TC Electronic RH450 - anyone NOT like them?

wateroftyne · #1 03-19-2010, 08:42 AM

Hi folks

Long-time user of Mesa heads here (MPulse, Walkabout). I've previously made a couple of forays into lightweight amps before (AI, Markbass) but at the time they seemed a little anaemic to me.

Technology has moved on since then, and I'm considering picking up a RH450, mainly for space & transport reasons.

I'm in the middle of reading all the RH450 threads, but I was wondering if anyone out there had owned / used one and just not got on with it...

Thanks in advance!

stflbn · #2 03-19-2010, 08:44 AM

There was one for sale in the classifieds a week or so ago. I'd assume there was something he didn't like about it, but I don't recall he said in his sales thread.

.

**nostatic** · #3 03-19-2010, 09:21 AM

If you are looking for a "Marcus" sound you will not like it.

**JxBass** · #4 03-19-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

There was one for sale in the classifieds a week or so ago. I'd assume there was something he didn't like about it, but I don't recall he said in his sales thread.

.

I remember seeing that. I believe he said it just wasn't his thing.

berman3313 · #5 03-19-2010, 09:50 AM

Tray a Genz Shuttle 9.0 or Shuttle Max 6.0 - it'll rock your world. And give tone to boot!

chiplexic · #6 03-19-2010, 10:00 AM

The descriptions I read of it's tone sounds right up my alley. I'd probably opt for the Classic450. I don't need all the extras and adjustability of the RH450. But what scares me is the fact they are a company based well outside of the U.S., Denmark. And they only have a 1 year warranty for U.S. purchases. 1 year on a brand new product is risky. I know TC has been around the recording,effects market for a while. But bass amps...I think they are new to this market. Next closest headquarters to me is Kitchener,Ontario Canada ?

I understand a dealer is who would be dealing with any warrranty issues. But I've yet to see one in a store. Only TC products the dealers sell are tudio equipment. Not sure theyeven know TC has a bass amp. What would the warranty process be? I remember MarkBass when they first came to US,changed the process a few imes.

KJung · #7 03-19-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wateroftyne

Hi folks

Long-time user of Mesa heads here (MPulse, Walkabout). I've previously made a couple of forays into lightweight amps before (AI, Markbass) but at the time they seemed a little anaemic to me.

Technology has moved on since then, and I'm considering picking up a RH450, mainly for space & transport reasons.

I'm in the middle of reading all the RH450 threads, but I was wondering if anyone out there had owned / used one and just not got on with it...

Thanks in advance!

Like any other head, the RH450 has an inherent voice. That inherent voice is warm, fat, mid punchy, and a bit old school up top. The EQ is very powerful, but the head 'sounds like it does'.

As stated above, I would think the only players who would not dig this head are those who want massive upper treble sizzle (and for that, there is the Staccato model).

Wonderful head, louder than most other small amps (even those rated at 600 watts

), and a feature set that is 'off the hook'. Very solidly made. I have no idea about the warranty service deal, but as long as you go through a good retailer (like Donovan... The Fretspot), there shouldn't be any issues.

IMO and IME! This head is different than the Mesa take on tube tone... more along the Ampeg lines (I describe this head as having a more refined, higher quality Ampeg-like tone).

JimmyM · #8 03-19-2010, 10:11 AM

my only complaint about tc is not much love for their customers. honestly i couldn't give two craps about their products after seeing a few posts on here about people with cs issues and how they were treated by the phone answerers. not to mention that horrible contest they had last year where they gave a handful of people rigs, and as a consolation prize, they sent us a coupon inviting us to buy one of their amps and offering us a free "$150" footswitch. yeah right, a footswitch that probably cost them $5 to build that they should give away with the amp anyway.

so i've come to the conclusion that tc feels like they're above their customers, and anyone who has a complaint is assumed to be an idiot. a lot of other companies out there actually seem to care about their customers as people and not just dollar signs, and in the future i will buy from one of them instead.

KJung · #9 03-19-2010, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

my only complaint about tc is not much love for their customers. honestly i couldn't give two craps about their products after seeing a few posts on here about people with cs issues and how they were treated by the phone answerers. not to mention that horrible contest they had last year where they gave a handful of people rigs, and as a consolation prize, they sent us a coupon inviting us to buy one of their amps and offering us a free "$150" footswitch. yeah right, a footswitch that probably cost them $5 to build that they should give away with the amp anyway.

so i've come to the conclusion that tc feels like they're above their customers, and anyone who has a complaint is assumed to be an idiot. a lot of other companies out there actually seem to care about their customers as people and not just dollar signs, and in the future i will buy from one of them instead.

Actually, if I knew back then that I would get a free footswitch (which is an awesome one by the way) if I just signed up for that 'test pilot' thing, I would have done it! As it is, I forked out the $90 or so. Nice unit!

Regarding service, I will never have to deal with the company since I bought my stuff from Donovan

at the fretspot.

**nostatic** · #10 03-19-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiplexic

The descriptions I read of it's tone sounds right up my alley. I'd probably opt for the Classic450. I don't need all the extras and adjustability of the RH450. But what scares me is the fact they are a company based well outside of the U.S., Denmark. And they only have a 1 year warranty for U.S. purchases. 1 year on a brand new product is risky. I know TC has been around the recording,effects market for a while. But bass amps...I think they are new to this market. Next closest headquarters to me is Kitchener,Ontario Canada ?

I understand a dealer is who would be dealing with any warrranty issues. But I've yet to see one in a store. Only TC products the dealers sell are tudio equipment. Not sure theyeven know TC has a bass amp. What would the warranty process be? I remember MarkBass when they first came to US,changed the process a few imes.

I have a minor issue with mine. I went to the TC support website and asked a question. I quickly got a response from TC. They then said I could work with my dealer or send direct to their closest repair facility (about 50 miles from me) and they would take care of it. Sent me an RMA and I'm good to go.

Seems pretty seamless to me. How is that any more of a worry than any other manufacturer? Do you need the factory in your hometown or something to feel comfortable with the purchase? If so you better move to Petaluma or China

Also why is 1 year "risky"? Most electronic devices either die in the first month or years later. You think a second year would be magic somehow? Never has been in my experience.

KJung · #11 03-19-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

I have a minor issue with mine. I went to the TC support website and asked a question. I quickly got a response from TC. They then said I could work with my dealer or send direct to their closest repair facility (about 50 miles from me) and they would take care of it. Sent me an RMA and I'm good to go.

Seems pretty seamless to me. How is that any more of a worry than any other manufacturer? Do you need the factory in your hometown or something to feel comfortable with the purchase? If so you better move to Petaluma or China

Also why is 1 year "risky"? Most electronic devices either die in the first month or years later. You think a second year would be magic somehow? Never has been in my experience.

+1

**nostatic** · #12 03-19-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Regarding service, I will never have to deal with the company since I bought my stuff from Donovan

at the fretspot.

I made the mistake of *not* buying from Donovan. Won't make that mistake again...

MingusBass · #13 03-19-2010, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Actually, if I knew back then that I would get a free footswitch (which is an awesome one by the way) if I just signed up for that 'test pilot' thing, I would have done it! As it is, I forked out the $90 or so. Nice unit!

Ditto! TC is great, in my book.

p5string · #14 03-19-2010, 10:34 AM

I like the head, love the tube simulation etc. but I'm just not a fan of rear ported cabinets.

Rick Auricchio · #15 03-19-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

Also why is 1 year "risky"? Most electronic devices either die in the first month or years later..

Exactly. Over 90% of the products I've seen---of all types---carry a one-year warranty. The rest fall into the 90-day or >1 year category.

As for Jimmy's opinion of the offer of the free footswitch for test-drivers, I don't see why that's so bad. At least it was an offer of some compensation.

As for the cost to manufacture a device, where is that important? Everything costs less to make than its retail price, otherwise it isn't a profitable business. Why not complain about tires, iPods, computers, paint, TVs, clothing, and everything else that gets marked up considerably enroute to the consumer?

KJung · #16 03-19-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p5string

I like the head, love the tube simulation etc. but I'm just not a fan of rear ported cabinets.

Port location is a non issue. Any sound coming out of those ports is omni-directional... you will notice no difference between a front ported and rear ported cab DUE TO THE PORT LOCATION... of course all cabs sound different.

There are some bad executions of both front ports (small, which cause chuffing) and rear ports (big holes cut right behind the driver in a cab tuned relatively high that does result in some directional sound coming from the port). This is not the case with the TC cabs.

JimmyM · #17 03-19-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

As for Jimmy's opinion of the offer of the free footswitch for test-drivers, I don't see why that's so bad. At least it was an offer of some compensation.

it was an offer of compensation IF you buy one of their amps. i didn't buy one so i got nuthin'. a much better solution would have been to offer a t-shirt with no strings attached. but then that wouldn't make you buy anything, would it? sorry rick, but in my world, consolation prizes don't come with strings attached.

Quote:

As for the cost to manufacture a device, where is that important? Everything costs less to make than its retail price, otherwise it isn't a profitable business. Why not complain about tires, iPods, computers, paint, TVs, clothing, and everything else that gets marked up considerably enroute to the consumer?

i have no complaint about that. my complaint was tc offering it like it's some huge favor they're doing us..."a $150 value!" tc's free to charge what the market will bear, just like anyone. meanwhile, fender makes a 2-switch footswitch, which is only one less than the tc, for $25 retail.

wateroftyne · #18 03-19-2010, 10:53 AM

Hi folks!

Thanks for that. I'm not a sparkly, sizzly kind-of guy. I like big fat notes, but I also like a tight, defined tone when I'm using my fretless.

Do these amps *really* have the heft of the 'ol lead sleds?

Nashrakh · #19 03-19-2010, 10:57 AM

Hmm... I know a guy who got one of these heads before they were being sold.

He complained about it sounding sterile, and not "tubey" enough. He also didn't like the overdrive.

I'd take that with a grain of salt though, cuz that guy is a hair-splitter and kind of a snob.

JimmyM · #20 03-19-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wateroftyne

Hi folks!

Thanks for that. I'm not a sparkly, sizzly kind-of guy. I like big fat notes, but I also like a tight, defined tone when I'm using my fretless.

Do these amps *really* have the heft of the 'ol lead sleds?

nothing has the heft of 6 giant power tubes and several smaller pre tubes amplifying the sound. just isn't possible. however, as a huge fan of the tech 21 vt bass pedal, it is definitely possible to cop the tones. but at 48, i still lug tube amps around just because i miss the heft if it's not there.