TC Electronics RebelHead 450 - Rebel with a Cause

[Tom7]

IMO, there is absolutely no reason to change EQ settings going from slap to fingerstyle. If you have the need to do that, it's a woodshed issue. I don't think I've ever turned a knob on stage after the gig starts, other than maybe adding a bit of bass boost with my on-board pre for certain tunes (maybe 10% boost).

We are all different though, so purely IMO. However, the idea that you would have to have radically different EQ for different playing styles is a little strange to me. I guess I could see the use of a distortion pedal for some styles, but beyond that, I don't quite get it.

Again, just IMO and a different perspective I guess.

Point taken on the wood shed comment.

I've been trying to emphasize, though, that it is the COMPRESSION that I'd like to apply with a quick touch of a button though.

As for adjusting the rig, playing cover songs, where the original recordings have a wide variety of tones on the bass, is probably the main reason I'm trading out basses and fiddling with settings. It's fun, for example, to nail Smooth Operator's distinct bass tone, then play Red Hot Chile Peppers version of Higher Ground on the very next song and have my bass(es) and rig make the leap, sonically speaking.

 

[KJung]

Point taken on the wood shed comment.

I've been trying to emphasize, though, that it is the COMPRESSION that I'd like to apply with a quick touch of a button though.

As for adjusting the rig, playing cover songs, where the original recordings have a wide variety of tones on the bass, is probably the main reason I'm trading out basses and fiddling with settings. It's fun, for example, to nail Smooth Operator's distinct bass tone, then play Red Hot Chile Peppers version of Higher Ground on the very next song and have my bass(es) and rig make the leap, sonically speaking.

+1 I just enjoy the discussion on this stuff. We all have different approaches. And trust me, the woodshed sees a LOT of my time, with frustratingly subtle results

 

[greenboy]

"I don't use it, therefore nobody else who is halfways decent should want to use it either."

Bad bad TC Electronics! - go stand in the corner!!! Not only did you include that naughty compression - but you have the ability to change EQ/presets too!

Reminds me: nobody should ever need any more than 640K.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

"I don't use it, therefore nobody else who is halfways decent should want to use it either."

Bad bad TC Electronics! - go stand in the corner!!! Not only did you include that naughty compression - but you have the ability to change EQ/presets too!

Reminds me: nobody should ever need any more than 640K.

I think you're taking people's opinions out of context or maybe you're just stirring the pot.

 

[greenboy]

Oh? So my opinion shouldn't be stated? I think what I boiled it down to has been inferred. And the inferences continued, mentioning several other products that anecdotally are similar somehow, and without corroborating evidence they were deemed inferior.

These lines of reasoning are sure to give a fair shake to the new product.

Not.

 

[KJung]

"I don't use it, therefore nobody else who is halfways decent should want to use it either."

Bad bad TC Electronics! - go stand in the corner!!! Not only did you include that naughty compression - but you have the ability to change EQ/presets too!

Reminds me: nobody should ever need any more than 640K.

That was obviously not my point... although..... well.....

Hey, that's what the IMO is for!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Oh? So my opinion shouldn't be stated? I think what I boiled it down to has been inferred. And the inferences continued, mentioning several other products that anecdotally are similar somehow, and without corroborating evidence they were deemed inferior.

These lines of reasoning are sure to give a fair shake to the new product.

Not.

Actually, I was just stating an opinion as well.

The product gets a fair shake when it's played. So far people haven't been thrilled with the amp. If you get one, I'd love to hear your opinion.

 

[greenboy]

The product gets a fair shake when it's played. So far people haven't been thrilled with the amp. If you get one, I'd love to hear your opinion.

You've heard my opinion. Just like you've heard some opinions from others who haven't used the item in question. I don't plan on getting one. I don't care. But don't point the "pot stirrer" thing at me unless you plan on using it.

I do note that a lot of bad press around here gets generated as if "different" ideas themselves were bad. That does seem to influence some people to form opinions when playing with unfamiliar gear in a less than complimentary fashion that may not allow those people to familiarize with the newer concepts and leverage them well.

Peer acceptance seems to be real big in these circles. I'd just hate to see recividicist biases get in the way of fair shakes and a longer-term appraisal.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You've heard my opinion. Just like you've heard some opinions from others who haven't used the item in question. I don't plan on getting one. I don't care. But don't point the "pot stirrer" thing at me unless you plan on using it.

I do note that a lot of bad press around here gets generated as if "different" ideas themselves were bad. That does seem to influence some people to form opinions when playing with unfamiliar gear in a less than complimentary fashion that may not allow those people to familiarize with the newer concepts and leverage them well.

Peer acceptance seems to be real big in these circles. I'd just hate to see recividicist biases get in the way of fair shakes and a longer-term appraisal.

Don't worry, I know you're not into peer acceptance.

 

[greenboy]

Don't worry, I know you're not into peer acceptance.

Not at the expense of progress, no. There are already tons of products that meet status quo approval. But we are in a period where expansion is technologically practical. That's already resulted in some nice lightweight mini heads. I say the more companies trying to take it farther, the better.

 

[NickyBass]

I've been trying to emphasize, though, that it is the COMPRESSION that I'd like to apply with a quick touch of a button though.

Have you looked into going outboard? If you're not sold on the TC and dig the tone of your amp, there are alot of great pedals out there. I know it's one more thing to carry and set up, but if you're not thrilled with the tone, you can always swap out another pedal that does thrill you. You could even pick up a stompbox pre to switch up the tone.

It's just another option. I'm not trying to talk you out of the TC.

 

[greenboy]

I probably would have stopped at two-band compression because it seems to be easy to work with for bass guitar.

 

[peterpalmieri]

But don't point the "pot stirrer" thing at me unless you plan on using it.

That "pot stirrer" thing you're referring to.... is that what we sometimes refer to as a spoon?

Seriously go back and read these posts your referring to they for the most part have the standard 'IMO' disclaimer language....

 

[greenboy]

Seriously go back and read these posts your referring to they for the most part have the standard 'IMO' disclaimer language....

And? So I can't then say that perhaps there are some ideas being implied or stated fully that I don't quite agree with? My god, out comes the semantics and disclaimers squad! What a waste. It's real obvious what the opinions are, and who said them. And with Ken, I know I can talk about the actual product and its implications without spending more time on this bent. This isn't the small print section in some infomercial.

 

[peterpalmieri]

And? So I can't then say that perhaps there are some ideas being implied or stated fully that I don't quite agree with? My god, out comes the semantics and disclaimers squad! What a waste. It's real obvious what the opinions are, and who said them. And with Ken, I know I can talk about the actual product and its implications without spending more time on this bent. This isn't the small print section in some infomercial.

Actually what you said was this -

"I don't use it, therefore nobody else who is halfways decent should want to use it either."

Bad bad TC Electronics! - go stand in the corner!!! Not only did you include that naughty compression - but you have the ability to change EQ/presets too!

Reminds me: nobody should ever need any more than 640K..

If you have an opinion state it don't mock other people and twist their words into something they are not!

If you want to call out Ken or Cybersnyder on their statements quote them directly and your counter opinion.

 

[Tom7]

Have you looked into going outboard? If you're not sold on the TC and dig the tone of your amp, there are alot of great pedals out there. I know it's one more thing to carry and set up, but if you're not thrilled with the tone, you can always swap out another pedal that does thrill you. You could even pick up a stompbox pre to switch up the tone.

It's just another option. I'm not trying to talk you out of the TC.

I have not, but I might start looking closer.

The thing is, what attracts me about the TC is it is a THREE BAND compressor -- it compresses the highs, lows and mids separately. That makes so much sense to me, I don't know why it hasn't always been done that way.

In fact, you can just see it coming can't you: semi-parametric compression settings on amps.

Maybe someday there will be a Linux-based rack mounted preamp where the hardware is basically nothing but processing and input and output (including a small LCD), and everything is in the software, allowing us to upload updates to it.

With an idea like this, the amp (or preamp) would be platform instead of an appliance so we all could just buy whichever features we'd like to install on our rig -- and from competing vendors.

 

[greenboy]

I would never mock Ken. And fortunately he isn't of the persuasion to jump to that conclusion. You have your ways of saying something. That does not mean they should be mine.

That's like telling Monty Python that not everybody is an individual ; }

 

[KJung]

I would never mock Ken. And fortunately he isn't of the persuasion to jump to that conclusion. You have your ways of saying something. That does not mean they should be mine.

That's like telling Monty Python that not everybody is an individual ; }

It's all good. Innovative new gear brings out lot's of passion and strong opinions, which is a good thing!

Back to the real reviews, which should be coming in rapidly now that there are some of these rigs in TBer hands

 

[peterpalmieri]

I have not, but I might start looking closer.

The thing is, what attracts me about the TC is it is a THREE BAND compressor -- it compresses the highs, lows and mids separately. That makes so much sense to me, I don't know why it hasn't always been done that way.

In fact, you can just see it coming can't you: semi-parametric compression settings on amps.

Maybe someday there will be a Linux-based rack mounted preamp where the hardware is basically nothing but processing and input and output (including a small LCD), and everything is in the software, allowing us to upload updates to it.

With an idea like this, the amp (or preamp) would be platform instead of an appliance so we all could just buy whichever features we'd like to install on our rig -- and from competing vendors.

That's a really cool thought, although I'm not convinced an all digital interface is the best just yet. Even in an all digital recording environment the use of high quality analog preamps help to warm a signal before it enters the digital rhelm....

 

[greenboy]

It's all good. Innovative new gear brings out lot's of passion and strong opinions, which is a good thing!

Back to the real reviews, which should be coming in rapidly now that there are some of these rigs in TBer hands

Right on, Soul Brutha!