TC Electronics Nova System guitar multi-effects board has been popular with guitarists for a number of years now. They are used by some big name rock guitarists and have a loyal user following. TC Electronics has just released a "limited" edition of this popular compact pedal unit sporting a boosted price tag. So What makes this unit a "limited" edition. That label usually implies a limited production run or window of availability of a product but no lot size or availability dates have been published. What makes it different from the standard system and justifies the premium pricing? Well the most visible difference is the new sporty red color that makes it an attractive little unit. Attractive as it may be it seems a little superfluous for a unit that sits on the stage floor visible only to the guitarist whose foot is often resting upon it.

The gist of the limited edition claim comes down to what may be a marketing coup or a public relations nightmare. The limited edition comes with a special set of presets that have been programmed by Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal of Guns n Roses fame, Peter Thorn that tours with the likes of Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave, and a final set of patches that were programmed by TC Electronics own Ron Gray in response to a Facebook poll regarding what sounds from popular music their users would like to have available to them. These new patches sound really sweet as demonstrated on the YouTube videos at the bottom of the Nova Limited Product Page. If you are in the market for a multi-effects board and you aren't a current Nova System user, the new preset patches and the nifty red color could well be enough to justify the additional bucks. However, and here is where the possible marketing faux pas comes in, if you are current user of the Nova System, tough luck "no patches for you!" (perhaps I date myself with a Seinfeld reference).

Much of the feedback on the TC Electronics own product page are complaints by current users that they are getting stiffed on these new presets when many of them responded to the original poll. Many have been disappointed to find that the newly released software update for the Nova System did not include those presets. Add to it all the fact that TC Electronics still doesn't offer their own patch editor and librarian that would enable the easy sharing of those presets amongst current users, and has long been a bone of contention among otherwise loyal users, there is more than a seed of discontent among the user base with many waving the name of arch rival Line 6 in the collective faces of TC Electronics marketing department. Other competitors such as Roland/Boss also make the new patches available with system upgrades.

Overall the Nova System is a solid performer with great sound and well deserved popularity. The Limited only adds to the general sweetness of a fine product. Perhaps the user unrest will prove a tempest in a teapot but with competitors the likes of Digitech, Line 6, and Roland swirling about looking for blood in the water it can never hurt to keep the loyal fan base happy.

Update: TC Electronics has posted a note on the Nova system software update page advising users that the artist presets are not included in the the software update. They also note that including them with the update would overwrite the owners existing presets which would not be a good thing. They also note that presets can be backed up and restored using Midi Ox freeware on your PC or SysExLibrarian on your MAC. I suspect that well networked owners of the Nova System will get their hands on the Artists Presets but will probably violate some copyright or licensing agreement in the process.