"Muddy" tone, with no definition - help needed (TC amp content)

[AndyLES]

Hello all,

I tried a search, but had no luck; my apologies if this has been posted before.

A while ago, I picked up a TC BH250 head on sale. However, I've never been truly happy with the sound (I only bought it because I'm on a tight budget and I desperately needed a lightweight head for gigs).

No matter what I've tried, I keep getting a very muddy sound. The amp has a lot of low end, a BRUTAL amount of vowelly, congested lower midrange, and almost no zing, or brightness. I've dialed in settings with the bass rolled back, the treble dimed, you name it, and the sound just doesn't sound "clear." At first, I thought my hearing was going, but my bandmates (in several projects, no less) have complained; the adjectives I hear often are "boomy," "congested," boxy, among others.

My gear:

LTD Vintage 204, retrofitted with Seymour Duncan QP P-bass and Stacked J pickups

Aformentioned TC BH250 head

and a variety of cabinets (mostly SVT 8x10s, which are common at the rehearsal studio I go to)

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[RoadRanger]

I think you would have been a whole lot happier with a GK MB200 . Barely adequate (but usable) with a single 8 ohm 2x10 but plenty for any sane rehearsal with a 4 ohm 8x10 .

 

[AndyLES]

I think you would have been a whole lot happier with a GK MB200 . Barely adequate (but usable) with a single 8 ohm 2x10 but plenty for any sane rehearsal with a 4 ohm 8x10 .

Well, thank you, but at the time, the TC was heavily discounted and the GK was not. Also, reread my post; volume isn't the issue. The head is plenty loud; it's TONE that's the problem.

 

[B-string]

Have you tried different "tone prints" or resetting the toys to original default?

 

[AndyLES]

Have you tried different "tone prints" or resetting the toys to original default?

I've tried some of the compressor ones - the spectracomp and the midband compressor. The former REALLY muddies the tone, while the midband help a tiny bit, but not significantly. The tubedrive ones are okay at adding dirt, but the muddiness remains.

 

[RoadRanger]

Well, thank you, but at the time, the TC was heavily discounted and the GK was not. Also, reread my post; volume isn't the issue. The head is plenty loud; it's TONE that's the problem.

You can usually get one for $250 - and their tone is awesome, clear and uniquely growly. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. My comments about volume were mostly in case you were worried that 200w isn't enough. Too bad I'm way over on the other side of CT, I wouldn't have minded trading amps for a bit as I wanted to mess about with a BH250. Only reason I didn't buy one when MF was blowing them out is I tune DGCF (D" standard) and I think the on-board tuner can't do that? I actually have two MB200's - but my main gigging amp is an Aguilar TH350 now and it's small enough to take to rehearsals too. But the made-in-new-yawk TH350 really don't do clean well if you are into that .

Oh and I'm impressed - not many amps can make an Ampeg 8x10 (or other sealed cabs) sound muddy.

 

[B-string]

I returned one (BH250 combo) before the end of the "No questions asked return" time as I didn't like it much. You might try Invalid Link Removed and do the reset incase someone jacked things up.

 

[AndyLES]

Blah, apparently, the reset function doesn't apply to this head. Doesn't look like it'll be much use anyhow, as there are no memory presets for settings.

 

[B-string]

Sorry, best I could think of.

 

[AndyLES]

Well, thinking my best choice, barring flipping the head (and getting something else before Friday's gig) is to run a Sansamp BDDI with the treble and presence boosted to at least add top end harmonics.

 

[joel406]

Surprised your even having trouble. Sorry to here it. I suggest taking it and selling the head and try a Fender Rumble 350. I got mine new for just $199. Low and high mid control with mid scoop option and overdrive. I run one with a GK 410 and have used it for out door gigs with no PA support. Sounds great.

 

[B-string]

Just a thought, maybe the BDDI has enough gain to feed into the AUX on the back and avoid the TCE preamp?

 

[seamonkey]

Try some of the hundreds of TonePrint (presets) they share with everyone
TonePrints - BH250 | TC Electronic
The low, mid, high knobs work differently than other heads. Try turning them, maybe to extremes that you wouldn't do on other heads.

Try a better cabinet(s)

 

[subdude67]

I have been using the same TC head for over a year now and my best guess is that there is something wrong with it. I have never used mine on a 8x10 but any cab I played through the amp was clear and well defined. do you have any chance to A/B it with another BH250 in a store?

 

[arai]

It does sound like an unusual complaint which leads me to think it is a defective head

 

[CL400Peavey]

How old are your strings? Maybe try something besides a sealed cab?

 

[Low Class]

The BH250 is a very clear amp and should not have a hard time getting a good sound. It's either the cab or you haven't found the spot with the EQ. The MB200 may work better for you as it leans toward a more bright tone, but there is no reason why the BH250 should not give you a tone you can work with.

 

[Jamvan]

I don't know what you've done to troubleshoot this but the tone controls on the TC heads cut and boost different frequencies. So while you may be boosting or cutting either the mid or the lows, you could actually be contributing to the muddiness versus cleaning it up. I had a BG250 115 combo which is (essentially) the same head as this and I have a BH500 now and I've found both of these to be very transparent amps (wattage claims aside). Again, check the frequency impact of the bass/mid/treble tone controls and see if you can dial it in based on the frequency info here:

Tone control
Bass [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] 80Hz @ Gain: -24 to 0dB; 100Hz @ Gain 0 to +15dB
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Mid [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] 500Hz @ Gain: -24 to 0dB; 800Hz @ Gain 0 to +15dB & 0 to -12 dB
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Treble / Tweeter Tone [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Center Freq.: 1800Hz @ Gain: -24 to 0dB; 5000Hz @ Gain 0 to +15dB

You should be able to get a clear, crisp sound like this one if you want. If you can't get this, I would agree with what others have said that there may be something wrong with the head.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[friendlybass]

Is it muddy to the point of distortion if you lay into it? Also +1 on flipping it and finding a rumble 350 used. Saw one go for 168$ on the eBay earlier this week.
Sorry this happened dude

 

[Jamvan]

Also +1 on flipping it and finding a rumble 350 used. Saw one go for 168$ on the eBay earlier this week.

I've got a bad case of gas for a Fender Rumble 500 head/cabs even though I have absolutely no need for them. I guess that's the definition of 'gas' but it really is distracting.