Can you gig comfortably with TC BH250?

Sean Brookes

Sean Brookes

Apr 28, 2017
222
315
4,551
Birmingham, UK
#1
Hello all,

Looking for my first bass amp and have been scouring TB endlessly for tips and advice.

I like the idea of getting the BH250 head by TC Electronics, but have picked up very mixed reviews in regards to it's capability live.

I like that it is loaded with features for a small size and a small price (about half the price of the bh550 here in the UK). I can imagine it sitting on my desk where I can use it with headphones and the aux in on the evening, plugging it in to my friends interface when we jam and record, and finally taking it out for rehearsals and gigs. The built in tuner seems extremely helpful and more reliable than my current clip on, and the tone print seems great fun - compressor especially helpful.

However, would the bh250 paired with a K-210 be sufficient in a rehearsal room with a drummer and full band? If it'll work there, will it then be ok at a small bar/pub gig without PA support? Any bigger gig I would expect PA support, so not really an issue.

Thanks for reading, and look forward to your responses!
 
#3
I have a BG250-112 (which is a BH250 in a box with a 12" speaker). I have used it for a couple of years, and it has been great for practise, rehearsal and small pub gigs, however, we sometimes play outside, and it isn't sufficient.

When we do an outside gig, we have to put the bass through the PA to get sufficient volume. Since our PA isn't that powerful, this isn't that great. Also, in a large area, even hearing it as a monitor behind me, can be difficult.

Because of this, I am thinking of upgrading >>see here<<

In terms of features, it is fairly good. However, you can only use on tone print channel at a time, and loading a different tone is a bit of a faff. Basically, I end up playing clean most of the time, because I can't be bothered to muck around with the tone print.

It is a cracking first amp, but I feel like I am outgrowing it.
 
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#7
Sean Brookes said:
What do you mean by that? How much of a difference would x1 210 be compared to using x2 210 cabs? Or would 12's or 15's be a better place to start?
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In my experience, if you are playing with a band without PA support, you should have 4 10s, 2 12s, or 2 15s. The second cab makes a BIG difference.
 
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#9
FWIW I gigged a bunch with a BH250 and a GK MBE212 (4 ohm).

It was more than enough for the cover bands i played in, even on outdoor gigs with no PA support. I think the trick for louder applications is to run it with a cab or cabs that will produce a 4 ohm load, so you get the full amount of wattage out of the head.
 
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#10
Sean Brookes said:
Robbo, when you use your BG250 for rehearsal and gigs, what is the band line up?
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We have Drums, Keys, Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar and me on Bass. Lead Guitar is running through dual Marshall VS100 amps. Clearly the higher frequencies need less power to sound loud.

Professor X said:
I think the trick for louder applications is to run it with a cab or cabs that will produce a 4 ohm load
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Agreed.

I had assumed that the driver within the BG250-112 was a 4 ohm unit, to get the most out of the built-in amp. But maybe I am wrong...

I tried to get access to the driver to measure it with a multimeter, but I can't get the grill off the front of the cab.
 
#13
Hi to the OP
Its a great little amp, every gig we do here in Oz nowadays we are asked to turn down due to A) Neighbour complaints (venues can lose their license if too many complaints) and B) people want to talk (especially the bar staff), I use a similar amp, the Ashdown MiBass 250 watt with a 2 X 10" cab and its perfectly fine for 90% of gigs, we play an outdoor gig now and then and I just go DI to the PA.
I used to drag a 4X10 cab everywhere but with noise restrictions now, those days are gone.
 
#16
I have two of them; one is for backup.
I gig regularly, and it's all I use now paired with a Fender Rumble 15" cabinet. Direct out goes to PA/FOH; I have enough volume for stage. One drummer complains that it isn't loud enough, but he plays drums hard with no hearing protection, so I think he's just deaf.
 
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#18
With a 4 ohm cabinet, the BH 250 is plenty for most indoor gigs. With a 8ohm cab, you may not have enough power for very large or outdoor gigs. There is only one speaker out, so you really need to find a 4 ohm cabinet vs 2 8ohm cabs.
 
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#20
JD Supernatural said:
Hi to the OP
Its a great little amp, every gig we do here in Oz nowadays we are asked to turn down due to A) Neighbour complaints (venues can lose their license if too many complaints) and B) people want to talk (especially the bar staff), I use a similar amp, the Ashdown MiBass 250 watt with a 2 X 10" cab and its perfectly fine for 90% of gigs, we play an outdoor gig now and then and I just go DI to the PA.
I used to drag a 4X10 cab everywhere but with noise restrictions now, those days are gone.
Click to expand...
I am a recovering keyboardist :) trying to become a bassist. I have a BG250 210 combo ... I haven't managed to land a bass gig yet and have wondered if I would need a bigger rig. I keep getting keyboard gigs and the volume levels our band (and most bands here) play is just so damn loud that I have to wear earplugs and it's still painful - it really takes all the fun out of playing for me when it is so loud. And when we play outdoor shows, there are families with babies and toddlers and I shudder at the hearing damage we are inflicting on them. The bassist brings a 4x10 and 800 watt head as his small rig for smaller shows.
 
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