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TC Electronics Rebel RH450 First Impressions

#21
Glad this thread isn't total hype city.

I'm gonna be very into trying this product if I ever need to upgrade my rig.

the only things that I don't have are a built in tuner, sectracomp, and isolated transformer...but I could be wrong.

I can only imagine what this head will do for new product design though.
 
#26
Keep this thread on topic. As the TV RH450 is a new head, everyone wants to know more about it so this thread will stay open. Anyone causing trouble like was here earlier today will find themselves on vacation from TalkBass.
 
#28
Been a while since I first posted on this thread but thought I would post here since it was where I started talking about the product. After a few delays have finally had a chance to gig with the Rh450 along with a 212 cabinet. First thing that struck me was how awesome the carry bag is, really comfortable to wear and doesn't get in the way when carrying the speaker in. Easy load in gets a tick from me. I ran the head with the eq flat and found the sound loud and fairly heavy on the bottom end. The top end seemed fairly pillowy (Could be the tube emulation) and the sound is defineately not uncoloured, not that it claims to be. I really liked the tube emulation, especially for dialling in a little grit, and even slightly on, the tube emulation reminded me a little of the upper frequencies of a DB750 (hence the previous pillowy comment). The head projects a good response in the mids and with the spectracomp turned up you can defineatley hear the compression kick in, so I favoured this at a minimal setting. I also used the 212 with a db750 on a medium sized gig and found they didn't pair as well. I think the DB750 works on a cab that sounds a little more open, which didn't seem to be the case here. I plan to post some clips with the eq at various settings when I get a chance.
 
#29
Mine just got delivered yesterday.
RH450 head, 2 RS210 cabs and an RC4 foot controller.
This is without a doubt THE best bass amp I have EVER used, the tones and quality are second to none!
I've dialled in 3 pretty great memories (including one with compression) but I can't get used to what the Shift button actually does!
Is it so you can store 2 EQ's on one memory?

100_0006.jpg
 
#30
Esulatell said:
Mine just got delivered yesterday.
RH450 head, 2 RS210 cabs and an RC4 foot controller.
This is without a doubt THE best bass amp I have EVER used, the tones and quality are second to none!
I've dialled in 3 pretty great memories (including one with compression) but I can't get used to what the Shift button actually does!
Is it so you can store 2 EQ's on one memory?

100_0006.jpg
Click to expand...

The "Shift" key toggles the settings you can edit.

When Shift is "on", the GAIN becomes the compression setting, the tone controls become the center frequency you are adjusting, and the TUBETONE becomes the overall output level for the patch.
 
#32
I messed around with this head at Bass Emporium... I like it alot nice and small and GREAT tone.
I too am a Plug and Play type of bassist and this head has a TON of options to it if your so inclined with all the various gadgets.
For 450 watts it is very loud and clear and very well designed.
I didn't get to play with the cabinets but they looked different and unique.. They had a 2 12 cabinet there.
I especially liked the tube emulator.. very well done.
I give it a two thumbs up for sure.
If your looking for a SOLID adjustable head this bass has GOT to be on your short list.
I also think that the price is solid for what you get, try it out you'll love it.
 
#33
Krügmeister;7468983 said:
I messed around with this head at Bass Emporium... I like it alot nice and small and GREAT tone.
I too am a Plug and Play type of bassist and this head has a TON of options to it if your so inclined with all the various gadgets.
For 450 watts it is very loud and clear and very well designed.
I didn't get to play with the cabinets but they looked different and unique.. They had a 2 12 cabinet there.
I especially liked the tube emulator.. very well done.
I give it a two thumbs up for sure.
If your looking for a SOLID adjustable head this bass has GOT to be on your short list.
I also think that the price is solid for what you get, try it out you'll love it.
Click to expand...

Hi Krügmeister, I checked your talkbass profile and saw that you've previously owned a Markbass F1. Could you make a comparison? I'm undecided whether to buy an F500 or a RH 450...
 
#34
I think that they have done something special with the power on this amp because I have been playing about 4 nights a week with this and had it LOUD on many occasions and it never gets hot. Just keeps pumping out great volume with no weirdness. I was a Thunderfunk owner before this and this amp is a little darker in tone but is 7 lbs. lighter and half the size. And my Thunderfunk was my favorite EVER and this amp is very comparable in the basic tone category and has way more features with the programable settings. The preset making option rocks! I have a Ampeg 6 x 10 HLF as my backline for a casino gig I play regularly and this RH450 just sounds great through it. Plenty of power to drive that cab and so much more. I just pack the amp in my bass bag and carry it on my flights. No more pain in the ass rack set-ups for the airline to toss around and damage. And in response to the Markbass question earlier, I do not think that their amps are in the same class as this TC Electronic RH450 is. Just a more sophisticated design and feature set built for a pro level bass sound.

My 2 cents

Cheers

Clark-

Link Removed
 
#35
I would say that the F1 is a great little amp for it's size, it has a great tone and it SUPER easy to fit into gig bags and small pockets.
The RH450 is almost as small and it almost as portable, the BIGGEST difference is the MASSIVE amounts of flexibility the RH450 has.
The RH450 has usable compression, and has dead on tube emulation in preamp and power tube output.
Both really can pound out the sound for thier size, the RH450 has more adjustibilty and can become a totally different sounding amp with the push of a button.
If you need portabilty it is hard to deny the F1 as the best "tiny" amp.
If you can swing the slightly extra storage space and the extra cash it would be hard to not recommend the RH450.
TC I think hit the nail on the head with this amp, I was at first a tad worried that the 450 watts were a tad on the lower scale but after beating on this baby it produces a nice warm tone at amazing levels (through the NV610, NV412, AE410)
I would grab one of these but I am currently in Mesa heaven and don't have the extra cash for yet another head :(
 
#37
I also bought one of these heads and think it's absolutely awesome. I didn't buy the cabs, I play it through either a pair of SWR Goliath Jrs or a Goliath 410. It slams. The compressor is excellent, the tuner is great and it makes tones everywhere from grindy to hifi. I've owned a whole buncha gear over the last 30 years, and this is hands-down the best bass rig I've ever used.
 
#38
Have been doing a lot of gigs with this rig so I'll recount a few more of my experiences.

I have found myself using the adjustable eq more than I thought I would. I find on a reggae gig I do that I adjust the frequency of the bass knob and the low mids a little so I can dial in a fat bottom that isn't too boomy. For this gig I favour the 212 way over the 10's. The tens sound great complementing the 12's but don't cut it as much on their own, whereas the 12's are fine on their own (to me anyways).

Having said that, on a regular jazz gig I do I have been taking the 10's as it is a smaller venue and the 10's are a lot easier to carry than the 12's. Which brings me to my main gripe-the placement of the handles. The 210 is light enough to carry in one hand but the handles are placed so high that it is quite uncomfortable to do so. When carrying the 212 with the handles (2 hands) being so high the bottom of the cab sits below your waist. The finish on the cabs is quite rough so it can scuff up your clothes a little. Having said that I totally love the carry bag the head comes in, trendy (we need to look good right...) and really logical. Sits on your side so you can carry your cab and bass on your back. One load in - great.

I found for a while I forgot about the tuner as I rummaged around looking for my tuner in my bag! The built in tuner is awesome.

The next feature I wasn't even aware of till I needed it. I showed up to a gig and I had forgotten my speakon. After asking around and searching I couldn't find a speakon. I had thought I was going to have to go direct until I saw you could plug a speaker cable into the middle of the speakon plug (this isn't standard I presume...). Was very impressed with this discovery.

Still haven't had time to post any clips but once I have some down time (if) I'll try to get them up. Overall I've been really impressed with the head. I've heard the head against some other brands of lightweight heads and it is in a totally different league tonally.
 
#40
The older speakon's did not have the center doubling as a 1/4 inch plug. And the speakon connectors on the TC cabs do not have it either. They have a separate 1/4 connectors. I think this is a special TC Electronic connector on their amp that saves them space doubling up the two for so little room on this small amp. And 1/4 in Mogami spreaker cables sound better anyway than the stock HOSA speakon's. I A/B ed on a gig and just heard a totally more open string sound with clear highs and mids coming through much better with no bottom mud. Turns thud into punch!

Cheers

Link Removed
 

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