TC Electronic BG250 Club

[soulman969]

Amazing. In a quite room in my house, I cannot hear any difference between the BG250 on vs off.

From what I hear, it bowls me over that it has a fan.

I can't either. The noise isn't audible unless you put your ear right up to the cabinet.

One question I do have though is what amount of audible output are you guys getting from that tweeter? I'm not really hearing anything coming from it even playing in a high register with the treble dimed.

That's the only concern that's developed so far. Is that thing actually working and is there a way to better test it?

 

[soulman969]

I found this in the support pages on the tc electronic site. I thought it might be uselful to know since many manufacturers don't allow this.

Transferring product warranty to another user
Question

Is the warranty transferable if I sell my TC product a few months after buying it?

Answer

Yes, the TC product warranty is transferable - however, as the warranty is valid from the original date of purchase from the TC reseller, you should provide a copy of your invoice / receipt to the new owner, to ensure that he/she will get the full warranty coverage.

 

[soulman969]

Anyone have a link to the footswitch schematic? I've read the entire thread and some posts were about alternate footswitch brands but nothing about building one.

FWIW the tc site says that they do not provide schematics for their products.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Anyone have a link to the footswitch schematic? I've read the entire thread and some posts were about alternate footswitch brands but nothing about building one.

I just bought one for $49. I think it's worth it.

 

[bozha]

One question I do have though is what amount of audible output are you guys getting from that tweeter? I'm not really hearing anything coming from it even playing in a high register with the treble dimed.

That tweeter is large success, natural and perfectly balanced with the rest of the tone.

You can test it with some sizzling ringing tune through the aux in...

 

[BassGuyFL]

Anyone have a link to the footswitch schematic? I've read the entire thread and some posts were about alternate footswitch brands but nothing about building one.

Give this a shot:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[drpepper]

I can't either. The noise isn't audible unless you put your ear right up to the cabinet.

One question I do have though is what amount of audible output are you guys getting from that tweeter? I'm not really hearing anything coming from it even playing in a high register with the treble dimed.

That's the only concern that's developed so far. Is that thing actually working and is there a way to better test it?

I took a sanity check and put my ear right to the back of the amp section, and I don't hear anything.

On the tweeter. If I turn up the treble, there are plain cues that it's working without even playing through it.

Do you not get any hiss?

 

[top028]

Just got mine this week. I need to get my double bass back together so I can try that out (needs new tailgut. what a sound that was). This little guy sounds great and meaty with the fenders, but I wish the mids were voiced differently for my mud buckers. There is definite an inherent low end roll off, but for its weight i cant complain. Tube tone is a decent sound.

I really wish they had a tone editor program to change the parameters of the "pedal" inside the amp. TC has the capability, since a couple of the presets assign the knob a different function.
I would personally be happy to pay the cost of an external pedal for such a program. I could then leave my patch cables at home and buy the official control pedal. I also wonder if the EQ freqs are in the software. THAT would be amazing to re-voice the amp for different gigs or basses. Its hard to get a dub sound, but I could just use an active preamp I guess. Version 2.0 really could use an effects loop, but then that moves it into "pro-class".
Over all cool amp. For the first time in my life I walked in through a door like a guitarist. Amp in one hand, case in the other, boy what a feeling!!!

 

[soulman969]

I took a sanity check and put my ear right to the back of the amp section, and I don't hear anything.

On the tweeter. If I turn up the treble, there are plain cues that it's working without even playing through it.

Do you not get any hiss?

None audible. TC support suggested I play some music through it from an MP3 or a CD so I'll give that a shot. Just haven't quite had the time to get to it yet.

I should have an answer by tomorrow and if it isn't working I'll get it replaced. It's only a month old and that's the only issue I've had with it so far if it even is an issue.

 

[soulman969]

Originally Posted by drpepper View Post
I took a sanity check and put my ear right to the back of the amp section, and I don't hear anything.

On the tweeter. If I turn up the treble, there are plain cues that it's working without even playing through it.

Do you not get any hiss?

None audible. TC support suggested I play some music through it from an MP3 or a CD so I'll give that a shot. Just haven't quite had the time to get to it yet.

I should have an answer by tomorrow and if it isn't working I'll get it replaced. It's only a month old and that's the only issue I've had with it so far if it even is an issue.

Well I actually got to that little test tonight doc and you were right. Once I got the volume up beyond 5 and boosted the treble full tilt the hiss from the tweeter was there.

I also hooked my computer to it up since I was gonna explore the Tone Prints for the first time anyway, plugged into the aux. input and started playing some recorded material with a lot of highs. Once I blocked off the 15" with a big old pillow the sound coming through the tweeter was obvious.

So the issue is a no issue. I guess it's just that I've never had it over 5-5 1/2 on the Master and the treble is never dimed. Add to that the fact that I'm playing two passive basses, one with flats and the other with pressure wounds and I'm probably just not throwing enough at it in a high enough frequency range for it to be useable.

It's really not the fact that I missed it as much as just assuring that it was working like it should and from what tc and others here have said about it's frequency range I'm just not hitting with any highs in it's range.

So all is still well on the Western Front. It's a prefect combo for my needs and style of play.

 

[soulman969]

That tweeter is large success, natural and perfectly balanced with the rest of the tone.

You can test it with some sizzling ringing tune through the aux in...

I did brother and that did the trick. Works like a charm. I'm just not hitting it with enough useable frequencies from my playing for it to stand out much.

Thanks for the tip. The support staff at tc suggested much the same and maybe this will serve as guidance for some others who have the same question as I did.

 

[soulman969]

FWIW I downloaded the BG250 software update v2.0 and then the Spectra Comp Tone Print. That was easier than I thought and took less time than I thought as well. I'm far from a computer expert and if I can do it that easily anyone should. The instructions are pretty straightforward as far getting the amp ready for the download and from there it only takes a matter of seconds.

I like the Spectra Comp option. It adds some punch and presence along with a little volume. I'm not one for a lot of effects but this one is useful. It would be nice if at some point in time they expanded the software in a manner that would allow you to store more than one option at a time.

The features of this amp like the Tube Drive and the Tone Print along with the design of the EQ section and Gain and Master Volume controls coupled with it's output make this thing dog gone hard to top in this price range. I'm half expecting it won't stay that way long.

 

[drpepper]

I did brother and that did the trick. Works like a charm. I'm just not hitting it with enough useable frequencies from my playing for it to stand out much.

Thanks for the tip. The support staff at tc suggested much the same and maybe this will serve as guidance for some others who have the same question as I did.

Good news. It's working for you, but the result isn't in-your-face...probably a good thing. I think subtlety is where it's at with tweeters on bass cabinets; just to fill out the sound. And like you said, that filling out would be more pronounced with some bright, roundwound SS strings.

 

[bozha]

Those compressors works neat. Probably the best feature on this amp, compared to competition. And I'll probably stick with one of them, and forget all the other effects. Given all the "what tha...!?" weird interest I get from people I play with when I do the *hhhhhssszzzz* phone beam trick, I can't imagine myself doing such a something in public... on stage! XD Plus I'm not into pedals, anyway...

Little update on my hissing issue... Mine is definitly loud enough to fill the quiet room and make me nervous while practicing at low volume, master about 2. Good news is it lasts only half or a full hour after turning the amp on, and than, lets say when it gets warmed up, it disaper till the next turning on.

 

[phishaholik]

So, I was going to come on here and write a glowing review of the BG250. I really couldn't believe the amp was so cheap, light and sounds fantastic. I don't think I would want the heavily compressed tone for my main rig, but to get crazy volume and really good tone out of cheap combo, it's amazing. The tone print is fun to mess with and the tube tone is kinda cool, but I don't use it that much.


Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, I tried to turn my amp on the other day and it's dead. Half the lights come on when I power it up and nothing comes out. Just completely dead. I've owned the amp for under a month and it just crapped out on me. Luckily, Musicians Friend has a good return policy and I'm sending it back.

I really, really liked this amp and couldn't be more disappointed. The price, weight, tone and volume are all fantastic, but can I really trust an amp that died with less than a few hours of play time on it? I've read here from other people that their amp died right away too.



Michael

 

[drpepper]

So, I was going to come on here and write a glowing review of the BG250. I really couldn't believe the amp was so cheap, light and sounds fantastic. I don't think I would want the heavily compressed tone for my main rig, but to get crazy volume and really good tone out of cheap combo, it's amazing. The tone print is fun to mess with and the tube tone is kinda cool, but I don't use it that much.


Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, I tried to turn my amp on the other day and it's dead. Half the lights come on when I power it up and nothing comes out. Just completely dead. I've owned the amp for under a month and it just crapped out on me. Luckily, Musicians Friend has a good return policy and I'm sending it back.

I really, really liked this amp and couldn't be more disappointed. The price, weight, tone and volume are all fantastic, but can I really trust an amp that died with less than a few hours of play time on it? I've read here from other people that their amp died right away too.



Michael

Yup. Happened to me too

You gotta do what you gotta do. If I had bought from MF or some other online vendor, I don't think I would have tried a second one. I probably would have done the return and moved on. The shipping is a hassle.

Not wanting to deal with it is understandable and so is the sentiment of not being able to trust that another one wont do the same thing.

That said, I did get mine replaced, and I'm glad for it. I've grown to trust it enough. And I've come to have some comfort in believing that this particular problem (or strain of problems) is something that happens right out of the gate. Only time will tell on that...

 

[Stranger Danger]

Yup. Happened to me too

You gotta do what you gotta do. If I had bought from MF or some other online vendor, I don't think I would have tried a second one. I probably would have done the return and moved on. The shipping is a hassle.

Not wanting to deal with it is understandable and so is the sentiment of not being able to trust that another one wont do the same thing.

That said, I did get mine replaced, and I'm glad for it. I've grown to trust it enough. And I've come to have some comfort in believing that this particular problem (or strain of problems) is something that happens right out of the gate. Only time will tell on that...

Yeah it seems to be that it happens right away or never. I hope he gets another one. They are stellar amps.

 

[drpepper]

Yeah it seems to be that it happens right away or never. I hope he gets another one. They are stellar amps.

Yeah, but far be it from me to push on that in any direction. I know how it felt when it happened to me. Not feeling like you could trust a replacement is a pretty significant thing...and it has to do with a "feeling." Personal decision.

 

[soulman969]

Good news. It's working for you, but the result isn't in-your-face...probably a good thing. I think subtlety is where it's at with tweeters on bass cabinets; just to fill out the sound. And like you said, that filling out would be more pronounced with some bright, roundwound SS strings.

The more I think about it the better I like it shelved the way it is without having to mess with a volume attenuator or varying crossover frequencies. It's there when you need it and isn't when you don't. I play flats and pressure wounds so those aren't hitting it much if at all in most cases.

I can imagine some players would like more control over that but I'm not one of them. I've played amps with variable crossovers and it was just one more thing to mess with. I really prefer the way they designed the EQ section of this amp. It's pretty tough to mess it up.

 

[soulman969]

So, I was going to come on here and write a glowing review of the BG250. I really couldn't believe the amp was so cheap, light and sounds fantastic. I don't think I would want the heavily compressed tone for my main rig, but to get crazy volume and really good tone out of cheap combo, it's amazing. The tone print is fun to mess with and the tube tone is kinda cool, but I don't use it that much.


Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, I tried to turn my amp on the other day and it's dead. Half the lights come on when I power it up and nothing comes out. Just completely dead. I've owned the amp for under a month and it just crapped out on me. Luckily, Musicians Friend has a good return policy and I'm sending it back.

I really, really liked this amp and couldn't be more disappointed. The price, weight, tone and volume are all fantastic, but can I really trust an amp that died with less than a few hours of play time on it? I've read here from other people that their amp died right away too.



Michael

Yeah it seems to be that it happens right away or never. I hope he gets another one. They are stellar amps.

Both true I believe. Like most electronics if it's gonna go it tends to go very soon after you purchase it and that has happened to a handful of guys who have reported that problem here. Drpepper can attest to that.

FWIW whenever I get a new amp like this I run it through long burn in cycles to see whether or not it will fail. I had several out of town gigs booked to play right after the amp arrived and no room to haul a backup so I ran it hours on end, left it on over night, and put it through a couple of dozen or more on an off cycles over three of four days and it worked like a charm.

Some may think that's crazy but from my experience if it's gonna fail it will fail going through that and if not you can be pretty damn certain you won't have a problem with it thereafter. YMMV