TC Electronics RebelHead 450 - Rebel with a Cause

[Passinwind]

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.

If you remove the Linux part, there are already many such devices in widespread use -- just mainly for PA applications. I've posted a few times about using the Rane RPM26z as a bass rig front end and EFX mixer. It works great if you're the type who's willing to invest some real time in dialing things in.

 

[greenboy]

Likewise, with Roland V-Bass my main preamp since 2003, and QSC DSP-4 in my rig for maybe a year.

 

[Eland]

I've tried the TC rig with one 10" cab and one 12" cab in the shop where I work and on a gig.

In the shop I have heard several other players with different styles and various basses.
At the gig there was another band using the amp, so I had the opportunity to hear it both from the stage and from the audience. I've even been on a gig where I was playing drums and I sat behind the speakers. In every instance the rig was fantastic!!!

I've tested it up against a lot of other amps including Mark Bass, Ashdown (My own), Ampeg, EBS and more. IMO it stood up against anything. It sounds different and it is a matter of taste if you like or not, but it really works. I liked it better than the Mark Bass....

I think it has a warm, full sound with a very good spread. My own cabs sound really good on some spots on the stage and really not so good at other. The TC sounded great everywhere with clean definition.
As a drummer it even sounded good from the behind because of the ports.
I couldn't hear the horn very much (If at all..) maybe the crossover frequency is very high... I play with old flat wounds.
And it is LOUD!

I'm a compressor-head. I have 9 or 10 of the best pedal compressors around and the ones in the Pod XT Live. The compressor in RH450 is better than any of them. Very clean, transparent, noiceless and musical. A lot of the bass players who had tried the amp in the shop haven't even noticed the compressor was on until I turned it off.

The linedriver really works. (It haven't worked probably in any of the amps I have owned)
The tuner is very good and easy to use. (I had to really concentrate on not looking at it though, as I was playing fretless at the gig ;-) Great to have the tuner display both on the amp and on the controller. I was playing a deep stage and I had the controller at the front of the stage.
The eq section works great and musical. I was able to trim out some unwanted resonances in the room without any fuzz and to add some "wood" to my frettless.
The preset came in handy as I was using two basses and the other guy was using a third. I would have like a few more presets (Maybe using the switch button to ad three more TC??)
The tube sim works up to a certain point adding a little grit to the tone. I think it sound artificial when you turn it up more than one third. Well if I want distortion, I'll use a distrotion pedal ( - From TC ;-)
I'm saving my money and selling (Some of) my gear to get the the Amp and two cabinets.

Kim

 

[Tom7]

I've tried the TC rig with one 10" cab and one 12" cab in the shop where I work and on a gig.

In the shop I have heard several other players with different styles and various basses.
At the gig there was another band using the amp, so I had the opportunity to hear it both from the stage and from the audience. I've even been on a gig where I was playing drums and I sat behind the speakers. In every instance the rig was fantastic!!!

I've tested it up against a lot of other amps including Mark Bass, Ashdown (My own), Ampeg, EBS and more. IMO it stood up against anything. It sounds different and it is a matter of taste if you like or not, but it really works. I liked it better than the Mark Bass....

I think it has a warm, full sound with a very good spread. My own cabs sound really good on some spots on the stage and really not so good at other. The TC sounded great everywhere with clean definition.
As a drummer it even sounded good from the behind because of the ports.
I couldn't hear the horn very much (If at all..) maybe the crossover frequency is very high... I play with old flat wounds.
And it is LOUD!

I'm a compressor-head. I have 9 or 10 of the best pedal compressors around and the ones in the Pod XT Live. The compressor in RH450 is better than any of them. Very clean, transparent, noiceless and musical. A lot of the bass players who had tried the amp in the shop haven't even noticed the compressor was on until I turned it off.

The linedriver really works. (It haven't worked probably in any of the amps I have owned)
The tuner is very good and easy to use. (I had to really concentrate on not looking at it though, as I was playing fretless at the gig ;-) Great to have the tuner display both on the amp and on the controller. I was playing a deep stage and I had the controller at the front of the stage.
The eq section works great and musical. I was able to trim out some unwanted resonances in the room without any fuzz and to add some "wood" to my frettless.
The preset came in handy as I was using two basses and the other guy was using a third. I would have like a few more presets (Maybe using the switch button to ad three more TC??)
The tube sim works up to a certain point adding a little grit to the tone. I think it sound artificial when you turn it up more than one third. Well if I want distortion, I'll use a distrotion pedal ( - From TC ;-)
I'm saving my money and selling (Some of) my gear to get the the Amp and two cabinets.

Kim

Kim, THANK YOU for taking the time and trouble to share your experience.

I must have watched every video about the RH450 on TC Electronic's website a half a dozen times each at least.

I was especially interested in what you wrote about the compressor. I was so impressed by it in the video that I immediately became dissatisfied with my three compressors (one a pedal and two on two of my amps).

Ideally though, I think I'd just like this feature set in a rack mount preamp so I can keep using my amp -- only with more presets. I LIKE your idea of using the shift key with the presets to double 'em.

I'd also like to have the option to turn off the tuner display.

Thanks again for the review.

I was on the verge of buying the SWR Marcus Miller preamp, but I'm kind of in a holding pattern now.

 

[Slaine01]

Kim, THANK YOU for taking the time and trouble to share your experience.

I must have watched every video about the RH450 on TC Electronic's website a half a dozen times each at least.

I was especially interested in what you wrote about the compressor. I was so impressed by it in the video that I immediately became dissatisfied with my three compressors (one a pedal and two on two of my amps).

Ideally though, I think I'd just like this feature set in a rack mount preamp so I can keep using my amp -- only with more presets. I LIKE your idea of using the shift key with the presets to double 'em.

I'd also like to have the option to turn off the tuner display.

Thanks again for the review.

I was on the verge of buying the SWR Marcus Miller preamp, but I'm kind of in a holding pattern now.

For what its worth I use the Miller Pre-amp and found it to be on-par with my DBX 160A with its compressor - and THAT is a big call!
Glad some people like the Rebelhead - always goes to show that just because someone doesnt "like" a product that doesnt mean it is bad, it just means it just doesnt "do it" for that player.
Nice review Eland.

 

[Smallequestrian]

My cab came today, but I was out of town. Its waiting for me at the office though. Hopefully I will have time to play through it a bit tomorrow night.

 

[fretlesssurfer]

You know, you could ask Steve for more info... he's posted in this thread at least once.

NO!!!! JK. I do love this amp, and I played a LOT of different ones over the last 18 months since I left Ampeg. I am not here to try to talk anyone into anything. Every amp i have seen mentioned here is excellent...
I think amps are like underwear. They just "fit" different folks, different ways. There are so many out there that are great, it is just a matter of finding what makes YOU comfortable....
Really, I have not played through an amp with which I cannot get a good sound. Ever... It is just that some are easier than others. Now, Volume.. that is another story.
I played through Jaco's Acoustic's.. that was tough, but he did ok with it ;-) SB

 

[Tom7]

NO!!!! JK. I do love this amp, and I played a LOT of different ones over the last 18 months since I left Ampeg. I am not here to try to talk anyone into anything. Every amp i have seen mentioned here is excellent...
I think amps are like underwear. They just "fit" different folks, different ways. There are so many out there that are great, it is just a matter of finding what makes YOU comfortable....
Really, I have not played through an amp with which I cannot get a good sound. Ever... It is just that some are easier than others. Now, Volume.. that is another story.
I played through Jaco's Acoustic's.. that was tough, but he did ok with it ;-) SB

Hopefully you can definitively and with authority answer a quick question for me: are the compressor settings saved in the memory presets? Or just the EQ and Tubetone settings? Cheers!

 

[Smallequestrian]

Well, its here. I really like the form factor and the looks. Seems to be about the listed weight. I know there was a few people that said after NAMM that they weren't sure how solid the cabs were, but this feels like rather substantial construction to me. Here is a pic for proof.

 

[NickyBass]

Wow, that's tiny. I'd love to hear how it sounds.

 

[MingusBass]

Well, its here. I really like the form factor and the looks. Seems to be about the listed weight. I know there was a few people that said after NAMM that they weren't sure how solid the cabs were, but this feels like rather substantial construction to me. Here is a pic for proof.

That thing looks sweet. You'll have to let me know how you like it.

 

[MingusBass]

One of the guys set up a RH450, RS210, and RS212 in our demo room.

I took a couple pictures with my cell phone. The one picture shows the difference from front to back between the 2x10 and the 2x12.

So far so good. I liked it better with the active Bartolini equipped Ibanez than the passive Fender Jazz. I'm sure it would kill with my Music Man basses.

 

[jimb213]

well, I finally got to plug into one today. It was the RH450 going into the 210 and the 212 stacked vertically. I didn't spend a ton of time on it 'cause I was on my lunch break, but overall it sounded pretty good. It got decently loud, I liked the compressor, and fiddling with the EQ was easy. And the tuner is great. The tube sim sounds pretty good up to a certain point, but I start to not like it too much if you crank it up too high.

Thy also had a Shuttle Max 6.0, so I plugged it into the same cabs to do a quick A/B, and I definitely preferred the Genz Benz. I had everything set flat on both amps, and just used the solid state channel on the GB; the Genz just sounded a bit more alive to me. It could simply be familiarity; I play on a GBE750, so the max 6.0 has essentially the same preamp that I've been using for two years now. But first impressions, without any major tweaking... I prefer the Genz Benz.

My apologies for not having a more detailed review; there's only so much I can do on my lunch break!

 

[Tom7]

One of the guys set up a RH450, RS210, and RS212 in our demo room.

I took a couple pictures with my cell phone. The one picture shows the difference from front to back between the 2x10 and the 2x12.

So far so good. I liked it better with the active Bartolini equipped Ibanez than the passive Fender Jazz. I'm sure it would kill with my Music Man basses.

Very informative, Mingus.

Can you give us an opinion on the sonic differences between the 12s and the 10s?

Also, could you do me a big favor and see if you can program the compressor into a memory preset?

I don't want to seem like a broken record with that, but it is a big deal for me and I haven't yet heard definitively that the compressor settings are saved in the presets.

It does look good; and it's great to hear it is solid as well.

 

[MingusBass]

Can you give us an opinion on the sonic differences between the 12s and the 10s?

Also, could you do me a big favor and see if you can program the compressor into a memory preset?

I don't want to seem like a broken record with that, but it is a big deal for me and I haven't yet heard definitively that the compressor settings are saved in the presets.

Both cabs sounded fairly similar but as you would expect the 12s had a little more booty. They filled the room pretty easily.

I can confirm that the each memory preset saves your compressor setting.

 

[Tom7]

Both cabs sounded fairly similar but as you would expect the 12s had a little more booty. They filled the room pretty easily.

I can confirm that the each memory preset saves your compressor setting.

Yes! Thank you, Andrew.

The 12s may have more booty, but the 10s are supposed to be quicker and deliver a crisper slap tone I've been led to believe.

 

[Bassflute]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=498552

IMHO of course.

Cheers,
Cameron

Kim, THANK YOU for taking the time and trouble to share your experience.

I must have watched every video about the RH450 on TC Electronic's website a half a dozen times each at least.

I was especially interested in what you wrote about the compressor. I was so impressed by it in the video that I immediately became dissatisfied with my three compressors (one a pedal and two on two of my amps).

Ideally though, I think I'd just like this feature set in a rack mount preamp so I can keep using my amp -- only with more presets. I LIKE your idea of using the shift key with the presets to double 'em.

I'd also like to have the option to turn off the tuner display.

Thanks again for the review.

I was on the verge of buying the SWR Marcus Miller preamp, but I'm kind of in a holding pattern now.

 

[Smallequestrian]

Well, got to fire it up tonight. I think it will do. With the Fathom set at the same levels as I normally play, its not quite as clear in the highs and upper mids as my Mesa 1x12, but I was really killing the highs on the amp. If I turn up the treble closer to noon, its clearer. It seems to handle the low B fine, but thats not a real concern for me as there isn't a single note in the set below E. The amp was still at the same gain and master settings as I had at my Saturday night gig, about 11 o'clock and it was definitely louder than the single 1x12.

I got scared at first because I thought everything was muddy and then I realized that the tone knob on the Skjold was all the way down

I think my 112 sounds a bit better, but its subjective, the difference isn't that big. I cranked up the master to about 2 o'clock (way louder than I need for my gigs) and it took all the juice and seem to have room to grow. Unfortunately some pictures started to rattle pretty badly and I didn't want to clean up glass, so that was my limit. Sound seemed fairly consistent as I turned up the volume.

I really liked the sound of my Fretless with it, while the Skjold P was its usual reliable self. I'll have to experiment some more, but I think this will work for me quite well.

Here is a pic...overall Its probably not that much bigger than my powerhouse 112 and it weighs less.

 

[fretlesssurfer]

Very informative, Mingus.

Can you give us an opinion on the sonic differences between the 12s and the 10s?

Also, could you do me a big favor and see if you can program the compressor into a memory preset?

I don't want to seem like a broken record with that, but it is a big deal for me and I haven't yet heard definitively that the compressor settings are saved in the presets.

It does look good; and it's great to hear it is solid as well.

Sorry for the delay, but looks like you got the answer. I rarely use compression live, so I had not programmed it in. The footswitch/programmability really comes in handy for me, though. I like the built in tuner, but my Peterson StroboFlip is what I bank my pitch on... but now I never have to worry about forgetting it, which i do a little too often. SB

 

[meekee73_2008]

Just got the email...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

ok guys, you'll find a nearly detailed review of both rh450 and rs212 on another thread (search something like "rebel head tryout") so i'm not going to annoy you repeating old stuff's

imho the bottom line with this head is that, as someone already said, it seems not to have good dynamics and the sound seems like a little flatten...kind of a bad compressor always on

but, as i already said, it's worth another try cause i didnt dig it that much since i've bought'em only few days ago

low mids quality is top notch and also the general volume the head and cabinet can handle seems really ok

i have the impression that, if you're kind of a walkinbass guy then these products can make your day, but if you dig in slapping and funky stuffs then my initial feel is that tc has not aimed to your point

more to come

Michele