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TC Electronic BG250 Club (Part 2)
- Thread starter drpepper
- Start date
The 115.
I didn't try the others so I can't compare their efficiency in this particular way of using.
With something in front of it you have a more custom sound. And mostly you can deal better with the high mids.
By itself I find you can achieve a very efficient tone with the 115 (loud and heard in the mix) but it lacks a little bit of personality.
And for info, I don't try to have to have the deepest tone of all.
My usual goal is to feel the bass and to hear me clearly but not to overload everybody why mega booms (personnal taste that suits me for the style I play
). Tone is so a subjective thing !!
I didn't try the others so I can't compare their efficiency in this particular way of using.
With something in front of it you have a more custom sound. And mostly you can deal better with the high mids.
By itself I find you can achieve a very efficient tone with the 115 (loud and heard in the mix) but it lacks a little bit of personality.
And for info, I don't try to have to have the deepest tone of all.
My usual goal is to feel the bass and to hear me clearly but not to overload everybody why mega booms (personnal taste that suits me for the style I play
). Tone is so a subjective thing !!
When picking up my Sadowsky RV5 I played through the 208 combo. I think it would suit upright players nicely as it has a tight clean sound with not a lot of top and bottom end. Punchy with a lot of midrange color. I would need to gig it to really see how it responds in the mix but it did sound pretty good. Unfortunately right after playing it I plugged into an AER Amp 2 which left the TC in the dust
However for the price, the TC's are worth a look.
Thanks for those vids! Unfortunately it was very difficult for me to get an idea of what the amps sound like with that particular style of playing combined with the very loud foot stomping. Nothing at all against Ms. Nielson, as she clearly has chops and cred. But that tone...
I'm not sure if this has already been discussed, but I've had my BG250 for about 9 months now and after about 15 minutes of playing, the amp starts making a constant popping noise. Once the amp begins to make the popping noise it continues to do so even if I turn it off and back on again. I'm not sure what is causing it. I've used multiple cables and the problem still occurs. What would be the best course of action?
Thanks for those vids! Unfortunately it was very difficult for me to get an idea of what the amps sound like with that particular style of playing combined with the very loud foot stomping. Nothing at all against Ms. Nielson, as she clearly has chops and cred. But that tone...
Yeah, I wish I could sit down and thrown down some licks like that, but a video like that is lacking information without some point of reference. For me, it's not the style or the foot tapping...it's just a recording of one amp.
With some kind of comparison, even if it's not a great recording, you can at least glean some direct relative difference. With an online video, you're not listening to the amp, you're listening to your speakers or headphones.
Apologies to anyone waiting for the comparison video of the 115 and 208. I still have the demo unit, but haven't had a chance to set anything up. I've taken it to a couple rehearsals and continue to find it "capable." I have to say, it's a joy to carry around. I decided to take my 115 tonight to just switch things up, and it was refreshing in terms of the punch and feel.
I still have yet to use it with my group that practices a bit louder. Hopefully Thursday.
As of now, my judgement (especially immediately after using the 115 again) would have to be that I don't think I'd keep it.
Too bad my contact didn't get any 112s. That seems to be the potentially more interesting way to some size and weight savings.
I still have yet to use it with my group that practices a bit louder. Hopefully Thursday.
As of now, my judgement (especially immediately after using the 115 again) would have to be that I don't think I'd keep it.
Too bad my contact didn't get any 112s. That seems to be the potentially more interesting way to some size and weight savings.
Yeah I didn't much love BG250 1X15 when I first got it. Tone is subjective but to me, just my bass into the combo led to a pretty lifeless and boring tone. Not terrible but lacking I dunno...soul? Anyway, I happened to put my BDDI in front of it the other day. Dayum! It's like the tone in this thing just exploded! Seriously, very warm and solid tone! Not incredible but nice and worthy. It will not replace the fat smack of my four 10s in a loud gigging situation but it isn't that far behind in many aspects and it weighs almost 100lbs less! Also volume is not a problem. It gets loud. Ideally, I wouldn't have to run a pre before it but for what I paid for it, the SANSAMP and TC together make a great pair! I had bought a Carvin MB10 after not being so stoked on the TC. I will be writing a full A/B of the two when I get a second...maybe tonight...but you can probably figure out which one I will be keeping!
Here: OK, so I bought a TC BG250 recently and wasn't totally stoked on it so got a Carvin MB10 with thoughts on comparing the two and keeping the one that fit me the best. Here is a comparison. Some will say why not compare a 15 to a 15, but the MB250 1x15 and the Carvin Micro10 are the same price and they seem to be two of the best small weight/size powerful combos available. So I will write this A/B with the difference in speaker sizes in mind. (this is just my humble opinion)
Build: The Carvin is built better and is a US product. All the knobs are tight, the materials used seem heavy duty, there are no flaws, and even the chord is solid. The TC seems built very well to me but clearly some corners were cut on knobs (pop up instead of switch), tolex, etc. Carvin wins but the TC seems pretty good. Also, there has been some reports of the TC having problems. Mine has been great so far and I have a good warranty. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
Portability: The Carvin is SO small and easy to carry. I think it weighs around 20 lbs. Perfect for getting in and out quickly. The TC is light for a 15 at 34 lbs but is pretty bulky size wise...it's actually harder to get the thing in my car than my 4X10 because it is so deep front to back. Carvin wins but it makes sense since it is packing a 10 instead of a 15. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
Tone: Both have OK tone. The Carvin is much more flexible and you can really coax a lot of tones out of the little bugger. Having said that, it is much more mid/hi focused than a lot of amps---this could be completely due to the 1X10? The TC is much simpler and seems to have more of a flat tone to it. It is however, a lot warmer and has way more lows presence. This could be completely due to the speaker size but I also feel as though the carvin 15 would still be more mid/hi focused with the same head in it. Some will say you can dial out this focus in the Carvin and that is true to an extent but I found it is hard to do that without losing some of the fundamental and soul of the tone. I like having all those tonal options but I am more of a plug and play guy than a knob tweaker. While both tones are good but not great, IMHO the TC is better. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
I also tested both with a BDDI in front of them. This is where the TC really outshone the Carvin. With the Sanamp, the TC gets a really nice tone...something I wouldn't be afraid to gig with. Even with a loud drummer. The BDDI really improved the tone of the Carvin, but the TC sounded much fuller, present, and warmer than the Carvin did with this set up. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
Finally I tested both with a UBASS. The Carvin is unplayable with a ubass and no preamp. With the Sansamp the ubass gets a fair to gigable tone on the Carvin. The ubass plays fair to giggable straight into the TC. With the sansamp between it sounds very nice. Once again, the speaker size prob played a huge part in this.....but there were some highs that just couldn't be eliminated with the Carvin that disappeared on the TC. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
So even though I REALLY wanted to keep the Carvin due to it's small size and great build quality, I just couldn't get past the tone difference. The Carvin is def a solid little amp and I wish I could have both but the TC just has a richer, fuller tone. So if you are looking to spend 300$ on a combo and have to choose between these two, there is a little info for ya.
(again.....this is just my humble opinion)
(again.....this is just my humble opinion)
(again.....this is just my humble opinion)
I posted this in the Carvin Micro club too so I can get double flamed!
Build: The Carvin is built better and is a US product. All the knobs are tight, the materials used seem heavy duty, there are no flaws, and even the chord is solid. The TC seems built very well to me but clearly some corners were cut on knobs (pop up instead of switch), tolex, etc. Carvin wins but the TC seems pretty good. Also, there has been some reports of the TC having problems. Mine has been great so far and I have a good warranty. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
Portability: The Carvin is SO small and easy to carry. I think it weighs around 20 lbs. Perfect for getting in and out quickly. The TC is light for a 15 at 34 lbs but is pretty bulky size wise...it's actually harder to get the thing in my car than my 4X10 because it is so deep front to back. Carvin wins but it makes sense since it is packing a 10 instead of a 15. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
Tone: Both have OK tone. The Carvin is much more flexible and you can really coax a lot of tones out of the little bugger. Having said that, it is much more mid/hi focused than a lot of amps---this could be completely due to the 1X10? The TC is much simpler and seems to have more of a flat tone to it. It is however, a lot warmer and has way more lows presence. This could be completely due to the speaker size but I also feel as though the carvin 15 would still be more mid/hi focused with the same head in it. Some will say you can dial out this focus in the Carvin and that is true to an extent but I found it is hard to do that without losing some of the fundamental and soul of the tone. I like having all those tonal options but I am more of a plug and play guy than a knob tweaker. While both tones are good but not great, IMHO the TC is better. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
I also tested both with a BDDI in front of them. This is where the TC really outshone the Carvin. With the Sanamp, the TC gets a really nice tone...something I wouldn't be afraid to gig with. Even with a loud drummer. The BDDI really improved the tone of the Carvin, but the TC sounded much fuller, present, and warmer than the Carvin did with this set up. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
Finally I tested both with a UBASS. The Carvin is unplayable with a ubass and no preamp. With the Sansamp the ubass gets a fair to gigable tone on the Carvin. The ubass plays fair to giggable straight into the TC. With the sansamp between it sounds very nice. Once again, the speaker size prob played a huge part in this.....but there were some highs that just couldn't be eliminated with the Carvin that disappeared on the TC. (again.....this is just my humble opinion)
So even though I REALLY wanted to keep the Carvin due to it's small size and great build quality, I just couldn't get past the tone difference. The Carvin is def a solid little amp and I wish I could have both but the TC just has a richer, fuller tone. So if you are looking to spend 300$ on a combo and have to choose between these two, there is a little info for ya.
(again.....this is just my humble opinion)
(again.....this is just my humble opinion)
(again.....this is just my humble opinion)
I posted this in the Carvin Micro club too so I can get double flamed!
Thanks for the write up. I love my BG250 15 but I'm looking for something tiny for small practices, home and tiny bars/pubs where even the 15 is overkill and a little to big. ( seriously small places ). I'd like the bg250 208 but $500 is a bit much for me. The carvin sounds like just the thing for my secon amp. Thanks.
Thanks for the thorough and IMHO impartial writeup. Good stuff, regardless of which amp came out 'on top'. Both are great amps, depending on need.
It's funny that you mention the BDDI...I always run a Zoom B3 in from of my amp, but had never used the amp models. I had been messing with an SVT setting at home (B3>Headphones) and played it through the BG250 last night for the first time. Dayumn! The TC handled it really well and it sounded huge! I could not believe the difference.
Yes, the zoom b3 transforms a very cool amp in a mega cool amp
You have to deal well with the percentage of cab sim if you want to use it with the bg250 live. Make some tries to find the good balance which will give your tone a good character without being too muddy (the svt cab sim creates a big gap in the mids).
You have to deal well with the percentage of cab sim if you want to use it with the bg250 live. Make some tries to find the good balance which will give your tone a good character without being too muddy (the svt cab sim creates a big gap in the mids).
I picked up my 115 a week or so ago. I loaded spectracomp immediately. As others have mentioned, that plus tubetone gives a huge volume boost. I played around with it a bit this week but I generally don't plug in at home. It's bigger than I'd want for a home practice amp but that's not why I bought it.
Gigged it last night and it was big and full. I play a p bass w/flats, BEAD, alt country sorta thing and it was very solid all the way down low. I turned the highs down a bit, mids down a bit more and everything else across the board was at 5. I adjust my volume as needed on my bass. I always DI through our PA to our BFM sub and our mains. My tone sat very well in our mix, full and rich with enough definition to hear my parts while still blending with the overall sound. I liked it.
Tuner and mute are handy. I sent in for the free pedal offer but I'm not sure I'll use it. I like the one cord, plug-n-play aspect a lot. I love the spectracomp and tubetone!
I'm looking forward to getting to know the amp better. Thanks to all for the recommendations.
Gigged it last night and it was big and full. I play a p bass w/flats, BEAD, alt country sorta thing and it was very solid all the way down low. I turned the highs down a bit, mids down a bit more and everything else across the board was at 5. I adjust my volume as needed on my bass. I always DI through our PA to our BFM sub and our mains. My tone sat very well in our mix, full and rich with enough definition to hear my parts while still blending with the overall sound. I liked it.
Tuner and mute are handy. I sent in for the free pedal offer but I'm not sure I'll use it. I like the one cord, plug-n-play aspect a lot. I love the spectracomp and tubetone!
I'm looking forward to getting to know the amp better. Thanks to all for the recommendations.
Today will be a big test. My little BG250 will be used without PA support at an outdoor fundraiser where probably 20+ kid-bands will be doing 3 song funk sets, with a couple of adult bands doing 45 minute sets.
They're all using the BG250. It'll be about 6 hours straight at a pretty good volume.
They're all using the BG250. It'll be about 6 hours straight at a pretty good volume.
Today will be a big test. My little BG250 will be used without PA support at an outdoor fundraiser where probably 20+ kid-bands will be doing 3 song funk sets, with a couple of adult bands doing 45 minute sets.
They're all using the BG250. It'll be about 6 hours straight at a pretty good volume.
Cool. Let us know how it goes.
Random comments on the "long-term" 208 demo. I can't say enough how much of a joy it is to carry around, but that said, I've used it for home practice/play-along, and the configuration (even the location of the power switch) is kind of ridiculous. I beat this horse to death a long time ago, but more thought and effort should have gone into changes to the BH250, especially since it's not removable. Mini-jacks should have somehow been moved to the "front" (so they're on top of the BG) and the power socket and switch to the "top" (so they're on the back of the BG). Trying to do things in that cavity area gets old really quickly.
Completely agree with you. It feels like a frankenstein job. Just a BH250 bolted to the 2x8 cab. Now if they made it pop out on a sled so you had a BH250 you could use with ANY other 2 8ohm cabs, id cut them more slack. But there is just no way to get to those jacks without flipping the amp upside down. Of course, it's so light it's easy, but it's the principle and makes for poor design. I wish there was an inexpensive 2x8 cab out there ( the Crazy 88 looks great but is about $750 alone ) and then $300 for a BH250 ouch. Any inexpensive 2x8 NEO cabinets? Trying to piece one together makes the combo look like a reasonable price.
A couple of months ago I purchased a BG250 new and while I was pleased with it in general I felt it sounded a bit honky so I finally got around to replacing the speaker with a Faital 15PR400 I had in another cabinet. I think the Faital improved the sound quite a bit being less honky and generally tighter in the low end, plus I think the Faital is more efficient than the OEM since it seems a bit louder at the same setting.
However, the Faital cost me as much as the BG250 but since I already had it I figured why not try it? The Faital was a very tight fit in the plywood baffle board of the BG250 but I fit it with a bit of coaxing. Did I say the combo is also a bit lighter judging by my calibrated right arm?
Curious thing, when I checked the tweeter (since I was thinking of disconnecting it) I found that it was already disconnected and the end of the yellow wire leading to it was insulated with shrinktubing...odd.
However, the Faital cost me as much as the BG250 but since I already had it I figured why not try it? The Faital was a very tight fit in the plywood baffle board of the BG250 but I fit it with a bit of coaxing. Did I say the combo is also a bit lighter judging by my calibrated right arm?
Curious thing, when I checked the tweeter (since I was thinking of disconnecting it) I found that it was already disconnected and the end of the yellow wire leading to it was insulated with shrinktubing...odd.
Today will be a big test. My little BG250 will be used without PA support at an outdoor fundraiser where probably 20+ kid-bands will be doing 3 song funk sets, with a couple of adult bands doing 45 minute sets.
They're all using the BG250. It'll be about 6 hours straight at a pretty good volume.
I had a chance to hear it from the audience and I gotta say that I though it sounded really, really good. No pedals in front of it, either. It was initially set with with eq knobs at noon, a slight SpectraComp(3-4), no Tubedrive and volume at ~5 on the main, maybe 4 or so on the Pre.
Quote from the sound guy:
The amp performed beautifully. It had a wonderful, non-abrasive tone to it that made it really pleasant regardless of what bass was going through it. If I ever buy a bass amp it would be that one. Loved it.
