Carvin RL600 Red Eye Combo

I've been playing bass guitar for 20+ years, this was my main amp for several years, i believe it is a 1999 model, it has more features than most any pro would want, and i think i can dial in almost any sound. i have even played dog house bass though this amp, with complete satisfaction.

You can dial in most any sound, if you take the time, however, onstage, time is something you dont have alot of to be playing with an amp. i use about 4 settings a night, and have used them so long it takes no time to set it, but, without alot of spending alot of time messing around with it at home, getting those settings would be rough, however, with time, you can get some fantastic tone. i also use a carvin 18 cabinet along with the two eights.

I didnt have have any problems for the first three years, then i started having an overheating problem, which of course, would always happen at the worst of times, grand finale of the show, that kind of thing. not often, and in the repair shop, it wouldnt happen, so i am very leary of using this onstage nowadays. although, the problem has only occured four times in the past three years, nothing is more embarrassing than losing your sound at a vital part of the show. I have since retired it, and mainly use it at home, as an acoustic amp, which it also does wonderfully.

On the phone, they are very friendly, but, all they can really say is, send it in, we'll have a look at it, problem is, sending an almost 100 lb amp through the mail is very expensive, on top of repair costs. It does not seem feasible.

I am not one of these children writing reviews about products that haven't been put through the test of time, Carvin makes a very high quality amp, and possibly for the price, it may be the best bass amp buy on the market, until things go wrong with it. I may have just been unlucky, not being able to find a tech that can fix it properly. This amp has all the sound, volume, and boom anyone would need to play a 500 person hall. However, I am talking about playing country and southern rock, i dont have any knowledge on what a metal bass player needs. An additional 15 or 18 cabinet seems to really help get all you can out of this amp, I have use a pair of ten's but the eighteen seems to get the sounds i need most. Over the years, I have gotten many compliments for my sound, using either my schecter custom, my fender jass, or even playing doghouse bass. Most every bass player that has heard my sound has been impressed.

Nothing but problems, bought bthe amp in Nov 2003 from Nevada Bobs. The back of the amp is difficult to access as it is recessed into the cabinet. It does not have half the power of my 200w Trace Elliot that I have used for the last 10 years! I just pay pub gigs, the amp has a lack of depth at the low end and is over toned at the high end. Using it live there is a problem with actually seeing your settings on the amp as the red dials have no indicators on them, so in the dark you do struggle to tweak the sound. I use it with a ashdown 1x15 just to get a decent low end sound. The amp is over featured and the instruction manual does not give any suggestions for setting up the amp as a start point.

I am using it with a Warwick streamer standard 5 sting and a Cort GB99 four string through a multi effects pedal. The unit does hiss when using the pedal, and the footyswitch is an added option.

The amp constantly over heats, it has cut out on four occasions. I bought it from Nevada Bobs, they are suggesting that I send the head back to them at my expense to be fixed. I will not use the amp at a gig without back up.

There is only one dealer for this amp in the UK. As I live in the North East of England I have no local servicing dealer. I have been swapping e-mails with the store and Carvin about the problem, they are to say the least less than helpful, the comment was "just send back the amp and we'll have a look at it". They would not have a telephone conversation about it as there would be nothing they could do. When the amp arrived it was delivered with a Quarto sized instruction leaflet down loaded in the UK and printed on A4 so some of the info was missing.

2002 ,BOUGHT BRAND NEW.exellent amp and a great value.many features,listed before.Has a tube emulation control to get that fat svt tone,very nice.Very powerful,can use bi-amped or full-range mode.has a feature on the rear for controlling the tweeter.i have mine set at -9.slappers will love it though.the use of 2 8" speakers on top give a nice detailed sound.also can use just the 8s by their self with an acoustic bass.ive even used this an an acoustic guitar amp.very versitle.

using several different basses including rickenbacker,in passive input.carvin 5 string ,in active input.i use these 2 mainly,and leave them hooked up for quick change of basses.very full round bass sound .the strength of this amp is adjustability.adjusting crossover when in bi-amped mode.however i usually use it full range mode,with 2 amps on 12:00.and then adjust master volume as needed.not a noisy amp,if you set the tweeter to -6,or minus 9 amp does have a noise gate.i think you can get any sound you want frome this amp.

i have used for over 2 years and have had no problems what so ever.built like a tank.this is heavy,so get wheels for the corners,good investment.easy to load just wheel it and tilt it in trunk.dont have to muscle it .

you cant beat carvin,really i had a bass that i broke the truss rod .and they sent me a new bass in a new color .i am a carvin lifer now.great customer support,check out their website and customer feedback and chat rooms.

playing for 12 years.have carvin guitars,gibson,rickenbacker,fenders ect.a mute button would be the only wish for this amp.

1998 I beleive was the mfg. date. Since then there have been a few minor changes, port holes added to the cabintet, twist lok speaker connectors. This amp has more tone control than I know what to do with and the power is incredible. When bridging the amp I've had more power than ever needed. It has effects loop, headphone jack, XLR output for running direct to a board and my favorite features, 3 seperate boost switches for low mid and high freq. as well as a 9 band EQ, foot switch option for effects loop and EQ on/off. Noise gate and compression are built in which reduce the need for more effects to carry along with you. One 15", Two 8" and compression horn.

I mostly use an Ibanez BTB 5 string bass when playing which has an active EQ built in. Between that and the tone versatility of the Carvin I couldn't want any more control. I play blues, hard rock, funk, rockabilly and this amp suits it all just fine. Clean sounding at all levels.

I haven't had a problem yet with this amp and it's been around a lot. People always saying "Man, I'm getting one of those".

I've emailed from time to time on other products and received short, to the point responces in resonable time.

I've been playing for 20+ years and this amp is the best newly bought amp I ever had. I also have a '69' vintage Sunn 2000 tube amp that I use for that old, warm, tube sound. It's my prize amp but the Carvin gets the most use. It has taken a beating and still looks and sounds great.