Rebel 20 vs rebel 30 vs renegade

[Daavvt]

Hi all,
I have a rebel 20 head (for the past 6 months or so) and i like it a lot. I really enjoy the versatility. What i am looking for in an upgrade is primarily channel switching and reverb (although i am not adverse to putting a reverb pedal in the FX loop). Feature-wise the renegade seems perfect for me, and i am pretty much ready to pull the trigger there once i find the right deal. What i am most curious about is any difference in tone quality between the rebel 20 and the other two models. I understand this is subjective, but since i will likely have to buy unseen and try these out myself, it would give me something to work with. I am looking for two tones, a nice chimey/shimmering clean with a bit of grit, and a barky, agressive crunch.

Along those lines, any other suggestions on different amps to compare with in the same price range would be interesting, i am looking at spending $600-1100 used (happy to get something in the lower end of this spectrum, as i could pull the trigger on that now, rather than sell more things and wait). Ideally looking at a head, with channel switching I've been looking at:

budda SD II 30
Laney Lionheart R20
marshall 18 watt clones
60's fenders

Thanks,
Daav

 

[dieselmx]

Hey Daavvat,

I was in the same boat as you. I had the Rebel 20 and a Marshall 2x12 cab ... I wanted to go bigger and more options but not sacrifice the awesome tone of that little guy. After 1 year of owning the rebel, I sold it and bought a brand new renegade on here from a user for $750. I couldn't be happier. Any tone that I could get out of the rebel 20, I can get on the renegade plus way more options, reverb, bass, mid, treb on both channels and the tight & bright switching on both channels as well. Also has Density and Presence knobs for each channel.

I still get the Plush shimmering cleans and can get to grit and a nasty good overdrive section on the renegade. The renegade has so much more power as well, this thing can make you deaf .. haha. I run the nova system through the effects loop and the sound is crazy good.

I tried out the rebel 30 but it seemed just like the rebel 20 but with a speaker. Not as much options as the renegade plus the renegade is not that much more.

Once I upgraded to the renegade, I havent missed the rebel at all (actually he only thing i miss is how light it was haha.) The Renegade is pretty heavy but built like a tank!

Let me know if you have any other questions as I upgraded like you.

 

[ramblin390]

Hey Daavvat,

I was in the same boat as you. I had the Rebel 20 and a Marshall 2x12 cab ... I wanted to go bigger and more options but not sacrifice the awesome tone of that little guy. After 1 year of owning the rebel, I sold it and bought a brand new renegade on here from a user for $750. I couldn't be happier. Any tone that I could get out of the rebel 20, I can get on the renegade plus way more options, reverb, bass, mid, treb on both channels and the tight & bright switching on both channels as well. Also has Density and Presence knobs for each channel.

I still get the Plush shimmering cleans and can get to grit and a nasty good overdrive section on the renegade. The renegade has so much more power as well, this thing can make you deaf .. haha. I run the nova system through the effects loop and the sound is crazy good.

I tried out the rebel 30 but it seemed just like the rebel 20 but with a speaker. Not as much options as the renegade plus the renegade is not that much more.

Once I upgraded to the renegade, I havent missed the rebel at all (actually he only thing i miss is how light it was haha.) The Renegade is pretty heavy but built like a tank!

Let me know if you have any other questions as I upgraded like you.

Glad you're happy with me old renegade-I still have my 1/2 stack Renegade

 

[Len Rabinowitz]

You know, I am a Tourmaster guy, but if it were me I think I would go with the Rebel 30 2 X12 combo if I were to do something like that.

The Rebel 30 has the silent record out. That's a nice feature.

It seems to me that I have heard more about Renegade problems then Rebel problems, but that may be a subjective impression.

I think it is a little lighter then the Renegade.

I think it is a little more vintage sounding, while the Renegade is more modern sounding.

 

[Steedee]

You know, I am a Tourmaster guy, but if it were me I think I would go with the Rebel 30 2 X12 combo if I were to do something like that.

The Rebel 30 has the silent record out. That's a nice feature.

It seems to me that I have heard more about Renegade problems then Rebel problems, but that may be a subjective impression.

I think it is a little lighter then the Renegade.

I think it is a little more vintage sounding, while the Renegade is more modern sounding.

^
No doubt about it. There is nothing modern sounding about the Rebel.
Hi gain yes, but still vintage sounding.

 

[Audioholic]

I dig the Rebel 30's clean channel, to me its a bit more chimey then the Renegades. Renegades clean is very nice, just a little darker. I however prefer the drive sound on the renegade. Wonder sounding drive. I also like the drive on the rebel 30, but its more vintage voiced, where as I think the drive on the renegade is a bit more versatile. both very 3d sounding.

so I think I would rank them as they are priced.

 

[hbucker]

"a nice chimey/shimmering clean with a bit of grit, and a barky, agressive crunch"

I get both of these with my Renegade. For sure the clean tones you describe. How "barky" you like it is up to you. I use the tube mix feature to dial these tones in even more, 6l6 for clean and el34 for more bark.

It is a fair question though because these amps do all sound different.

 

[Daavvt]

Thanks very much for all the input, this is really helpful, I hear both side, i think the Renegade overall should be my first to try.

Sold an amp today, guitar last week, perhaps another guitar this week, then of course there is the mater of selling the rebel 20. Should be able to fund this soon as a good price comes along.

Thanks again!

Daav

 

[Len Rabinowitz]

Why not try to keep the Rebel 20 if you can? Might give you the best of both worlds.