tc electronic bh250 - new micro head!

[gjbassist]

How did it work for you and what were your impressions?

I used the BH250 for the entire gig last night and it worked great!
I ran it through a single 8 ohm 210 cabinet. Plenty of volume and punch! The band consisted of myself, drummer, two guitars, harmonica player and a second percussionist who played congas. It was an open jam so I actually got to sit out in the audience and listen to the rig when a couple of other bass players took the stage. The tone was great and it was very present in the mix. Lots of low end without being muddy.
The stage was very small so I ended up not using my Zoom B3 to save space. I was a bit concerned that the amp would have as much punch to it as I use the compressor and amp sims on the B3 to fatten things up more. I had put a tube OD in to the BH250's tone print slot and planned on using it. However once I took out the B3 I decided to install the Spectra comp in it's place. I used the Tone Print app on my iPhone to install the Spectra comp. Not sure exactly how it works but it sends a signal through the phone to the pickup on my bass and on to the amp. I did it right there on stage and it only took a few seconds. Isn't technology wonderful!
Overall I was very pleased with how the BH250 performed and sounded. It has more than enough volume for my needs and some nice built in features such as the tuner and Tone Print. The fact that I got the BH250 at such a great price ($205 shipped from Prostar Audio on Ebay) makes this amp a fantastic value IMO.

 

[IPYF]

I became a member of the club yesterday and 16 hours later couldn't be happier.
I was looking at micros because I can no longer lug my big GK rig around in my little car (plus I live upstairs), so the writing was on the wall.

I went to the local store after a particularly horrid meeting and just wanted to play something. Turns out they had a used BH250 which was practically untouched. I ran it up and 15 minutes later I left with it.

My observations thus far:
- At 8 ohm when its only putting out apx 125w it's still capable of getting brutally loud.
- The toneprint is just plain fun, and porting tones to your amp with your phone feels modern and cool. Most of the tones are ordinary but there are a few standouts (the Rosco Beck 'Butler' octave and the Spectracomp) that make the feature totally worthwhile.
- it fits in my lunchbox.
- The intelligent tone shaping is EXTREMELY intelligent. Cutting treble entirely on most amps would just provide you with mud. Taking the treble completely out on the BH250 and putting the Tubedrive toneprint to max gives you Ampeglike tone. Roll it to max you've got a good facsimile of a 800rb.

I'm loving it so far. Definitely the best investment I've made in bass in a long time. The other thing I'm loving is that I can use it with my two lower wattage rated cabs (a 210 and a 410) without fear of causing any overloading due to mismatching. This way I can take my 210 to all rehearsals and I can still bring the rain with the 410 as well if I ever had to play a larger stage.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I currently have a 300W Warwick head which is about 30lbs racked, into a 4 ohm 1x15 cab with horn. This is warm but fairly clean and flat response, so it will produce a reasonably good output for acoustic as well as electric bass, and even for synth. I like the amp, but I do wonder if something lighter would be nice.

Would be as flat in terms of response. I did try one of the RH series amps once and thought it sounded rather over the top in the mids, but it wasn't my amp so I didn't get to fiddle with it.

Even after reading a good chunk of the thread I am not totally sure if it has APM to improve perceived loudness, or what the power output is. Granted, even if is has a 250W power module but was only putting out 150W into 4 ohms that's nominally only 3dB down on the Warwick, but potentially less headroom against loud drums unless the APM really works well in favour of perceived loudness.

The other option would be a GK MB200, which would presumably put out a full 200W into 4 ohms, so only around 2dB down on what I have already.

Or suck it up and carry a 30lb amp. The cab weighs 30lbs and I have a trolley so it's not exactly too hard...

 

[IPYF]

Even after reading a good chunk of the thread I am not totally sure if it has APM to improve perceived loudness, or what the power output is. Granted, even if is has a 250W power module but was only putting out 150W into 4 ohms that's nominally only 3dB down on the Warwick, but potentially less headroom against loud drums unless the APM really works well in favour of perceived loudness.

If it helps I'm currently running mine at 8ohm into an Ashdown MAG210t (ie. a crap not very sensitive cab). I've got the active pad engaged, the amp set flat with a slight bass scoop and the master volume at noon. I'm currently eating my drummer for breakfast.

If you were up against a pair of halfstacks or a triggered kit you might struggle, but for anything at sane volume levels it's a very fine and suitably loud amp.

I am very happy with my investment.

 

[Shardik]

I agree. As long as we're talking unamplified acoustic drums, the BH250 does the job with a little to spare. One of the guitar players in our band actually has a half stack, but as long as he doesn't drown out the drums, the BH250 keeps up nicely.

 

[Shardik]

Is APM = automatic peak management, or something like that?

If so, I believe it very much contributes to the perceived loudness.

I recently got a second amp head, an EBS Reidmar. Tuned flat it seems to have a bit more dynamic punch, BUT to me the BH250 sounds better. I have to work with EQ and compression knobs to make it sound equally good.

If BH250 has APM, and APM is what I think, I think TC Electronic hit the sweet spot on this.

 

[IPYF]

Also, if you use the toneprint the volume varies greatly. I use the Roscoe Beck Octave for Peter G's Sledgehammer and I have to turn my master up then.

The usual toneprint I use is the Spectracomp, which apart from being awesome seems to provide loud compression the higher you hike the signal.

The input gain is also dynamic according to the owners manual and sets itself based on the bass you're using. Even though I'm using my active Spector I can still flick the pad off and the input will compensate to an extent where the cab doesn't fart.

My only negative comment (which is to be expected coming off a GK1001) is that the tone does have that Class D low-midrange 'mushy-ness' to it which can be kinda obvious if you let yourself obsess about it. It's hardly a legitimate complaint considering the the BH is still plenty loud and unlike the GK, you can fit it in your lunchbox.

 

[Shardik]

I had put a tube OD in to the BH250's tone print slot and planned on using it. However once I took out the B3 I decided to install the Spectra comp in it's place. I used the Tone Print app on my iPhone to install the Spectra comp. Not sure exactly how it works but it sends a signal through the phone to the pickup on my bass and on to the amp. I did it right there on stage and it only took a few seconds. Isn't technology wonderful!

Yes, it is very nice.

I used to use the Tube OD tone print myself, but these days I have the Spectra Comp instead. Very nice for a one knob compressor. I find I "never" use my comps as a pedal anyway. I just use a bit of compression and keep that on all the time. That goes for both my amps (I have an EBS Reidmar, too).

I find I need the on/off pedal function on the OD rather than on the comp, so I use an OD pedal instead to get the OD growl when I need it. Most of the time I play it clean, though.

 

[rust_preacher]

Just to chime in here... I recently got a used BH250 to go on top of my (also acquired 2nd hand) RS 112 cabinet. This is my bedroom amplification. The cool things I have so far discovered are the applicability of the AUX input for practicing tunes, and the built-in tuner... no need to bring pedals. The Toneprint Feature is still something I haven't twiddled with too much as the basic tone, on a Jazz-style bass, suffices at low volume.

 

[Shardik]

Just to chime in here... I recently got a used BH250 to go on top of my (also acquired 2nd hand) RS 112 cabinet. This is my bedroom amplification. The cool things I have so far discovered are the applicability of the AUX input for practicing tunes, and the built-in tuner... no need to bring pedals. The Toneprint Feature is still something I haven't twiddled with too much as the basic tone, on a Jazz-style bass, suffices at low volume.

Yes, that is exactly how I use it most of the time these days. I use it on top of an Eden EX112 cab. The tuner is very useful, despite the simplicity. Since it has support for B and C in addition to EADG, I can use it for my somewhat non-standard DGCF-tuning, too. Using the open string harmonic on the 7th fret on the F-string to tune that (that harmonic is a C) works great. For the other strings I find that the 12th fret harmonics works better for tuning. It may be that my bass provides a more consistent pitch when playing harmonics.
The AUX in is genious (why don't all amps have this?) I use it all the time when practicing cover tunes for the band. If you're an "a bit of compressor always on"-guy like me, I recommend the spectra comp tone print. It just works. Same with the (unusual) EQ: It just works.

 

[JI99]

Has anyone used the BH250 with a piezo-only bass? Lots of amps are not friendly to piezo, they sound quacky and plastic-y rather than rich and sweet.

 

[Low Class]

I just received a BH250 today. Got it off eBay from ProAudioStar for $209 shipped. I am VERY impressed with the tone and the amount of power this amp has. Sounds stellar with my Berg HT112ER. Best $209 I've spent in a while.

 

[tastybasslines]

I just received a BH250 today. Got it off eBay from ProAudioStar for $209 shipped. I am VERY impressed with the tone and the amount of power this amp has. Sounds stellar with my Berg HT112ER. Best $209 I've spent in a while.

The fact that I got the BH250 at such a great price ($205 shipped from Prostar Audio on Ebay) makes this amp a fantastic value IMO.

Was it some sort of special deal guys? I'm looking to buy this amp and PAS's Ebay store has it at $299.00

 

[Low Class]

Was it some sort of special deal guys? I'm looking to buy this amp and PAS's Ebay store has it at $299.00

These were supposed to be open box deals, but mine looked brand spanking new. Call Proaudiostar and get a price, they quoted me $209 for an open box and $235 for a brand new unopened.

 

[Fenderon]

There's a brand new BH250 for sale on craigslist in Portland, OR for 150.00.

 

[Scottkarch]

Wow. Great deal.

 

[IPYF]

Hey BH250 users. Just a heads up, if you haven't noticed already there are new toneprints out via the app, some of which are pretty useable.
These are combined toneprints which mix the TC compression effect with the Tubedriver to varying degrees.

I'm hoping this is just the first release of toneprints which will blend the effects. I've been having an ongoing conversation with TC Support about the differing output levels of the toneprints which makes footswitching mid-set pretty tough without having to fiddle with your knobs.

Anyway, have a play with the new drive prints. Some of them are pretty extreme.

 

[nervous]

Hey BH250 users. Just a heads up, if you haven't noticed already there are new toneprints out via the app, some of which are pretty useable.
These are combined toneprints which mix the TC compression effect with the Tubedriver to varying degrees.

I'm hoping this is just the first release of toneprints which will blend the effects. I've been having an ongoing conversation with TC Support about the differing output levels of the toneprints which makes footswitching mid-set pretty tough without having to fiddle with your knobs.

Anyway, have a play with the new drive prints. Some of them are pretty extreme.

Two things here.

1) I have been looking for these since I first got a notice via email but I am not finding them on my iPhone yet. What am I looking for or where are they ?

2) good call on the varying levels. I have been annoyed by that live as well. I go to an OD and the level drops enough to be an issue. Hope they listen and repair.

Thanks.

 

[IPYF]

Two things here.

1) I have been looking for these since I first got a notice via email but I am not finding them on my iPhone yet. What am I looking for or where are they ?

2) good call on the varying levels. I have been annoyed by that live as well. I go to an OD and the level drops enough to be an issue. Hope they listen and repair.

Thanks.

Curious. I have the Android app which auto-updates so I can't comment on why the iPhone doesn't seem to have them. As far as I can tell the new effects only came through late last week so maybe the iPhone version is coming soon?

I also get effed over by the volume drop. It don't find it useable on the fly as the guts fall out of my sound immediately. The varying levels is all about the effects are processed though so it's tough to fix because switching from a Comp to a Octave effect has obvious problems based in how those type of effect work. The best way of moving towards a resolution, in my opinion, is to use the the combined effects with a Compressor + (Insert other effect), mastered to work at approximately the same level.

I'm sure you and I are in a very small portion of their market but I've put all this to their support team so hopefully it's something they can keep in their minds.

 

[nervous]

Funny but the level issue is one of those things that moves it from being a serious working gear asset to a hobby/novelty feature. I know they are cheap but they are good enough with a couple tweaks to be a stellar live piece. Especially since so much good thought went into other details.

And I now have to look into the iPhone app update or new Toneprint availability issue. Thanks.