TC Electronics BG500 - 115 Combo - Anyone use this? Is it decent?

[Pedulla-Player]

I just recently sold my rig to help with some Dr bills from my wife's hip replacement surgery. Wouldn't you know it - A few day later my old guitarist / singer who moved to Florida said he is going to be around (Upper Wisconsin) the next few months and wants to see if we still sound decent enough to do a few gigs and has a few bars willing to hire us. We play pretty quite compared to most bands so I don't need a huge rig and I can't afford an expensive rig due to the Dr bills that have been coming in. I see a TC electronics BG500 - 115 Combo that would be in my price range and was wondering if anyone out there uses one and what they think of it? I'm sure there are tons of posts about the amp here on TB, but I don't have the time to scour through all of the posts.

I'm kind of curious about the Genz Benz Contours as well since I have been pretty happy with the GB gear that I have owned in the past. I have no experience with TC Electronics though.

Thanks!

 

[Pedulla-Player]

I did find an old thread about cheap buttons that fall off. Kinda hit and miss on the reviews. People say it's heavy and some attach a dolly to it. Anyone still use one of these and haven't had any issues with the buttons? Was kinda hoping that this would be a good sounding well built amp because I need a good combo that gets loud, sounds decent, and isn't too spendy.

 

[abarson]

Where are you finding these older combos?
GB Contours can only be found (very rarely) on the used market, as Fender bought the brand and killed it a few years back. In short, they are excellent and highly sought after.
The BG500 has a reputation for being heavy (~70-80 lbs), which I think is the biggest knock against it. That, and the fact that there's no way to add an extension cabinet to it, unlike the Contour.
The new tc electronic BG500.

Gallien-Krueger MBII series and Fender Rumbles are the new combos that are getting all the love lately. Both are very portable and relatively affordable.

 

[alack]

No experience with that particular model. That said, I often use a TC BH250 head with either a 2x10 or 1x12 cab. I use it in small to medium rooms, usually without PA support. My gigs are with a blues/rock trio (sometimes a quartet). I also have three TC pedals on my board. Their products are reliable and sound good. If I was in the market for a new rig TC would be on my short list.

 

[Pedulla-Player]

Where are you finding these older combos?
GB Contours can only be found (very rarely) on the used market, as Fender bought the brand and killed it a few years back. In short, they are excellent and highly sought after.
The BG500 has a reputation for being heavy (~70-80 lbs), which I think is the biggest knock against it. That, and the fact that there's no way to add an extension cabinet to it, unlike the Contour.
The new tc electronic BG500.

Gallien-Krueger MBII series and Fender Rumbles are the new combos that are getting all the love lately. Both are very portable and relatively affordable.

I looked here 1st (TB Classifieds), but then went to GC's used website.

I ended up pulling the trigger on the TC Electronics because it was cheaper and I've always kinda wanted to try a TC Electronics amp.
The salesman said that all of the buttons are on it and work perfectly. I'm a little concerned about the weight, but I may add a dolly to it like some others have done. I can always get help moving it if need be. I figured that GC has a decent return policy (45 days) so I can return it if I'm not happy with it or have any issues. I'll only need it for a few small bar gigs and it should pay for itself and more with those couple gigs. I'm not too concerned about adding an extension cab as most comments that I read said it was pretty loud on its own (one said it wasn't). I wanted to pull the trigger on an amp today so I can hopefully practice this weekend.
Thanks.

P.S. - Please feel free to add any more comments or experiences on the TC amp because I'd love to hear your experiences with them.

 

[Pedulla-Player]

The salesman that I talked to said that he was the one that took it in on trade. He claimed that the guy who traded it in said he was the original owner and it didn't have much use on it. Well see...

The only bummer is that I paid a little less for this used one than what they blew the new ones out for when they discontinued them. Oh well... It fit in the price range that I wanted to spend on a used 500 watt combo amp. I'll keep you posted (if interested) on my thoughts when it gets here (4-6 days from when they ship it out tomorrow morning) and I get a little time playing through it. Just hope that it doesn't have the hit and miss button issue.

 

[BassMystic]

Great amp
Had one.
I wrote TCE and they sent
Me a bunch of buttons
To replace the missing ones
Great sound very loud

But like they have said....

HEAVY...almost 70 lbs

 

[Pedulla-Player]

Great amp
Had one.
I wrote TCE and they sent
Me a bunch of buttons
To replace the missing ones
Great sound very loud

But like they have said....

HEAVY...almost 70 lbs

Thanks for the info!
I used to stack two SWR Goliath-III 410 cabs at 90 lbs each back in the day. Hmmm - I wonder why I've had umbilical hernia surgery (2010) and lower back surgery to repair a ruptured disk that was pressing on my sciatic nerve (2012)???
I hopefully I should be able to handle 70 lbs. If not - I can always ask for a hand. Plus, I'll only be coming out of retirement for a couple gigs while my buddy is in the area. Then after that the amp can sit in the corner of my practice room (if I decide to hang onto it) for when I get the urge to noodle around.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I have one. I am not really a fan, to be honest. I do like the built-in tuner and compression. But it's heavy as hell and I don't love the sound. Sounds a bit thin and "fake" to my ears. Not sure how else to explain it. However, I live in an apartment building and haven't had the chance to really crank it, so maybe it performs better at louder volumes.

 

[mudpup]

I have one. I am not really a fan, to be honest. I do like the built-in tuner and compression. But it's heavy as hell and I don't love the sound. Sounds a bit thin and "fake" to my ears. Not sure how else to explain it. However, I live in an apartment building and haven't had the chance to really crank it, so maybe it performs better at louder volumes.

It doesn't get better at volume. I had one and it lacked any slam when turned up. Good for playing at home though.....

 

[NoSlapForYou]

It does have a headphone jack, which is essential for me. When I run it through a tube preamp and Sennheiser headphones, it sounds all right.