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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
 Posted - 01/05/2010 : 04:19:37
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This is my Randall RM-100 designed by Bruce Egnater from Detroit MI.
It is an all tube amp that comes stock with 6L6s. But it can accept EL34, 6L6, 5881, 6CA7, 6550 or EL84s (with yellow jackets) tubes. There are also easy to use bias points on the back of the amp to make tube swaps a snap.
I am currently using Yellow Jackets to run single pair of EL84s. This reduces the power output from 100 watts down to about 20 watts without the use of a hot plate. It is still plenty loud though, believe me. I live in a residential neighborhood and couldn't even think of diming it without swat kicking down my door.
The RM100 is an all tube modeling amp. Randall and Egnater sell modules (each with its own pair of 12AX7 power tubes) that are designed to replicate the circuit of the AMP it models.
So for example there is a "Blackface" (Blackface Twin) and a "Tweed" ('59 Fender Bassman) module to model Fender amps, a "SL+" module to replicate the Marshall JCM800 (Super lead). There are also ultra high gain modules and everything in between.
Additionally, you can get "artist endorsed" modules like this 1086 (Dan Donegan of Disturbed) module.
There is also a active modder/tweaker group as well as professional modders (similar to Keeley)
This is a link to Pete Turley's site. He is a well known MTS modder.
http://www.gigmods.com/Page9.html
This is a youtube video that show how close the MTS modules get to the amps the replicate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUh3gI8rdJ0
A bone crushing 1087 (gigmoded 1086 by Pete Turley)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVfM0BX4mNg
KH3 (Kirk Hammet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNbADsoQOBw&feature=related
I posted this because I love these amps and they are not real well known (at least not where I live). The Guitar Centers around me don't stock them and none of the local guys carry them either. They are killer amps though.
This amp owns newbs and heals the sick.
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Edited by - aaronharmon on 01/05/2010 04:23:30 |
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hateandwar
Gold Member
Australia
524 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2010 : 07:12:19
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Thanks a lot for the mini review mate.
I've tried one of these out in a shop once. It was lots of fun!
I use a 100watt randall solid state amp, which is good but not quite good enough unfortunatley. Tube amps just kill it.. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2010 : 12:02:03
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Sounds like an excellent idea for an amp.... Egnaters ideas for amps are really clever with the modules and the tube blending he's doing on his newer stuff.. Seymour Duncan did someting similar with the modules back in the 80's with a combo amp he had for a while...I have TAD tonebones..(european version of yellowjackets) in a Marshall JMP Superbass II head i use for guitar with a 2 x 12 cab..i also like the way they bring the volume down without an attenuator and the way the EL84's bring something a little different to the party.... ..... |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2010 : 13:15:04
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| I like the idea i have never seen one of these in any shop, so i couldn't try it out, and i was not gonna flip the cash for something like this that i never tried but thanks for the great review and links to check out |
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2010 : 18:37:13
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quote:
Originally posted by zerksies
I like the idea i have never seen one of these in any shop, so i couldn't try it out, and i was not gonna flip the cash for something like this that i never tried but thanks for the great review and links to check out
I had never even seen one in person when I bought it. I had to rely on the reviews. I got it on eBay and got a fair price on it. I figured that if I didn't like it, I could always sell it again later.
As it turns out, I loved it. I don't know why these things aren't everywhere. They are probably the best thing going right now.
The thing that I love about them is that while everyone is trying to model these killer amps through software, Randall is doing it through hardware with tubes.
Aaron |
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Witloofboer
Gold Member
Belgium
513 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2010 : 23:01:09
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quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
Sounds like an excellent idea for an amp....Egnaters ideas for amps are really clever with the modules and the tube blending he's doing on his newer stuff..
+1
How many modules are there?
Is there a sort of 'beginners' kit? |
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2010 : 00:36:09
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This is the head empty...
This is my collection of modules...
This is one of my favorite modules. It is a custom Pete Turley "Recto" mod with an orange and red channel. This thing is bone chrushing.
The amp has both series and parallel loops. One of the cool features of the parallel loop is that there is a mix control on the front of the amp. You simply set the effect on 100 wet and mix in the effect to the desired degree without out ever bending over or changing a thing one the effect. Another cool thing about this feature is that it runs the effect through a pair of 12ax7 tubes to soften it up a bit...
These are the user accessible tube bias points so you don't have to pay the big bucks for a pro tech every time you want to do a tube swap. I can change tubes and rebias the amp in less than 15 minutes and I'm no pro. Another cool thing is that if you have a tube failure during a gig it will simply blow a fuse and kick out that pair of tubes. You can adjust the volume and keep playing on the remaining tubes...
Midi out/thru so you can use your favorite midi foot controller to change channels or control your effects...
My power tubes. I am only using 2 (of 4 possible) which again makes the amp about 20 watts. But depending on the tube choices amp can run at 20, 40, 50 or 100 watts.
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Edited by - aaronharmon on 01/06/2010 00:39:48 |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2010 : 17:39:13
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That is one seriously well featured amp....you could have the blackface for clean..the plexi for crunch and the recto for mayhem..... ..even the features on the back panel is very well engineered especially the fact you can bias the tubes from the outside plus the effects loops and the MIDI control..if i were you i would install another 2 yellowjackets or two of the original power valves back in as even though you can run it on two your probably losing some of the bass and treble of the amp plus headroom on the 'clean' module thats if you use a clean sound....they say you can mismatch the ohm selector to compensate but i don't like to mess with the ohms on tube amps and i certainly would not recommend it..!! as tube amps especially marshalls don't like this or neither do their output trannys.... ...
What sort of speakers do you have in the cab....?...... |
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2010 : 18:04:50
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quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
That is one seriously well featured amp....you could have the blackface for clean..the plexi for crunch and the recto for mayhem.......even the features on the back panel is very well engineered especially the fact you can bias the tubes from the outside plus the effects loops and the MIDI control..if i were you i would install another 2 yellowjackets or two of the original power valves back in as even though you can run it on two your probably losing some of the bass and treble of the amp plus headroom on the 'clean' module thats if you use a clean sound....they say you can mismatch the ohm selector to compensate but i don't like to mess with the ohms on tube amps and i certainly would not recommend it..!! as tube amps especially marshalls don't like this or neither do their output trannys.......
What sort of speakers do you have in the cab....?......
The Cab is 3/4' void free birch and weighs 97 lbs. The speaks are Vintage 30's this is one of Randall's higher end cabs. I thought about getting a set of G12t-75's and installing them in a X pattern with my V30's. At the same time I would probably install a Randall Mic Eliminator (another seriously cool feature of Randall cabs.) You just plug your XLR cable into the back of the cab and you have the exact same mic placement every time. I have never heard it in person, but I have been told it sounds great.
I have though about installing a second set of Yellow Jackets, but have had GAS for Boss pedals recently.
As far as the engineering, as I said earlier, the Amp was designed by Bruce Egnater. I have a ton of respect for him and think that it is really cool that he collaborated with Randall and licensed this design to them (or whatever their agreement was). The Egnater Mod100 is the same Amp though Egnater no longer makes it. I also think it was cool of Randall to go outside their own company as say "Who builds the most versatile bad ass boutique amp... Lets get that guy and mass produce his amp so Joe Sixpack can afford it."
Another great thing is that if you call Randall's CS department they are really cool guys who will bend over backwards to take care of you. I have heard people complain about Randall's CS and the truth is they are not good about answering emails. You have to call, find a guy you like and then deal with him every time. They are very cool people and they are very passionate about what they do. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2010 : 19:39:51
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| That is some package bro'.... the thought that went into it all even the cab is amazing......yellowjackets must be a bit different to my tonebones...i have the pentode version in my marshall and the four of them are rated at only 32 watts..the triode version even lower but give more distortion....i have the V-30's in my stereo wet cabs i use either side of my main amp and i like them even though they get some bad press,i found in the past the 75's to be a bit 'dry' sounding as a speaker but thats just a personal opinion...i have a couple of lower wattage greenbacks in my 2 x 12 for my marshall and i really like them especially lately on gigs when using the wet rig with the V-30's in it beside them..the greenbacks have a nice full,warm sound in the midrange not too harsh or hollow sounding so that might be an other option for you..i think Matchless started doing that with their amps first,mixing a greenback with a V-30..remember the name is misleading and they are actually rated at 60 watts each... |
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Witloofboer
Gold Member
Belgium
513 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2010 : 09:51:17
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| Thanks for the pictures It looks very versatile! |
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nosi0
Gold Member
Netherlands
511 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2010 : 23:28:21
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| I was considering this amp for quite some time but i cannot get any good prices in europe so i'm saving up for an ENGL. |
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2010 : 06:53:25
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Glad to turn you guys on to them. Definitely something to keep in mind if you are looking for a new head down the line.
They also make some killer rack versions of this line (it's called MTS for Modular Tube System or some such)
I started toying with the idea of getting an RM4 which is the rack version in the MTS line that houses up to 4 modules. You can then run the modules through the power amp of your choosing...
This is the RT2/50 power amp this thing is bad ass. It is two parallel 50 watt amps that you can run as a single channel in mono at 100 watts, or separately as two 50 watt stereo channels (it has two inputs) and you can even mix and match power tubes between the channels so you can get a classic fender tone out of one half with a couple 6L6s, and install EL34 (or just about another combination you can imagine) and then blend that tone to what ever degree you like. I don't think that there is a more versatile system anywhere.
You could have one rig sending your dry tone to a stack modeling a Fender Blackface and then ten feet away your wet modulated, delayed mix comes through from a modeled Rectifier bent on destruction.
There are tonnes of different ways this could be used. Panning between the two totally different tones come to mind.
This is the back note the stereo inputs...
I don't own the rack gear yet but I am feelin' the urge to splurge!
Randall is supposed to have a big year at NAMM this year as well. I guess. I just read tonight that Scott Ian is going to be their to launch his three new sig. modules. |
Edited by - aaronharmon on 01/08/2010 07:07:43 |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2010 : 08:52:53
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Funny you should mention it but i am actually in the marketplace for something new..necessity rather than G.A.S. is powering this search as were a working band and i need to have a reliable amp...! the youngest of my amps is about 30 years old and my babies are getting not to like playing two to three times a week and this current cold spell were having lately--(it's -11 and snow here this morning)..if you saw my thread about the henriksen amp i am looking for something smaller for a change and a bit more portable but the rack now is very interesting as i use a rack already..racking everything together might be an option plus the unit looks very flexible tone wise....the only downsize i can see is the rack would be very heavy(that power amp looks big... ) and i'm a fairly old skool when it comes to amps usually a single channel type thing works best for me like a classic marshall or fender....and the only other thing is as nosiO pointed out..this sort of stuff by the time it gets to Europe usually has doubled in price if you can find it at all in the shops... you guys in states don't know how lucky you all are for choice...i was also considering the Egnater Renagade or rebel 30 head as their a bit simpler,lighter and easier to get....distribution and promotion especially in Europe seems to be Randalls biggest problem..plus breaking a way from it's image as a amp only for metal wouldn't hurt either... |
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2010 : 13:57:37
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quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
Funny you should mention it but i am actually in the marketplace for something new..necessity rather than G.A.S. is powering this search as were a working band and i need to have a reliable amp...! the youngest of my amps is about 30 years old and my babies are getting not to like playing two to three times a week and this current cold spell were having lately--(it's -11 and snow here this morning)..if you saw my thread about the henriksen amp i am looking for something smaller for a change and a bit more portable but the rack now is very interesting as i use a rack already..racking everything together might be an option plus the unit looks very flexible tone wise....the only downsize i can see is the rack would be very heavy(that power amp looks big...) and i'm a fairly old skool when it comes to amps usually a single channel type thing works best for me like a classic marshall or fender....and the only other thing is as nosiO pointed out..this sort of stuff by the time it gets to Europe usually has doubled in price if you can find it at all in the shops... you guys in states don't know how lucky you all are for choice...i was also considering the Egnater Renagade or rebel 30 head as their a bit simpler,lighter and easier to get....distribution and promotion especially in Europe seems to be Randalls biggest problem..plus breaking a way from it's image as a amp only for metal wouldn't hurt either...
There is a discussion on the MTS forum at Grailtone. Appearently people have been rack mounting the head from 20 Watt combo amp and really like it.
Check it out...
http://mtsforum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=9339 |
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killer amp you may not know about.
