Randall Amp questions

[JeffB]

Anyone have any experience with the new Randall G2 combo amps?

I've got a budget of $400 and I'm looking for an amp I can use at lower volumes/practice with and still get a good punchy high gain brit type sound (think Gary Moore: Run for Cover/ Wild Frontier era, Jake E. Lee, Badlands era) that isn't just tube preamp distortion (hence why I've been looking at solid state and modeling amps). Also, I most likely will use it to jam with friends, etc, so I'll need a bit of volume too @ times.

The Randall seems to offer the high gain brit type sound along with a super high gain lead sound and good clean tone (haven't played it, just going by reviews) and the voicing and contour options I would think would allow me to dial in something pretty good....plus it's a mostly closed back cabinet which I prefer over an open back.

Anyone played through them/have one?..the older RG series combos seems to have very mixed reviews, but the few reviews I've seen of the newer G2 series are pretty darn positive.

Sorry for all the questions, but I plan on ordering online at Musicians Friend or Sam Ash so I can have the 45 day return policy in case I don't like whatever I choose, as none of the local shops have a return policy (and I've bought way too many amps in the past that sounded good in the store, but didn't sound so good at home, etc).

Any other brand recommendations in that price range as well? Marshall MG50DFX? Peave Transtube 112? The modeling amps sound a bit "thin" to me.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Bumpity Bump

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Bump

And if you knew whats best for you, you'd stay away from the Transtube!

Bee

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Bump

And if you knew whats best for you, you'd stay away from the Transtube!

Bee

. Any particular reasons why? Sound? Reliability? I have never owned a Peavey amp, though I think every other guitar player in the world has

The real-audio soundclips on the Musicians Friend site sound pretty darn good for the TransTube. I just wish it was straight guitar though and no backing tracks. They do the same with the Marshall MG soundclips and I know that can "color" things.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Randall Amp questions

I haven't played the G2, but I did goof around with the older RG75 and really liked it. I heard from a friend who worked at a Randall dealer that they came back quite frequently for service, but that was probably 5 years ago. I'd be happy with one.

I'm curious, as well, what the problem with the Peavey Transtube series is. They've always struck me as a good bang for the buck for those of us who can't afford tubes.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

I haven't played the G2, but I did goof around with the older RG75 and really liked it. I heard from a friend who worked at a Randall dealer that they came back quite frequently for service, but that was probably 5 years ago. I'd be happy with one.

Yes that seems to be the common complaint over @ the Harmony-Central review page re: the older RG series. There aren't too many reviews of the G2s yet, and Musicians Friend only has a few for the G2 (though of course I take the "DUDE IT FRIGGIN RAWKS" reviews with a grain of salt )

I'm curious, as well, what the problem with the Peavey Transtube series is. They've always struck me as a good bang for the buck for those of us who can't afford tubes.

Thats what I've heard as well. I have an incredible sounding Marshall 1987 reissue I bought in 1996, but even with a power brake it's just too darn loud for practice..it needs to be run full out (or nearly so) for it to sound decent. But definitely the newer tube amps are very expensive (the good ones anyways). I went out and priced a VHT as I always wanted one (I dropped the $ on the 1987 instead) , and I about fell over. I can't afford any of the tube amps I really want, now that I have a family

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Randall Amp questions

check music123.com they also have reviews

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

check music123.com they also have reviews

Thank you drew!

And another BUMP

I will say that Randall was extremely quick and detailed with replying to an Email I sent them this morning re: the two gain channels and the digital effects. I had a reply from a Randall CS rep within an hour and half. He missed one of my initial questions, so I politely asked again and had the answer within 5 minutes.

EDIT: I found THIS SITE through the sound clip forum here, and the older Randall compares very favorably with,and in some cases sounds better than (to my ears at least) many of the classic and modern tube amps as well as the modeling amps this fellow has created sound clips of . Cool site.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Randall Amp questions

A jammin' buddy of mine has a Transtube 100w head w/ full stack, and it sounds awesome. He said he paid like $600 for the head and cab (second cab came later). For whatever reason, EMGs sound bad with it, but a bunch of different passives (duncans & dimarzios) sound really good. Bottom line, I'd recommend a Transtube.

Regarding what you said about the Marshall only sounding good full tilt, I really dig how solid state stuff sounds (basically) the same at whatever volume. Those of us who don't have a dedicated sound proof practice space need gear that sounds good without the volume being dimed

 

[Nathan]

Re: Randall Amp questions

I was playing throughh a randall amp today at a show at school where we did 3 songs. I had the clean channel turned up about halfway and treble slightly more then half, the sound kept distorting, crackling, and cutting out!! I had no idea what to do, since it wasnt my amp i just tried to go with it and play a little quietter which seemed to ease the distortion. The guy who owned the amp said that if you turned the volume up more then halfway and the treble up more then half way on the clean channel it would distort. I wasn't too happy about it at all. I don't know which randall amp it was, it was a combo tube amp though, probably about 60 watts im geussing.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

I was playing throughh a randall amp today at a show at school where we did 3 songs. I had the clean channel turned up about halfway and treble slightly more then half, the sound kept distorting, crackling, and cutting out!! I had no idea what to do, since it wasnt my amp i just tried to go with it and play a little quietter which seemed to ease the distortion. The guy who owned the amp said that if you turned the volume up more then halfway and the treble up more then half way on the clean channel it would distort. I wasn't too happy about it at all. I don't know which randall amp it was, it was a combo tube amp though, probably about 60 watts im geussing.

Thank you for the info From the reviews of the G2 models (solid state), the clean channel sounds very good to most people (even the folks who gave the amp a poor score for the distortion channel/s still complimented on the clean sound of the amp.). I hope that was just a problem particular with that amp, or the tube models.

 

[NT02]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Can't comment on the newer G2 models, but I have the RG75. For the money, it's versatile, has a great clean channel, and two different distortions to work with. Neither distortion is suitable for classic rock, but both do different flavors of metal. Never had any problems with it. The Seventy 80 Celestion and chassis hold up ok to the high volume, little flabby and buzzy, but it's a 1x12 that pushes 75 watts for less than $400. I prefer it at moderate levels, like you're talking about. For the money, I preferred it over anything Crate makes, the Marshall AVT, the Peaveys I tried and any modeling amp.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Regarding what you said about the Marshall only sounding good full tilt, I really dig how solid state stuff sounds (basically) the same at whatever volume. Those of us who don't have a dedicated sound proof practice space need gear that sounds good without the volume being dimed

Agreed. That's why I'm looking into solid state and modeling amps. I would like that cranked power and preamp tube distortion sound at lower volumes (a fairly convincing approximation at least...I know it won't sound the same as tubes). And the Randall has the semi-closed back cabinet.The Reissue only sounds so-so with Power brake at lower volume settings (thin and "twangy") and the amp volumes cranked I have to turn up the brake volume near max as well for good tones/sounds, and then I might as well just unplug the brake The amp is made to run full out. Glad I didn't get the 100 watter

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Can't comment on the newer G2 models, but I have the RG75. For the money, it's versatile, has a great clean channel, and two different distortions to work with. Neither distortion is suitable for classic rock, but both do different flavors of metal. Never had any problems with it. The Seventy 80 Celestion and chassis hold up ok to the high volume, little flabby and buzzy, but it's a 1x12 that pushes 75 watts for less than $400. I prefer it at moderate levels, like you're talking about. For the money, I preferred it over anything Crate makes, the Marshall AVT, the Peaveys I tried and any modeling amp.

Didn't see you sneak that post in there

Thank you for the comments. I thought the The Mp3 of the gain 1 channel on the Randall site sounded pretty good, but that may be due to the newer mid shift voicing switch they put in the G2s (?). They recorded it with not much gain (hendrixey/SRV type sound), and one of the questions I had was whether that channel could do a high gain marshall-esque sound because I was worried after hearing the sound clip, that Gain 1 may not have the amount of gain I was looking for. The Randall tech said like most Randall models, I likely would never want to use the amount of gain the amp is capable of.. :laugh2: I thought that was a pretty funny comment.

Here is theCLIP (Gain 1 vintage)

 

[NT02]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Wow, The only way I could get that low level of overdrive on my gain 1 channel would be with weak single coil pickups, volume dialed back on the guitar. The Randall tech is right on. Both gain channels have tons of distortion available.

All that being said, my Randall sits in the corner now and I use my Peavey Classic 30. Killer tube tone at bedroom levels. You can get lots of tones out of it. You can pick up a used one on Ebay for $300. While the Randall has brutal distortion, the Peavey has everything else, and with pedals could have brutal distortion as well. Saw a guy playing last weekend using nothing but a Peavey Classic 30 and a Gibson SG. His tone rocked. So it's good for performing with a band whenever you're inclined, too. Something to consider

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Wow, The only way I could get that low level of overdrive on my gain 1 channel would be with weak single coil pickups, volume dialed back on the guitar. The Randall tech is right on. Both gain channels have tons of distortion available.

All that being said, my Randall sits in the corner now and I use my Peavey Classic 30. Killer tube tone at bedroom levels. You can get lots of tones out of it. You can pick up a used one on Ebay for $300. While the Randall has brutal distortion, the Peavey has everything else, and with pedals could have brutal distortion as well. Saw a guy playing last weekend using nothing but a Peavey Classic 30 and a Gibson SG. His tone rocked. So it's good for performing with a band whenever you're inclined, too. Something to consider

Thank you for the comments. I'll check into those Peaveys as well

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Randall Amp questions

A little late to respond to this thread but none-the-less...

I have the older version of the RG100SC combos, now they don't exist and it's the G2100. Mine has Clean and Gain channels with Gain 1 and Gain 2 w/ contour control. Bass/Mid/Treb controls that are independent for each channel, reverb, depth/rate for chorus, and 2 Celestion Seventy 80 speakers.

I love the clean sound I can get, the chorus and reverb are really nice. On the Gain channel gain 1 can do a good classic rock sound with the gain around 2, I can do Thin Lizzy (Jailbreak era) and most anything else. Gain 2 has a lot of options, the controls are very flexible. It can do anything from heavy scoops to mid-heavy distortion. My amp doesn't have the Voicing switch though, I prefer that.

Check these amps out, really cool.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Heh...another thread that will not die nearly a year old

Thanks for the update though MM.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Randall Amp questions

Since it was bumped up I just got the RG75G2 last week and it seems like a really nice piece of kit afaik. Sounds way better (and much cheaper) than the marshall MGs but I do think the gain channels could use a bit more...but that's just me, on low volumes it is really apparent. Besides that! The clean boost is really nifty, if you're doing light playing it really brings up the lighter string volume quite a bit and evens it out. I like to run both gain knobs all the way up (I know, I'm crazy) and use the Gain2 for regular work and then switch reverb and Gain1 on for solos and it sounds fantastic.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Randall Amp questions

I like to run both gain knobs all the way up (I know, I'm crazy) and use the Gain2 for regular work and then switch reverb and Gain1 on for solos and it sounds fantastic.

You ARE crazy... don't you find all your hear is fuzzy mud when you do that? When I have my gain2 on 10 It almost feeds back through my NS-2!

Randall = :headbang: