What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

sufferinrewind

sufferinrewind

New member
Pretty much what the title says. There are plenty of bands that I like that use Randall amps and I love their tone, so I'm lookin' into 'em. The only things I'm concerned with is weight and price. I don't want an amp that weighs 40 pounds. Anything under 40 pounds is good, and under $500. I don't care if it's solid state or tube, as long as it sounds good.

Also, while we're at it, what is the difference between the G2 and G3 series? :eek13:
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

The G3 have a tube in the preamp.
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

The G3 uses the valve dynamic tech..it's more like the tube used in a Valvetronix..than a pre-amp style like a Marshal AVT (plenty of info on the Randall site about this new tech..gets good, but not great reviews, I've not played one yet)

IMO though, the best randall amps are the old RG series from the 80s...RG-80, IIRC. Those amps killed and were the ones Lynch,Tesla, Viv campbell and sev others played/endorsed. I feel they sound much better than the current Randall offerings which are harsher sounding..ala Dimebag type tone.

YMMV.
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

JeffB said:
I feel they sound much better than the current Randall offerings which are harsher sounding..ala Dimebag type tone.
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Dimebag was one of the guys who I was referring to when I posted. I happen to like Dime's when he was using Randalls. Not so much when he started using Kranks.

And what does YMMV mean? :laugh2:
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

YourMileageMayVary

Cyclones are supposed to be good dimebag-ish tones...I think...
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

I'm not really going after Dimebag's tone, or anyone's tone in particular. I just noticed that there are plenty of artists that I like that use Randall amps, so I figured I'd look at Randall since I seem to dig their tone. I just wanted to know what you guys thought of 'em and which ones you guys think are good.
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

sufferinrewind said:
Dimebag was one of the guys who I was referring to when I posted. I happen to like Dime's when he was using Randalls. Not so much when he started using Kranks.
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:laugh2: :smack: welp, Dime originally used the kind of Randalls I mentioned...RG80 series...that time period. ..that much I know. Not usre if he ever prgressed along with the Randall line.

I'll say this...there was a time when randall was trying to make SS sound more like tubes, and they got to a point where they were doing a pretty good job (i.e. the late 80s), then for some reason, they kinda went the opposite way and really started to embrace SS as it is...IDK why....but the amps IME, got harsher and colder, and more sterile...instead of warmer and fatter, and smoother (relatively speaking)

And what does YMMV mean? :laugh2:
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Your mileage may vary....... :)
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

I've read that he used the Century 200 amps. :eek13:

Where did you get that he used the RG80?
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

sufferinrewind said:
I've read that he used the Century 200 amps. :eek13:

Where did you get that he used the RG80?
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Don't really remember TBH. I believe it was either on the Dean Forums or on HC talking with Chris..err...crap..the dude that used to have the huge amp clip page....:laugh2: Hows that for a precise answer? :smack:

I am talking about in his formative days tho and the first (CFH?) album.. Don't think the Century series was around back then, but I could be wrong. I'm not a fan in the least.
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

Oh well, it doesn't matter. Like I said, I'm not looking to nail a certain person's tone, just looking for a tone I'll like. Like I said, I noticed that there are plenty of bands that I like that use Randall amps, so I figured I'd look since they actually have amps that I can afford at the moment, unlike Mesa/Boogie.
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

I have an RG100SC (stereo chorus) that had the meaty channel flunk out after six months. No pedals were ever used on this amp.

A peruse of Harmony Central will get you a mixed bag of answers from juvenile to useful...but this problem was noted by other users. I did not know about HC until after I bought it.

Randall could be the latest and greatest manufacturer of "modern" tone gear, if they would pull their heads out, and create gear that is not made with the corporate "Made in China" mentality. The tone really is good for modern scooped metal!!!!! Dimebag would be proud! I kinda wish that Randall would create a pedal with the same ubercruch tone that emanated from my amp before it failed. Don't get me wrong, there nothing wrong with the workers in China being hired to create gear...but on a corporate level, this is a decision based on economics...the results (failures included) speak for themselves.

I find it disturbing that Randall creates "pro" gear that have internal thermal fuses (in the power transformer casing)...rather than an inexpensive/easily serviced fuse holder on the rear of amp. What good is a thermal fuse in the transformer case if you have to wait 30 minutes for it to cool down and "reset"?

I do not know about the older Randall gear, but the new stuff I see now is not really professional enough.
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

A friend had a Randall for awhile. I believe it was a Thirty Twelve, IIRC. Awesome amp, but out of your price range, even used.

And it weighed a bit more than your upper limits.
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

LesStrat said:
A friend had a Randall for awhile. I believe it was a Thirty Twelve, IIRC. Awesome amp, but out of your price range, even used.

And it weighed a bit more than your upper limits.
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Do you mean a Rivera? Rivera has a Thirty-12 model. I dont recall a Randall by that designation?
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

Sludgenutz said:
I have an RG100SC (stereo chorus) that had the meaty channel flunk out after six months. No pedals were ever used on this amp.

A peruse of Harmony Central will get you a mixed bag of answers from juvenile to useful...but this problem was noted by other users. I did not know about HC until after I bought it.

Randall could be the latest and greatest manufacturer of "modern" tone gear, if they would pull their heads out, and create gear that is not made with the corporate "Made in China" mentality. The tone really is good for modern scooped metal!!!!! Dimebag would be proud! I kinda wish that Randall would create a pedal with the same ubercruch tone that emanated from my amp before it failed. Don't get me wrong, there nothing wrong with the workers in China being hired to create gear...but on a corporate level, this is a decision based on economics...the results (failures included) speak for themselves.

I find it disturbing that Randall creates "pro" gear that have internal thermal fuses (in the power transformer casing)...rather than an inexpensive/easily serviced fuse holder on the rear of amp. What good is a thermal fuse in the transformer case if you have to wait 30 minutes for it to cool down and "reset"?

I do not know about the older Randall gear, but the new stuff I see now is not really professional enough.
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They're really that bad? :eek13: That sucks.

What would you guys suggest I look into, then?
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

I got a Randall RG100t Tube head that smokes. It's an 80's year and just kills anything I've played through, including my buddies Single Recto. It's the amp that made me toss the distortion pedals in the trash and let the amp do the cooking. I see them on Ebay now and then.

As far as newer Randall I did like the Titan head for straight in playing. It had decent cleans and a biting OD that wasn't too scooped. The new RG50TC 50 watt tube combo looks cool and I'm just killing time 'till I can grab one of the RM series Combos on Ebay.
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

Dirtyking said:
I got a Randall RG100t Tube head that smokes. It's an 80's year and just kills anything I've played through, including my buddies Single Recto. It's the amp that made me toss the distortion pedals in the trash and let the amp do the cooking. I see them on Ebay now and then.

As far as newer Randall I did like the Titan head for straight in playing. It had decent cleans and a biting OD that wasn't too scooped. The new RG50TC 50 watt tube combo looks cool and I'm just killing time 'till I can grab one of the RM series Combos on Ebay.
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I'm not interested in any amp heads and cabs at the moment. I'm good with a smaller combo for the time being. I'll worry about heads and cabs whenever I'm actually in a band and playing shows and stuff. Thanks anyway, man. :beerchug:
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

Well if you're interested in the cheap combos, I have an RG75G2 and some random clips here which are mostly my EMG81, some of them are the Livewire Metal and some are the bridge of the H207
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

D-EJ915 said:
Well if you're interested in the cheap combos, I have an RG75G2 and some random clips here which are mostly my EMG81, some of them are the Livewire Metal and some are the bridge of the H207
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Wow, got enough clips? :laugh2:

Are any of these clips played in standard tuning?
 
Re: What do you guys think of Randall amps? Which ones are good?

sufferinrewind said:
They're really that bad? :eek13: That sucks.

What would you guys suggest I look into, then?
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The RG100SC sounds great!!!! I think they are really really really nice sounding for solid state...but the components are decided upon by corporate decision, and not really "THE BEST!!!".

I had/have a limited budget...so I ended up with a used Mesa/Boogie .50 Caliber +. It is all tube, and they can be gotten on Ebay +/- $500...whether it is a head version, or a 1x12 combo. Most of these were made in the late 1980's...and the "plus" means it has two 6l6's, rather than four EL84's. The plus model has the EQ too. The earlier EL84 model has PC board mounted tubes, and rates less than 50 Watts.

These run 50 Watts, and on a personal level have been used by "stoner" guitar players like Pepper Keenen of Corrosion of Conformity. If one wants to disregard that...this used amp series has things that other $500 amps do not:

Made in Petaluma, California, USA.
Plated hole PC boards.
BOTH the "control pots" (the tone/volume/reverb knobs), and the two "power tubes" are "chassis mounted". This means that the pots and power tubes are not soldered directly to the printed circuit board. This means it was more expensive to make, and that future service is much easier. Mounting hot tubes directly to the PC board can stress the board, as well as expose the other components on the PC board to heat.

There some good deals out there, and .50 Caliber plus, and the Peavy 5150 60 Watt Combo are some the greatest values for the cash out there. Some might say a British Laney AOR is great deal too.

Buy QUALITY!
 
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