Rebel 20 and 30 users - Wattage knob

[Thinline_slim]

I've owned the Rebel 20 for around 2 years now so I am familiar with how it's wattage knob affects the volume/tone but I've recently purchased a Rebel 30 combo and it seems like the wattage knobs are non-functional.

Should the two Rebels wattage knobs be fairly similar in function?

[theroan]

I own a Rebel 30, I wouldn't say that the wattage knob is non-functional but it is very subtle in the clean channel and a little bit more noticeable in the gain channel.

[Section10]

I'm came to the same conclusion after playing both. The 20 seem to work great but not offered in a combo, the 30 combo I played didn't seem to have any difference in volume or headroom. Almost to the point that the 30 wattage control is defective. Hmm

[GCDEF]

I have two 30s and it seems a bit more effective in one of them than the other. Still it's nothing like an attenuator. You don't really notice it till you get the volume knobs turned up at least half way, then it will limit the headroom some. I can notice it at gig volumes pretty easily, but the thing has to be cooking before they have any noticeable effect.

[rdamato]

I had a 30 and sold it because the wattage knob did nothing!!! Very disappointing for me.

[christhered]

i have no experience with the 30, but when running clean 6v6 on the 20, i crank the wattage, and bring it back down when i go to the el84's for dirt. can't stand the sound of the el's clean, or the 6v6's dirty. YMMV

[christhered]

wait, i do like the 6v6 breakup when pushed, but for all out distortion, i have to use the 84's

[Rod]

You have to run the 30's master volume up past noon to hear the wattage control.Try it in a band..They do work...It isn't power scaling though

[Deville2Rocket]

I don't know about the 30, but it's very noticeable with my Rebel 20.
Even at low volumes, the 20's wattage control makes a difference. But to be fair, it is much more obvious in a full band scenario.
There are posts from Egnater that explain that at bedroom volumes, the wattage control does little. It's when you're cranking the amp where the control really makes a difference.

So many people don't get that when you're playing at low volumes, 1 watt of amp power is huge. Bedroom levels are very low, in terms of wattage.
Stage volume, where you're actually moving some air, is the only place you're really gonna feel effects of the wattage control.

[Thinline_slim]

Thanks for the replies guys. I really do think the wattage controls are not functioning. I have no problem cranking it to gig volumes at the house and there was no discernible difference between the extremes so I'm getting an exchange.

Very excited about the amp as a whole though. I really liked the Rebel 20 but the 30 is a serious contender between my gig amps.

Again, thanks!

[temple12]

My impression is that it gets rid of clean headroom at bedroom volumes on the 30... but not in an attractive way. It sounds a bit squashed. Further, it really only becomes noticible when you move it in quarter increments. But mine did reduce the volume (slightly) so maybe yours IS defective.

The 20 seemed a bit more functional in reducing sound.

[Thinline_slim]

Originally Posted by temple12

My impression is that it gets rid of clean headroom at bedroom volumes on the 30... but not in an attractive way. It sounds a bit squashed. Further, it really only becomes noticible when you move it in quarter increments. But mine did reduce the volume (slightly) so maybe yours IS defective.

The 20 seemed a bit more functional in reducing sound.

Thanks for the input Temple12. I thought there should be a noticeable change with at decent audible levels, good, bad, or indifferent but there was absolutely no change at low or high volumes.