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New Basss Preamp by TC Electronics - Spectra Drive
- Thread starter Nunovsky
- Start date
Ok, some quick, random thoughts...
-It's pretty different from the SansAmps, in a good way.
-The SpectraDrive is very CLEAN, but not in a clinical way. I feel like I'm hearing what my basses really sound like.
-I did some knob twiddling and only got it to sound harsh with some extreme, no-one-would-EVER-use-these-settings.
-The SpectraComp works just as well in here as it does as a standalone.
-As it sits, The Tubedrive kills a lot of bottom end. I'm gonna need to try some Toneprints with this.
-This thing is probably capable of some INSANE volume! I have my power amp(QSC GX7)turned almost all the way down, and just for funsies, I dimed the master and the gain on one of the SpectraDrives, it was LOUD! A couple of wrong knob turns, and you could shred some speakers.
-All of my other TCE pedals seem to sound better, which is weird, because I didn't change anything.
Bottom line-at this volume, my rig sounds like a super clean, very boutique, bass amp, which is pretty much what I was hoping for. It's plenty warm, but it's pretty transparent. If you want a preamp that's gonna color your sound and give you some grit, this is not it. You're going to need to add dirt, if that's your thing. I'm gonna work with the Tubedrive, because I think I can get what I need out of it, but I may need to put the VT bass back on. I'll know Friday night...
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Thanks for the write up. I get what your saying, and i think this will also need my Aftershock to stay on my board. As long as the Spectracomp is the same, and the EQ section works then ill still be able to use it.
Could it be that your other pedals were getting the hotter signal and so were working slightly different to how they normally work? Was this with the Line/instrument selector set for instrument?
Interesting to see what you have on your board. I too have the Helix and Corona mini, so your views will be quite relevant.
I actually rehearsed last night with my VTBass DI, first time in a couple of years with this. I was impresssed with the tone. This has complicated things a bit, as i might end up having to use it as well as the SD. Still, I want he SD for home practice as well so I'm going to find a use for it somehow.
Could it be that your other pedals were getting the hotter signal and so were working slightly different to how they normally work? Was this with the Line/instrument selector set for instrument?
Interesting to see what you have on your board. I too have the Helix and Corona mini, so your views will be quite relevant.
I actually rehearsed last night with my VTBass DI, first time in a couple of years with this. I was impresssed with the tone. This has complicated things a bit, as i might end up having to use it as well as the SD. Still, I want he SD for home practice as well so I'm going to find a use for it somehow.
I really think this is going to suit me just fine. Even though I play in a rock band, I've always gravitated towards and preferred a clean bass sound. The SpectaDrive is super clean. Again, this is at "bedroom" volume, so the acid test will come Friday night...
I'm still not 100% sure why my pedals sounded better, unless it was the string change last week, lol! The chorus was fuller and richer, the filter was more responsive, and the phaser was perfect. Still having issues with the octave, but I'm making headway.
Thanks, dude! As long as you don't look underneath, it's all good, lol!
I'm gonna try some TonePrints when I get home from work. When I tried the other day, I was using my wireless, and it didn't work. This G70 let's me plug in with a cord(this Line 6 G70 wireless also let me remove 2 or 3 pedals from my board!), so it should be easy peasy.
Super clean is a tone I'm trying to get away from, but I'm sure its also a tone i can live with, especially with a very small touch of OD from the SD.
If the output level is boosted then that would account for the other pedals down the chain getting a stronger signal and sounding stronger.
I always use a Wireless system and have no issues beaming tone prints. The only issue ive encountered was when i swapped to a iPhone 8 Plus, from a 6S. I didn't realise the tone doesnt come out of the earpiece on the new phone.
If the output level is boosted then that would account for the other pedals down the chain getting a stronger signal and sounding stronger.
I always use a Wireless system and have no issues beaming tone prints. The only issue ive encountered was when i swapped to a iPhone 8 Plus, from a 6S. I didn't realise the tone doesnt come out of the earpiece on the new phone.
Quick update:
It's a good news, bad news kinda thing...
The good-I just beamed the Natural Drive TonePrint to the SpectraDrives, it sounds WAY better and more usable.
The bad-I just tried to beam a SpectraComp TP and it didn't take. After checking out the app, it seems that there may be some subtle differences in the comps, which may not allow the SpectraComps prints to work on this. There's one SpectraDrive compression TP, it's from Ida Nielsen, and the description doesn't sound like what I want. I'm gonna hit up the TCE facebook page and ask about this...
It's still sounding pretty killer...
It's a good news, bad news kinda thing...
The good-I just beamed the Natural Drive TonePrint to the SpectraDrives, it sounds WAY better and more usable.
The bad-I just tried to beam a SpectraComp TP and it didn't take. After checking out the app, it seems that there may be some subtle differences in the comps, which may not allow the SpectraComps prints to work on this. There's one SpectraDrive compression TP, it's from Ida Nielsen, and the description doesn't sound like what I want. I'm gonna hit up the TCE facebook page and ask about this...
It's still sounding pretty killer...
Yeah, good and bad news. I was looking at the tone prints last night and by the description that Natural one seemed to be what i would use. I also noticed only the one Spectracomp tone print under the SD section. I was hoping, like you, that we could use any of the SC tone prints.
I'm not going to worry about it yet, I'm sure things will improve in time. Be interesting to see what TC say about this though.
I'm not going to worry about it yet, I'm sure things will improve in time. Be interesting to see what TC say about this though.
Man.. I was hoping the compressor toneprints would work. Maybe there will be a conversion or something. Would love to put Captain East tone on it.
Im hopeful that things will change. Its early days, and considering TC are touting this as a do anything type of preamp im sure they will back this up with more tone prints.
In an ideal world TC will port several of the SC toneprints over to the SD to help satisfy us SC users!
I see you have a few pedals going into it, have you tried playing with headphones just yet, especially with the OD? I'm wondering how much the lack of a cab sim will effect the peaks and hissiness of OD and fuzz in a signal chain when going direct for PA or recording purposes.
edit: I actually read a product description from an online retailer that says it has a cab sim on the headphone out. I wonder if it does so on the line driver out?
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I'm fairly certain the cab sim only applies to the headphone out, though I could be wrong...
Thats all it says on the TC website. Id be very surprised to find it on the XLR as well, especially as there is no on/off button for it.
Agreed. If it were on the XLR out as well TC would have made a point of mentioning it. And yes, it would be switchable.
On that note, I'm kinda annoyed that it's not switchable on the headphone out. I like to play with a clean/flat sound so that's annoyance I'd have to live with
Super quick update:
PM'd TCE about the SpectraComp TonePrints last night. Told them there weren't any other comps available. Woke up this AM, all the SpectraComp TonePrints are now available under the SpectraDrive!
Well Done, TCE!
Gotta get to work...
PM'd TCE about the SpectraComp TonePrints last night. Told them there weren't any other comps available. Woke up this AM, all the SpectraComp TonePrints are now available under the SpectraDrive!
Well Done, TCE!
Gotta get to work...
I would guess/hope the headphone speaker sim is quite subtle as it's not switchable. I should receive mine shortly.
