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ejendres « Pretty amazing »
Published on 10/27/11 at 12:42This is a 100watt all tube amplifier with a modular preamp.
This amp is awesome for so many reasons. So start off there are individual bias test points and controls for each power tube. You literally can run any arrangement of tubes you want. And the controls are all right there on the back panel, its the most convenient and functional design I've ever see.
It has 2 effects loops, parallel and serial, so you can run which ever you prefer.
The amp is also completely MIDI controllable.
The absolute coolest feature is modular preamp. Randall sells a variety of modules, each modeled after a different sound or amp. This feature alone makes this amp one of the coolest and most versatile amps out there. When ever you want so get a new sound you just put the amp on standby, unscrew the mounting screws, pull the module out and put a new one in. This particular amp has 3 module slots. each of them acts as an individual channel.
The channels are footswitchable.
UTILIZATION
The amp itself comes with no modules, so you'll have to buy some before you can get started. But once you do its very easy to get great sounds.
SOUNDS
The stock modules sound great, especially the clean ones. For crunch and high gain stuff the modded modules really shine. Not that the stock modules are bad, they're excellent, but the modded ones are amazing.
There are only 2 draw backs to this amp in my opinion. The preamp modules aren't entirely isolated, they all share a preamp tube. They also (obviously) share the same power section. This leads to the modules, especially the high gain ones, all sounding a somewhat similar. There is definitely distinction between them, just not as much as between to different amps.
The second draw back is that both loops are designed for rack gear. This means that pedals do not sound great through this amp unless they have a line level mode. This isn't an issue if you have rack effects though, and this amp is really designed to be used with rack gear as the channels are all MIDI controlled.
OVERALL OPINION
Overall this is an amazing amp, really really versatile on stage and in the studio. Granted, it doesn't have the sonic diversity as multiple amps would due to the shared preamp tube and power section, but there still is a lot of diversity.
These amps can be had for really cheap used these days too, which is awesome.
The biggest and only real draw back in my opinion is that is sort of a money pit. Every time you want to try a new tone you just have to go buy a new module, but the desire for new modules never goes away. Before you know it you'll have 7 or 8 modules, and at $200 a piece stock that adds up quick. Ultimately that's the reason I got rid of mine.
This amp is awesome for so many reasons. So start off there are individual bias test points and controls for each power tube. You literally can run any arrangement of tubes you want. And the controls are all right there on the back panel, its the most convenient and functional design I've ever see.
It has 2 effects loops, parallel and serial, so you can run which ever you prefer.
The amp is also completely MIDI controllable.
The absolute coolest feature is modular preamp. Randall sells a variety of modules, each modeled after a different sound or amp. This feature alone makes this amp one of the coolest and most versatile amps out there. When ever you want so get a new sound you just put the amp on standby, unscrew the mounting screws, pull the module out and put a new one in. This particular amp has 3 module slots. each of them acts as an individual channel.
The channels are footswitchable.
UTILIZATION
The amp itself comes with no modules, so you'll have to buy some before you can get started. But once you do its very easy to get great sounds.
SOUNDS
The stock modules sound great, especially the clean ones. For crunch and high gain stuff the modded modules really shine. Not that the stock modules are bad, they're excellent, but the modded ones are amazing.
There are only 2 draw backs to this amp in my opinion. The preamp modules aren't entirely isolated, they all share a preamp tube. They also (obviously) share the same power section. This leads to the modules, especially the high gain ones, all sounding a somewhat similar. There is definitely distinction between them, just not as much as between to different amps.
The second draw back is that both loops are designed for rack gear. This means that pedals do not sound great through this amp unless they have a line level mode. This isn't an issue if you have rack effects though, and this amp is really designed to be used with rack gear as the channels are all MIDI controlled.
OVERALL OPINION
Overall this is an amazing amp, really really versatile on stage and in the studio. Granted, it doesn't have the sonic diversity as multiple amps would due to the shared preamp tube and power section, but there still is a lot of diversity.
These amps can be had for really cheap used these days too, which is awesome.
The biggest and only real draw back in my opinion is that is sort of a money pit. Every time you want to try a new tone you just have to go buy a new module, but the desire for new modules never goes away. Before you know it you'll have 7 or 8 modules, and at $200 a piece stock that adds up quick. Ultimately that's the reason I got rid of mine.