PRODUCT REVIEW
for adapting the amp’s basic setting for a gig
with two vastly different sounding axes.
The Final Mojo
The combination of the Carvin BX500 and the
BR410 proves to be a potent rig for a variety
of electric bass gigs, allowing all the volume
and tonal flexibility you’d need for unsupported
gigs up to medium size, and likely serving all
your gigging needs once you’re in the house
PA. If you gig or rehearse in a place that provides a house speaker cab, it’d be a dream
to roll up with your bass in a gigbag and the
BX500 stashed in a heavy-duty, padded nylon
carrying case like the one Carvin offers.
As a player, my main wish for this rig would
be to have a Master Volume with a wider
range of usability, say between 9 o’clock and
1 o’clock. A player facing a variety of gig sizes
might want to pick up something like Carvin’s
BR210N and BR115N cabs to gain greater
flexibility in rig sizes. But if you need a one-size-fits-most rig, the BR410N is an effective
solution at under $1K.
In this mode, headphone volume is controlled
by the active/passive switch and the Drive
knob. My test basses, a G&L 5-string and a
Jazz-style fretless, each sounded good through
my cans, with high clarity and minimal hiss. The
Drive knob did little to change the character
of the sound, but the range of the Contour
knob between noon and 3 o’clock was helpful
for dipping the bright or honky mids. Beyond
3 o’clock, the sound was seriously scooped.
Bumping the lower midrange knob, centered
at 200Hz, added a good thump to the sound,
while increasing the high-mid knob, with a useful 900Hz upper midrange, could easily add
some needed bite in muddy rooms. In all, the
headphone output will make for a pleasant
silent practice rig, but because the effects
loop is out of the equation, you won’t be
able to play along with music this way. I was
a little disappointed at this, since even basic
practice amps allow music to be inserted
from your iPod.
amp delivered good punch and mids, but
lacked the depth I’d hoped for. In a studio
jam session with two guitars in medium-sized
combo amps plus a drum set, the rig easily held its own, creeping the Volume knob
only to about 9 o’clock before I had all the
sound I’d ever need (of course, the G&L has
probably the hottest signal output around).
Bumping up the low-mid EQ knob quickly
added the kick I wanted. With my Jazz-style
bass sporting active EMG pickups, I was
able to get a wider range of volume settings
because of its more normal output level.
you’re looking for a relatively
light, loud rig with good clarity
and flexibility.
Buy If...
Skip If...
you like an amp that can add grit to its
sound, or if its headphone practicing
options don’t meet your needs.
Rating...
4.0
The cab sounded tight and well-defined
throughout its range, never showing a hint
of weakness, even as I crept the master up
toward noon (at which point, the others were
pushing their fingers into their ears). Turning
the Drive up to about noon added some
aggressiveness to the attack. Because the
parametric midrange controls did their jobs
so well, I never got into the graphic EQ at
that session. For most situations, I would use
it mainly for creating a second bass sound, or
ONTHEWeb
Click here to hear sound
samples of the rig in action
Switching to the BR410 cab produced much
of what I’d heard through the phones. The
Carvin
BX500 Street $419
BR410N Street $529
carvinguitars.com
