Thunderfunk550 and TC RH450 clip

[KJung]

I've been wanting to do this for a long time. My buddy Steve (TBer 'Burk') brought over his TF550a (sounds identical to the 'B') tonight and we gave it a whirl versus the TC RH450 with my Bergantino AE410 and the wonderful Alleva-Coppolo LG5 (old school 60's J spec... single coils, Nitro.. the whole 9 yards).

After gigging a TF for a few years a while back, when I got my RH450, the first thing I thought was 'man, that sounds like a TF' (I understand the newer TF750 is voiced quite differently than the original, and have never heard one of those).

Both heads sound beautiful... warm, fat, articulate and clean (unless you dial in the tubetone of the RH450.. which I refuse to do).

So, here they are. Warning... some cocktails were involved before the clip... so be gentle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFNQZI3BYNg

[12bass]

The RH450 sounds like it was slightly quieter in comparison. Also, in the clip it has a somewhat rounder/smoother, yet clear, overall sound. Perhaps the rolled off highs? The TF550 has a little more of that roundwound zing and might have a bit quicker sounding attack.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by 12bass

The RH450 sounds like it was slightly quieter in comparison. Also, in the clip it has a somewhat rounder/smoother, yet clear, overall sound. Perhaps the rolled off highs? The TF550 has a little more of that roundwound zing and might have a bit quicker sounding attack.

I agree totally. Of course, the volume is just a gain matching thing, but there is a bit more of a compressed 'give' to the RH450 due to that 'tube emulation' sort of circuitry (not the 'tubetone', but rather something built into the amp). The TF has a bit more 'immediacy' that is very cool, and that 5K lo pass filter makes the RH450 sound a bit 'smoother' (for better or worse).

Both sound great, and both are a bit compressed to the midrange, which works VERY well in most mixes.

I put this clip up since the TF550 is not longer in production, and the TF750 is quite pricey and voiced a bit wider. For those who dig the general TF550 tone, the RH450 is a darn good option IMO.

[Lowtonejoe]

Nice!

Thanks Ken!



Joe.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Lowtonejoe

Nice!

Thanks Ken!



Joe.

The TF550 series really is a classic. Beautiful tone, GREAT quality, of course, great service and support from Dave, and a voicing that just works in a mix in a variety of settings. It is also one of those heads (similar to some of the Markbass stuff) that just seems to bring out the best in various cabs... hard to make that head sound bad.

The TC RH450 is quite cool also, and would probably make someone who was jonesing for a TF550 over the years pretty happy. Similar warmth and mid presence to my ear.

[Lowtonejoe]

Originally Posted by KJung

The TF550 series really is a classic. Beautiful tone, GREAT quality, of course, great service and support from Dave, and a voicing that just works in a mix in a variety of settings. It is also one of those head (similar to some of the Markbass stuff) that just seems to bring out the best in various cabs... hard to make that head sound bad.

The TC RH450 is quite cool also, and would probably make someone who was jonesing for a TF550 over the years pretty happy. Similar warmth and mid presence to my ear.

I will take that to heart.

Currently I am in the process of procuring a Bassman 300 Pro but my next purchase will probably be the RH450.



Joe.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Lowtonejoe

I will take that to heart.

Currently I am in the process of procuring a Bassman 300 Pro but my next purchase will probably be the RH450.



Joe.

I'd LOVE to hear a TF750 sometime. I did about a zillion gigs on the the TF550 (I dug them so much back in the day that I had an EU450 (technically the first TF550), then a TF550a (the one that Steve has now), and finally the TF550b! Every time Dave made a tweak, I took the plunge.

The TF750 moved up in price and weight enough, combined with the introduction of a bunch of micro heads that just kill in their own right, that I never took that 'final plunge'.

Anyway, good stuff, and the RH450 is definitely, to me, the 'next generation TF550' for those who like a warm, fat but not bloomy/tubby tone, and don't need hi fi sizzle.

[kobass]

Originally Posted by KJung

Warning... some cocktails were involved before the clip... so be gentle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFNQZI3BYNg

Ken,
We need deets on the cocktails. For example, the gin to vermouth ratio. It's not unlike the rosewood/maple thing. It does have an effect on tone!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by kobass

Ken,
We need deets on the cocktails. For example, the gin to vermouth ratio. It's not unlike the rosewood/maple thing. It does have an effect on tone!

Not sure about the impact on tone, but definitely an impact on time and note choice and 'too much slippity slappity' in the clip

Hang with the Burk-man and cockails....gin martini's, scotch, wine... kind of an 'all things night.. both country and western' concept... it's a good thing!

[burk48237]

Yeah I agree, it also speaks to the value of the TF that still holds its own even though it's no longer the "in thing". As you (ken) and I were discussing earlier when the TF550 came out it was an eye opener. Punchy, Warm with good definition, and it didn't seem to run out of headroom. Basically your choices were that or Eden, and the Thunderfunks 550 watts was a loud as the 800 watt Eden.

There have been a ton of developments since then with Mark Bass, Genz Benz, Tec Amp, GK, and TC, but the T-funk still very much holds its own.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by burk48237

Yeah I agree, it also speaks to the value of the TF that still holds its own even though it's no longer the "in thing". As you (ken) and I were discussing earlier when the TF550 came out it was an eye opener. Punchy, Warm with good definition, and it didn't seem to run out of headroom. Basically your choices were that or Eden, and the Thunderfunks 550 watts was a loud as the 800 watt Eden.

There have been a ton of developments since then with Mark Bass, Genz Benz, Tec Amp, GK, and TC, but the T-funk still very much holds its own.

+ We were all kind of giddy when the TF's came out 5 or so years ago. Still sounds great! Nice to play out of one again after all this time.

[Interceptor]

I like 'em both, but...

The Thunderfunk had a naturalness and alive feeling I just didn't get from the TC. Maybe it is just a more present upper mid. I also found the Thunderfunk to have less inter-note mud.

You hearing the same thing?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

I like 'em both, but...

The Thunderfunk had a naturalness and alive feeling I just didn't get from the TC. Maybe it is just a more present upper mid. I also found the Thunderfunk to have less inter-note mud.

You hearing the same thing?

While I wouldn't call in 'mud', I think I hear the same thing. The RH450 has some tube emulation built into its sound, hence it is a bit warmer, smoother, fatter in the low mids inherently. It also has a bit of built in 'give' to the feel (almost a kind of compression), and more low mid fatness, while the TB is warm but with a little more upper mid quickness and attack.

Both sound very good to me for what they are.... again warm, a bit attenuated/rolled off in the deep lows and the upper treble, and punchy. The TF is a bit quicker, the RH450 a bit smoother and, at least on the gig for me, fatter down low when really pushed..

Given that tube emulation/power amp limiting design on the RH450, it hammers a bit harder when pushed on a gig, where the TF will kind of quash and compress eventually on the transient peaks of your playing.

Off to an early flight and a weekend of gigs. See you all Monday!

[Musicman20]

Nice comparison!

They certainly are pretty similar.

[Mike Shevlin]

UGH~ oddly enough~ the TF750 is the only Thunderfunk I've ever played through~ @ NAMM. Hope you get to try one of these someday~ I think it would go great with the new Bergantino EA212!

[Hizzoner]

thanks for the clip..I was wondering about those two....my 550b is great..love it

[T. Alan Smith]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

I like 'em both, but...

The Thunderfunk had a naturalness and alive feeling I just didn't get from the TC. Maybe it is just a more present upper mid. I also found the Thunderfunk to have less inter-note mud.

You hearing the same thing?

You and I must share the same ears.

[afroman]

Both sound great to my ears.
In direct comparison, the TF sounds brighter, tighter and appears to have a faster response and great versatility with the Timbre knob.

The TC does sound more "tube-like" to me, smoother and with a slower "give" which I like.

I'd be happy with any of them.
I'm already too happy with my Classic450 so no GAS here

Thanks Ken!

[TK4108]

Ken,

Thanks for the clips!

[KJung]

Hey guys! Back from a nice weekend of gigging.

It's kind of cool that we all seem to be hearing the same thing. While I feel the amps are definitely both coming from what I call that 'vintage meets modern' tone universe (both a bit rolled off down low and way up top), it is clear that the TF is more immediate and a bit brighter in the upper midrange, while the RH450 has more fatness down low and smoothness up top.

As posted above, there is a certain 'give' to the feel of the RH450 which really brings a tube amp to mind (which could be a positive or negative, depending on where you tone goals are).

Having done a zillion gigs with the TF550a (and b), and now quite a few with the RH450 driving the same cab(s), I will say that the RH450 outperforms the TF in absolute volume, and is really a hammer when pushed, where the TF (similar to the Markbass design), sounds very constant and even all the way up to its maximum power ratings, and then starts to compress and quash and clamp a bit (again, not better or worse, just depends on your preference).

Both fabulous amps IMO.