TC Electronic BG250 Club

[stepswork4me]

Thanks Dr.

[stepswork4me]

I've been playing with the Toneprint and my phone for a little while and this is just plain damn cool! It's all been through headphones but I'm really diggin' the tubetone and spectracomp mix. I can't wait to open the throttle on it and let it blaze! The Grind is nice, also. I think I love you TCE.

[Jamie_Funk]

LOVE mine - sounds great, LOUD for what it is, light and easy to move.

Toneprint - not really an effects guy, but the ones I've tried sound FANTASTIC, and since I am about as plug and play as you can get, having ONLY one control for the effect is actually a bonus for ME. A bunch of pros come up with amazing sounding presets so all I need to do is vary the amount of the effect - brilliant IMO. They just need some envelope filter options and I'm completely set.

I really don't understand the complaints about the Toneprint lack of adjustability or the tuner being fixed - the amp is $399 and is a serious bargain IMO for that price.

J

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by Jamie_Funk

Toneprint - not really an effects guy, but the ones I've tried sound FANTASTIC, and since I am about as plug and play as you can get, having ONLY one control for the effect is actually a bonus for ME. A bunch of pros come up with amazing sounding presets so all I need to do is vary the amount of the effect - brilliant IMO. They just need some envelope filter options and I'm completely set.

I really don't understand the complaints about the Toneprint lack of adjustability or the tuner being fixed - the amp is $399 and is a serious bargain IMO for that price.

I go along with a lot of what you say, but at least on the matter of the tuner, maybe to help you understand, it's not so much a "complaint" as a "wish" and suggestion. If the amp didn't have a tuner at all, I'd still be fine with it. I bought it knowing how the tuner works. Since it does have a tuner though and flat tuning is something that necessary for some, me included, the tuner essentially becomes a useless display of flashing lights.

Rather than respond by limiting my own wishes based on the price of the amp, my response, based on knowledge of how the amp works and the fact that even a tuner I recently bought for $12.99 has a flat tuning button, is to wonder and question whether this is a potential feature addition. This isn't so much a demand or complaint.

It seems very likely that this is something that could be included in an alternate full firmware upload or as a single-purpose upload.

[Jamie_Funk]

Originally Posted by drpepper

I go along with a lot of what you say, but at least on the matter of the tuner, maybe to help you understand, it's not so much a "complaint" as a "wish" and suggestion. If the amp didn't have a tuner at all, I'd still be fine with it. I bought it knowing how the tuner works. Since it does have a tuner though and flat tuning is something that necessary for some, me included, the tuner essentially becomes a useless display of flashing lights.

Rather than respond by limiting my own wishes based on the price of the amp, my response, based on knowledge of how the amp works and the fact that even a tuner I recently bought for $12.99 has a flat tuning button, is to wonder and question whether this is a potential feature addition. This isn't so much a demand or complaint.

It seems very likely that this is something that could be included in an alternate full firmware upload or as a single-purpose upload.

I undertsand and always did I was thinking more of OTHER threads, and for the Toneprint critiques I have little patience, especially to the point that it overshadows how great a combo this is, which *I* would habve bought without Toneprint or tuner.

The tuner's lack of flexibility would have been as you say a simple enough thing to account for, and maybe they should have considered, especially given how many people (at least on TB) seem to use alternate tunings.

Maybe they can release a TonePrint that can allow altering of the tuner?

J

[Carlo Tanori]

Anyone here do a club gig with this combo yet? If share please share your experience. I'm looking for a light combo to use on club gigs. What caught my attention is the weight, and most important, the price of it.

[MR PC]

No chromatic tuner? Seems silly, they have got to change that. Overall, a very intersting combo. I'd like to hear more about the EQ, the TC demo sorta fluffs over that detail. Effects are great, but EQ function is way more important. Now if they had down loadable EQ's, that would be something.

[RichardCranium]

They already have the technology in their Polytune pedal which will tune in different keys and also will tune from A435 to A445 all I can assume is that it was a cost move to just include the same tuner they already were using in other amps.

The EQ could be more flexible but we're also talking about a $400 combo that you can pick up with 2 fingers with onboard effects.

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by MR PC

No chromatic tuner? Seems silly, they have got to change that. Overall, a very intersting combo. I'd like to hear more about the EQ, the TC demo sorta fluffs over that detail. Effects are great, but EQ function is way more important. Now if they had down loadable EQ's, that would be something.

With only lights as indicators, chromatic would be hard to pull off. But that's a nit. With per-string tuning, they could presumably allow the reference frequency to be adjusted.

Because I'm personally affected by the operation of the tuner, I seen that as the change I'd make.

I like the EQ. If I had a complaint about the RH, it would be "over-adjustabilty" of the EQ. IMO, the broader range of adjustment means that you can quite easily (by simply not knowing exactly what you're doing) get practically unusable or undesirable tones. I certainly can't speak for everyone, but I think as far as users go, the BG250 probably sits in a spot in the market where simplicity in EQ is a bigger plus than having the broadest range of control.

[drpepper]

I resubmitted my question to TCE about the tuner as a feature request/suggestion.

Here's the response

"Dear Roy,

Thank you for your input,

I have passed it to product management. I am not able to tell if this will be implemented or not. Note that we also monitor different bass forums and we always listen to user needs. To implement a new feature, 2 things are required:
- there is an important request from users
- it is technically possible. (also on the user interface )

Best regards,

Nicolas
Product Specialist
TC Group International"

I'd say that if this feature (if doable) would be of interest to you, add your voice. Go on the TCE site and submit your comment under the category of "Customer Input," and add a comment here.

[MR PC]

Are there any opinions regarding the BG250 performance compared to the Mesa Walkabout?

[Reaper Man]

I'll throw in my thoughts- I've had mine now for a couple of weeks- keeps up great with the guitarist. I mainly leave it as my home/small gig amp (though it's got more power than my "big" gig amp, but eh). I really dig the toneprints though there are a certain few that I can never get to take- like "The beast"- but I mainly use a couple of the choruses (really dig Duff's and Marlowe's) and the spectracomp.

Great little package, well worth the money. I dig the limited EQ- works well and allows for quick adjustments. Really dig the tube sound

[drpepper]

Well, my BG250 just stopped working. I turned it on to get a little practice in and I'm getting nothing. The clip, Tubedrive, E, A, tune up, and power lights are all glowing steady.

I'll hope to find out what that light combination means, but regardless of the specifics, this leaves me bummed. I'll have a hard time trusting this or a replacement, and as a combo, there isn't really a viable way of running with a backup, so I'll have a hard time feeling comfortable on gigs.

[stepswork4me]

Sorry to hear it, dr. Hopefully, you will be taken care of.

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by stepswork4me

Sorry to hear it, dr. Hopefully, you will be taken care of.

Thanks. I'll update.

How'd things work out with your issue?

[DaveTomasi]

That sux Roy. Hope you can get a satisfactory resolution. I understand the trust issue. Once something like this happens, it's always in the back of your head. Years ago, I had an amp crap out on me during a gig. Ever since, I always bring a spare head/amp to a gig.

I've been using my BG250 constantly (every day) for about a month with no issues - yet. However, I would never rely solely on it for a gig. The problem with a combo on a gig, is both amp and cabinet need to be backed up.

Originally Posted by drpepper

Well, my BG250 just stopped working. I turned it on to get a little practice in and I'm getting nothing. The clip, Tubedrive, E, A, tune up, and power lights are all glowing steady.

I'll hope to find out what that light combination means, but regardless of the specifics, this leaves me bummed. I'll have a hard time trusting this or a replacement, and as a combo, there isn't really a viable way of running with a backup, so I'll have a hard time feeling comfortable on gigs.

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

Originally Posted by MR PC

No chromatic tuner? Seems silly, they have got to change that. Overall, a very intersting combo. I'd like to hear more about the EQ, the TC demo sorta fluffs over that detail. Effects are great, but EQ function is way more important. Now if they had down loadable EQ's, that would be something.

Here's a pretty decent demo video explaining the EQ section with a little more depth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyxkD...feature=relmfu

I'm looking at getting one of these to keep at home and to share with my little brother, who's becoming my bass protege so to speak We're both really impressed with the EQ's versatility, the awesome sound of the Tubedrive, and the intuitive Toneprint app. I'm pretty much sold for practice situations, but how does it hold up on outdoor gigs? We play a lot of parties, so I need a bit of horsepower to project on stage. Is it giggable?

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by DaveTomasi

That sux Roy. Hope you can get a satisfactory resolution. I understand the trust issue. Once something like this happens, it's always in the back of your head. Years ago, I had an amp crap out on me during a gig. Ever since, I always bring a spare head/amp to a gig.

I've been using my BG250 constantly (every day) for about a month with no issues - yet. However, I would never rely solely on it for a gig. The problem with a combo on a gig, is both amp and cabinet need to be backed up.

Thanks, Dave. I have no doubt that it will be replaced "satisfactorily" (a replacement is already on the way), but yes, in trying to have a lightest-weight option for smaller gigs, backup becomes unfeasible. I suppose in an emergency situation, if I had a head in the car, I could run DI to the mixer. At a gig where I'd be using the BG250, we wouldn't have a sub, but the mains have 15" speakers, so it's probably work out.

It is good to hear anecdotes of problem-free use. I'll hope not to hear any more stories that are the same as mine, and assuming the replacement is 100%, I'm sure some trust will build over time.

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by MUSHROOMSeAcOw

Here's a pretty decent demo video explaining the EQ section with a little more depth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyxkD...feature=relmfu

I'm looking at getting one of these to keep at home and to share with my little brother, who's becoming my bass protege so to speak We're both really impressed with the EQ's versatility, the awesome sound of the Tubedrive, and the intuitive Toneprint app. I'm pretty much sold for practice situations, but how does it hold up on outdoor gigs? We play a lot of parties, so I need a bit of horsepower to project on stage. Is it giggable?

I think Uriah Duffy is working out to be a pretty good presenter.

Personally, I agree that the dynamic eq is good both in theory and in its implementation here. An RH can go into eq option overload for someone who wants to twiddle, find the sound, and play.

I do understand that while this is perfect for some, it's also perfectly wrong for some who really want all that control of setting mid and shelving points. Hopefully most understand how it works before they buy it.

[dspellman]

A CLUB! YES!

Good place for BOTH you guys.