Carvin BR12 and BR15 Bass Amps

Important Safety Information

[⚠️] This symbol alerts users to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product enclosure that may pose a risk of electric shock.

CAUTION: RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK - DO NOT OPEN

[ℹ️] This symbol alerts users to important operating and maintenance instructions found in the accompanying literature.

Water and Moisture

Appliance should not be used near water (near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, etc). Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through openings.

Power Sources

The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance.

Grounding or Polarization

Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization means of an appliance is not defeated.

Power Cord Protection

Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the appliance.

Servicing

The user should not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the operating instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

Fusing

If your unit is equipped with a fuse receptacle, replace only with the same type fuse. Refer to replacement text on the unit for correct fuse type.

Safety Instructions (European)

The conductors in the AC power cord are colored in accordance with the following code: GREEN & YELLOW - Earth, BLUE - Neutral, BROWN - Live.

U.K. Main Plug Warning

A molded main plug that has been cut off from the cord is unsafe. NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU INSERT A DAMAGED OR CUT MAIN PLUG INTO A POWER SOCKET.

CAUTION: REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL! THIS UNIT CONTAINS HIGH VOLTAGE INSIDE!

Limited Warranty

Carvin products are guaranteed against failure for ONE YEAR unless otherwise stated. Carvin will service and supply all parts at no charge to the customer if the unit is under warranty. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. CARVIN DOES NOT PAY FOR PARTS OR SERVICING OTHER THAN OUR OWN. A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL INVOICE IS REQUIRED TO VERIFY YOUR WARRANTY.

Carvin assumes no responsibility for horn drivers or speakers damaged by this unit. This warranty does not cover, and no liability is assumed, for damage due to: natural disasters, accidents, abuse, loss of parts, lack of reasonable care, incorrect use, or failure to follow instructions. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied. No representative or person is authorized to represent or assume for Carvin any liability in connection with the sale or servicing of Carvin products. CARVIN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

When returning merchandise to the factory, call for a return authorization number. Describe in writing each problem. If your unit is out of warranty, you will be charged the current FLAT RATE for parts and labor to bring your unit up to factory specifications.

Help Section

1) Amp Will Not Turn On

Check the power to the amp. Check for tripped circuit breakers, unplugged extension cords, or power-strip switches that may be turned off. Check the fuse. If the glass tube is dark brownish or no wire is visible, replace it. The amp may be fine, but a fuse can occasionally blow due to high AC voltage surges. If the fuse fails again after replacement with the proper Slow Blow value, the amp will require servicing.

2) No Output with Power LED Light On

Check the speaker cable. If it is OK, a speaker jack might be defective. Check the SEND & RETURN jacks, as one of these could be defective. Insert a guitar cord between these two jacks to test. Defective jacks will require servicing.

3) Keep Your Amp Looking New

Use a damp cloth to wipe the controls on the front & rear chassis panels, then wipe dry. Brush lint off the DuraTuff II™ covering.

Product Overview

Congratulations on your purchase of the Carvin BR12/BR15 bass amplifier. For over 40 years, Carvin has been building bass amplifiers, offering award-winning performance from these compact professional bass systems.

Bass Signal Processing

The preamp is key to great tone. The BR12/BR15 features internal Class A discrete preamp circuits known for superior sonic detail. The BASS, MID sweep, and TREBLE controls are powerful active circuits for tone flexibility. The BX120 head (mentioned in context) also features a 5-band graphic EQ. The BR12 and BR15 include a COMPRESSOR to control overall amp level, managing peaks without excessive volume or distortion. An EFFECTS LOOP (Send/Receive) allows connection of external processors. The LINE/PHONES jack can also serve as a main preamp output to a mixing console or another amplifier.

Combo Cabinet Design

The BR12/BR15 combo amplifiers are praised for their lightweight design and high performance. The cabinet is tuned to the speaker parameters, enhancing efficiency in the 35 Hz to 50 Hz range for warmth and a rounder sound. The BR series combos also feature a 1" Titanium HF Driver to extend the upper range to 16 kHz, enhancing harmonics for percussive slap playing. The HF Driver is adjustable via a rear control. All enclosures are covered in durable black DuraTuff II™ for protection.

Power Amp

Pure, clean bass power is delivered by the BR12/BR15 series ultra-low distortion power amp. Turn-on muting, short circuit, and thermal overload circuits protect speakers and the amp from accidental overloads. It is normal for the amp to get warm to the touch.

Receiving Inspection

Inspect your amp for any damage that may have occurred during shipping. If damage is found, notify the shipping company and CARVIN immediately.

SAVE THE CARTON & ALL PACKING MATERIALS. In the event you need to re-ship your unit, always use the original carton and packing material for best protection. CARVIN and the shipping company are not liable for any damage caused by improper packing.

SAVE YOUR INVOICE. It will be required for warranty service.

SHIPMENT SHORTAGE. If items are missing, they may have been shipped separately. Allow several days for the rest of your order to arrive before inquiring.

RECORD THE SERIAL NUMBER on the enclosed warranty card or below for your records. Keep your portion of the card and return the portion with your name and comments to Carvin, or register online at www.carvin.com/registration.

Getting Started Quickly

Turn the amp on and volume off. Set tone controls to their mid "0" center position. Turn the compressor and noise gate off. Set the 5-band graphic EQ to its center/mid positions. Plug the amp into the AC voltage and then plug in your bass. Turn the amp's power switch ON and gradually raise the volume. Re-adjust contour and tone controls as needed.

Specifications

For your records, you may wish to record the following information:

Serial No.: _____________________ Invoice Date: _______________

Carvin
12340 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128
800.854.2235 www.carvin.com

Front & Rear Panel Controls

• 1. INPUT JACK: 1/4" phone jack for instrument input, designed to handle both active and passive basses in connection with the Active Switch.
• 2. BLUE JEWEL LIGHT: Indicates the power is on.
• 3. DRIVE CONTROL: Adjusts the input level to the Class A preamps. The first half of the knob (0-5) adjusts input sensitivity for bass pickups. The second half (5-10) increases harmonic content and overdrive. This control also affects the amplifier's volume.
• 4. MUTE SWITCH: Mutes the output of the amplifier. A blue LED indicates the MUTE switch is on. Ideal for changing basses while the amp is on or for silent tuning on stage (the rear tuner output is not muted). Can be switched with an FS22 footswitch.
• 5. ACTIVE SWITCH: For basses with onboard active preamps, put the switch in the up position (blue LED ON). For standard passive bass pickups, use the down "OFF" position.
• 6. CONTOUR CONTROL: Provides a variable mid-range scoop. At the "FLAT" setting, there is no change to mid-range frequencies. Turning clockwise scoops mid-range at 250Hz, with a maximum cut of -9dB at 300Hz.
• 7. BASS AND TREBLE TONE CONTROLS: Custom shaped controls for punchy lows and crisp highs. BASS: Boosts clockwise, cuts counter-clockwise, centered at 80Hz. TREBLE: Boosts clockwise, cuts counter-clockwise, centered at 8kHz.
• 8. MID SWEEP TONE CONTROLS (GAIN & FREQ.): The FREQ. control only functions when the GAIN control is not at the center "0" position. GAIN adjusts the level of mid boost/cut, while FREQ. adjusts the frequency range affected. This system is designed for fine-tuning your overall sound.
• 9. COMPRESSOR (COMP): Reduces the volume of the incoming signal to conform to a preset maximum output level. Full clockwise acts as a limiter. Turning counter-clockwise increases the threshold where compression begins. The maximum compression ratio is 3:1. A compressor increases the overall playing level and reduces peaks without distortion, allowing the amplifier to be played louder. The circuit also protects speakers by reducing the input signal if the amplifier reaches distortion levels, even when the compressor control is set to "0".
• 10. 5-BAND POST SHAPE EQUALIZER AND EQ IN SWITCH: Custom-shaped EQ bands selected for bass guitar. Sliders are provided for 80Hz (ultra lows), 250Hz (mid-low bass), 500Hz (mid-bass), 800Hz (high mids), and 2kHz (highs), each with ±12dB adjustment. The EQ IN switch activates the graphic EQ (blue LED ON) and can also be switched with an FS22 footswitch.
• 11. MASTER VOLUME: Sets the overall output level of the amplifier. This control also affects the headphone output.
• 12. DI LEVEL & DI XLR OUTPUT: Professional direct output for sending a signal to a main PA system or recording track. It is a buffered and balanced version of the signal from the input jack. The DI Level control adjusts the output level. The Ground Lift switch helps break ground loop buzz.
• 13. POWER SWITCH: Turns the amplifier on and off. Indicated by the large blue jewel light over the input jack.
• 14. HEADPHONE/LINE OUT JACK: A 1/4" jack that can be used for mono headphones or as a line output to feed a mixer or power amp.
• 15. SEND JACK (EFFECTS LOOP): The output of the preamp, used with the RETURN jack to form an external effects loop. Designed to output the proper level for an external effects processor.
• 16. RETURN JACK (EFFECTS LOOP): Completes the effects loop with the SEND jack. Designed to receive signals from an external effects processor. When used, it connects directly into the power amp portion of the amplifier, bypassing the internal preamp.
• 17. SPEAKER OUTPUT JACK(S): Two speaker output jacks designed for a total minimum impedance of 4 ohms.
• 18. AC POWER: The detachable AC POWER CORD supplied is designed for specific voltage operation. Plug the cord into a grounded "3-prong" power source. Never defeat or use the amp without the ground connected.
• 19. HF DRIVER LEVEL CONTROL (ENCLOSURE): Located on the back of the BR12 and BR15, this control adjusts the volume of the HF (high-frequency) driver (tweeter), not the woofer. It allows for increasing or decreasing the highs. Consider the cabinet's direction when adjusting, as listeners may perceive the HF driver differently than the player.