Certainly your low rates should be set at approximately where they were before as you know you can fly it like that but I wouldn't set the high rates to max (not at 1st anyway) as this will probably be a huge difference. Overall most crashes are probably caused by something happening too quickly and the pilot not having enough time to respond and this may be the case.
One of the best pieces of advice I was given by a modelshop ownner when he could of sold me a more advanced plane instead was to SLOWLY start upping the throws and moving the CoG slightly more rearward a step at a time and it would totally change the flying chracteristics of the plane but even more to the point prepare you for the next step up.
I was suprised how much longer I then flew that plane for and how much more aerobatic it became but just don't go too much too soon ie 1 hole at a time, if you take off fly it around and it's not enough you can land and increase some more, if you take off and it's too much to handle you may need the bin bag to take it home in !!!!!