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Harley Benton DI vs TC Spectradrive or others ?

CliveT

By CliveT,
in Effects

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CliveT Collaborator

CliveT

Posted
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So looking for a multipurpose preamp, DI, headphone practice tool and the Harley Benton Bass Expander and TC Electronic Spectradrive stand out so far.  Is the TC Spectradrive worth spending double the money of the HB ?  Will the HB do the job well?

Is there anything I need to look at as well as these ?   I need headphone out and AUX in.

 

Lozz196 Grand Master

Lozz196

Posted
Posted

Well I’ve been umming and aahing over the Spectradrive, I liked the Tubetone and Spectracomp on my old TC Classic 450 so figure I should like them on a pedal, but unless after specifics such as those I reckon the Harley Benton would work fine - I may well do some research on it as it v seems their gear punches well above its weight.

jrixn1 Mentor

jrixn1

Posted
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Depends on your particular situation, but I find it really useful having a volume control which doesn't affect the DI level - I think that is not the case for both the Harley Benton and the Spectradrive.  Fwiw I ended up with a Microbass as I need two channels, but it is more expensive.

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paul_5 Grand Master

paul_5

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I tried the Harley Benton when I was looking for a pedal board preamp. The eq and drive were really useful, the compressor wasn’t really that great (but still useful at certain settings) but my passive basses kept overdriving the input stage so I returned it. Admittedly I play really hard, and have fairly hot pickups, but nothing that any other pedal pre (sansamp, MXR etc) hasn’t been able to deal with.

 

Eventually I went for a second hand Dave Hall VT1 eq and love it; line in, headphone, 1/4 and xlr outs with a separate level control for each.

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dave_bass5 Grand Master

dave_bass5

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For me the killer feature of the Spectradrive (other than the Spectracomp) is the EQ system. I love how it works and sounds, in fact enough to go and buy a BH800 head. 

  • 2 weeks later...
Bobo_08 Proficient

Bobo_08

Posted
Posted

I'm also facing the same choices... Been looking at the EHX Battalion, the Palmer pocket amp as well. I was attracted to the spectra drive because it has compression built in and of course there is the toneprint technology. So many these devices include overdrive but very few include compression, which I personally would have thought was more useful... Who doesn't need a bit of compression in their playing!?

 

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Muppet Mentor

Muppet

Posted
Posted

We're spoilt for choice in this area I think. Depending on how much you want to spend there's always the Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra, Gallien Krueger's  GK Plex, Ashdown's ORGIN Al, Ampeg's Scramber DI andI'm sure there's more  that you can throw in to the mix. 

Trueno Experienced

Trueno

Posted
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I 've had an EBS Microbass II for years. It does everything you ask for and has a great DI with choice of pre-post eq. You can still get the Mk II for about £160 or the new Mk III for £300+

The new version looks great and is worth it (imo) for years worth of gigging and practising versatility. I'm thinking of upgrading.

Bobo_08 Proficient

Bobo_08

Posted
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Yea I also looked at the dark glass and the GK Plex, but they are twice the price of the others I mentioned and more expensive than my my bass.. my first, Yamaha TBRBX 304.

Pay ya money take your choice, and get what you pay for to some extent... As with most things in life. 

  • 4 weeks later...
CliveT Collaborator

CliveT

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Update .............

Went for the SpectraDrive.  Cost a little bit more than other options but extra features like compressor and drive on top of EQ and headphone and aux in made my mind up.  And, it can go on my pedalboard so not just a practice tool.  

  • Like 2
dave_bass5 Grand Master

dave_bass5

Posted
Posted
12 minutes ago, CliveT said:

Update .............

Went for the SpectraDrive.  Cost a little bit more than other options but extra features like compressor and drive on top of EQ and headphone and aux in made my mind up.  And, it can go on my pedalboard so not just a practice tool.  

Nice one. I’m not a huge fan of the Drives in that, but i love the clean boost tone print. 

Ive used various PSU’s with mine, inc daisy chaining it off a 1 Spot wall plug with other pedals. It can be a bit fussy with others but ive not had issues with that, my Cioks DC-5 or EBS wall wart. 

Bobo_08 Proficient

Bobo_08

Posted
Posted

 

42 minutes ago, CliveT said:

Update .............

Went for the SpectraDrive.  Cost a little bit more than other options but extra features like compressor and drive on top of EQ and headphone and aux in made my mind up.  And, it can go on my pedalboard so not just a practice tool.  

Nice one CliveT, what are you initial impressions?

Paul S Grand Master

Paul S

Posted
Posted
31 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

Nice one. I’m not a huge fan of the Drives in that, but i love the clean boost tone print. 

Ive used various PSU’s with mine, inc daisy chaining it off a 1 Spot wall plug with other pedals. It can be a bit fussy with others but ive not had issues with that, my Cioks DC-5 or EBS wall wart. 

Yes, this is the one for me, too.  I bought one to rationalise my pedals - now just a tuner, this and the wireless - and wasn't keen on the drive straight out of the box.  But the clean boost tone print is pretty much exactly what I want.  Like it says - play with the gain and the drive level to get the sound you want.  Have to say was impressed with the novelty of the tone print bluetooth malarkey.  Possibly a bit gimmicky but couldn't be easier and quicker.

CliveT Collaborator

CliveT

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Initial impressions are good.  

As a practice tool it's perfect.

I've always thought the tone prints are a gimmick too but they are very easy to use and a lot of fun.  I have no idea what I'll use when I can play though an amp at gig volume and haven't used drive for years as haven't really had a need but look forward to trying it.  For now the Biff Mug is fun 🙂

  • Like 1
Lozz196 Grand Master

Lozz196

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I’m still umming & ahing about the Spectradrive, they just don’t seem to come up used so looks like I’ll have to shell out for new.

CliveT Collaborator

CliveT

Posted
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4 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

I’m still umming & ahing about the Spectradrive, they just don’t seem to come up used so looks like I’ll have to shell out for new.

Yep, I came to the same conclusion.  

dave_bass5 Grand Master

dave_bass5

Posted
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12 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

I’m still umming & ahing about the Spectradrive, they just don’t seem to come up used so looks like I’ll have to shell out for new.

When I get back to work there might be ;-). 

Lozz196 Grand Master

Lozz196

Posted
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38 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

When I get back to work there might be ;-). 

Sounds like patience could be my virtue then.

dave_bass5 Grand Master

dave_bass5

Posted
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Just now, Lozz196 said:

Sounds like patience could be my virtue then.

Yep. Im going to be having a clear out when I get back to work. I lent it to a customer just before lockdown. Just need to get it back. 

dave_bass5 Grand Master

dave_bass5

Posted
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16 minutes ago, jezzaboy said:

Does the TC run off of a power bank like T REX fuel tank, 9 volts? I see they don`t supply one with it.

Its not a very demanding pedal so i cant see why not. 

  • Thanks 1
  • 2 weeks later...

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