GEARREVIEW
BY MITCH BOHANNON
TC Electronic SpectraComp Bass Pedal
saves me a lot of space on my board.
Studio-quality multiband
compressor - perfectly
tuned for bass
TonePrint enabled
Ultra-small footprint
ETHAN: The pedal is fairly intuitive to me,
having only one knob makes changing on
KEY FEATURES
MITCH: What have you done with the
the fly very easy. The tone print option makes
TonePrint option?
changing settings very easy also without ever
touching the pedal.
ETHAN: I’ve used several different TonePrints
since I started using the SpectraComp.
MITCH: If you were to A/B the SpectraComp
Connecting the pedal up to a computer opens
with your old compressor, what would you hear
up even more possibilities. Once I settled on a
as difference?
TonePrint, I was able to tailor my sound even
further using the tone print software.
ETHAN: The SpectraComp has a much
cleaner sound than my last compressor. The
MITCH: Have you landed on a setting you like
multi-band compression helps to not lose a
best?
lot of tone while trying to keep a specific range
from getting out of hand.
ETHAN: For the time being I’ve settled on a
modified TonePrint that I like. For the most part,
MITCH: Where is the compressor in your
I’ve been running with the knob between 25 to
signal chain?
50% just depending on what I want to hear that
My bass player, Ethan Byrd, has been
day.
ETHAN: I’ve got the compressor 1st in my
chain right after my tuner, I haven’t settled on
complaining about his compression pedal for a
while. He is displeased with his overall sound.
MITCH: Do you make changes during the set?
placement just yet but for the time being this
As I was talking with TC Electronic about some
If not, in what application would you imagine
has been a good location.
new products they have coming out, they
you’d make changes?
MITCH: Do you ever turn it off?
introduced me to the new SpectraComp and
asked Ethan to give it a try.
ETHAN: When it comes to compressors I’m
usually a “set it and forget it” type. I may make
ETHAN: Since I built my current settings, I
TC has been using the SpectraComp multi-
a few minor changes during the start of a set
haven’t turned the SpectrComp off, it’s a pedal
band compression algorithm in their RH series
but that’s about it. In the setting in which I play, I
I can set and never touch for the most part.
and BlackSmith bass amps for years. Now,
don’t need to make to many changes. However,
they’ve taken that compression design and
if you are trying to cover a lot of different ground
dropped it into an ultra compact pedal and
in a single set, the TonePrint option would help
added their amazing TonePrint technology.
out tremendously.
MITCH: Thanks, Ethan.
I love trying out new gear! I’m so glad we live
Since he installed it on his pedal board, I’ve
been really pleased with Ethan’s tone. I asked
MITCH: How intuitive do you find the
in this era of technology… new options coming
him some questions to get his opinion…
SpectraComp?
out continuously to feed our search for the right
tone. TC Electronic has proven year after year
MITCH: What was the first
to continue to create the “right stuff.” With a
thing that impressed you
miniature footprint to go along with it’s $99
about the SpectraComp?
street price tag, the SpectraComp covers a
LOT of ground for bass players.
ETHAN:
and
simplicity
SpectraComp
first
The
thing
size
of
the
was
the
that
STREET PRICE
$99
really
impressed me. It has a lot
CONTACT
TCelectronic.com
of functionality inside, yet it
52
Jul Aug 2016
WorshipMusician.com