TC Electronics RebelHead 450 - Rebel with a Cause

[Psychicpet]

yep, it doesn't have the feature that makes a person play better instantly so I guess I can understand all of the "non-wow" comments.

 

[superbassman2000]

A little bit disappointed with this...
I was expecting a feature which would make us all go "Oh wow, I can't believe that hasn't been done before!" but instead its just a good amp head with lights and a semi-parametric EQ.
Hopefully it will be a good, high quality addition to the market, but it really isn't revolutionary. Still Eminence speakers in the cabs just like every other cab and his dog...

Hmmm...

+1
they made such a big deal about it and it seems like the only thing they do here that hasn't been done is put a tuner in the amp...thats not revolutionary at all. The head still looks nice though--it does seem a lot like that one yamaha amp though...just too hyped

 

[Aram]

Think about it, though, the iPhone didn't do anything revolutionary either...it just took existing technology and rolled it all together in an elegant package, and did a good job of it. In that sense, I'd liken this amp to the iPhone.

If this thing operates as well as my iPhone, I'd be sold.

 

[lefty007]

1-The iPhone analogy is hilarious. Somebody in the Danish marketing department said, "heks, diz ampz zis as kool zas my iPhone!" and they ran with it, not understanding that there is nothing in coming between an iPhone and the new bass amp, besides that both are cool. They should have hired an American marketing firm.

2-Price will be an issue here. It looks like the head is at least $1000, and the cabs will be something like $700. Many gigging, working players can't afford that.

3-Why don't manufacturers puts wheels and a dolly in their cabs? No matter what the weight is, even 38 pounds is heavy if you have to walk a block from your car to the club, or from you car to your apartment.

4-When they had the teaser ad, I thought this was going to be the most complete bass amp out there (taking it from the iPhone reference), but, no effects? Being T.C. Electronics, I expected at least a handful of effects built-in.


Not impressed, at all. It looks cool, though, almost like an iPhone. . .

 

[Aram]

As hilarious / non-analogous as it may be to the iPhone, it got everyone here talking about it over several threads, so the creative did its job.

 

[synterx]

This is exactly what Line 6 should be releasing. For a non-bass company to show up with this well-thought of a complete package is pretty cool. Imagine they take this one more step, and build a X2-like wireless digital receiver right into the head, with a compartment where the transmitter slips into for storage and re-charging. One box, pop out the transmitter, and you have everything!

I love this integrated stuff. I'd have to agree though, if this 450w head is really $1K, and each cab is $700, then forget it. It's just too much money to pick up any kind of steam in the market. And honestly, my old band had some of the worst times with our TC effects rack gear ever. The guitarists $1400 FX unit broke constantly, actually melted the display down at one point, and it was awful getting replacements. Our FX rack units in our p.a. were the same. It was disappointing because these things cost a fortune and looked so cool.

Again, if Line 6 did this, they'd have a huge hit. But coming from a new-comer to the bass amp market, I'd wait quite a while before even considering a system.

 

[tombowlus]

I just saw this last night at the Eminence booth:

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One of the drivers in each of the cabs features a coaxial tweeter. They look pretty slick!

Tom.

 

[Andy Brown]

As hilarious / non-analogous as it may be to the iPhone, it got everyone here talking about it over several threads, so the creative did its job.

+1

Good buzz or bad buzz is all good in Marketing

 

[lefty007]

As hilarious / non-analogous as it may be to the iPhone, it got everyone here talking about it over several threads, so the creative did its job.

True that, no doubt.

BTW, the $1K for the head and $700 for cab was pure speculation; I have no real idea how much these product will actually cost.

And another negative that I see is that there is no handle if you want to carry the cabs vertically.

 

[Aram]

So far the only letdown for me is the lack of 2ohm stability...don't know why there aren't more lightweight heads that can pull that off. Seems like AI and (maybe) EA are the only ones.

 

[Smallequestrian]

So far the only letdown for me is the lack of 2ohm stability...don't know why there aren't more lightweight heads that can pull that off. Seems like AI and (maybe) EA are the only ones.

Because most of the lightweight amps are using the same power module (ICE brand Don't remember the model number) which is technically internally bridged to 4 ohms.

 

[Aram]

Because most of the lightweight amps are using the same power module (ICE brand Don't remember the model number) which is technically internally bridged to 4 ohms.

Yeah that's what I've gathered -- hoping new version of the EA Micro will be stable at 2ohms.

 

[synterx]

Did you see the killer ATA cases? Imagine rolling up (literally) with that cool double cab stack in the case. That is cool! It would be cooler to have a spot for the head, floorboard and empty space for stuff all built into the one travel case. Roll and go!

I like this system, it's an integrated beauty. The tall skinny cabs on top of each other would take some getting used to, but it's cool. I'm digging it.

 

[fokof]

The iPhone analogy is;
What they haven't told us yet is that you can download some firmware updates and transform this bass amp to a Sousaphone amp , trombone amp and even Baryton sax amp.
The integrated tuner is a direct ripoff from the iPhone







Seriously being in the market for a small amp , I'd go this route ;http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=503371

 

[2x4strgkramers]

Insulated camel pack with Martini mix inside. Looks like a back pack but it is a insulated bag that holds most any drinkable fluids known to man. Lots of marines and other soldiers have them for field use.

i'm serious!! i know we need one at our gig.. we play an overpriced martini club, none of us can afford the drinks there. we have talked about it it, but we're trying to come up with a solution. LOL

 

[bassbrock]

Subscribed to find out price.

 

[synaesthesia]

Nice. I want one.

I would have, however, fitted a 1/8" socket instead of the RCA inputs; and that is the feature I am least impressed with; and would dispense with. It lumps the thing in the practice amp category which I think the product does not need.

the iPhone tie up is obviously a corporate mutual back scratch, but it establishes their target market - which from the videos I 've seen, seems to ignore the upright players.

 

[Milothicus]

i think MarkBass was the last world-turning bass amp revolution, and i don't think there will be any more.

isn't that what they said when the first solid state amps were released? there's always room for another giant leap.

 

[SebbyNC]

It's not world-turning revolutionary, but i think MarkBass was the last world-turning bass amp revolution, and i don't think there will be any more.

I think there's a new revolutionary thing from MarkBass, in the name of MoMark. It's an amp head made of 3 exchangeable stage modules : preamp stage, EQ stage, power stage. Each module can be of different type (transistor or tube preamp or power amp, different types of EQs, etc...) that you can assemble according to your own needs, so you can tailor your own amp. I was presented last year at MusicMesse:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=416116&highlight=momark

That is revolutionary I think!

 

[superbassman2000]

I would think pricewise, it'd have to compete with the LMII and the shuttle, so I would expect they should have a price of around 700 shouldn't they?
i mean, come on--I can get a LMII and a tuner for 600