Jump to content
Why become a member? ×
  • BC visits TC Electronic


    ped

    The buzz of my alarm sounded for just a second before I smartly switched it off. I was already awake, I had to catch a 6am flight and I can never sleep before midnight.

    8006887792_c4b2b83332_c.jpg&key=e28b2dab5cec5525e73fd7be5ff0bd280fcac9c2adf0b748906b2cbe9da60a9a
    Kim and Morten by chiscocks, on Flickr


    I had been invited to see the home of the TC Electronic operation in Aarhus, Denmark. TC have been one of the longest running sponsors on Basschat and I really like Denmark, so I was keen to snap up the chance before the school holidays ran out.
    My fist trip to Scandinavia was when I was about 12. I went to legoland and it was literally the best week of my life as Lego was the centre of my universe at that age. But since then I’ve grown to admire Denmark for lots of other things, whilst still being thankful for the small plastic bricks which got stuck in various orrifices (and still do).
    Design. That’s what I like about This country. The Danish design museum in Copenhagen. The art museum in Aarhus, even if it would be better if they told you how much the paintings were worth. Even the way the streets are laid out to accommodate cyclists and drivers alike.
    It’s fair to say my knowledge of TC Electronic was minimal before my visit. Quite new to the scene, first releasing their bass range with the RH450 bass head, RS210 bass cab and RS212 bass cab, launched at Winter NAMM 2009 (January) in Los Angeles. they have approached the bass amplifier in a Danish way. Innovative, tactile, loud… It’s difficult to use the right superlatives to describe the gear TC produce. From the super light combos and heads to the top of the line Blacksmith range there’s now something for every budget and plans for more in the future.

    8006882931_a622643d6b_c.jpg&key=cd410958308234bb63904152e28fcecde46f37c185891b338df59716f14af69f
    Shipping by chiscocks, on Flickr


    I was shown around the ‘R&D’ centre (where there is also a limited amount of manufacturing) by my contact Kim Bang, TC PR Manager. Kim is a bassist. I immediately identified with him when he explained how he bought 9 P basses looking for the right one -one from 74, one from 72 and the rest from 77-79. He finally decided on a sunburst ’79 with rosewood board and an A-neck. Ask him if he plays a five string and there’s a similar story finishing with a Fodera Emperor with 70′s Jazz pickups and spacing.
    Most of the manufacturing is done abroad, with only the ‘Blacksmith’ amplifier being produced on site. The facility in Aarhus is home to the team who design and test the products so this fairly small building is responsible for what hits the shelves.
    When I arrived with Kim we had a general walk around and saw the various elements that make up the building. Eventually a set of stairs led ominously underground into the darkness. Nestled among some mad Frankenstein creations, huddled in the corner like some product engineer gollum was a chap named Morten.

    8006887498_f9abee9839_c.jpg&key=f18b75ef3910c08782d04b55694769682958afa8321e146a5d354927c1ac22b6
    Morten and speakers by chiscocks, on Flickr


    Product Specialist, Morten Ehlers, is a larger than life character. He’s an energetic player with a sense of humour and a no compromise approach to his craft. I love the way TC employs players like Morten, who describe the sound in their heads with words like ‘ping’ and ‘butter’ (albeit in Danish) and spend time turning it into an amplifier.
    One of his main responsibilities is to develop the range and find artists to ‘toneprint’. If you’ve never heard of this feature you can read about it on the TC site. It’s been so successful that artists are now approaching him to be ‘toneprinted’, to invent a noun.
    The development areas of TC are split into three; guitar, bass and ‘pro’, which is also referred to as ‘HD’ and covers high-end studio and not least broadcast equipment. They are actually quite secret and I was only allowed through once all the secret meetings had finished. I’m pretty sure I saw spider man leaving with an RH450.
    Kenneth Wandall, the Electronic hardware engineer (Bs.Sc.E.E) has the responsibility of testing the equipment. He’s got a special pair of gloves that he wears to isolate him from the energy in the capacitors and is every bit like my friend in technology class at school. After telling numerous visitors to hold their ankles as he slips on the said gloves he gets what he deserves when people clap and shout BANG behind him whilst he’s elbow deep in an electronic device.

    8006881889_0baa7938ba_c.jpg&key=b637d8d3b43106d232a2ae57d248ea897b3fcf0c5fe66a7a5ad4911da310a82d
    Manufacturing with R&D by chiscocks, on Flickr


    So to the torture chamber. There’s a shipping container in the car park from which you can just about hear a repeating bass groove. Had they finally given Morten his own ‘office’? No, it’s just a whole bunch of Amps and speakers rigged up to a CD player for months on end in intense heat to see how they perform. Two BG250 combos have done 6 months so far.
    Nobody knows what TC stands for, apparently. There are legends and myths, most of which sound un-printable on a civilised website like Basschat. But that doesn’t matter because I saw what TC really stands for on my visit, and you can refer to the earlier superlatives or try one yourself. Just make sure you’re wearing brown trousers.

    8006882653_b8906d747a_c.jpg&key=a0bef214bdab27f2aa02281031207533e326efbc1a440d2b459a1b69cb2f3b05
    Project Room by chiscocks, on Flickr


    7858804962_72677d049b_c.jpg&key=f2ddfabb8728b8237c4f4a19022333a9bf34bd2f41bc8bcad397ca105708dcb3
    Fiskergade on the canal at night by chiscocks, on Flickr


    7858811646_411fe25cfa_c.jpg&key=cb7dfcac6ab24985b849e989744823b5d41921b9232555c61c8f367f659363b9
    Your Rainbow Panorama (ARoS) by chiscocks, on Flickr


    7858806072_784a0082d2_c.jpg&key=4d59ee01e9ba7bb602d631bec1aaf046337b480281801893cbd145a36f82ac84
    Den Gamle By old town bench by chiscocks, on Flickr


    7858846300_fbc1770347_c.jpg&key=ae2a6277f1e27e4d1f0518ffc637e973cf76418bde0f7c6884955ae12e3c9d21
    Mehari side by chiscocks, on Flickr


    7863526274_d1b5dfa9d3_c.jpg&key=c58eaf199d53e6a32ee41b71dd96b641526ea93b9e234d4dd182207057428146
    ARos Terrace BW by chiscocks, on Flickr


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    There are no comments to display.


×
×
  • Create New...