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Credit Due: TC Electronic BG500

J

JetBlackJazz

Feb 22, 2011
710
13
Lumberton, TX
#1
I don't think enough credit is given to the TCE. BG500 amps. Many people whimper and whine on various things about the amp. I don't know if their's is defective or what but they're amazing amps; the 115 and 210 both.

My favorite things about it include the tubetone, spectracomp, and sheer power it pushes. Something like 1.25 watts a dollar.

-for the tube snobs 'ughh it's not reel toobs'

Well for around $400, it get's darn close. It emulates both preamp and power amp tubes. It is responsive to tone controls between the pre and amp (just as tube amps)

-for the audiophiles 'one knob compressor? must be horrible'

One knob is all it needs. It compresses each string individually like several grand studio optical or tube comps. It isn't supposed to be complicated. It does what it needs. Smooths your tone out and brings forward nuances.

-for the power hungry '...'

500 watts is enough. If you don't think so, get out of your bedroom and go play somewhere 1000 sq ft+

-for the expensive amp highclassers 'it's under $2000 so it musn't be very competent for gigging'

That's an experience problem. Having experienced it's capabilities, it's plenty. Maybe start using PA sound reinforcement past having 2 guitarists and gigging at a 500+ person gig.

It can be warm, crisp, growly; anything you can put your mind to. After over a year of using it, I still twiddle.


PS, and the button thing, TC will get you free buttons...if you ask ;)
 
#3
I have the standalone amp head, the BH500 - couldnt ask for a better gigging amp. With 2 410 cabs it is loud as I could ever need - all with fantastic tone. The amp does an extremely convincing SVT impersonation - and the memory functions are just icing on the cake.
 
#4
lazerbrains said:
I have the standalone amp head, the BH500 - couldnt ask for a better gigging amp. With 2 410 cabs it is loud as I could ever need - all with fantastic tone. The amp does an extremely convincing SVT impersonation - and the memory functions are just icing on the cake.
Click to expand...

+1...I am selling my bh500, it sounded so good that I had to have the real deal, so I bought a SVT Classic! My bh500 with the BC410 cab was plenty loud, I never had to have the heads master past 11 O'clock, and the gain NEVER left 10 O'clock and that B****was loud! I have read all the crap about the TC heads and could care less, they work and sound great!
 
#6
lazerbrains said:
I did the opposite - sold my SVT and kept the BH500 - much easier to cart to gigs!
Click to expand...

I cant say that I would disagree on this move. I just had to own an SVT, this is my first and only tube head. It sucks that I have to sell my BH500 to make up the money I spent on the SVT because I would love to keep it, just cant afford to, got to git rid of her...well try to, she is not moving to fast!
 
#8
JetBlackJazz said:
I don't think enough credit is given to the TCE. BG500 amps. Many people whimper and whine on various things about the amp. I don't know if their's is defective or what but they're amazing amps; the 115 and 210 both.

My favorite things about it include the tubetone, spectracomp, and sheer power it pushes. Something like 1.25 watts a dollar.

-for the tube snobs 'ughh it's not reel toobs'

Well for around $400, it get's darn close. It emulates both preamp and power amp tubes. It is responsive to tone controls between the pre and amp (just as tube amps)

-for the audiophiles 'one knob compressor? must be horrible'

One knob is all it needs. It compresses each string individually like several grand studio optical or tube comps. It isn't supposed to be complicated. It does what it needs. Smooths your tone out and brings forward nuances.

-for the power hungry '...'

500 watts is enough. If you don't think so, get out of your bedroom and go play somewhere 1000 sq ft+

-for the expensive amp highclassers 'it's under $2000 so it musn't be very competent for gigging'

That's an experience problem. Having experienced it's capabilities, it's plenty. Maybe start using PA sound reinforcement past having 2 guitarists and gigging at a 500+ person gig.

It can be warm, crisp, growly; anything you can put your mind to. After over a year of using it, I still twiddle.


PS, and the button thing, TC will get you free buttons...if you ask ;)
Click to expand...

I am looking for a decent combo amp (300-500W), and while I don't think I've really fully explored my new BH500, I am loving everything but the single speaker out (which I am running to a GB NeoX 212T.) I was thinking about this or the 250 (and why don't they have TonePrint for the BH?! GUYS!) Any ideas?
 
#9
JetBlackJazz said:
So you've never tried it?
Click to expand...

No, i haven't tried yet. The music stores in my city don't have that combo amp. The just have some fender amps, peavy, line 6. And the closest gc or big music store is like 80 miles away. So, for me, before buy something, i need to look for information and read a lot before have any idea about the product and take a decision about it.

And like i said, i am not completely sure about that combo amp. But i don't think if i get something new, shortly i have to get some parts for it just because they came with that problem (even if they send without any cost). If they know about that kind of problem, they should so something about it before the costumer get the product. That way they don't get any bad review or complain about their product. It is just my opinion. But i still have in mind that combo amp. Lets see what will be my last decision. :)
 
#10
Idiot Savon said:
I am looking for a decent combo amp (300-500W), and while I don't think I've really fully explored my new BH500, I am loving everything but the single speaker out (which I am running to a GB NeoX 212T.) I was thinking about this or the 250 (and why don't they have TonePrint for the BH?! GUYS!) Any ideas?
Click to expand...

The single speaker out doesn't limit the number of cabinets to one, per se, that's determined by the impedance of the cabinets in question. I assume your cabinet is 4 ohms?

While, from my experience so far, I'd give strong recommendation to the BG250, if I'm understanding your concerns, it would be a step in the wrong direction, IMO. It's apparently setup at 4 ohms and doesn't have an external speaker output.

Also, if you're using wattage as a firm selection criterion, I think it's probably a good idea to stay away from TCE all together.
 
#11
miguel0706 said:
No, i haven't tried yet. The music stores in my city don't have that combo amp. The just have some fender amps, peavy, line 6. And the closest gc or big music store is like 80 miles away. So, for me, before buy something, i need to look for information and read a lot before have any idea about the product and take a decision about it.

And like i said, i am not completely sure about that combo amp. But i don't think if i get something new, shortly i have to get some parts for it just because they came with that problem (even if they send without any cost). If they know about that kind of problem, they should so something about it before the costumer get the product. That way they don't get any bad review or complain about their product. It is just my opinion. But i still have in mind that combo amp. Lets see what will be my last decision. :)
Click to expand...

Try it. Somehow, some way.... ;)
 
#12
drpepper said:
The single speaker out doesn't limit the number of cabinets to one, per se, that's determined by the impedance of the cabinets in question. I assume your cabinet is 4 ohms?

While, from my experience so far, I'd give strong recommendation to the BG250, if I'm understanding your concerns, it would be a step in the wrong direction, IMO. It's apparently setup at 4 ohms and doesn't have an external speaker output.

Also, if you're using wattage as a firm selection criterion, I think it's probably a good idea to stay away from TCE all together.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I didn't hear about all the power rating hubbub until AFTER I'd bought the head...but since I'd be using it in situations where I'd normally be running the DI to the board as well, that doesn't worry me as much as the combo's potential shortcomings.
 
#13
I agree with the OP. I Link Removed in Bass Gear Magazine issue #8, and I was very impressed. Of course, TC has now discontinued these combos. I did play the BG250 at Summer NAMM and it sounded great, though it's a different beast. They gave us a BH250 (the head version) for review, and I must say, the Toneprint option(s) are incredible!

Tom.
 
#14
I had to chance to gig with the BG500 a year ago, and I gotta say I ws more than impressed. The single 15 outgunned the guitarist with a Marshall half-stack to the point he was begging me to turn down. The drummer wanted me to crank it up- the drummer won :D

Talkbass is a great place with some really good info. Also, some really misinformed opinions. Yes- TC fudged their numbers, as did Ampeg. But where you can't fudge it is on-stage, and the TC impressed me in a big way.

But no on-line chatter can replace the experience I had with the BG500. If I absolutely HAD to go back to a combo, that would probably be the one. The only negative I can think of is it's pretty freaking heavy
 
#15
tombowlus said:
I agree with the OP. I Link Removed in Bass Gear Magazine issue #8, and I was very impressed. Of course, TC has now discontinued these combos. I did play the BG250 at Summer NAMM and it sounded great, though it's a different beast. They gave us a BH250 (the head version) for review, and I must say, the Toneprint option(s) are incredible!

Tom.
Click to expand...

Do you think they going to bring something new like the bg500?

Would be good.
 

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