TC Electronic BQ250 and BQ500 – Bass heads with no fuss?
Two little red bass heads
3,5 / 5,0 | 
TC Electronic has introduced the two new bass amp heads BQ250 and BQ500. Both models do without the TonePrint technology. According to TC Electronic, the new bass amp heads are more focused on reducing to the essentials than a hodgepodge of ingredients that most bassists do not need.
TC Electronic BQ250 & BQ500
Unlike the larger BH models, which are able to recharge other effects and sounds with the TonePrint technology, the BQ models have a Mosfet preamp, a switchable Thrust compressor and a 4-band EQ. This should provide for a large range of sounds and realistic tube “Sound & Feel”.
Class D power
The big watt numbers achieved in these small amps are known as Class D technology. Not hard to guess, the two amps deliver 250 watts and 500 watts, respectively. They are extremely compact and are therefore also suitable for on the go. Speaker output is on Speakon connectors is rated at 4 Ohms.
A balanced DI output with a choice between pre- and post-EQ offers the possibility to connect the amps directly to mixing consoles or audio interfaces. And over the Aux input, an external audio signal source can be fed, for example, a backing track to practice.
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- TC Electronic BQ500 · Source: TC Electronic
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- Portable Bass head · Source: TC Electronic
Portable
The whole thing is built into a pretty neat and compact (69 x 255 x 233 mm) steel housing that weighs 2.3 (BQ500) or 2.2 kg (BQ250). Thus, the amps fit as seen in the press photos, actually in most backpacks and are quite suitable for travelling, so perfect for fly gigs.
Many bassists love their simple signal chain Instrument> Tuner> Amp> Cab and need no further effects. The amplifier performance should be sufficient for small to medium-sized gigs and so could be popular if they sound decent.
TC Electronic has released a one-minute demo video which I have attached below, it doesn’t show that much, but it gives you an idea of what to expect. The two amp heads are expected in the fourth quarter of 2018.
RRP – BQ250 should cost USD 199, the BQ500 USD249
More Information
Video
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