karlfer Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 (edited) OK, the review is crap because I'm a muppet. THE AMP IS FAB! If anybody wants the title changing, let me know. THIS IS A FANTASTIC AMP IMHO. Got this just over a week ago, this was it's second gig. The disappointing bits. 1. It was supposed to come with a locking kettle lead, it didn't. Factory fault, the box had never been opened. 2. The EQ sliders look a little flimsy, but they aren't. Nit picking here. Live, I have used it with US Precision, US Hot Rodded Precision, and Mex FSR P/J Deluxe (passive). With the normal P, I needed to back the bass down a touch on both gigs. With the contour (mid scoop) at half (noon ) the Precision will do anything from JPJ on Zepp 1V, to 'Arry on, well, most Maiden albums. A bit of low mid cut at 200hz and a bit of boost at 1.2khz. That was told to me by a sound engineer years ago and it still helps now. I have used the compressor a tiny bit, but I'm not keen on them to be honest. This one is as good as any I've used on an amp head. I've not used the EQ sliders, don't need to. I may come across a room where they will be needed, but they are another toy for the clinically insane twiddlers. The amp makes my basses sound excellent through the B/F S12V. So far, I have only used it live in solid state mode. I have used the valve pre amp setting at home and it is a good break up, smooth, steady, warm into grit.. It's not like the horridness of original 500watt Bass Terrors where you look at the gain and it breaks up. A couple of guys had asked me to do a review, but I'm dreadful at this sort of thing. And photos . So, it works for me. It is louder, better equipped and more complex than the GK I had before it. The back lighting is a boon on stage. The settings you will see were against a miked up drummer and two loud guitarses through the pa. I wasn't. Didn't need to be. You will have different equipment and technique to me. If you have a need for a powerful and EXTREMELY versatile head, that has a myriad of eq'ing options, AND the chance to run on S/S if your pre amp valve goes tits up halfway through a gig, give this a go. A bargain, and a tremendous amp. Well done and thank you Carvin More photos later when I sort this poxy computer that is pissing me about [url="http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/DSCF0533_zps451b8e3f.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/DSCF0534_zps79bcb788.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/img163_zps17429a33.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/img164_zps95366caa.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/DSCF0531_zps28f5e693.jpg.html"][/url] Edited May 19, 2014 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Great to see another fan on board! (you may have a point about the thread title though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 (edited) The locking AC lead turned out to be a US spec only feature but this wasn't known until the amps arrived in the UK. It's possible they may develop a UK (and European) version and, if so, will supply them to existing owners. You forgot to say that it lights up and looks super cool on a darkened stage Edited May 18, 2014 by molan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 question... is it switchable voltage at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Nice bass too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted May 18, 2014 Author Share Posted May 18, 2014 (edited) Right, I'm back, with photos up after a torrid time between laptop/Basschat/photobucket . This laptop is not long for this world. Mykesbass, changed Molan. Well Barrie, I know you live in the south, so, allowances made. I thought the statement "the back lighting is a boon on stage" kinda covered that Luke, don't think so, I have now managed to get the handbook up. Dandelion, very kind, it will be up on sale the week after next (I'm paid up until next April, so not a stealth advert ). Edited May 18, 2014 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1400434909' post='2453840'] Molan. Well Barrie, I know you live in the south, so, allowances made. I thought the statement "the back lighting is a boon on stage" kinda covered that [/quote] I was referring to the fact that it just looked pretty rather than actually being useful I was actually gigging on Saturday with a bass that has LED's in case you are struggling to see the dots on a dark stage. Our overhead lights were nice and bright but I still used the lights now and then just because i thought they looked kinda cool. That's what us shallow southerners do I'm afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1400433609' post='2453812'] question... is it switchable voltage at all? [/quote] Official blurb says: "[color=#000000][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Auto-switching AC input functions for either 120V 60 Hz or 240V 50 Hz" [/size][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 Lights on the BX700 look great on stage and are helpful as well. Can I be an honourary Southerner please ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Great review Karl. I`m currently thinking of an amp plus 212 cab set-up, and your comments are leading the way to a Carvin/Barefaced at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1400499708' post='2454346'] Lights on the BX700 look great on stage and are helpful as well. Can I be an honourary Southerner please ? [/quote] Any time Karl - you may need to attend Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, Henley Regatta and possibly Glyndebourne to be fully accepted though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1400520606' post='2454602'] Great review Karl. I`m currently thinking of an amp plus 212 cab set-up, and your comments are leading the way to a Carvin/Barefaced at the moment. [/quote] Thanks Lozz, a very sweet fib! In all seriousness I could not do a technical review, and go through the fine edge of a fart at 43.72 hz. I can however, give a gut feeling of my gigging experience with it. The tech guys can do the rest. [quote name='molan' timestamp='1400523248' post='2454637'] Any time Karl - you may need to attend Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, Henley Regatta and possibly Glyndebourne to be fully accepted though [/quote] Many thanks Barrie, do all those events need catering staff? Must admit, I would LOVE a bass with LED's on the fret board! Edited May 19, 2014 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1400525518' post='2454678'] Many thanks Barrie, do all those events need catering staff? Must admit, I would LOVE a bass with LED's on the fret board! [/quote] Henley has a Roux Brothers restaurant on site (well, it does for the music event the week after the Regatta). If you can get a job you can stay with me, I'm walking distance from the Regatta site The bass I used has little wraparound LED's so not full front facing. Still looks cool though and they are genuinely useful on a dark stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 (edited) Thanks Barrie, get kettle on lad A punter recorded one of our first set numbers on Sat night apparently, on a mobile phone. As ever the quality is poor (and that's just the band) and you can never really hear the bass. It just about comes through in parts. Link below. [url="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=237813259752873"]https://www.facebook...237813259752873[/url] https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=237813259752873 Edited May 26, 2014 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1400530033' post='2454752'] Thanks Barrie, get kettle on lad A punter recorded one of our first set numbers on Sat night apparently, on a mobile phone. As ever the quality is poor (and that's just the band) and you can never really hear the bass. It just about comes through in parts. Link below. [url="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=238302736370592"]04:21[/url] [/quote] Link don't work :-( But, I am very intrigued by this amp. Appetite truly whetted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1400530033' post='2454752'] Thanks Barrie, get kettle on lad A punter recorded one of our first set numbers on Sat night apparently, on a mobile phone. As ever the quality is poor (and that's just the band) and you can never really hear the bass. It just about comes through in parts. Link below. [url="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=238302736370592"]04:21[/url] [/quote] Link is coming up as 'content not available' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 (edited) Link updated but not sure if the poster's security settings allow public viewing, as it obviously just comes straight up for me. If it doesn't work, try Karl Altdorfer on Faecesbook. As I stated, it's low quality on a phone camera, you can just about hear a bit of bass. Mind you, when people have done this in the past, you couldn't hear ANY bass. Edited May 26, 2014 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 (edited) Just a little update. The room at last nights gig was a complete pig. After a little whilst sound checking I though I will try it with the graphic eq. Hell's bells, the lift in volume was staggering . I don't smiley face eq, rather the frown face. I had to turn the drive and master down to 7 o'clock as it was just drowning everybody. Could probably use the eq as a boost channel for solo's. The more I learn about this little monster, the more I like Edited June 8, 2014 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 Another little update. A two gig weekend, not recommended at my age, or in this heat. Last night in particular, the place was hotter than a solar flare The more I use this amp, the more I find out about it. Using the contour full on, all the rest "flat" brings out a beautiful John Paul Jones kinda noise on the FSR, my current fave bass of all times . Backing the contour down to noon brings it back into the realms of growl I like for Metallica, Saxon etc. This really is an incredible little amp for the money. If you us the graphic eq to boost the mids, the volume is just crazy! Try one if you can, very impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 looks great - and so cheap too looking at the US prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1403469776' post='2483036'] looks great - and so cheap too looking at the US prices [/quote] £445 delivered from Barrie's guys. Indeed a bargain. As can be seen in the following background (far left) the backlighting is just another great feature. [URL=http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/10417455_10152510764633739_1403914321142232381_n_zps41559b6d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q693/Karl_Altdorfer/10417455_10152510764633739_1403914321142232381_n_zps41559b6d.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Edited June 24, 2014 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Nice to see another Carvin convert. Mykesbass converted me to the Carvin BX500 a couple of years ago. I borrowed his for one set on a saturday evening and placed the order at Barrie's place on the Monday. Awesome preamps in these things, I love mine. The only weak spot on mine (grey face) is the ribbon connectors inside (hopefully they have sorted this in the new (red) ones). Occasionally the signal will drop significantly and distort - pulling the ribbon connectors and giving a quick spray with contact cleaner fixes this though. When I'm next due a new amp I'll be getting one of these (and keeping the grey one as a spare) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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