Egnater Rebel

[jah279]

Hey guys,

This is my first post here at the Duncan forums, so I'd first off like to say hi! I am a huge gear-head, and I've started this thread to ask you guys a couple questions about an amp I've been eyeing recently.

I am interested in possibly buying an Egnater Rebel 20 Watt head to be run through my Epiphone Valve Junior Cab, and later at some point through the Egnater cab. Has anyone had any experience playing with these heads? From the sound clips I've heard online, they sound really good, and I love the idea of having 2 different kinds of power tubes with a knob to switch between them- seems like it would add a lot of versatility.

I play anything from classic rock to blues to metal (my Valveking can cover that pretty nicely). I'm looking into this head for more options and also for a nice smooth lead tone for solos. 20 watts is absolutely fine for me, I'll be playing and recording in my basement and hopefully some gigs soon (I can mic it up if I need to). From what I've read, it's a nice versatile amp with pretty good overdrive/distortion.

I currently have a Gibson Les Paul Classic, and I'm going to be getting a Fender Classic Player 60's Strat for Christmas (I'm psyched!!!!), so if anyone's played through it with a Strat or a Les Paul (or both), how does the amp respond to each?

So has anyone played it? Feedback on it? Pros and cons? Any information is appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[Sanford]

Re: Egnater Rebel

This thread and this one have some comments on my Rebel that was bought about a month ago. I've been enjoying the amp at home, but haven't done any recording or band situations. I've played my Strat and Epi Sheraton through it. The Strat has Fender custom shop singles and sounds great clean or a little dirty. The Epi had a 59/Jb set in it and the humbuckers really push the front end.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Egnater Rebel

, and I love the idea of having 2 different kinds of power tubes with a knob to switch between them- seems like it would add a lot of versatility.

It really doesn't. There's a bigger change in tone from turning the EQ or hitting the bright switch. The power tube change is, at least on the two Rebels I've played... one being the prototype at the NY amp show, fairly subtle. Not as drastic as changing say, a Boogie head from EL34 to 6L6's.

Frankly I was pretty underwhelmed by the Rebel & wanted to like it a lot. The one I played at GC was quick to impress but I felt like I was playing a POD, rather flat with no dynamics. I also couldn't get any type of clean sound out of it at a volume above conversational level... on either the GC or the prototype.

Both times I used a Lester with alnico II's... fairly low output pickups.

 

[jah279]

Re: Egnater Rebel

It really doesn't. There's a bigger change in tone from turning the EQ or hitting the bright switch. The power tube change is, at least on the two Rebels I've played... one being the prototype at the NY amp show, fairly subtle. Not as drastic as changing say, a Boogie head from EL34 to 6L6's.

Frankly I was pretty underwhelmed by the Rebel & wanted to like it a lot. The one I played at GC was quick to impress but I felt like I was playing a POD, rather flat with no dynamics. I also couldn't get any type of clean sound out of it at a volume above conversational level... on either the GC or the prototype.

Both times I used a Lester with alnico II's... fairly low output pickups.

Really? Well, I'll be going to GC at some point after Christmas to try it out, so I'll just have to judge for myself then!

Sanford: Thanks for the links! There's some good info in those threads.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Egnater Rebel

Really? Well, I'll be going to GC at some point after Christmas to try it out, so I'll just have to judge for myself then!

Indeed!

I'll admit to being a tone snot... and my tastes, while board are fairly well developed at this point.

I'd say bring your own guitar and go at a time of day when it's quiet... like early morning... and really spend some time with the thing.

I love single channel amps, but the Rebel flattened my right hand dynamics and wouldn't clean up when I rolled the guitar volume back. My little 9volt powered Fender cleans up better!!! It's a little gain machine... but that's all.

I also noticed a weird "choking" thing happening with sustained chords & notes... like there was a noise gate or something. Maybe the one I played was screwed up... I've already seen reports of dead Rebels.

 

[jah279]

Re: Egnater Rebel

Indeed!

I'll admit to being a tone snot... and my tastes, while board are fairly well developed at this point.

I'd say bring your own guitar and go at a time of day when it's quiet... like early morning... and really spend some time with the thing.

I love single channel amps, but the Rebel flattened my right hand dynamics and wouldn't clean up when I rolled the guitar volume back. My little 9volt powered Fender cleans up better!!! It's a little gain machine... but that's all.

I also noticed a weird "choking" thing happening with sustained chords & notes... like there was a noise gate or something. Maybe the one I played was screwed up... I've already seen reports of dead Rebels.

I've heard a couple of things about reliability, but I know a GREAT amp tech, so hopefully if anything goes wrong (if I do wind up buying it), he can fix it up.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Egnater Rebel

I've heard a couple of things about reliability, but I know a GREAT amp tech, so hopefully if anything goes wrong (if I do wind up buying it), he can fix it up.

That's not the point my homie g. Say you have a gig in a few days and ure amp starts acting up. You don't want to have to deal with that. I think its perhaps time that you graduated to a Fender type amp hehe, you'll be getting a strat soon so it'll pair up well for your blues tones. And with the LP and pedals, youll get classic rock pretty well. And you'll have your valveking for metal and heavier stuff. Perhaps a deluxe reverb will do you good, thats a sweet amp. Or you could go the Hot Rod/Blues Deluxe route those are sick amps with pedals. Hot Rod will be sweet for you I believe. tty soon man

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Egnater Rebel

Maybe the one I played was screwed up... I've already seen reports of dead Rebels.

It's quite possible. The one I tried had none of the issues you're talking about. Well, now... I did notice it got pretty flat when the wattage knob below half. I can't see myself really using the wattage control, maybe just to add a tiny bit of sag, but it started getting that lifeless starved plate sound.

All in all, though I really enjoyed it. I can see one of these little buggers in my future. The middle setting on the power tube knob(all 4 power tubes) has a certain richness to it I haven't encountered anywhere else. The cab, too is quite nice. I would say it's the biggest sound I've heard from a 1x12 cab. Very rich and with a nice thunk.