tc electronic bh250 - new micro head!

[bassclef04]

Great review!

Well, the amp performed fine. This stage was way, way, too loud. Normally one 2x12 cab is fine for me, but they didn't have enough monitors, and the keyboard guy stood behind me, and used the monitor in front of me as HIS keyboard monitor. The floor was shaking. But, the amp did fine. As I used a single 8 ohm cab, the thing wasn't putting out many watts. I had the volume up at about 2:00, mid and hi at the same, bass, rolled off a touch. It handled full volume 5-string all night long without a hiccup. I really should have had a 2nd cab though. I bet it would have been nice.

For $300, I don't see any real competition I'd be interested in. The tuner proved useless to me. This was a sub gig, and the only time in 15 years that I've had to tune down 1/2 step. So I had to use my regular pitchblack along side. But otherwise, I'd dig the tuner. It did seem a bit touchy though. Just took an extra second or two to get it just right while tuning. But still, I love built in tuners.

Things I really liked:
1. Size/weight
2. looks nice
3. power seemed more than sufficient
4. didn't quit
5. after 3 hours, amp was cool to the touch
6. mute switch, tuner builtin
7. toneprint is very cool. I only dabble in chorus once or twice a night, and it's so handy to have it right there on a single knob (or footswitch)
8. mute can be footswitchable (killer in a $300 amp IMO)
9. 30 second setup time, with 4 knobs and a gain switch...easy

Things that caught my eye:
1. the gain and mute flip switches feel barely attached. They move around. Not solid at all. As if the little nut that tightens a pot down is missing. Still worked fine though.
2. when using a cheap 1-button footswitch, the toneprint on off is all that works, and you have to cycle through two clicks each time to get it to work. Obviously a 2 or 3 button switch is what's needed. But I'd love to have a slider in the back that let me choose either mute, or toneprint on/off with a single button footswitch. But that's picky I guess.
3. cost - feels like a fair price. It's built nicely, and looks nice

Notice I said nothing about tone...and that's because most bass amps sound about the same to me anyway. This amp sounds like a bass amp. Works for me.

I'd give it an 8.5 out of 10 overall. It's a keeper. I am anxiously awaiting an update to the RH450 series, you know it's coming sooner rather than later (I hope). Put TWO tone prints in there, and update the RS cabs with a better finish, and I'll likely get a bigger system. But for now, I'm going to get another BC cab (note, the 410 is 4 ohms, so not sure if it should be combined with the 210 or 212 with this BH250) and use it as my regular amp for awhile.

 

[plankspanker13]

Yes, that is a lovely review, but, remember, the minimum load is 4 ohms. The only way to get max wattage is to use the 4x10 solo. Combining it would another cab would necessitate running in series (and even then, only with another 4-ohm cab), which would defeat the purpose of combining the cabs for more wattage, and increase your schlep factor.

 

[synterx]

I meant, with some TC amps, they say you can go below 4 ohms with their own cabs. So three 8 ohm canons is okay. Meaning their was just a slight chance they would say okay to their own 410 plus a 210 or 212. That's all I meant.

As I said in the quick review, in that situation, having more speaker would have been nice. But the single 212 while very loud, didn't sound taxed at all.

 

[bassclef04]

I tried the BH250 through my friend 2x TC RS210 cabs it was extremely loud, I plan to get that set up.

 

[brianchiu]

no Ground/Lift ... wonder if it's gonna be a problem?

 

[LuvMusic]

This amp caught my attention too, thanks for the comments and reviews. I've been wanting to test/play with the Toneprint technology and this seems like an interesting solution.

So, checked around, MF and GC don't have it listed yet. Sweetwater and ZZ did, but no stock yet, they also wanted the $299.99 price.

Checked evilbay...several dealers with the unit in stock and the "make an offer" button...so I make an offer. The dealer accepted.....$250.00 shipped to my door. Estimated delivery is Wednesday or Thursday.

Given that the toneprint pedals are between 100-130.00, I think that a head unit for 250.00 is pretty good. I get to experiment with toneprint technology and I'll have a nice, small, portable backup head.

That's the plan anyway..........damn GAS!

 

[synterx]

I don't think the ground lift switch will ever be an issue. I remember reading when I had the RH450 that the TC XLR is a special design that doesn't require a ground lift. I don't recall the specifics. So I bet it's the same basic circuit on the BH250. $250 shipped is killer (assuming full warranty comes along with it). I was a touch disappointed with the amount of TonePrints available for the BH amps. Basically some flangers, some chorus', and octaver. I was hoping for a overdrive or a few others. But I'm still happy. I threw a good chorus on there and used it a few times for a gig. It was cool having it right there all built in.

Has anyone any experience with the 3 button footswitch yet? It says the 3rd button switches betwen 2 toneprints, but I see no mention of how you'd get a 2nd toneprint int he amp. So if that's true, can I use a 2 button switch to do the mute and TP only?

 

[LuvMusic]

$250 shipped is killer (assuming full warranty comes along with it). I was a touch disappointed with the amount of TonePrints available for the BH amps. Basically some flangers, some chorus', and octaver. I was hoping for a overdrive or a few others. But I'm still happy. I threw a good chorus on there and used it a few times for a gig. It was cool having it right there all built in.

Has anyone any experience with the 3 button footswitch yet? It says the 3rd button switches betwen 2 toneprints, but I see no mention of how you'd get a 2nd toneprint int he amp. So if that's true, can I use a 2 button switch to do the mute and TP only?

Authorized TC dealer with full warranty, NIB. When I checked TC's web site they also listed a few overdrive and compressor toneprints.

Can't comment on the 3 button footswitch, though, if I like the head I suspect there will be one in my future.

Here's a link to the toneprints available for the BH250 [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[synterx]

Unless they just added the vibrato and overdrive in the last week, they don't show up in the iPhone app. I saw that list, and was bummed when they weren't all in the app that you need to beam the presets.

On my app, you have to select device, which is BG250, not BH250. And that lists only chorus, flanger, octaver and vibrato (which is new, because that wasn't there).

So maybe they are slow getting the app updated.

Either way, it's cool.

 

[LuvMusic]

Haven't loaded the app on my phone yet. Won't help you anyway, it's a Droid. Just checked, I got the same results as you.

STOP THE PRESS!!

Checked the TC forum and you have to request toneprint updates through the app. I just did that and my toneprint amp now lists BassDrive, Chorus, Flanger, Octaver, SpectraComp and Vibrato toneprints. Now I just need my head to arrive. BTW, the forum indicated you need to be on WiFi to update.

 

[synterx]

just noticed on the TC forum that someone else noticed the app is not quite fixed. The toneprints on the website differ from my app. So I'll just use the usb cable and try one of the overdrives.

 

[LuvMusic]

You and I think alike. I was checking the forum too, see my updated post. If you rocked a Droid I could describe what I did.....but....

 

[synterx]

cool. I'm sure it will get sorted out soon enough. Having it on the iphone was cool. To put an overdrive in there for a set, then switch to a chorus would be fun, right at a gig. No computer necessary.

 

[LuvMusic]

Check your options within the toneprint app on your iphone. On my droid, I access the options by tapping an icon with three vertical dots. No idea what it would be on an iphone.

When I do that, I get three options; settings, search for updates and rate the app. Tap "search for updates" and VIOLA!! There has to be a similar function within the iphone toneprint app.

 

[LuvMusic]

Has anyone any experience with the 3 button footswitch yet? It says the 3rd button switches betwen 2 toneprints, but I see no mention of how you'd get a 2nd toneprint int he amp. So if that's true, can I use a 2 button switch to do the mute and TP only?

Got the head and three button switch yesterday. The third button does indeed switch between the last two toneprints loaded, there must be some type of memory in the head that stores the last two toneprints. I say that because I was using the head trying different toneprints before I connected the pedal and, when I connected the switch pedal, it remembered my last two toneprints.

Too bad you can't switch between the last two toneprints from the head.

Impressions of the amp are positive. It is a darker/tubey sounding SS amp. As some have pointed out, the volume is adequate for practice / small rooms, and. depending on your rig, the treble control has varying levels of effectiveness. The bass and mid controls are excellent and I find myself making most of my tone adjustments with the mid control.

The Toneprint feature works great and as described. I feel like I got a whole library of effects to mess with for free.

That's it for now...still playing/experimenting.

 

[synterx]

wow, that's cool. I could dial up an overdrive, and a chorus, and have both at a footswitch click or two. Very nice bonus.

I got to find a footswitch now.

 

[Slaine01]

Anyone had a chance to run it next to an RH450?
I play my RH450 at 90% of gigs but it took a while to get my head around the initial set up for my basses. - Fender jazz and Status.
I love the features but love a simple EQ better - ie: Eden WT550 etc set flat....sweeeeet
Tended to spend ages in the "shift" mode tweaking and always found it difficult to get that crisp thumping bottom end but always kinda sounds 'woolley" ( which is what I get on the Rh450 ) for loss of a better term.
I am keen about the BH250 - so my question is is the bottom end punchy and crisp?

 

[NewGuy]

IMO the bottom end is a bit "woolley" on the BH250, but not to an extreme. I have been running my Eden WTDI through it to compare my tone and its a much darker tone coming from the TC. I still think its a killer head for the price + all of the features. Just wish it had a gain knob instead of the switch.

 

[LuvMusic]

Anyone had a chance to run it next to an RH450?
I play my RH450 at 90% of gigs but it took a while to get my head around the initial set up for my basses. - Fender jazz and Status.
I love the features but love a simple EQ better - ie: Eden WT550 etc set flat....sweeeeet
Tended to spend ages in the "shift" mode tweaking and always found it difficult to get that crisp thumping bottom end but always kinda sounds 'woolley" ( which is what I get on the Rh450 ) for loss of a better term.
I am keen about the BH250 - so my question is is the bottom end punchy and crisp?

IMHO, I would describe the BH250 as woolley and/or vintage sounding. It doesn't seem to have the bottom-end punchiness of say my Markbass LMIII. I can't compare it to the RH450, it's been a long time since I played through one.

I also have been running the BH250 at 8 ohms. TC recommends 4 ohms which may make a difference.

I bought the BH250 as a practice tool. With the Toneprint feature and the aggresive price, it fits the need.

 

[NewGuy]

I agree with LuvMusic. I run mine @4 ohms & its still woolley. But its a great head for a practice tool. I'm still on the fence if I'm going to keep mine.