New Basss Preamp by TC Electronics - Spectra Drive

[MovinTarget]

Thanks for the reply. I have downloaded the app with all the tone prints and been testing the past 2 days with all the presets to no avail. I did find out some functionality changes how the knobs work for different tone prints but it's a bit confusing so I was either looking for advice on how to set the knobs to get closer to an Ampeg SVT Classic tone or how the knobs function in the default setting.

Yeah that is one thing about the construction of this is that the drive and compression knobs are merely blend controls, adding more or less of the effects into your mix. Give it a couple of days of tinkering (drop you input level and crank the drive/output?) and maybe someone else can chime in. I don't try to make a specific brand sound so I'm probably not the best resource on this one

 

[ClusterFlux]

The SpectraDrive isn't an amp or cab sim.

"More Cowbass" and "Natural Drive" emulate tube amps, but the rest are fuzz, distortions, and overdrives.

If neither of those do the job, I'd suggest one of the Ampeg pedals, a Sansamp VT, or a Zoom B1 Four.

 

[Aiden1382]

The SpectraDrive isn't an amp or cab sim.

"More Cowbass" and "Natural Drive" emulate tube amps, but the rest are fuzz, distortions, and overdrives.

If neither of those do the job, I'd suggest one of the Ampeg pedals, a Sansamp VT, or a Zoom B1 Four.

Correct. I am looking to dial in the overdrive tone of the svt classic. Also, I just returned an ampeg SCR DI before I got the TCE pedal but it didn't work in front of my amp as no sound came out. I only found out after I got the ampeg pedal that I needed a fx send/return in order to use it with my amp which my rumble 40 does not have.

 

[ClusterFlux]

Correct. I am looking to dial in the overdrive tone of the svt classic. Also, I just returned an ampeg SCR DI before I got the TCE pedal but it didn't work in front of my amp as no sound came out. I only found out after I got the ampeg pedal that I needed a fx send/return in order to use it with my amp which my rumble 40 does not have.

Unfortunately, the SpectraDrive doesn't work that way. Despite their original intent to allow users to edit all the parameters (like you can with the SpectraComp), AFAIK they gave up on that. So, all you can do is try those two TonePrints, with different mix and gain amounts. Maybe there's another TonePrint that is closer to SVT, but I don't know what it is, and all of the other descriptions I saw were talking about distortion, fuzz and OD.

More importantly, though, is that your amp isn't set up for these kind of tone modulators. Most amps have an effects loop, and you can plug into the effects in jack and bypass the amp's preamp. The Rumble 40 doesn't have an effects loop, so no matter what you do, the Rumble's preamp will always color the tone.

I think you'd probably be better off finding a tone you like on the 40, or replace it with an amp that has a more SVT-like tone palette. You can still use the SpectraDrive for compression and drive.

 

[Aiden1382]

Unfortunately, the SpectraDrive doesn't work that way. Despite their original intent to allow users to edit all the parameters (like you can with the SpectraComp), AFAIK they gave up on that. So, all you can do is try those two TonePrints, with different mix and gain amounts. Maybe there's another TonePrint that is closer to SVT, but I don't know what it is, and all of the other descriptions I saw were talking about distortion, fuzz and OD.

More importantly, though, is that your amp isn't set up for these kind of tone modulators. Most amps have an effects loop, and you can plug into the effects in jack and bypass the amp's preamp. The Rumble 40 doesn't have an effects loop, so no matter what you do, the Rumble's preamp will always color the tone.

I think you'd probably be better off finding a tone you like on the 40, or replace it with an amp that has a more SVT-like tone palette. You can still use the SpectraDrive for compression and drive.

Unfortunately, the SpectraDrive doesn't work that way. Despite their original intent to allow users to edit all the parameters (like you can with the SpectraComp), AFAIK they gave up on that. So, all you can do is try those two TonePrints, with different mix and gain amounts. Maybe there's another TonePrint that is closer to SVT, but I don't know what it is, and all of the other descriptions I saw were talking about distortion, fuzz and OD.

More importantly, though, is that your amp isn't set up for these kind of tone modulators. Most amps have an effects loop, and you can plug into the effects in jack and bypass the amp's preamp. The Rumble 40 doesn't have an effects loop, so no matter what you do, the Rumble's preamp will always color the tone.

I think you'd probably be better off finding a tone you like on the 40, or replace it with an amp that has a more SVT-like tone palette. You can still use the SpectraDrive for compression and drive.

Thank you for the input. Something to think about. Ig to the rumble 40 over the ba110 b/c my bad back loves the light weight fender cab.

 

[JCooper]

Thank you all for so much good information!
(I have read much of, but perhaps not the entire thread)

However,
I recently acquired one of these and I am enjoying it, very flexible when you get the TonePrints working.
.....which actually took a bit of time and experimentation on my part.
As in, I was able to beam new TonePrints in at initial set up -I changed one or two...next time I powered everything up (a day or so after), no worky. (the beaming)
I deleted the app and reinstalled, success. More fun followed.

I have gone through this process a couple of times, using different bases, plugged directly into the SD or in the general signal path... I tried to test out all of the TonePrints for both Comp and Drive today and man, lotsa tones!
Perhaps not all useful at this moment in time, but SO fun.

Has anyone else run into a challenge if you try to get both sides to sound nice (volume balanced) as independent effects?
Because a few times now, I seem to be able to get a good Comp sound....but because of where the gain/ output level is set, not as good for the Drive....
Conversely, I can get the Drive sounding nice and then check the Comp side and it's low volume.

I have been able to find a balance in several combinations, after much tweaking.

please advise
thank you

 

[frenfrins]

Hi, I would like to know if there is any way to check which toneprints I have stored, as I send them so long ago and can't remember!
Thanks!

 

[MovinTarget]

Hi, I would like to know if there is any way to check which toneprints I have stored, as I send them so long ago and can't remember!
Thanks!

That's a good question!

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

I still my BH800

what's everyone's opinion on these still?
I like having the comp idea built-in
But being digital rather than VCA or even optical
How accurate is it?

it's a great all in one solution

but I've been building an all in one pedalboard. tuner, octave DI/preamp


So..
Ampeg?
Trace? Jones phill ? genz
Plex?
Mxr?
Mesa ?

I like the clean factor

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

Also anyone know if these have a built-in subsonic filter

 

[Mark Ambler]

Also anyone know if these have a built-in subsonic filter

If you're referring to a high pass filter, the answer is no. It's a pretty good 'bang for the buck' useful piece of kit.

 

[MovinTarget]

If you're referring to a high pass filter, the answer is no. It's a pretty good 'bang for the buck' useful piece of kit.

I would agree with this, a great low-risk starting point for what is essentially a travel rig where you don't need amplification. It's not too complicated, yet the Tone Prints offer some additional options if you want to mix it up a bit.

Even though I just got a Zoom B1X Four, this pedal will still be at the end of my signal change for final tweaking and honestly, if I had to travel with only one of the two it'd have to be the SpectraDrive (partly because while the Zoom has an Aux in, it doesn't have a Phone out)

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

I would agree with this, a great low-risk starting point for what is essentially a travel rig where you don't need amplification. It's not too complicated, yet the Tone Prints offer some additional options if you want to mix it up a bit.

Even though I just got a Zoom B1X Four, this pedal will still be at the end of my signal change for final tweaking and honestly, if I had to travel with only one of the two it'd have to be the SpectraDrive (partly because while the Zoom has an Aux in, it doesn't have a Phone out)

I could always add the brougton one

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

Are these things noisy? is this running at 18v?

 

[Mark Ambler]

Are these things noisy? is this running at 18v?

Not noisy at all. 12v. There is also a boost toneprint which just increases the volume.