Randall MTS series amps...
- Thread starter Dirtyking
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LooseCannon
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Re: Randall MTS series amps...
Has anyone tried one with the XTC model? How close is it to a real bogner?
Has anyone tried one with the XTC model? How close is it to a real bogner?
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LooseCannon
Guest
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
Ohh BTW I played it with the recto and some fender model don't remember which, the fender sounded really great, the recto was good but not heavey enough like a real rectifier.
Ohh BTW I played it with the recto and some fender model don't remember which, the fender sounded really great, the recto was good but not heavey enough like a real rectifier.
GOLDWING68NV
New member
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
i had a RM50HB MTS Head for about eight months and just sold it on ebay last month...first of all,the Randall MTS series is a great idea.it makes for a very versatile piece of gear.okay,here's the bad news.first,the reason you're seeing these 20,50 & 100-watt heads/combos popping up used for sale with such low prices is because people that own them are dumping them for various reasons.most importantly-stay away from the RM100 head.it's plagued with problems from structual to electrical.the 50 watt/20 watt units seem to be built much,much better.as for the modules,i've tried all but 3 or 4 of them.a few are pretty good-the Ultra,SL+,MR Scary,Brown,1086,XTC,Plexi and Blackface models.the rest are okay at best,some just plain suck.to my ears,it seems as though ALL of the models have a similar tone in some little way.kinda like a shared base-genetic cell structure,for lack of better teminology.you can read the many,many detailed posted threads on the MTS forum website @ www.grailtone.com .outside of the main "POWER" switch breaking on my head(cheap,plastic toggle-type switch)only three months after owning it(which really pissed me off that evening),it was a good unit.if you've noticed on ebay that many used,clean,nearly-new heads/combos and,especially the modules,depreciate greatly in value-that's not a good sign(at least,not for the seller)...oh yeah,to specify about some of the modules mentioned in the other posts just previous to mine,the XTC has a similiar smooth,mid-high gain marshall-ish tone to it.definately excels at leads over rhythm playing.also,nowhere near the tone of a real Bogner Ecstasy 101b head "red" channel.just a similar vibe to it.remember-this MTS stuff,even though it is all-tube,is still AMP-MODELING.the recto/rectified/treadplate(as it's called now)is about the worst sounding tone from all of their modules that i've played & many users on the MTS forum will agree & have noted.the Ultra XL is a total piece of crap too.it's basically the reg. Ultra module with the bass boosted greatly on it.stick with the Ultra,instead.like i said-Randall's got a great idea behind this one,but it's got a way to go......hope that helps!!!
i had a RM50HB MTS Head for about eight months and just sold it on ebay last month...first of all,the Randall MTS series is a great idea.it makes for a very versatile piece of gear.okay,here's the bad news.first,the reason you're seeing these 20,50 & 100-watt heads/combos popping up used for sale with such low prices is because people that own them are dumping them for various reasons.most importantly-stay away from the RM100 head.it's plagued with problems from structual to electrical.the 50 watt/20 watt units seem to be built much,much better.as for the modules,i've tried all but 3 or 4 of them.a few are pretty good-the Ultra,SL+,MR Scary,Brown,1086,XTC,Plexi and Blackface models.the rest are okay at best,some just plain suck.to my ears,it seems as though ALL of the models have a similar tone in some little way.kinda like a shared base-genetic cell structure,for lack of better teminology.you can read the many,many detailed posted threads on the MTS forum website @ www.grailtone.com .outside of the main "POWER" switch breaking on my head(cheap,plastic toggle-type switch)only three months after owning it(which really pissed me off that evening),it was a good unit.if you've noticed on ebay that many used,clean,nearly-new heads/combos and,especially the modules,depreciate greatly in value-that's not a good sign(at least,not for the seller)...oh yeah,to specify about some of the modules mentioned in the other posts just previous to mine,the XTC has a similiar smooth,mid-high gain marshall-ish tone to it.definately excels at leads over rhythm playing.also,nowhere near the tone of a real Bogner Ecstasy 101b head "red" channel.just a similar vibe to it.remember-this MTS stuff,even though it is all-tube,is still AMP-MODELING.the recto/rectified/treadplate(as it's called now)is about the worst sounding tone from all of their modules that i've played & many users on the MTS forum will agree & have noted.the Ultra XL is a total piece of crap too.it's basically the reg. Ultra module with the bass boosted greatly on it.stick with the Ultra,instead.like i said-Randall's got a great idea behind this one,but it's got a way to go......hope that helps!!!
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Dirtyking
New member
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
That puts the Brown module in the lead in the RM20 combo. Can you tell me how good the Boost switch is on this amp. Will it push the Brown into high gain heaven? And does this module clean up enough for usable cleans or is a one trick pony?
Man your killing me with the Recto/treadplate news, but thats why i post so I can get in the know.
That puts the Brown module in the lead in the RM20 combo. Can you tell me how good the Boost switch is on this amp. Will it push the Brown into high gain heaven? And does this module clean up enough for usable cleans or is a one trick pony?
GOLDWING68NV
New member
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
hey Dirtyking...sorry for the undesired info,but,like you said,that's what these forums are for-sharing information.so,the recto/rectified/treadplate(as its called this week)module overwhelmingly seems to have been a dissapointment for mts users seeking that rectified-type tone.on the other hand,the George Lynch "Grail" module has had good reviews on it as far as having a very close tone to the recto-thing.seems like the only complaint about it has been that it's a little lacking in the "gain" dept.now the 1086 may be your best bet.with the flick of a "mids-voicing" switch on the front control panel of the module,you can go from marshall plexi/hot-rodded superlead tones all the way to recto country and it does these avenues pretty well.it's a very well-liked mts module especially since it's so versatile.get yourself a Blackface module,for your clean tones,along with the 1086 and you've pretty much got all your tones covered with just two modules.definately check the 1086 out,if you havent already...now for the Brown module.i havent owned one,but i've played one several times at a local music store.it's got a real nice smooth,mids-thick,liquidy marshall brown tone.it does leads equally as well as rhythm playing.i'd call it a mid-high gain module...and last but not least,the "boost" feature that you mentioned is a feature ONLY found on the RM20 series.that one i havent checked out,so i cant comment on it.otherwise,it sounds like a great feature to have.check out the mts forum for alot of great info!!!
hey Dirtyking...sorry for the undesired info,but,like you said,that's what these forums are for-sharing information.so,the recto/rectified/treadplate(as its called this week)module overwhelmingly seems to have been a dissapointment for mts users seeking that rectified-type tone.on the other hand,the George Lynch "Grail" module has had good reviews on it as far as having a very close tone to the recto-thing.seems like the only complaint about it has been that it's a little lacking in the "gain" dept.now the 1086 may be your best bet.with the flick of a "mids-voicing" switch on the front control panel of the module,you can go from marshall plexi/hot-rodded superlead tones all the way to recto country and it does these avenues pretty well.it's a very well-liked mts module especially since it's so versatile.get yourself a Blackface module,for your clean tones,along with the 1086 and you've pretty much got all your tones covered with just two modules.definately check the 1086 out,if you havent already...now for the Brown module.i havent owned one,but i've played one several times at a local music store.it's got a real nice smooth,mids-thick,liquidy marshall brown tone.it does leads equally as well as rhythm playing.i'd call it a mid-high gain module...and last but not least,the "boost" feature that you mentioned is a feature ONLY found on the RM20 series.that one i havent checked out,so i cant comment on it.otherwise,it sounds like a great feature to have.check out the mts forum for alot of great info!!!
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
I have had my RM100 for almost a year and have had no issues other than normal tube wear or failure (which the amp kept running just fine on three power tubes - pretty cool!). I didn't like the Recto module much either. I do have the Clean, XTC, and 1086. I did change out V1 in the Clean with a 12AT7 for a little less gain. The three of those will get just about any tone one could want from lower gain Marshall to all out metal. I would like to try a Blackface, but I am more than happy with my current Clean module. As a note, these things are not modelling anything. Its a circuit on a PCB board, just like a regular amp. Its a different circuit for each module and designed to have similar characteristics to the amps that they are named after.
I have had my RM100 for almost a year and have had no issues other than normal tube wear or failure (which the amp kept running just fine on three power tubes - pretty cool!). I didn't like the Recto module much either. I do have the Clean, XTC, and 1086. I did change out V1 in the Clean with a 12AT7 for a little less gain. The three of those will get just about any tone one could want from lower gain Marshall to all out metal. I would like to try a Blackface, but I am more than happy with my current Clean module. As a note, these things are not modelling anything. Its a circuit on a PCB board, just like a regular amp. Its a different circuit for each module and designed to have similar characteristics to the amps that they are named after.
GOLDWING68NV
New member
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
ok,well,isnt that last sentence,basically,an explanation of "amp modeling"??? also,i just want to point out that some guys have had great luck with their rm100 heads,which is good to hear.what i was trying to indicate,earlier,was the numerous mts forum threads posted on this particular head describing various problems experienced.that's all...just a little insight to the guys out their who are currently interested in possibly purchasing Randall MTS gear.
ok,well,isnt that last sentence,basically,an explanation of "amp modeling"??? also,i just want to point out that some guys have had great luck with their rm100 heads,which is good to hear.what i was trying to indicate,earlier,was the numerous mts forum threads posted on this particular head describing various problems experienced.that's all...just a little insight to the guys out their who are currently interested in possibly purchasing Randall MTS gear.
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LooseCannon
Guest
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
I can understand some bad units out there, sorry to hear you had so much trouble with yours...I know that some of the modules were released before they had completed/finalized the designs (hence some of the mods for the circuits posted on the MTS forum). I have had great performance from mine so far.
And "No", an analogue tube circuit fed to an analogue tube power amp designed to sound like another analogue tube circuit fed to an analogue tube power amp is not "modelling" - which is significantly different than Line 6 or other modelling designs
I can understand some bad units out there, sorry to hear you had so much trouble with yours...I know that some of the modules were released before they had completed/finalized the designs (hence some of the mods for the circuits posted on the MTS forum). I have had great performance from mine so far.
And "No", an analogue tube circuit fed to an analogue tube power amp designed to sound like another analogue tube circuit fed to an analogue tube power amp is not "modelling" - which is significantly different than Line 6 or other modelling designs
GOLDWING68NV
New member
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
ok,seeing that the exact phrase "amp modeling" is somehow officially tied to digital processing amps,still,a tube-powered preamp module designed with a circuit on the pcb board to have similiar tonal characteristics to the amps that they're named after IS a form of amp modeling/mimicking/copying/replicating,whatever since it's function is to offer tones "based off" popular amps(no matter that it's not a 100% duplication).so to say that the mts series is "not modeling anything" is incorrect because the entire conception of the amp line from Randall is to offer multiple highly sought-after/popular amp tones(hence the reason that the modules are named after specific amps with a subtle change in the "wording") with the simplicity of changing out a module to provide the user with great flexibility from one piece of gear...call it what you want-it's still designed to emulate!!!
ok,seeing that the exact phrase "amp modeling" is somehow officially tied to digital processing amps,still,a tube-powered preamp module designed with a circuit on the pcb board to have similiar tonal characteristics to the amps that they're named after IS a form of amp modeling/mimicking/copying/replicating,whatever since it's function is to offer tones "based off" popular amps(no matter that it's not a 100% duplication).so to say that the mts series is "not modeling anything" is incorrect because the entire conception of the amp line from Randall is to offer multiple highly sought-after/popular amp tones(hence the reason that the modules are named after specific amps with a subtle change in the "wording") with the simplicity of changing out a module to provide the user with great flexibility from one piece of gear...call it what you want-it's still designed to emulate!!!
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Dirtyking
New member
GOLDWING68NV
New member
Re: Randall MTS series amps...
yep,i saw that one also.that's a great price for a clean combo w/two modules.the 50 watt head or combos are more than enough power than you'll ever need.keep your eye out...there will be more good deals on ebay AND look on the "classifieds" section of the mts forum for some good sales too!!!
yep,i saw that one also.that's a great price for a clean combo w/two modules.the 50 watt head or combos are more than enough power than you'll ever need.keep your eye out...there will be more good deals on ebay AND look on the "classifieds" section of the mts forum for some good sales too!!!
