Kinda figured that.
The only other downside was that I had to haul it up two flights of stairs at the gig.
Sorry!
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The new tc electronic BG500.
- Thread starter MIJ-VI
- Start date
Kinda figured that.
Sorry!
Well thanks to Tom B. for pointing me in the direction of this amp and telling me about the GC sale on these. I went over to the local GC today and they had the 1x15 and the 2x10 models. Amazing they had them both. I played the 2x10 and loved it. Then played the 1x15 and it was toast. I dunno what was wrong with it but it sounded like it had a fuzz box connected to it on maximum fuzz. Didnt matter how you set any of the controls, thats the sound you got.
So I decided to throw caution to the wind and I bought the 2x10 model. Hopefully it will prove to be reliable. I will have to see how it holds up to some rehearsals before i risk relying on it.
Impressions,
Overall It sounds amazingly good. Im quite amazed actually. It is very loud too. Only time will tell if I actually really like it or not. But at $349.00 it was worth a shot. If it doesnt grow on me, I can always trade it in toward some more Mesa Boogie cabinets.
So I decided to throw caution to the wind and I bought the 2x10 model. Hopefully it will prove to be reliable. I will have to see how it holds up to some rehearsals before i risk relying on it.
Impressions,
Overall It sounds amazingly good. Im quite amazed actually. It is very loud too. Only time will tell if I actually really like it or not. But at $349.00 it was worth a shot. If it doesnt grow on me, I can always trade it in toward some more Mesa Boogie cabinets.
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
- 641
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
Just got my BG500 15 this morning.
Nothing much to add to what's already been said here, as, I've only had it for a few hours and have not gigged with it yet.
Got this over the GK 212 cuz
1. The Price was insane: $349 Bucks..even with the GC extended warranty...it was less than the GK head I was interested in
2. The Sound: I plugged in a P, a J, and then a MM Classic 5 - They all sounded...like they're supposed to sound...incredible..then I cranked it up as I was pretty much the only doof there at 11am...Low End is insane. Super Clear.
3. My concern was with the weight.. Then I lifted it. Yup..it's a little weighty...however....
I wouldn't call this Stupid Heavy or hard to manage at all. I brought it in the house, up the stairs. Since it's on the thin side in terms of width, it was a comfortable climb up the stairs...of course I don't live in a 4 floor walkup in Manhattan any more either.
But don't fret much about the weight...with the shape..it ain't bad.
The price made the decision for me...pretty insane.
Thanks to ALL who really gave great information about this thing.
Nothing much to add to what's already been said here, as, I've only had it for a few hours and have not gigged with it yet.
Got this over the GK 212 cuz
1. The Price was insane: $349 Bucks..even with the GC extended warranty...it was less than the GK head I was interested in
2. The Sound: I plugged in a P, a J, and then a MM Classic 5 - They all sounded...like they're supposed to sound...incredible..then I cranked it up as I was pretty much the only doof there at 11am...Low End is insane. Super Clear.
3. My concern was with the weight.. Then I lifted it. Yup..it's a little weighty...however....
I wouldn't call this Stupid Heavy or hard to manage at all. I brought it in the house, up the stairs. Since it's on the thin side in terms of width, it was a comfortable climb up the stairs...of course I don't live in a 4 floor walkup in Manhattan any more either.
But don't fret much about the weight...with the shape..it ain't bad.
The price made the decision for me...pretty insane.
Thanks to ALL who really gave great information about this thing.
I immediately bought one of these:
Invalid Link Removed
It makes it much easier to move around. If I had an upstairs gig I would likely take my Carvin BX500 and SWR Golight 2x10 unless I knew I would have someone there to help me up and down the stairs with it.
Just plugged it back in today. I have to say (at least today) I am favoring this BG500 2x10 ($349) over my BX500 and SWR 4x10 ($1300 total). Pretty shocking, this thing just delivers. Hope it stays reliable.
Invalid Link Removed
It makes it much easier to move around. If I had an upstairs gig I would likely take my Carvin BX500 and SWR Golight 2x10 unless I knew I would have someone there to help me up and down the stairs with it.
Just plugged it back in today. I have to say (at least today) I am favoring this BG500 2x10 ($349) over my BX500 and SWR 4x10 ($1300 total). Pretty shocking, this thing just delivers. Hope it stays reliable.
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
- 641
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
Thanks Jarrett...where'd you get that?
Also thinkin' bout the Carvin SB5000...reading all of your posts on that too!
Also thinkin' bout the Carvin SB5000...reading all of your posts on that too!
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
- 641
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
I agree that the shape has quite abit to do with the way the weight is distributed. A major plus!!
As it did for me as well! I tested both of the BG500 prior to the drastic price cut, and while I was pleased with the tone and features of both models (my buddies and I played on them for about 2.5 hours at guitar center) I was not amused at the price point. This is not to say that this unit isn't worth the asking price, for it surely is, but to say that I was not about to dig in my pocket to drop over $700 for a combo amp! Especially one that weighs 70+ lbs.
Yeah, I wouldn't have bought it at $700 either, in fact I looked at it in the past and thought $700 for 70 lbs? Pass. But at $349, I literally couldn't pass it up. I'm glad I got it though, now that I have it and I'm using the features and hearing its tone, I am really enjoying the amp. If it was same setup but 50lbs with build in telescoping handle and wheels, I would be going nuts over it right now.
ok, so I have spent most of the day fooling around with this amp, and I am very impressed with the sound. That is with a small caveat though, I have had my ipod plugged into the aux input and my headphones on playing along with songs. I have to say that the tone I am getting like this is really studio quality. It sounds very much like running direct to me, at least in the ear phones. Playing like this, I have noticed that I have a much lighter touch on the strings, which is a damn good thing for me, because I tend to pound on that thing too much at times. It is very reminiscent of the times I have done recording in the studio. The tone controls are very sensitive and a little movement does a whole lot to the overall sound.
My #1 favorite feature so far is the compressor. I dont have much experience with compressors so I am sure im not the best to give an opinion on this as compares to others, but I really love it. One of the problems I have always had as a player, especially on this MIM p Bass is making too much string noise while playing. Like i said, i tend to beat on it at times and i have to be careful not to make some awful string noise to go along with that. The compressor seems to solve 99% of this problem for me. A compressor is something I should have been using for years, but every time I tried one in the music store I didnt like it. Maybe this 3 way split frequency magic compressor thing really is different than the all frequencies at once compressors I have tried. It sure is more friendly to my particular sloppy playing style.
My #2 favorite feature is the aux input/headphone jack. I have been wanting for a long time to be able to play along with a CD and not disturb my wife, who works from home. This way I get to hear the amp, play with the tones, adjust things and hear how they mesh with the music Im listening to. If this translates over well to the cabinet I will be very happy. But that test comes tomorrow, my wife will be out of town so it will be time to crank the stereo and hear what the amp can do.
#3 I love the memory presets. This will be invaluable when I get another bass. I have been able to find a basic sound that I can work with, and use my active bass tone controls for once, to adjust the sound from there. It really is nice to be able to actually use the knobs on my bass for once instead of fiddling with a 12 band EQ on the head. Im running the gain at about 4, spectracomp at about 5, bass at about +2, low mid cut to -3, hi mid cut to -1 to -2, treble at flat to +2. Im running the Tubetone about 6. tweetertone doesn't do anything in the headphones, i will experiment with that tomorrow. Im not using either of the contour setting for this basic sound. SO far this seems like a very good sounding round sound. The compressor keeps the string noise at bey, and the highs are still fairly crisp depending on how I have my bass eq set. Seems like a really good basic tone to start from. Im going to put a new set of strings on my bass tonight and change the battery in the actives and see how that sounds tomorrow cranking thru the speaker.
Im starting to really like this little combo.
My #1 favorite feature so far is the compressor. I dont have much experience with compressors so I am sure im not the best to give an opinion on this as compares to others, but I really love it. One of the problems I have always had as a player, especially on this MIM p Bass is making too much string noise while playing. Like i said, i tend to beat on it at times and i have to be careful not to make some awful string noise to go along with that. The compressor seems to solve 99% of this problem for me. A compressor is something I should have been using for years, but every time I tried one in the music store I didnt like it. Maybe this 3 way split frequency magic compressor thing really is different than the all frequencies at once compressors I have tried. It sure is more friendly to my particular sloppy playing style.
My #2 favorite feature is the aux input/headphone jack. I have been wanting for a long time to be able to play along with a CD and not disturb my wife, who works from home. This way I get to hear the amp, play with the tones, adjust things and hear how they mesh with the music Im listening to. If this translates over well to the cabinet I will be very happy. But that test comes tomorrow, my wife will be out of town so it will be time to crank the stereo and hear what the amp can do.
#3 I love the memory presets. This will be invaluable when I get another bass. I have been able to find a basic sound that I can work with, and use my active bass tone controls for once, to adjust the sound from there. It really is nice to be able to actually use the knobs on my bass for once instead of fiddling with a 12 band EQ on the head. Im running the gain at about 4, spectracomp at about 5, bass at about +2, low mid cut to -3, hi mid cut to -1 to -2, treble at flat to +2. Im running the Tubetone about 6. tweetertone doesn't do anything in the headphones, i will experiment with that tomorrow. Im not using either of the contour setting for this basic sound. SO far this seems like a very good sounding round sound. The compressor keeps the string noise at bey, and the highs are still fairly crisp depending on how I have my bass eq set. Seems like a really good basic tone to start from. Im going to put a new set of strings on my bass tonight and change the battery in the actives and see how that sounds tomorrow cranking thru the speaker.
Im starting to really like this little combo.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,944
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
- 641
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
Yeah Tom,
Got me off the fence. Thanks I needed that. It also help that this amp is amazing.
Wow, it's loud and musical.
Got me off the fence. Thanks I needed that. It also help that this amp is amazing.
Wow, it's loud and musical.
I've spent the last hour or so working up tunes for a new band I'm subbing with and doing it on the BG500. It's a cool little amp man. Stupid good for $349. Thick, clear, pure tones. Imma diggin' it. Why couldn't this thing weigh 50lbs? Heck, I'd settle for 60 lbs with the tones this thing is spitting out 
GOT 1 TODAY!!!!
Was gonna mount it to the combo, but realized that the wheels dont fold back when the skid is down!
Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I used to a tie down to strap it to the handles and it worked well, but the problem arose when I got to the gig and couldn't back my amp up against the wall. It stuck out 8 inches or so. I realized the cart couldn't be permanently attached at that point as there are a lots of times I like to put my amp right up against the wall on stage.
Has anyone had one of these long enough and used it hard enough to give a post-honeymoon assessment?
I can get one of these today at GC, but because of Link Removed, I won't be playing until next year, and the warranty on these is a mere one year.
There are a bunch of reports of these dropping the pushbuttons off which, though disgraceful, is not significant if you can find them and glue them back in -- but is anyone having more serious problems over the long haul? Or are these rock-solid amps?
I can get one of these today at GC, but because of Link Removed, I won't be playing until next year, and the warranty on these is a mere one year.
There are a bunch of reports of these dropping the pushbuttons off which, though disgraceful, is not significant if you can find them and glue them back in -- but is anyone having more serious problems over the long haul? Or are these rock-solid amps?
Bongolation said:Has anyone had one of these long enough and used it hard enough to give a post-honeymoon assessment?
I can get one of these today at GC, but because of Link Removed, I won't be playing until next year, and the warranty on these is a mere one year.
There are a bunch of reports of these dropping the pushbuttons off which, though disgraceful, is not significant if you can find them and glue them back in -- but is anyone having more serious problems over the long haul? Or are these rock-solid amps?
To be fair, all the push button incidents that I read about here on TB, have all happened to GC floor models. I don't think any push button will last longer than a couple months on the GC floor.
You could always invest in the GC extended warranty if you want. The amp's only $350, so why not?
