Egnater Rebel 20 v. Genz Benz Black Pearl

[guitarworship83]

So... After researching TGP and other forums/ reviews, I decided to purchase the Egnater Rebel 20 head for my church. I have a Bugera V22 that works really well for our situation, but the church wanted to get a second amp. While playing through it with all my electrics (straight in) the little thing sounded great...
Then one of my buddies told me about his Black Pearl (a fellow TGP member) and that he was looking to sell it... So, I asked if we could try it out head to head with the Rebel Sunday morning.
This morning I played through the Black Pearl with my pedals and my Taylor Solidbody while my other guitar player played through the Rebel 20 with a Line 6 M13 and a LP (this is the usual set up with the Bugera that we love so much). I LOVED the Black Pearl! The tone from the guitar really shined through, almost completely uncolored by the amp itself... it took the pedals well and it was really easy to dial in perfection... On the other hand, we could not get the Rebel so dial in all morning... it sounded sterile and bla. We actually switched out the Rebel for the Bugera before the service started. I'm really disappointed in the way the Rebel couldn't take the M13... at least not easily.
Needless to say, the Rebel is going back Monday morning and I will be buying the Black Pearl from my buddy. Its a couple hundred more, and I really didn't expect the Rebel to beat out the Pearl, but the fact that we both liked the Bugera better than the Rebel blew my mind.

[dandythomas]

The Black Pearl is a great amp with a lot of flexibility. I have one and really enjoy it. It is a real sleeper amp. The build quality is certainly higher than the Rebel, but then it should be since it costs more. I never have cared for the Rebel - too stiff and harsh sounding to me. However, I do love the Egnater Tweaker.

Andy

[Tommy Biggs]

That's good to hear (I recently bougt a 1x12)
were you using the combo? 1x12? 3 x10?

How did you set it up, and what pedals were you using? So far I've been playing it straight in, and using pickup selector, and the Gtr volume and tone controls to get tones. We're playing all original, so it's easier to get away wth...

[guitarworship83]

Yeah The BP30 is the 112. I was going into the Dano Cool Cat Trans Overdrive (best 50 bucks I ever spent) into the amp... then a TC Nova Delay in the fx loop. I love the way it doesn't color the sound at all... The tone from the guitar shines through! (My main axe is a Taylor Solidbody Custom with the mini HD humbuckers). Switched it down to the 2 tube/ triode mode (I think like 7.5 watts) and the voicing on natural... I had people that aren't musicians saying that my guitar sounded good... My sound guy actually said to me "You were getting some great tones out of that guitar this morning" and he's definitely not a musician!

[Tommy Biggs]

Wow! Isn't it nice to get the positive feedback every once in a while? And just because someone isn't a player, it doesn't mean they can't have an ear.

Interesting about the Dano into the BP. thanks for the info.

[Cowboy]

I played an out-of-state gig a few months back, where the Black Pearl was in the backline. I liked the heck out of it, and got some really great tones.

I'd use another one in a heartbeat! Given your options, I think it;s a great choice.

Cheers,
Cowboy