Question Experience with TC Electronics RH 450

[MadMatt]

Howdy folks,

I'm looking at upgrading my current amp (Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0). Although my HH 25th sounds great though it (I think it would sound great though anything )... Now that I've settled in with the 25th I think my sound could use a little tube dirt. I've been thinking about the RH450 (The search has shown me that a few of you own one) and would like to here some of your opinions.

I have not had the opportunity to test one yet. I just want to make sure it not a "no go" for any reason. I'm in a rock cover band and I try to slap as little as possible.

The key things (not sound related) that I like about the RH450 are the 3 memories, the foot board, DI Out, Aux In and integrated tuner. The Spectra Comp and TubeTone also looks good in writing but I still need to try one out.

Basically I'm hoping this thing will give me a great sound at home for practicing, and I can simply grab it and plug it into the PA in our practice room. One "old school" pre-set for some of the blues and ballads we do, a slightly overdriven pre-set for the harder stuff and a smily pre-set for the few songs I am forced to slap on and thats it.

Any thoughts from RH450 owners? Especially the experience from 25th and HH Bongo owners would be great. I am probably going to have to order one cold turkey and simply return it if it does not sound good.

Thanks,
M@

 

[strummer]

I like mine a lot, for the same resons you think you want one. I went from an Aguilar AG500 w/ 2 GS112 to the RH450 w/ 210 and 212 and I'm really happy with it. The one thing it won't do is heavy distortion with the low end intact, but some grit can be dialled in with the tube knob and it kills on rock covers
Bongo 5 HH's are my main live basses, but the RH450 works just as well with the single H Bongo and my SR5's.

 

[MingusBASS]

I love my Staccato'51, which is essentially a RH450 with some tweaks based on Rocco Prestia's preferences. I use it with two RS112 right now and it sounds great. I love the presets and the built in tuner. It's also a great practice tool since you can run your iPod or Laptop through the line-in on the back. Two big thumbs up from this Bongo user.

 

[Movielife]

The RH amp is perfect for many styles! Very good amp...lots of options and great tube tone.

I use a markbass little mark 3 as well and they are both fantastic.

 

[tommixx]

I have the RH450 and I HAD a Staccato...I prefer the RH450. The Staccato was just a bit too far away from what I like and very hard to get to sound like the RH450 so I returned it. I have also played the Combo and it sounds exactly like the RH450 to me. I LOVE the RH450 and highly recommend it. I have had just about everything out there and the TC is about as close to perfect as I have found. It is a LONG way from a GB 3.0 that is for sure. It sounds like it would be ideal for you based on your requirements...You should definitely check it out. I would make sure that you reset it to the factory default as I very nearly returned it when I got it. The preset levels were turned all the way down to 0! I keep mine wide open and it makes a HUGE difference in the amp...Good Luck!

Peace,

T

 

[MadMatt]

Thanks!

Thanks for you feedback. Sounds like I will not be unhappy if I take the plunge.

 

[MadMatt]

Update...

Just ordered one from Thomann. The bag wont make it in until the 20th but the amp and stomp board should be in this week.... And I promise Big Poppa, the next GAS relief will be in the form of a Big Al

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I used my RH450/RS112 setup for the first gig last night. After some further tweaking of EQ, it was beautiful. I was even able to set the SR4's treble to center (usually it's all the way down at home). My SR4H is strung with TI flats.

The gig wasn't loud, just two electric guitars, conga/percussion and myself.

+1 on Big Al being my next GAS purchase.

 

[MadMatt]

I used my RH450/RS112 setup for the first gig last night. After some further tweaking of EQ, it was beautiful. I was even able to set the SR4's treble to center (usually it's all the way down at home). My SR4H is strung with TI flats.

The gig wasn't loud, just two electric guitars, conga/percussion and myself.

+1 on Big Al being my next GAS purchase.

Thanks for the info Rick. I'm really looking forward to that amp. I'm only getting the head unit for now but I will probably upgrade my cab to the 210 or 212 this sommer. I will not need it until then.

 

[drummonkey]

I love my RH450.....however the head did go bad and I had to send it back to the manuf....they took 4 weeks to get it back to me and it missed a gig...I was very upset to say the least....they also never told me what went wrong w/ it..other they they said they replaced the whole board? That worries me about the dependablitiy of the unit...however I still love it.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Since I now have a DD2 Big Al in the stable, I used that with the RH450 on a gig on the 19th. (Same gig I posted about on Apr 6; we play twice a month.)

I spent much of my time experimenting with the eight ways to select the Al's pickups (not counting active/passive). I've got to do some homework to find the setting I like. I did cut a little of the bass on the RH450, so I may end up with separate presets for the SR4 and the Al. Sounds like some homework this weekend...

 

[MadMatt]

In my current "experimenting" phase my presets are:

#1 +2 Bass, rest flat, +1 Compressor, TubTone +2
#2 +2 Bass, rest flat, +1 Compressor, TubTone +5
#3 +1 Bass, +1 low lids, rest flat, +5 Compressor, TubTone +6

Basically that gives me clean, fat, fatter sounds. I'm still fiddling with #3

-Matt

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I spent some time in my garage with the Big Al and the RH450, using one of my RS112 cabinets.

I like the Big All in the "all off" setting. This puts the three single-coil pups in series, in passive mode, with the passive tone between 1/2 and 3/4 up.

I forgot to write down the tweaks to my main preset, but I'll do that.

Matt, I'm sure you're aware that you can change the "center" of each tone control, which gives even greater EQ flexibility. A couple of mine are different from the default.

 

[MadMatt]

Matt, I'm sure you're aware that you can change the "center" of each tone control, which gives even greater EQ flexibility. A couple of mine are different from the default.

Yea, I have played with that a little but have set those back to center for now. I've decided to tackle the compressor and TubeTone first and then tweak the EQ. The flat setting is simply too good.

What seems to work out good when switching between the band room and my home is using the 4 band EQ on the 25th to accomodate the room acoustics and keep the presets where the are (In my case I hav to only back off the bass a little in the band room).