Renegade mid-range (head)

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Harbor

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Due to all the positive reviews of this amp I bought one. Great clean, but channel two is just killing me. It is so upper mid-range heavy and I can't dial any of it out. It's not warm or round sounding, not much low end. I've tried the 1X12, two mesa 1x12's, the TM212, mesa 4x12, etc. If I could just dial it down a bit I might like it. I put an eq in the loop which works but I don't want to have to do that. I'm thinking the only thing at this point is retubing but I'm not well versed in tubes. Any recommendations for a warmer, less mid heavy sound would be more than appreciated. The amp has plenty of gain for my needs but I can't find enough eq flexibilty to want to keep it. It matters not what tube side is being used, it's the same across the spectrum. I realize that it's known to be a little upper mid heavy by nature but I'm baffled that so many love this sound, so I'm sure it's my particular head. I read this entire forum for information related to this so this is in hopes of some fresh information. Thanks for your time.

Add: I also have the Tweaker 40 and find that far more versatile and balanced but not as good on the clean side.

Is the Rebel 30 inherently mid-range heavy as well?
 
I thought the renegade lacked bass also on channel 2, I bought a Rebel 30 and am much happier-better low end.
 
If you think it is your particular head, maybe try exchanging it for another?
 
Have you tried dialing up the density control? That fills out the low end quite a bit.

Also (without knowing you or your situation) are you evaluating the tone based on how it sounds in the mix? Or just how it sounds all by itself. I find my Renegade to sound good on it's own, but stellar in the mix. fwiw

Bottom line, if you need a lot of pronounced low end kick from your amp, the Renegade isn't for you. I personally find it to be a well balanced amp though.

*your results may vary*
 
The density is pegged, my issue relates far more to the mid-range than the low end. I don't mind that the mids are there it's just that their there always with no variation. By itself and with a mix, it just has a thinner, pitchier, character to it. I feel like if I could just turn that mid knob down three more clicks it could work. Turning it up is a nasal nightmare. This problem does not exist on the clean channel. I use a Les Paul Classic for blues and a Custom for rock.

I wish I could exchange it but that is not an option at this point.
 
None of this describes my Renegade 212 combo.

Sorry to hear your's sounds this way. All I can think is tubes or speakers. If that has been tried, it must not be the head for you.

good luck
 
Speakers have been covered, I am hoping tubes maybe, this has the stock tubes in it. Thanks at least for the reply.
 
hbucker":xrincgb8 said:
None of this describes my Renegade 212 combo.

Sorry to hear your's sounds this way. All I can think is tubes or speakers. If that has been tried, it must not be the head for you.

good luck
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+1.I use mine with Greenbacks (4X12) and it sounds nothing like what you describe (OP).. :confused:
 
I ended up with JJ 6l6's and Tung Sol 34's in mine. Seemed to have the best low end response.
 
The renegade is voiced for upper mid-range emphasis. It's a hot-rodded Marshall facsimile. If you're looking for low-mids, sell it and look for a Mesa Mark series.
 
Could diming the density possibly be the problem? I keep my presence and density basically off most of the time.

You might still try going and listening to some other Renegades. Could tell you if it is yours, or if you just don't like the amp in the end, if others sound the same to you.
 
I would love to A/B with another for sure, if anyone's in the San Diego area let me know. I thought different tubes might help, I called Eurotubes but they weren't convincing. It sure seems many have in fact changed theirs out but maybe that won't address my issue. I really want to know if the Rebel 30 has a similar voicing,
if it's more balanced I would be interested.
 
Must be a Guitar Center in that area? Go listen to some, even if you don't want to haul yours out. Seems like it would be worth it. Plenty of Renegade clips on YouTube. Compressed sound for sure but it might still help.
 
You might also want to search through the clip collective. Might be some better Renegade clips there. A lot of good Rebel clips, for sure.
 
Testing in GC just isn't the same. I just had a Rebel 30 brought to me and I A/B'd extensively, these are amps are voiced very similar and that's when I realized how nice the extra features on the Renegade are, much more versatile than the 30. Tube exploration is next. Thanks for all your feedback, I hope I can help some way in the near future.
 
Testing in GC just isn't the same. I just had a Rebel 30 brought to me and I A/B'd extensively, these are amps are voiced very similar and that's when I realized how nice the extra features on the Renegade are, much more versatile than the 30. Tube exploration is next. Thanks for all your feedback, I hope I can help some way in the near future.
 
I had both amps, I thought the renegade sounded good-more modern, but lacked a bottom end
 
You nailed it - The density is more darkness than it is bottom end.
 
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