If you're planning on using mid-to-heavy distortion when going D.I. with this pedal you're gonna need a cab sim, because drive on D.I. sounds like ass.
You do really nice comprehensive reviews........I've watched 5 other reviews on this pedal/preamp all disappointing and not answering the questions I had and the audio quality wasn't that great either. Your review had all the elements I needed to make a decision thank you.
perhaps a silly question, if you were to connect the spectradrive to an audio interface like the scarlett 2i2 using XLR, would it matter if you choose line or instrument on the back of the spectradrive? the 2i2 also has a line/instrument button.
I think the scrambler's overdrive sounds like poop. The clean is good. But, the TCE's drive and compressor can be changed however you want. You can even edit your own. Plus, it has the ability to not sound like poop.
Man I love the TC stuff. I had the bg250 combo and the tone print is amazing. Almost too many options! I was about to grab a the ampeg pre, but this thing is really intriguing.
Awesome review, Marcelo. 😎🤘🏻🎸 I was in the market for a preamp Pedal for my pedalboard and this sounded pretty good. I am also intrigued by the app where you can get different drives and compressor tones. I might consider buying this preamp. Especially since I’ve owned tce pedals.
my experience with TonePrint app for Android is that Google play store says that its compatible with Android 5 and above but non of my two phones with Android 5.2 and Android 6 is compatible device. So says Google Play store so I am unable even download and install this app. Developer support suggested using Android 8 but I am not gonna purchase new phone just for using it for that app. Who know if it would work for me even then.
Yes, it's a deal breaker for this pedal, as the App is essential unless you want to get into their desktop software. The app reviews are horrible for this. Didn't work at all for me.
This is waaay cool. Looking for a really good Bass guitar DI. The Spectradrive is at the top of my list right now with the Ampeg Scrambler DI my second favorite so far.
Marcelo, doing research for a bass. I played guitar before - can I pull through with 5 strings? do I need 5 strings? I tried both in store (for eg SR500E vs SR505E) and 4 strings def felt more comfortable. I just fear missing out or something. I was even looking at a Stingray 5 because of Winston from Massive Attack but the Ibanez kinda sounds good to me.
Not really. They have their own flavour. Not even the Ampeg analog pedal or their DI are convincing of that tone. When we here 'that' SVT tube tone it's usually a combination of bass, head, speaker, strings, playing technique, and recording production. Not gonna get it from just a stomp box, even with their edit desktop software. Especially hard to dial in with a hot active bass. I think Marcelo gets some good tones here but that elusive 'vintage' tone, I can't just dial it in through anything TC. They are good at modulation and time-based effects especially. The X5 is good value. I use it in the effects loop of the HXStomp. The Darkglass microtubes gets closest to the tube sound, I'd say.
Turning the knobs or pressing the footswitch doesn’t seem to do anything when playing through headphones. Is there something wrong with my unit? Edit: Just realized that when the bypass light is on, the drive etc does work. I feel so dumb.
I pre-order this pedal and had it for 3 days only .. i noticed it looses bottom when drive is on . Cant figure it out so return the pedal and still using my darkglass vintage deluxe. Thanks for the video ..
It's lacking a blend knob, so you'll need to have a clean di or use the thru out for the clean bass and blend that into your tone. Another option is to use a blending pedal such as the Boss LS-2.
I think a tuner would be the most common use of the THRU jack. Or you could send your unaffected bass tone THRU to your bass amp and use the pedal as a preamp/DI for the house PA system.
I found out that the "THRU" Jack is exactly what it means through a clean signal going out to somewhere else. It could possibly be another amp or another pedal but you have no control over it, meaning, EQ or volume with that particular output. It's the exact set up on the micro pog which has a dry out both are the same.
i use the thru as a clean blend! distorted signal through the main output, and compression after the thru output. both channels go to my two-channel amp, and i blend the tone. i use a Sansamp for this, though. this is for rock and metal performances. it could also apply if you wanted to blend clean and wah, for example.
Hey Quick Q, have you ever played live without a bassamp ? By using just some pedals D.I.’d into the monitors ? If so what are your experiences ? Love the channel BTW greetings from Belgium ;)
i play live with no amp. i use a flyrig fed back thru in ears along with a total mix of the band. i quit bringing an amp because with the in ears i couldn't hear it anyway so why haul it around. i get a great tone in my ears. better than an amp actually. i can feel the bass through the mains
I'm traumatized by the TC Electronics bass combo amp I had. It had basically all the functions this preamp has... and they were all AWFUL. It was impossible to get a good sound out of it. That amp was pretty old though. Hopefully they've improved since then.
What's up BassBro? Ok, I have an OLP that looks exactly like your bass in this video. Obviously cosmetically it looks similar but we all kno that sonically they are miles apart. How can I get all the guts of a music man and give my OLP a guts transplant.
I don't get it. With this setup your have an 3-band EQ in your bass, a 4-band EQ in this preamp and a 4-band EQ in your amp. For me this is very confusing and unnecessary.
I use this to record bass. EQ and compressor great. No amplifier needed. Weight is much lighter than an Ampeg 👍🏻
Great demo. When you did the Reggae bass tone, it sounded exactly like my Sterling Stingray short scale bass, into my Fender Rumble 100.
If you're planning on using mid-to-heavy distortion when going D.I. with this pedal you're gonna need a cab sim, because drive on D.I. sounds like ass.
Great Demo ! Thanks !! 😀😀😉
I'm really torn between this one and the similarly priced Electro Harmonix Battalion...considering that I don't do much distortion, any ideas?
You do really nice comprehensive reviews........I've watched 5 other reviews on this pedal/preamp all disappointing and not answering the questions I had and the audio quality wasn't that great either. Your review had all the elements I needed to make a decision thank you.
Y que decisión tomaste???
I have one of these on my pedal board. Very nice gear. 👌🏿
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
how this preamp compares to the Tone Hammer by Aguilar?
perhaps a silly question, if you were to connect the spectradrive to an audio interface like the scarlett 2i2 using XLR, would it matter if you choose line or instrument on the back of the spectradrive? the 2i2 also has a line/instrument button.
How does the SpectraDrive compare to Ampeg's SCR-DI
USAFFire2724WV any comments??
I think the scrambler's overdrive sounds like poop. The clean is good. But, the TCE's drive and compressor can be changed however you want. You can even edit your own. Plus, it has the ability to not sound like poop.
John B Facts I sold my Ampeg for the Spectra Drive.
I need a tutorial for that slap bassline
Man I love the TC stuff. I had the bg250 combo and the tone print is amazing. Almost too many options! I was about to grab a the ampeg pre, but this thing is really intriguing.
Awesome review, Marcelo. 😎🤘🏻🎸 I was in the market for a preamp Pedal for my pedalboard and this sounded pretty good. I am also intrigued by the app where you can get different drives and compressor tones. I might consider buying this preamp. Especially since I’ve owned tce pedals.
Is the preamp on the Bass set to detent/center?
Will this work with my flip phone?
No.
my experience with TonePrint app for Android is that Google play store says that its compatible with Android 5 and above but non of my two phones with Android 5.2 and Android 6 is compatible device. So says Google Play store so I am unable even download and install this app. Developer support suggested using Android 8 but I am not gonna purchase new phone just for using it for that app. Who know if it would work for me even then.
That sucks! I've never had an Android phone, so I'm not sure how it works with that :(
@Sven For me no. I bought Fender combo instead of TC electronics and their Fender Tone app works just fine on my android 6. ;)
Yes, it's a deal breaker for this pedal, as the App is essential unless you want to get into their desktop software. The app reviews are horrible for this. Didn't work at all for me.
Good review! just got one and it is really helpful
GREAT REVIEW
This is waaay cool. Looking for a really good Bass guitar DI. The Spectradrive is at the top of my list right now with the Ampeg Scrambler DI my second favorite so far.
Ever heard of darkglass?
don’t like the ampeg. at all. it sounds like amateur cheap amp.
Wow that's really awesome...i looking for this pream
Marcelo, doing research for a bass. I played guitar before - can I pull through with 5 strings? do I need 5 strings? I tried both in store (for eg SR500E vs SR505E) and 4 strings def felt more comfortable. I just fear missing out or something. I was even looking at a Stingray 5 because of Winston from Massive Attack but the Ibanez kinda sounds good to me.
this should have cab sim because otherwise the DI driven sounds are kind of bad
Can any Toneprint get a clean tube (read SVT) sound?
Can you comment anything else on anything? (read don't comment the same thing everywhere because you obviously don't know tone).
Not really. They have their own flavour. Not even the Ampeg analog pedal or their DI are convincing of that tone. When we here 'that' SVT tube tone it's usually a combination of bass, head, speaker, strings, playing technique, and recording production. Not gonna get it from just a stomp box, even with their edit desktop software. Especially hard to dial in with a hot active bass. I think Marcelo gets some good tones here but that elusive 'vintage' tone, I can't just dial it in through anything TC. They are good at modulation and time-based effects especially. The X5 is good value. I use it in the effects loop of the HXStomp. The Darkglass microtubes gets closest to the tube sound, I'd say.
Turning the knobs or pressing the footswitch doesn’t seem to do anything when playing through headphones. Is there something wrong with my unit? Edit: Just realized that when the bypass light is on, the drive etc does work. I feel so dumb.
Would i be able to have sound output through the headphones and an amp simultaneously?
Jerome Lawrence Yes. Headphones doesn’t mute the other outputs.👍🏽
That’s perfect!!
Hello there! Will this preamp give a contrast coloring sound to the original sound of our bass?
Can I use the drive in this pedal as a volume boost for my clean signal?
There is a toneprint for that... tou can upload it to the pedal...
Bruno Dortas Which toneprint is that?
Nice review 👍
hi friend, please tell me , what abaout the EQ 's amp ? flat?
Thanks ! Awesome Job looks like the presets sure are the thing wit that Pre-Amp. TC Electronics are they a Newer Company??
Thank you! No they've been around for a while and have many great products!
Hey Marcelo is this preamp transparent or does it color your sound?
Shame it isn't available anymore. I've browsed all over, but nope. I'd really like to buy one.
I am selling mine 😅
@@prashantbiswakarma6473 I've moved on lol. Thanks anyway.
I pre-order this pedal and had it for 3 days only .. i noticed it looses bottom when drive is on .
Cant figure it out so return the pedal and still using my darkglass vintage deluxe. Thanks for the video ..
Use the original thru tone for the lows, EQ that, then mix with the drive signal for a full sound.
Drive tends to generally ruin bottom on bass.
Is it a passitive or an active bass?
It's lacking a blend knob, so you'll need to have a clean di or use the thru out for the clean bass and blend that into your tone. Another option is to use a blending pedal such as the Boss LS-2.
I dont hear any loss in the low end of my spectra drive. Sounds awesome with a Hartke LH500.
Good review but those are foot switches not knobs at 0:55.
You've mensioned input, output, but what in the world is the "THRU" for?
I think a tuner would be the most common use of the THRU jack. Or you could send your unaffected bass tone THRU to your bass amp and use the pedal as a preamp/DI for the house PA system.
@@pgmorrow I'm going to try that just for kicks
I found out that the "THRU" Jack is exactly what it means through a clean signal going out to somewhere else. It could possibly be another amp or another pedal but you have no control over it, meaning, EQ or volume with that particular output.
It's the exact set up on the micro pog which has a dry out both are the same.
i use the thru as a clean blend! distorted signal through the main output, and compression after the thru output. both channels go to my two-channel amp, and i blend the tone. i use a Sansamp for this, though. this is for rock and metal performances. it could also apply if you wanted to blend clean and wah, for example.
Question is the gain/drive on when the compressor is being used or can you turn it off if You just wanna use The compressor?
Monty Pop68 sure, you can turn the compressor on without the drive. You can't use the drive without the preamp/compressor engaged.
There’s also a straight gain TonePrint you can use instead of overdrive
Jesus that fuzz is an ungodly racket.
Hey Quick Q, have you ever played live without a bassamp ? By using just some pedals D.I.’d into the monitors ? If so what are your experiences ? Love the channel BTW greetings from Belgium ;)
Thank you! Yes, works great.
i play live with no amp. i use a flyrig fed back thru in ears along with a total mix of the band. i quit bringing an amp because with the in ears i couldn't hear it anyway so why haul it around. i get a great tone in my ears. better than an amp actually. i can feel the bass through the mains
Thanks man. Lots of fun
Thank you!
I wanna buy it for the internet sound alone (at 9:55)
Mine arrived today, I'm one happy bass-boï :)
Nice review
What would you prefer? Ampeg SCR or Spectradrive Bass? I can't choose easily! Regards!
Honestly the full size Spark Booster beats them both imo.
Corona Chorus ?🤣 8:26
I'm traumatized by the TC Electronics bass combo amp I had. It had basically all the functions this preamp has... and they were all AWFUL. It was impossible to get a good sound out of it. That amp was pretty old though. Hopefully they've improved since then.
Same preamp if it was a BG series. The BH, BG combos. Are use the same preamp and the spectra drive
nasty stingray love the grey/slate
Good review.
Thank you!
Hooooly those slaps
You might want to use headphones or high quality speakers for this one, a mobile phone speaker wont cut it...
I checked this pedal in the shop. Clean/slap sound was amazing, but overdrive was horrible (in my opinion)
The default distortion isnt great but using the app to change sounds makes it amazing.
So, change it. What sounds good to you?
Nice review! :D good preamp... ^^
Thank you!
What's up BassBro?
Ok, I have an OLP that looks exactly like your bass in this video. Obviously cosmetically it looks similar but we all kno that sonically they are miles apart. How can I get all the guts of a music man and give my OLP a guts transplant.
I think it sounds like
Great for ‘silent’ practice!
I don't get it. With this setup your have an 3-band EQ in your bass, a 4-band EQ in this preamp and a 4-band EQ in your amp.
For me this is very confusing and unnecessary.
Thanks for the review! buuuut, stop slapping with distortion.....Jeebus!!!!
Thank you!
hi guys
You lost me with the Ap. I need one knob, i don't tweak.
"TheBeast" just sounds like Hank Hill not knowing what a JPEG is.
Yeah, that toneprint shit never worked on the amp I had and y'all wouldn't service it. Fuck TC.
Good Grief! Play guitar if you want that $%&#% fuzz!