I got a Carvin catalog in the mail and was thumbing through it when I saw the BRX10.2NEO and the BX600. Both seem really adequate for my needs and the specs on the 2x10 cab are fantastic! (If they can be trusted.) Does anyone have any experience with these? For the price and even the shipping rates they seem like an incredible deal, and since I've been looking for a lighter rig...

One thing's for sure, this cab's specs beat the living snot out of my Ashdown 1x15's specs and for basically the same price new. I got my cab used but still, this would be a big upgrade for $74 more than I paid for the Ashy. Wish I'd been this cab-conscious when I bought that cab originally (although TBH it has served me very, very well).

I don't have experience with those two Carvin products in particular, but I have had several others in the past... I can tell you that their new bass cabs are quite good, for the price. On par or better than Avatar and the like. I had an R1000 head, which I absolutely loved. I think the BX series are a good degree better than the R series was, more pro driven and they cut out some features and added some others. IMHO, which is H indeed, you can't go wrong with Carvin for the price. Customer service is unmatched in my experience and the quality and reliability is excellent.
Keep in mind that these are strictly my own opinions, from my own experiences... there are others on the forum who have had similar experiences with Carvin, but there are also some who have had nothing but bad luck, and I'm sure you'll hear from both sides in this thread...
The only drawback to ordering from Carvin is you can't pop down to the local GC and test drive a Carvin, unless there might be a used one sitting around by some chance...
Again, YMMV IMHO yadda yadda yadda etc etc etc
Personally, if I had the ready cash lying around, I'd be hitting them up for some gear myself.

DX

For the price and the fact that they are built in the States it seems like something is too good to be true here. But I'm glad you say they seem to live up to their claims...

If the specs on that cab are honest, I will snatch it up as soon as I am moved in to my flat in Denver.

part of the reason i like bergantino is because i used a carvin before that. the carvin cabinet i used to have was fairly transparent -- certainly compared to almost every cabinet i tried when i bought the bergantino a few years ago.

it will sound different than your ashdown. so the question is whether you will prefer that different. (i do.)

robb.

I have played my share of Carvin stuff over the years and owned more than just their bass gear. My impression has always been the same - loud but sterile.
I recently played the BRs and found no reason to change my opinion.

Joshua... when exactly are you moving out here, and where around Denver are you moving to?

DX

I like the Carvin stuff I've used and owned. Sterile? Yes, to a degree, but not off putting. If I was in the market I'd give these some thought. You are buying on faith though, unless you live in So. California.

I would agree that their cabs are fairly transparent, as robb. said, but I would have to say that the R1000 head I had was anything but sterile... by no means a boutique tube amp, but it was a greatly versatile rig and sounded great.
There seems to be a fine line between transparency and sterility... a lot of people perceive them differently.
I would say that Carvin compares to Line 6 as far as transparency goes... a lot of people dislike Line 6 amps because of the fact that they are designed to be as transparent as possible to make the most of their fantastic modeling technology. When played clean, they do sound sterile and dry, but they are excellent amps nonetheless.


You shouldn't have any issues at all with quality or reliability with Carvin, and their cab specs are about as honest as any sales propaganda can be, in fact I think sometimes they tend to be a bit modest in their sales pitch. They've been doing it for a very long time, and their customers tend to be very loyal and satisfied. You don't get that by selling cheap junk like some of their competitor's lower end entries with comparable specs and prices.
The reason they can sell so cheap is that they have no overhead from multiple store fronts, they do all of their business mail order or from their San Diego factory showroom, and they have perfected their manufacturing process down to a fine art. Order the free DVD from their website that walks you through the factory and products... it is quite informative.
I wish I still had my R1000, I'd let you test drive it when you come out here, but I traded it out a while back for some other gear... one of those good decisions that I regret making but needed to...

DX

I believe they have a 10 or 14 day return policy - no questions, just pay return shipping I believe.

I have only had a bass - fretless 6 loaded - and it was very nice. Lots of touches you'd find on "boutique" instruments. Not sure about the cabs and amp, though. Sorry.

I have (had) a Carvin Redline stack- R1000 head, 2x10 cab, and 1x15 cab. I sold the 2x10; it was a bit harsh and bright to me. The Carvin 15 was the best 15 I've ever played, and I still have it. The head is quite good, as well (and my rehearsal amp); versatile IMHO. I don't think something with this many WORKING tone shaping functions can be sterile but what do I know from sterile? Some say EMG's are sterile pickups, but I like the ones in my Jazz.

With the reviews I've heard/read that the BXR series was an improvement over the Redline series, I think you could comfortably order this and not be taking a huge risk.

This Monday, to the Cheeseman Park area.



While I do like the "color" of my Ashdown stuff (warm and full) I tend to, most of the rest of the time, really dislike color from any amp. Ampeg and GK are good examples of "colors" I really don't like. So sterile may be alright for me.

I have run my basses through my luthier's Carvin combo (10+15+tweeter) before, and also used it in a stereo config as the neck pickup amp. In both cases it sounded fantastic. However I think that amp is thoroughly outdated and no longer in production.

Actually DanYmaL X put it a little better with the "transparent" (as in "your dad wears a dress") comment. Their cabs themselves don't add much character, they reproduce what is fed to them, burrito in / burrito out.

So it would be "Sterile burrito in, sterile burrito out?"

What if you put in potent but misguided haggis?

Haggis is a brilliant entertainer that was forced into seclusion by its own fame. The reason its been classified as a freak and dragged through the tabloids is because it was beaten as a child and forced to practice eating oatmeal. Do not disparage the name of Haggis, may it rest in pieces.

You're in potent.

There are worse areas... do you have any family or anything out here?
I work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week but if you were to need help carrying heavy stuff on Thursday or Friday, I'm pretty good at that... shoot me a PM.


Yes, they stopped making those... If it's the one I'm thinking of, it is based around the R600 Redline Head? Black with red knobs and accents? Or possibly it's the smaller one, 150 or 200W if I remember.... Still, good stuff.

I think you'd be plenty happy running your haggis through the BX600.
Consider getting the head and running it through your Ashdown before you buy the cab, though, just in case...


DX

Somehow I knew it would come back to bite me.

robb.

Yeah, that's the one. Ran my bass pickup and mono signal through it on separate occasions and it sounded fantastic for both.