Renegade CH2 - modify the tone

[minor9]

Okay, I know there's been several threads on this subject, but I can't quite get my head around it.

I love the versatility and raw power of my Renegade, but I'm now in a situation with our band where the lead channel doesn't really match up with the songs we're playing.

I bought the amp knowing that it's more vintage flavoured, and maybe not optimal for modern rock/metal tones.. What I'm now looking for is a more distinct, percussive and singing tone; a powerful and heavily distorted tone that's "concentrated" and focused, not just raw distortion all over the place.

Just to give you a concrete example, we play a cover of this song where I have the lead part. I'm trying to get a similar tone to Vai's (distorted and "pinchy", but somehow clear and focused) but I don't know which way to go.. Buy a dist pedal to use on the clean channel, change preamp tubes, push CH2 with an OD boost? A combination of it all?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkC_gssRyyM

I play a PRS Custom 24 with the 59/09 PAF pickups, I also have a BB Preamp which is great for some light transparent crunch. Tried to push CH2 with it but the sound just get's messier (maybe I'm just bad at knob fiddling ). The Suhr Riot sounds like a great pedal for this type of sound, but I would like to believe that there's enough potential in this pretty little amp to not have to "cheat" with a pedal.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[muudrock]

Okay, I know there's been several threads on this subject, but I can't quite get my head around it.

I love the versatility and raw power of my Renegade, but I'm now in a situation with our band where the lead channel doesn't really match up with the songs we're playing.

I bought the amp knowing that it's more vintage flavoured, and maybe not optimal for modern rock/metal tones.. What I'm now looking for is a more distinct, percussive and singing tone; a powerful and heavily distorted tone that's "concentrated" and focused, not just raw distortion all over the place.

Just to give you a concrete example, we play a cover of this song where I have the lead part. I'm trying to get a similar tone to Vai's (distorted and "pinchy", but somehow clear and focused) but I don't know which way to go.. Buy a dist pedal to use on the clean channel, change preamp tubes, push CH2 with an OD boost? A combination of it all?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkC_gssRyyM

I play a PRS Custom 24 with the 59/09 PAF pickups, I also have a BB Preamp which is great for some light transparent crunch. Tried to push CH2 with it but the sound just get's messier (maybe I'm just bad at knob fiddling ). The Suhr Riot sounds like a great pedal for this type of sound, but I would like to believe that there's enough potential in this pretty little amp to not have to "cheat" with a pedal.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

To be honest with you, you will see the biggest change from changing the speakers and/or cabinet. Speakers have the biggest impact on your overall sound. I've found that to be true over and over again, usually after spending time and money on trying other avenues and modifications.
That being said:
If you are going for a Vai type tone, the Egnater base tone is perfect since it is a warmer, smoother voice, similar to the Legacy amps Vai uses. He has always used a distortion box in front of a dirty amp for his tones which flavors his overall tone to what it is. He used DS-1 for years and now uses the Gemini box. The Suhr Riot is a nice pedal, but I found it didn't mix well with several amps. The BB is one of my favorite ODs but it is not along the lines of what you are looking for--it's too smooth. I also don't know if the pickups your running will give you the type of tone your seeking.
Any thats my $.02

 

[jdsjw13]

Hey Man, I've had the same issues with the Renegade channel 2 myself. Here's a couple of options that have worked for me. First off, I would look into changing tubes. I did a complete re-tube and really like the overall improvements on both channels. I'm currently using KT77's for power tubes both channels and really dig them. I haven't tried the speaker swap yet but I would tend to agree that would make a big difference as well.

The two biggest things that did it for me though were two pedals. The first, and most important, is putting an MXR 10 band EQ pedal in the loop. That makes the Renegade sound like a completely different amp (for the better) and with that you will have ultimate tweakability to craft whatever tones you are after. You can even add a bit more gain with it. I tried boosting channel two with a Keeley modded tubescreamer but that didn't really do it for me. The EQ was much more effective and this is a trick actually recommended on this forum by Bruce himself.

The other big thing that helped get bone-crushingly heavy tones was the mighty Wampler Triple Wreck. It is probably the baddest distortion pedal that I've ever played and it sounds amazing through the Renegade clean channel. It's not necessarily cheap, but it is well worth it. That's my 2 cents....good luck

 

[hisclimb]

Hmmm, i seem to be able to get Vai like tones straight out of channel two. I play a strat type guitar, swamp ash body with a dimarzio tone zone in the bridge, wilkinson trem also...Vai doesn't use real crazy, heavy distortion. My bud has a Legacy amp and our sounds can emulate each other for the most part. Vai sound is very dynamic. Roll back the guitar volume and it cleans up, turn up the volume and it fills out. You can always really hear the tone of his guitar over his distortion.

I think trying to cop a Vai feel/sound has so much to do with technique from left hand slides and legato phrasing, to right hand articulation and muting.

Other than that, I'm running V-30's which is the same as the Legacy. Speaker do make a huge difference. Tube wise, I'm using KT-77's for channel 2.