TC Electronic RH450, RS210, RS212 Review Thread

[oddio]

I pulled the trigger on the head and footswitch today, although it won't arrive for a few days yet. I'll figure out what to do about cabinets over the next while. It's going to seem strange indeed to go to a gig with a whole rig that weighs less than my current preamp/poweramp.

 

[oddio]

Oddio...
You should be able to try the cabs in L&M in Ottawa as I know they carry the line and have them at the flag ship store here in T.O..
Fishheadjoe

Yes, I will try to check them out. I know the Toronto store very well, although my last visit was a while ago.

 

[Musicman20]

As much as the TC head seems awesome, im not about it compared to the new Shuttle 9.0.

What do you guys think? If TC released a 600W version i'd be all over it. (Yes I realise 150W isn't much, but its nice to have it!)

 

[Eublet]

As much as the TC head seems awesome, im not about it compared to the new Shuttle 9.0.

What do you guys think? If TC released a 600W version i'd be all over it. (Yes I realise 150W isn't much, but its nice to have it!)

I've not compared it to the 9.0, but it has much more output than the Shuttle 6.0 which I owned and gigged for quite a while. I also owned a GBE1200 which Genz rated at 1000 watts at 4 ohms. I've owned two other Genz heads.

To sum up, TC's 450 watts feel about like 800 "Genz" watts if you ask me, and about 600 "Markbass" watts. It has serious output, punch and wallop for it's meager 450 watt rating.

 

[Mystic Michael]

I A/B'd it with the RH450 at Bass Player live. It sounds WAY different than the RH450. I preferred the RH450, but someone who likes Rocco's tone would probably prefer the Staccato.

Uh, care to elaborate? Adjectives! We need adjectives!

MM

 

[Musicman20]

If they were also a little cheaper I would get one. UK prices, IMO, are significantly more than other amps with similar power....ok so the RH has the extra features, which is great, but I cant help but thinking I'd get it and they would release a higher power version.

 

[Mystic Michael]

oddio - here's a thought...get a 210...and if you're still into the idea of mixing and matching, get the 112 (which they just released)...when you just need a smaller rig you'd have one (and a sweet little one at that) and when you'd want both you could have it.

What I've read over and over and over is that mixing drivers could be counterproductive, and more similar drivers support their overall sound...but pushing 3 speakers instead of 4 could have advantages.

I missed the RS112 entirely. That's an interesting idea (thanks!). Decisions, decisions...

While I'm not in the market for one of these rigs, if it were me I think I'd invest in three (3) of the RS112 cabs and call it a day. Per the info on the TC website, these heads are engineered to comfortably run any three TC cabs - despite it dropping the impedance load below 4 ohms.

Three of those coaxial 1x12s would make an ultra-modular, ultra-flexible rig that could sound excellent - and be very easy to schlep...

MM

 

[newbold]

I just wonder what kind of tubeyness the tubetone control adds to the staccato '51. Will it make it fatter? break up a bit? add a slight edge without much grind? focus the mids a bit?

 

[DonovanBankhead]

I couldn't imagine a gig where the RH450 wasn't loud enough. Seriously, I've played larger clubs and outdoor events with limited PA support, and for those I had to turn the amp up half way. Anything bigger, and I've got serious PA support. This isn't 450 watts like what we see on other amps. These are VERY useable...

 

[Eublet]

I couldn't imagine a gig where the RH450 wasn't loud enough. Seriously, I've played larger clubs and outdoor events with limited PA support, and for those I had to turn the amp up half way. Anything bigger, and I've got serious PA support. This isn't 450 watts like what we see on other amps. These are VERY useable...

+1 You can get all 450 watts out of the head, as the peaks don't clip the RH450 like they would on a standard SS head. It gets loud, and then you turn it up some more, and it just gets louder.

 

[oddio]

Three of those coaxial 1x12s would make an ultra-modular, ultra-flexible rig that could sound excellent - and be very easy to schlep...

Great idea. I can already see TC Electronics evil plan to sell me a large number of cabinets unfolding.

 

[sk8]

anyone know what the CLassic or Rebel Head puts into an 8 ohm load?

 

[tombowlus]

I played the RH450/RS210/RS212 at practice last night, and I have to say, it sounded extremely good! The 210 and 212 seemed to pair up pretty well stacked vertically. I would still like to try a 2xRS210 stack versus a 2xRS212 stack, though.

The head continues to impress, as well.

 

[Eublet]

anyone know what the CLassic or Rebel Head puts into an 8 ohm load?

I want to say it was 325 or 375. Can't recall for sure, but somewhere in that range.

 

[Dr Funk]

I want to say it was 325 or 375. Can't recall for sure, but somewhere in that range.

Why is the actual power spec such a mystery?

 

[Bass Junkie]

I want to say it was 325 or 375. Can't recall for sure, but somewhere in that range.

I saw a TC rep post on another site 300 watts @ 8 ohms.

 

[Eublet]

Why is the actual power spec such a mystery?

They just post the 4 ohm rating. Not completely unusual for a company to do that. Uffe, the VP of Marketing (I think that's his official title) has posted the 8 ohm rating here when asked, so it's not like they are hiding it. I just can't remember what it is. It was defintely >=300 watts.

 

[Eublet]

I saw a TC rep post on another site 300 watts @ 8 ohms.

You may be right. It's a big 300 watts, like an all-tube head. Folks keep posting that they're scared of the power rating. I just have to say that it's a very conservative rating, even compared to Markbass which seems to rate their gear very honestly.

 

[Dr Funk]

You may be right. It's a big 300 watts, like an all-tube head. Folks keep posting that they're scared of the power rating. I just have to say that it's a very conservative rating, even compared to Markbass which seems to rate their gear very honestly.

I don't understand why you state "It's a big 300 watts, like an all tube head"? When it is not a tube head at all.

 

[Eublet]

I don't understand why you state "It's a big 300 watts, like an all tube head"? When it is not a tube head at all.

Because that's what it feels like when you start pushing the head. Unlike any other SS head out there that starts clipping and sounding bad, the TC heads have an APM feature that does a really good job of emulating at an all-tube head does. It keeps getting louder, and never clips. Of course, it starts feeling softer dynamically when that happens, but at least you get maximum volume from the head.

Still, even those 300 "SS-sounding" watts are big before the APM feature kicks in. These heads just seem to be conservatively rated, and packs a lot of punchy wallop.