TC Combo Deluxe 65 part 3

[jzucker]

I'm intrigued by the TC Combo pedal, but something tells me it's not a big difference with the Tech 21, when you paly in a band in less than ideal sound situation. I mean they all do pretty much the same thing.

HUGE difference. Night and day.

[2bornot2bop]

Still hoping to hear a video with that beautiful Heritage Eagle.

[Hep To The Jive]

HUGE difference. Night and day.

Maybe. If I hear side by side I'll believe it. But having xlr and regular output is what does it for me on Tech 21. I can take it to any gig without worrying. And I know it will last a decade at least. I am still curiuos about the TC, but maybe just for recording at home.

[jzucker]

Still hoping to hear a video with that beautiful Heritage Eagle.

coming soon, i hope. Been doing a lot of practicing on it and using it on my regular gig the last several weeks. Since I had covid, I've lost a lot of energy and haven't done a video in a while but I'll get it back.

[Alter]

I still much prefer the feel of the Blonde live to any digital device i have tried. At home, i prefer the Tonex. I may borrow the Dream 65 to try on a gig soon. Sincerely so far, the only way i have found to form an opinion on all these is to own them and use them for a period of time, cause things happen, you play them in various situations, and no matter how much experience with gear you may have a new device is a new device. And trying stuff, your expectations and wants from gear constantly get refined, so something that was cutting it yesterday might not cut it tomorrow.

Currently trying out the Quilter Phantom Block in direct gigs (usually functions, restaurants with a backline and hotels) and i really like it. But i am an advocate of simplicity, i happily gig a pro junior which only has a tone pot, or even a champ with only a volume! so i can live without too many tone sculpting choices.

I recently sold my only multi effects (a Boss Gt1000 core) and thinking about the next one. Might buy the Hx stomp again. I wish Fractal made something so portable, the FM3 is still huge compared. If i learned anything is that, if something clicks and works for you, stick with it and don't underestimate it because it isn't expensive or currently hip or anything.

[Cunamara]

And trying stuff, your expectations and wants from gear constantly get refined, so something that was cutting it yesterday might not cut it tomorrow.

Interesting point. I've had that experience myself buy something new, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread and two months later thinking "that doesn't do what I want." In my case, this has been particularly true with sound reinforcement devices (pedals, amplifiers, etc.).

I appreciate Jack's ongoing experimentation and hands-on research with guitars, pickups, amps, modelers, etc. His willingness to delve into this technology far exceeds mine, but he has steered me both towards and away from things over the years. I suspect he has saved me a fair amount of time and money.

[GuyBoden]

I used an original Fender Deluxe Reverb for many years, so I bought a 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp modelling pedal.

It's very light and easy to use, I've plugged it into a small Alto 8 inch active speaker.

I can get the bass heavy guitar sound I like.


An excellent light weight setup for jams and small rooms, using a small Alto 8 inch active speaker.

Many thanks for the great info.


Below: Guitar 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' setup for active speaker.


Below: Cable needed for DI output to Active speaker:


My Initial setup (Bass heavy.)

Bright switch off
Use the DI output to active speaker


Level: 9
Gain: 4
Reverb: 4


Treble:4
Mid: 5
Bass: 5

[brewster]

i don't have this pedal. looks to have interesting sound effect. jack has me interested too.

the schematic guyboden posted suggests the DI out is unbalanced. i'd rather run a TRS jack to xlr cable to the powered PA to avoid signal loss and interferences. to the pedal owners, does the manual say if the DI out is bal or unbalanced?

if its truly unbalanced, best to use as short a cable as possible to the PA.
also, some unbalanced to balanced cables just jump 2 wires inside the XLR so its not truly balanced. my (limited) understanding is the better unbal to bal adaptors actually have some basic electronics inside the fittings to make the conversion to xlr better.

look forward to more info on this.
b

[GuyBoden]

i don't have this pedal. looks to have interesting sound effect. jack has me interested too.

the schematic guyboden posted suggests the DI out is unbalanced. i'd rather run a TRS jack to xlr cable to the powered PA to avoid signal loss and interferences. to the pedal owners, does the manual say if the DI out is bal or unbalanced?

if its truly unbalanced, best to use as short a cable as possible to the PA.
also, some unbalanced to balanced cables just jump 2 wires inside the XLR so its not truly balanced. my (limited) understanding is the better unbal to bal adaptors actually have some basic electronics inside the fittings to make the conversion to xlr better.

look forward to more info on this.
b

Many thanks, it seems ok with a short mono cable from Di to Active Speaker. (My pedal sits on the top of active speaker with blu tack.)

[Gitterbug]

As an aside, the original Danish TC Electronic operation has been closed and the staff laid off. Music Tribe, Uli Behringer's empire, bought the company in 2015. Everything is coming from a proprietary plant in China. Remains to be seen whether the innovativeness of TC Electronic persists and brand identity remains undiluted.

[GuyBoden]

After spending sometime with the 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp pedal, I've found that I can get a nice single note sound, but using these same settings are a slight compromise for playing chords (Comping). I'd choose slightly different setting for comping with chords than for playing single notes. But, this was the same compromise I had with an original 'Fender Deluxe Reverb'. Also, I've got to say, the 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp pedal has a lot more fantastic clean headroom compared with an original 'Fender Deluxe Reverb'.

Overall, I like the 'TC Combo Deluxe 65', the DI output sounds good with a crystal clear active speaker.

Thanks everyone for the info:

[rpjazzguitar]

I used an original Fender Deluxe Reverb for many years, so I bought a 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp modelling pedal.

It's very light and easy to use, I've plugged it into a small Alto 8 inch active speaker.
Bass: 5

Does the Alto speaker have a mic/line switch? If so, which position do you run it in?

The last Alto I had did not have a mic/line switch. Instead, there was one knob. A range (to the clockwise end of the knob's rotation) was labeled as "mic".

When I ran a guitar level signal into it, I had to turn the knob clockwise (3 o'clock or so), whereupon low frequencies bloomed. The resulting sound was unusable. The Alto clearly wanted a hotter input signal. Or an impedance match that I wasn't providing. Those details are over my head, technically.

So, my question is, does the TC Deluxe Reverb put out a signal that the no-mic/line Alto can use?

The specs I found don't specify the level of the output signal. Presumably it would be "line level" but there are two types of "line level", pro and consumer. Pro is more voltage.

[GuyBoden]

Does the Alto speaker have a mic/line switch? If so, which position do you run it in?

The last Alto I had did not have a mic/line switch. Instead, there was one knob. A range (to the clockwise end of the knob's rotation) was labeled as "mic".

When I ran a guitar level signal into it, I had to turn the knob clockwise (3 o'clock or so), whereupon low frequencies bloomed. The resulting sound was unusable. The Alto clearly wanted a hotter input signal. Or an impedance match that I wasn't providing. Those details are over my head, technically.

So, my question is, does the TC Deluxe Reverb put out a signal that the no-mic/line Alto can use?

The specs I found don't specify the level of the output signal. Presumably it would be "line level" but there are two types of "line level", pro and consumer. Pro is more voltage.

For a guitar with pickups, you need a preamp with enough dB of gain for the active speaker's amplifier. The 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' has enough dB of gain.

I'm using the small Alto Active Speaker TX308.

[rpjazzguitar]

For a guitar with pickups, you need a preamp with enough db of gain for the active speaker's amplifier. The 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' has enough db of gain.

My experience was that the Alto did not work adequately with a low level source. Turning the volume knob up high made a very loud sound, but with a horrible bloom of low frequencies. It was totally unusable.

Fed the proper signal (e.g. running the mic right into a mixer and the mixer into the Alto), the Alto sounded fine.

What I'm wondering is if I can run the TC Combo Deluxe 65 right into the Alto and get enough volume that I won't have to turn it past noon on the dial.

The goal would be:

Guitar > TC Combo Deluxe 65 > Alto 308.

That would put the rig under 15lbs with enough volume available for anything I do.

[GuyBoden]

My experience was that the Alto did not work adequately with a low level source. Turning the volume knob up high made a very loud sound, but with a horrible bloom of low frequencies. It was totally unusable.

Fed the proper signal (e.g. running the mic right into a mixer and the mixer into the Alto), the Alto sounded fine.

What I'm wondering is if I can run the TC Combo Deluxe 65 right into the Alto and get enough volume that I won't have to turn it past noon on the dial.

The goal would be:

Guitar > TC Combo Deluxe 65 > Alto 308.

That would put the rig under 15lbs with enough volume available for anything I do.

Yes, for your guitar to work with an Alto active speaker, YOU NEED A PREAMP.

As I stated in my previous post, I'm using the 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp pedal into an 'Alto TX380' Active Speaker. The 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp pedal has plenty of dB gain.

Edit: Here's my previous Post:

For a guitar with pickups, you need a preamp with enough dB of gain for the active speaker's amplifier. The 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' has enough dB of gain.

I'm using the small Alto Active Speaker TX308.

[Christian Miller]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rpjazzguitar]

Yes, for your guitar to work with an Alto active speaker, YOU NEED A PREAMP.

As I stated in my previous post, I'm using the 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp pedal into an 'Alto TX380' Active Speaker. The 'TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp pedal has plenty of db gain.

Edit: Here's my previous Post:

Thank you.

How far up do you turn the knob to get to, say, small gig level?

The information is much appreciated.

[GuyBoden]

Thank you.

How far up do you turn the knob to get to, say, small gig level?

The information is much appreciated.

This is how I setup my TC Combo Deluxe 65' preamp pedal and 'Alto TX380' Active Speaker:

(1) Before plugging anything into the 'Alto TX380' Active Speaker, I have the volume control knob on the 'Alto TX380' Active Speaker turned off. (All the way counter clockwise.) (Electric mains power is off.)

See pic below:


(2) After plugging my guitar/pedal into the 'Alto TX380' Active Speaker' I turn the volume control knob on the 'Alto TX380' Active Speaker to 0dB. (A safe setting.) (Electric mains power is on.)

See pic below:

[charleyrich99]

I purchased the TC Combo Deluxe 65 and immediately loaded the updated firmware.

First impressions:
- Plugged into the front of a Fishman LBX 100 using the DI out of the pedal, it sounded really good. The Fishman without the pedal is sterile sounding with an archtop (to my ears).
- Using headphones, the pedal also sounded very good
- Plugged into a Fender Champ 12, using the pedal's non DI out, the sound was good, but produced a lot of hiss. (I tried the DI out, but it sounded weird on high notes)
To get the cleanest possible sound I put the level on 10 and the gain on 3.
The Green channel with reverb was quieter than the red channel (Deluxe Vibrato)

I like the pedal, but wish it was more quiet. I find that switching between channels and selecting dual channel or bypass can be a bit confusing. The blink is ok, but a status light that said which mode you are in would be better. I want to concentrate on the music and not on flashing lights.

I am planning to use it on my Friday gig and if it goes well, I will keep it.

Is anyone else experiencing a loud hiss from this pedal?
______
Update:
I misunderstood the functions of level and gain. I thought level was a master volume and gain was actual volume. But gain is really the amount of "grit".

At my gig I had gain on 3 and level on 7. The pedal was plugged into the front of a Fender Champ 12. The sound was great and reasonably quiet. I am happy with the pedal and keeping it.