Egnater Renegade 65W head - any users?

[Much2Groove]

Hi, this is my first post, and I'm really glad to be on here!

Recently, I was lucky enough to trip over a Renegade 65 head in mint condition for very low money. I jumped on it, and was very excited - I've heard a lot about Egnaters, and on many occasions have come very close to pulling the trigger on either a Tweaker or a Rebel. So, realizing that bigger isn't really always better (even though it is, obviously), picking up a Renegade for about the same money as one of the smaller heads seemed like a no brainer.

BUT... I can't seem to get any pure, clean sounds out of it. No matter how I tweak the dials, I'm getting a tiny bit of distortion. And it's nice distortion, don't get me wrong, but I just wasn't expecting that I would have this much trouble finding a real clean tone.

Anyone else out there have one of these, and have you had a similar experience?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[bbaug14]

If you find you can't dial in a good clean on the "clean" channel, try a lower gain tube in V1. Maybe a 12AT7. See if that helps.

I believe the clean channel is designed to break up, but using the high power mode on that channel with the gain low and the volume up should produce some nice clean tones with a Strat.

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

It a Bassman channel so ya lower gain tube high power on the 6l6 side

 

[311boogieman]

Congrats on your amp and welcome to Rig-Talk

I came here to say 12AT7 or 12AU7 as well.

Jeff - would that go in V1 then? Can you spit out for us the preamp layout real quick? Also, is there a Cathode Follower?


I've played the Renegade 5 or 6 times now. I really like - especially for the price. Hopefully you have the footswitch too - as that really makes the amp fun.

Enjoy!

 

[ripleyripley]

Not sure if the layout but have you tried cranking the master to full and using the gain knob to control volume?

 

[Much2Groove]

First off, thanks everyone - this is great information. And yes, I do have the foot switch, yes, although I haven't really used it yet... was trying to figure out the clean thing before I started diving too deep.

I have tried master volume high and channel volume low, and vice versa... I've also played around with the 18 vs 65 watts (thinking that the 65w by definition will have more headroom), the bright vs normal setting, keeping the gain dial down as far as I can without it totally muting the amp.

I will look at hunting down some alternative tubes, but before I even do that, I'll pull the back to see what's in there now - your posts just made me remember that the seller did tell me that he changed out the tubes... maybe to higher gain ones?

And thanks again. I really want to like/use this amp, and I would hate to give up on it too quickly.

 

[311boogieman]

I was also going to ask you what speakers you are using but then I noticed all of the amps you own now and decided not to worry about that.

 

[Much2Groove]

The 6L6 side has 2 JJ 6L6 GC tubes. They look pretty new, too. From Tube Depot. So changing the first one to a 12AX7 should help?

 

[311boogieman]

Yeah. We are more interested in the preamp tubes. The 1st one is usually the clean stage.

No. 12AX7 will have higher gain. You want a 12AT7 or a 12AU7 (even lower gain).

Try it in V1 then V2 and then PI (phase inverter). I use a JAN 5751 (similar to a 12AT7) in my amps for the P.I.

 

[Much2Groove]

Oops, thanks - I misread that. My Orange Tiny Terror had a 12AX7, and I misread. I still have the back off, I'll take a look. (I don't spend a lot of time under the hood of these things, and I am by no means a tube guru; but I know how to use a screw driver!)

 

[Much2Groove]

Well, I seem to have fixed my problem without touching the tubes. I'd been playing the Renegade through my 1x12, but today hooked it up to my Orange 2x12. Beautiful cleans now, very easy to get. I'm now wondering if my Orange 1x12 is feeling the years a little bit...

 

[bbaug14]

Well, it could be the wattage of the speaker. If it's a 25W Greenback or something, getting cleans at volume is gonna be tough. Glad you're digging the amp though. It's a great amp and a bargain for what they go for used these days.

 

[motorboy1]

Used to have one. Wish I still had it. Great marshall vibe to it. Sounded GREAT when cranked.