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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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$352.67
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8.3
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Description:
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The new ultra-light BG250 bass combo features artist TonePrint®, an integrated bass tuner and tons of power.
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Author
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fenderhutz
Registered User
Registered: January 2007
Location: Harpers Ferry WV
Posts: 11807
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Review Date: Thu August 9, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $339.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Loud, Lightweight, Fun/useful effects, economical
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Cons:
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PC interface for effects lacking, master volume affects tone, tuner is useless for flat tuning
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I posted this in a thread and decided it was detailed enough for a review.
Let's start with the short list first:
Pros: This combo has got a ton of volume and rear end for it's size. I was using my Warwick 5 Corvette Standard I just got with the Classic Rock recommended EQ setting and it was heavenly. Nice, loud, clear, grindy tube tone. I played with the chorus and uploaded the Spectracomp. I haven't decided if I like that compressor. A good thing is it really reminds me of the Trace Elliot higher end SMX series amps with the tube pre. It doesn't sound like a SVT at all, but that isn't a bad thing. Just voiced different. I haven't had a lower cost combo that I have tried handle the low B that well. On the gig, keeping up with a live drummer and guitars was no problem.
Cons: I dislike the TonePrint upload interface. I wish it was more like Line 6 with an actual interface I can go in and noodle with instead of just accepting the predefined print. Seems like I am updating my cell phone more than tweaking an amp. USB cables are cheap, put a 6ft in with it instead of the skimpy 3ft where I have to put a magnet close to my computer. If the USB connection truly is two way let me test out the patch on the fly and give me an interface to switch between quickly instead running an installer every time.
I hooked up my Sterling Ray 34 next and made it about 10 minutes before I grabbed the Warwick again lol. It sounded good, but the tube overdrive with the Warwick growl is incredible.
I have to admit the whole beam from my Android phone is pretty darn cool, I would still like some editing functionality like the Line 6 stated above.
So I am digging this amp. This is the first time in a long time I would beam a setting and just sit around and noodle with chords instead of just the ho hum of learning 4 chord cover tunes for gigs. I actually played for fun, and it's been a while.
I do not like that the amps character changes with the MASTER volume. I understand it is supposed to with the Gain due to the tube emulation but if you have the master set at 4-5 or below the amp seems muffled (or at least not as defined). You get up past 5 and it really opens up tonally and sounds fantastic, below 4-5 it's just ok.
Your bass will define this amp. I have played amps that sounded similar or colored the tone a certain way so it has a similar sound regardless of bass. This amp seems to let the bass breathe. My Ray 34 and Warwick Corvette 5 sound like 2 way different monsters, and they should. However the past couple amps I have were not that way. Call it transparent? I don't know. It doesn't seem to overly color the tone, unless you are running it a low volume.
To me, this amp sounds like an Eden or a Trace Elliot depending on grit setting and Toneprint. It can get a nice slap tone you get with the Eden Enhance button or get that middy, thick, yet clear drive like a Trace without using the scoop. I would even as far to say kinda like a MarkBass Little Mark II when I used it with an Avatar 212 Neo cab on certain settings. It's pretty darn versatile.
For 339 (399 typically) bucks, this amp is worth every penny. You have to treat it like a throwaway amp though. Being a technology amp like a Line6 the resale will be awful a few years down the line and there is always a chance TC Electronic might drop support for it. Meaning you could get an iOS or Android update and then you have no Beam functions. I hope this never happens but you never know.
Even if support drowns out for it you will still have a light, low cost, great sounding amp.
I rated this at a 8 for two reasons.
1. There is no reason they shouldn't be able to do a firmware update to allow flat tunings, and another firmware update if I ever wanted to switch it back. It is useless for those that tune flat without tuning say A in the 6th fret of the E string then manually tuning the other strings or using the 6th fret method (or 8th on A for E etc).
2. They really need a tweakable PC interface. I like the fact they have artists doing the Toneprints but having a two way USB connection they should be able to provide an interface where I can compare and have all of the Toneprints in one central location I can switch via PC and try different settings. As it stands now you have to beam the Toneprint or do what is basically a install from a file. If they made a click on screen interface it would be great to try out the effects and MUCH more user friendly and fun to use.
If they resolve these "issues" in my mind I would rate this easily a 9. Based off soley the amp sound, weight, and value I give it a strong 8.
Edit update 2/14/2013 - Still own and still impressed with amp. Nothing has changed roughly 6 months after purchasing the amp. A solid buy for a great amp. As far as the compressor it took me a while to find the one I liked to use, and it works well for what I use it for.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Immigrant
That thing is so boring it only plays Pat Boone songs.
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Frank Pag
Registered User
Registered: August 2012
Location: Southern NJ
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Thu August 23, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $320.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Light. Good tone. Inexpensive
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Cons:
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For the price you can not bitch
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Needed an amp for rehearsal and it does the job well. Nice tone, lightweight. I searched for a long time until I could find something that met my criteria.
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funkyjudge
Registered User
Registered: August 2010
Location: Langhorne, PA, USA
Posts: 815
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Review Date: Sat September 29, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Small, light and LOUD
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Cons:
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see above reviews (poor tuner and interface functions)
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Like the other reviewer, I needed a lighter-weight and more-compact amp for rehearsals and gigs at small venues, or with smaller groups (my main gig is with an 11-piece soul/funk/R&B band with two guitarists and three horn players). The BG250 fills that need quite well.
As the first reviewer (fenderhutz) stated, the BG250 has an irksome tuner that I find semi-useless (even a cheapo headstock tuner does a far better job). I haven't played a lot with the Toneprint feature, as I have only had the amp for about a week, but I find features that I like and several that I dislike with this feature (perhaps I will do a revised review after I get more opportunities to give Toneprint a full workout).
As previously-stated, there is a rather noticable difference in this amp's tone once the master volume is cranked past the halfway point. Since I will use it mostly for rehearsals with my 11-piece band, I do not anticipate playing with the master set at low-volume levels, so this is OK by me. However, when practicing through the BG250 at home, I keep the master volume set at about 2.5 to 3 and it really does sound quite "muffled" the lower I set it.
All-in-all, this amp is a good value for the money, and it does what I bought it to do!
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Doug (a/k/a "funkyjudge")
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Chasbo
Registered User
Registered: March 2011
Posts: 42
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Review Date: Sat June 15, 2013
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $399.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Compact and easy on the back, Loud, Sounds great
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Cons:
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None really
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Seasoned Bassist and was looking for a combo that wont break the bank nor my back. I bought the BG 250 almost three weeks ago and I really like it. The sound this cab produces is clear and I can hear every note played. Haven"t messed with the interface much as yet. The tone is very warm. I play an Ibanez SR 1405 and the low B comes across nothing short of spectacular. The on board tuner is kind of a challenge but I didnt buy it for the tuner. The amp is light and sounds great in a live application. For the money you cant go wrong.
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Fake it till you Make it.
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