp for steel? I know a lot of folks us the GK MB series amps because of their light weight.This amp looks promising as it has a tube preamp, a graphic eq and other features that would be desirable for us steelers and it weights less than 6 pounds.Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks
Dale |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 5 Jan 2014 5:55 pm
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Hmmm... nice! I used all Carvin equipment when we had our gospel quartet. If another group sang the same venue with us, they always wanted to use our system...
I like the design of it. Power output would seem more than adequate. 2U rack space is a plus also. Could be mounted in a combo cabinet.
Someone buy one and tell us...
They have a combo also...
http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/BR515
(Here is a link to the amp head mentioned in the first post... http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/BX500
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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DALE WHITENER
From:
TRINITY,NC USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2014 6:26 pm
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Scott,
The bass player I play with has an Artist deal with Carvin and he is going to call his contact there. Maybe they will send him one to try and I can get my hands on it.
Dale |
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Bill Duncan
From:
Lenoir, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2014 4:41 am
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I've always liked Carvin. Good stuff, well thought out and built.
_________________
You can observe a lot just by looking |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2014 9:56 am
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| Good stuff until it breaks down. Most techs hate them, and support from the factory is virtually nil. The total antithesis of the folks in Meridian. |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2014 2:41 pm
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I can't say anything about Carvin reliability, but just before I bought my Stereo Steel system, I tried this BX500 head in Carvin store, and it sounded great and seems to have a lot to offer steel players. Uses a tube you can switch in and out. EQ section also switches in and out.
If I could find enough data on its reliability from online reviews, I would definitely consider this for a backup rack system.
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▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 7 Jan 2014 3:18 pm
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| Quote: |
| Good stuff until it breaks down. Most techs hate them, and support from the factory is virtually nil. |
They are know for having their own labels on ICs and stuff, but if you peel the label off, you find standard components. I repaired a bass amp of theirs, and found the above to be true.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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DALE WHITENER
From:
TRINITY,NC USA
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Posted 8 Jan 2014 7:17 am
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Thanks guys for the input and thanks John it's good to hear from someone that has actually heard it first hand.
Dale |
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Glenn Demichele
From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2014 12:20 pm Carvin Amp
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Hi: I have a BX500 and am using it for steel, driving an open-back cabinet with a Telonics 15 neo. I'm a bass player too, so it was a low-risk purchase.
Anyway, I was having trouble controlling the mids, but still could get a decent tone out of it using the tone/eq controls. I use an old Zoom effects unit in the effects loop of the BX500, and I noticed that when I plugged the steel directly into the effects unit, the tone was different in a good way. This completely bypasses the preamp and tone controls, so the signal path is steel=>effects unit=>power amp section.
To make a long story short, I used a scope and found a high-mid boost in the preamp section even when all the preamp controls are set flat. Carvin posts the schematic for the BX500 on their website - I LOVE that. Their parts are also labelled on the PCB inside the amp - I LOVE that - good job Carvin. So, there is one capacitor in the input section, C118, that does a fixed hi-mid boost, and removing it made eveything sound a LOT more even. I asked Carvin about this, and they replied right away, saying that the boost is intentional, and is designed to give a bass more edge in the midrange.
Now that I'm not fighting that peak, its much easier to dial in a tone.
_________________
Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc... |
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Drew Pierce
From:
Arkansas, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2014 7:08 pm
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I've been using Carvin stuff for years. It's reliable, easy to use and delivers all the sound quality a person needs for everyday gigging. The tube preamp, graphic EQ and light weight of this amp are attractive features. If you've got a good 12 or 15" speaker cab around, you could put together a nice, lightweight rig for less than $400. If it works for pedal steel, that would be sweet.
_________________
Drew Pierce
Emmons D10 Fatback, S10 bolt-on, Zum D10, Evans RE500, Hilton volume and delay pedals. |
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Lynn Kasdorf
From:
Waterford Virginia, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2016 4:18 pm Re: Carvin Amp
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| Glenn Demichele wrote: |
Hi: I have a BX500 and am using it for steel, driving an open-back cabinet with a Telonics 15 neo. I'm a bass player too, so it was a low-risk purchase.
Anyway, I was having trouble controlling the mids, but still could get a decent tone out of it using the tone/eq controls. I use an old Zoom effects unit in the effects loop of the BX500, and I noticed that when I plugged the steel directly into the effects unit, the tone was different in a good way. This completely bypasses the preamp and tone controls, so the signal path is steel=>effects unit=>power amp section.
To make a long story short, I used a scope and found a high-mid boost in the preamp section even when all the preamp controls are set flat. Carvin posts the schematic for the BX500 on their website - I LOVE that. Their parts are also labelled on the PCB inside the amp - I LOVE that - good job Carvin. So, there is one capacitor in the input section, C118, that does a fixed hi-mid boost, and removing it made eveything sound a LOT more even. I asked Carvin about this, and they replied right away, saying that the boost is intentional, and is designed to give a bass more edge in the midrange.
Now that I'm not fighting that peak, its much easier to dial in a tone. |
I just did this and it helped immensely! I used the amp for the first time on 2 gigs this weekend and was having trouble getting it not too bright and harsh. This mod seems to clean that up (at least in my living room). I'll know more in a couple days.
Also- here is help in finding the little cap. It is on the front panel PCB. Pull the knobs and remove the nuts for the controls (10mm and 7mm nut drivers).
C118 is at the left end of the PCB. It is a teensy surface mount cap, but with enough heating alternate sides I got it to lift off.
Thanks for this, Glenn!
_________________
"You call that thing a guitar?" |
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Glenn Demichele
From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2016 5:15 pm
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Thank you Thank you Lynn. I need all the evidence I can get to show my friends I'm not insane... Glenn
_________________
Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5. Both amazing guitars! Homemade buffer/overdrive with adjustable 700Hz "Fender" scoop., Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x TDA7294 80W class AB amps, or 2x BAM200 for stereo. TT12 and BW1501 each in its own closed back wedge. Also NV400 etc. etc... |
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Malcolm McMaster
From:
Beith Ayrshire Scotland
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Posted 25 Oct 2016 1:35 am
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Jack Stoner has been using the Carvin BX 500 for some time now, and has various posts about it here on forum.Seems to be good amp.
_________________
MSA Millenium SD10, GK MB200, Sica 12inch cab, Joyo American Sound Pedal/ Jay Ganz Straight Ahead amp, Telonics 15inch in Peavey cab, Digitech RP150, Peterson tuner.Hilton volume pedal.Scott Dixon seat and guitar flight case. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 25 Oct 2016 1:52 am
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I've had my BX500 for over a year. Other than the 12AX7 going bad (distorting) I haven't had any other problems. I don't consider having to replace the tube a reliability problem. Being a former amp tech, I've seen many tubes die "early". I now have a NOS RCA 12AX7 tube in mine.
I don't have any "tone" issues with mine. Several other musicians have told me I now have the best sound they have heard from me. This includes the lead guitar player in our band that is a "must have Fender tube amp" type (he uses a mid 60's Pro Reverb). We've been working together for over 16 years. |
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