Keep my Black Pearl or trade for Egnater Rebel 20?

[tele_jas]

I've had my Black Pearl up for *trade* for a few weeks, and I made an offer today and the guy is interested. I offered my Genz Benz Black Pearl 1x12 combo for his Egnater Rebel 20 and Epiphone Valve Jr 1x12 cab. I will be keeping the Red Fang and putting it in the Jr cab to use with the Rebel 20.

Does this sound like a smart move? Any body want to chime in and let me know what they think?

EDIT: I traded it, I'll know if it was smart come next week

[tele_jas]

I think I've changed my mind....... I think I'll keep the Black Pearl. I'm so wishy-washy sometimes.

[ruger9]

You KNOW how I feel about the Pearl.

Still loving the Hayseed?

Because the only way I'd say "go ahead & sell the Pearl" is if you were still totally in love with the hayseed, since they are similar architectures (AC30 variants).

As for the Rebel, the concept sounds cool, but I haven't seen/heard I demo of it that I liked very much.

[rhomco]

played a Black Pearl but it sounds like it is a good Vox relative. The Rebel 20 is the best $600.00 bucks I ever spent for an amp and I have been buying amps since my first one in 1965.
I have the AC-30 and I used to have the AC-15. I also have a 5E3 Deluxe. Obviously I like Vox tones and Fender 5E3 Deluxe tones. My favorite under thirty watt rig at the present time is the Rebel 20 mostly due to the fact that it allows me to move back and forth or mix my two favorite amp tones. The tones you can get with 6V6 and EL-84 tubes are unique. The Rebel is louder than the AC-15 and is happy with any speaker cab I put it thru. I have tested the Rebel using the following cabs.
Vox 2-12 Warfdale= Excellent
Vox 2-12 Warfdale/Celestion Blue= Excellent Plus
Fender 2-12 Cab Celestion G12H= Good but colored by the G12H
Mesa 1-12 Stacked Pair Celestion 80= Good but looses bite with the sealed backs.
Mesa 1-12 Stacked Pair Celestion G12H30= Good but looses bite with the sealed backs and colored.
Mesa 1-12 Stacked Pair Vox Warfdales= Best speaker in these cabs with backs off. Stll looses bite with the sealed backs.
Musicman 1-15 JBL D140=Excellent Plus Plus, my favorite
Rebel 20 1-12 Stacked Pair=Good but sounds much like the Mesa Cabs
All this speaker testing has convinced me that some amps need speaker coloring to get the low end drive I want and some amps dont need it. The Rebel to my ears wants to see a speaker that is transparent and allows the amps tone stack to be delivered as is.
Good luck in your quest

[tele_jas]

Originally Posted by ruger9

You KNOW how I feel about the Pearl.

Still loving the Hayseed?

Because the only way I'd say "go ahead & sell the Pearl" is if you were still totally in love with the hayseed, since they are similar architectures (AC30 variants).

As for the Rebel, the concept sounds cool, but I haven't seen/heard I demo of it that I liked very much.

Yeah, since getting the Hayseed I really haven't played the BP much at all. But it's nice to have a 2nd/backup amp that sounds almost as good as your main amp. I'm still thinking about it..... If it were a combo, Ida been all over it. From all the reviews, the tone is there...... but one thing that worries me is the build quality? My Genz Benz in built in Germany and the USA on a cirucit board. The tube sockets are not cheap like in some cheap tube amp and it's built like a tank, or a Mesa Boogie (which ever is tougher). The Rebel is made in China or Japan and I've read it has some cheaper parts (tube sockets and pots), but I can't confirm that.

BTW...... Have you heard that new Black Pearl clip on YouTube?



Here's the link in case the embedded video doesn't work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqFc4yojeWE

[ruger9]

That's some mighty fine playin' there, and probably the best overall country demo I've seen/heard of the Pearl. I'd love to know what this guy's setting were.

That clip reminds me... I need to dig out my Keeley Compressor...

[tele_jas]

Ok....... I went to GC over my lunch hour and played the Rebel 20. If I didn't already have the Genz Benz, I would have been impressed.... But the Genz Benz sounded MUCH better IMHO. Nothing against the Rebel, I know there's lots of love for that amp so please don't take offense, but it just wasn't the amp the Genz Benz is.

I actually tried several amps while there (which turned in to almost 2 hours). The one I liked the best was the new Bogner, but it's more Fender/Boogie voiced. Nothing I played caught my ear like my Black Pearl does. So it looks like it's probably off the market, unless I want something completely different (like a hard rock style amp). I may also look in to a trade for a Black Pearl head/cab set up so I at least have a lighter load to carry.

Just wanted to post an update for those following this thread.

Jason