TC Electronic RH450 + Fuzz/Overdrive

[naruki]

How is the RH450 (and the TubeTone) like with effects? Especially fuzzes and distortions.

Also, what's up with that power output thing I'm hearing about? Is it as loud as a 450W amp?

I mean I don't really care if the electrical output is lower than advertised, as long as it is as loud as a 450W amp. I'm only getting a new amp because the 300W Ashdown MAG EVO II I got is too quiet and it sounded like crap when I cranked it up.

I'm too lazy to search and scroll through and reading the debates.

Edit: I'm using the cab in my college's jam room. Dont really know the exact model buy it's an Ampeg, looks like an SVT-810AV. It's a little old though.

 

[willsellout]

What's up with that power output thing I'm hearing about? Is it as loud as a 450W amp?

I mean I don't really care if the electrical output is lower than advertised, as long as it is as loud as a 450W amp. I'm only getting a new amp because the 300W Ashdown MAG EVO II I got is too quiet and it sounded like crap when I cranked it up.

I'm too lazy to search and scroll through and reading the debates.

That sounds like a personal problem. This topic is well discussed. Read through the thread and answer your own question. Trying not to sound like a jerk, but this topic in particular has been extensively covered very recently.

 

[naruki]

That sounds like a personal problem. This topic is well discussed. Read through the thread and answer your own question. Trying not to sound like a jerk, but this topic in particular has been extensively covered very recently.

I went through the threads before. Skimmed through the posts. Something about the electrical output not being 450W, more like 253W or something, but in terms of perceived output, its as loud as a 450W?

 

[willsellout]

I went through the threads before. Skimmed through the posts. Something about the electrical output not being 450W, more like 253W or something, but in terms of perceived output, its as loud as a 450W?

Most people agree that its a very loud amp. Tom Bowlus said something about it being the punchiest 450 watts he's heard, in his review of it. I've played it in person and it definitely didn't sound like it was lacking. Then again I wasn't cranking it to its limits. Personally, I think it's a great amp.

 

[Duke21]

What's up with that power output thing I'm hearing about? Is it as loud as a 450W amp?

I mean I don't really care if the electrical output is lower than advertised, as long as it is as loud as a 450W amp. I'm only getting a new amp because the 300W Ashdown MAG EVO II I got is too quiet and it sounded like crap when I cranked it up.

I'm too lazy to search and scroll through and reading the debates.

It is 236W, If you are too lazy to read the debates, which contains lots of interesting material, then you should not care to hear more than that this amp is loud.

 

[naruki]

It is 236W, If you are too lazy to read the debates, which contains lots of interesting material, then you should not care to hear more than that this amp is loud.

Yes exactly, thank you. If its louder than my 300W Ashdown amp then, perfect.

What about fuzzes/distortions through the 450H?

 

[GrowlerBox]

I went through the threads before. Skimmed through the posts. Something about the electrical output not being 450W, more like 253W or something, but in terms of perceived output, its as loud as a 450W?

Short answer, yes.

Longer answer ... it's complicated. It is very much a "character" amp, if you like. I am a very long way from expert regarding all tube amps, but in my view, the pre-amp/APM interaction does something quite tubey. The mid-range distortion and compression in the lows and highs makes relatively little power (236W at 4 ohms, 130-something at 8 ohms) go a long way, which is where TCE felt justified (wrongly, in my view) in making their output claims. The RH750 is limited to the same output, but those who have used both attest to its being significantly louder than the 450, which is no slouch.

It works wonders with my EUB, lending it much of the growl and complex overtones of my double bass. It is useable with double bass, but I prefer using my Markbass F1 with a high-impedance preamp. For BG, I'm leaning back towards the F1 from the RH450, but right now, it's because I'm liking the more open-ended lows and highs; this will no doubt change again.

Part of the beauty of the RH450 is all the added features, like Tubetone (and great EQ, good on board compressor, excellent tuner, one of the best DIs around). This gives me all the overdrive I'll ever need, but this is very much a matter of taste. For my money, putting fuzz in front of it would be beside the point.

I haven't used Ashdown, but their reputation is for solid rock amps; I think you might like the RH-amps. Certainly worth an audition, IMHO.

 

[Duke21]

Yes exactly, thank you. If its louder than my 300W Ashdown amp then, perfect.

What about fuzzes/distortions through the 450H?

Well, I do not own this amp, and I actually can't recall this point mentioned before. Well, you should just hope that one of the TC owners can answer you. I guess the TC amp should cope well with a fuzz if it's tube sim as as good some of the TC users claims.

 

[RickenBoogie]

OP is asking about LOUD, but doesn't mention what cabs are being used with his current amp. More than likely, adding speakers to the current rig will get the volume he seeks faster than swapping a 450 watt amp for a 300 watt amp, or whatever.

 

[naruki]

OP is asking about LOUD, but doesn't mention what cabs are being used with his current amp. More than likely, adding speakers to the current rig will get the volume he seeks faster than swapping a 450 watt amp for a 300 watt amp, or whatever.

I'm using the cab in my college's jam room. Dont really know the exact model buy it's an Ampeg, looks like an SVT-810AV. It's a little old though.

I haven't used Ashdown, but their reputation is for solid rock amps; I think you might like the RH-amps. Certainly worth an audition, IMHO.

I have used the Ashdown before and I liked i but I didn't cranked it up though. Then I bought my own and it sounds good but now that I have to crank it up, eww.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Since we don't even know if that 810 cab is fully working, we can't say if any amp will be loud enough. Are all the drivers working, or are a few blown? And we have no idea how loud you're jamming.

See if you can borrow an RH450. It's extremely loud. If it doesn't do what you need, then perhaps it's a problem with the cabinet. Or you're trying to play loud enough for a stadium.

 

[tombowlus]

Most people agree that its a very loud amp. Tom Bowlus said something about it being the punchiest 450 watts he's heard, in his review of it. I've played it in person and it definitely didn't sound like it was lacking. Then again I wasn't cranking it to its limits. Personally, I think it's a great amp.

Actually, that was Vic Serbe who said that in his review of the RH450, but I've had a similar experience gigging with the RH450. Despite its 236-watt peak, it certain does feel/sound like a 450-watt amp on the gig, IME.

 

[mtb777]

Since we don't even know if that 810 cab is fully working, we can't say if any amp will be loud enough. Are all the drivers working, or are a few blown? And we have no idea how loud you're jamming.

See if you can borrow an RH450. It's extremely loud. If it doesn't do what you need, then perhaps it's a problem with the cabinet. Or you're trying to play loud enough for a stadium.

If your doing the stadium then perhaps you might look at the TC Blacksmith!

 

[CrackBass]

All the loud and not loud comments aside (It is really loud. Damn you TC!)

Am I the only one here who feels that using an overdrive or fuzz with an RH450 is kind of useless. I would invest in the footswitch before I bought an overdrive for that amp. Then you would have 3 presets that could be as distorted or as clean as you like. If you're into that, the amp has enough gain to cop old Primus, and Sabbath tones.

 

[fretno]

All the loud and not loud comments aside (It is really loud. Damn you TC!)

Am I the only one here who feels that using an overdrive or fuzz with an RH450 is kind of useless. I would invest in the footswitch before I bought an overdrive for that amp. Then you would have 3 presets that could be as distorted or as clean as you like. If you're into that, the amp has enough gain to cop old Primus, and Sabbath tones.

Excellent idea , yeah more OD than what it already offers is not really needed is it .

 

[naruki]

Well I managed to score an as new demo Streamliner 600 for $525 on eBay so umm yeah. Thanks anyways guys.

 

[GrowlerBox]

Am I the only one here who feels that using an overdrive or fuzz with an RH450 is kind of useless.

Umm, no.

Part of the beauty of the RH450 is all the added features, like Tubetone (and great EQ, good on board compressor, excellent tuner, one of the best DIs around). This gives me all the overdrive I'll ever need, but this is very much a matter of taste. For my money, putting fuzz in front of it would be beside the point.

 

[arai]

How is the RH450 (and the TubeTone) like with effects? Especially fuzzes and distortions.

Also, what's up with that power output thing I'm hearing about? Is it as loud as a 450W amp?

I mean I don't really care if the electrical output is lower than advertised, as long as it is as loud as a 450W amp. I'm only getting a new amp because the 300W Ashdown MAG EVO II I got is too quiet and it sounded like crap when I cranked it up.

I'm too lazy to search and scroll through and reading the debates.

Edit: I'm using the cab in my college's jam room. Dont really know the exact model buy it's an Ampeg, looks like an SVT-810AV. It's a little old though.

I have gone from using a 440 watt SS amp to the RH450. It is louder IMO.
I play in a pretty hard out band and have used 3 different dirt pedals for years. One for mild gain another for a tad more and the last for full on fuzz.
I use the tube tone for my mild gain pedal now. Love it.

I have found the RH450 fine with the pedals. nothing to different then with the SS amp. But I did notice if I had the spectra comp on with the full on fuzz it cut some of the highs off, if I have the pedals output volume too high.