Beginner Amp - Randall?

[vaxwell]

So, I need an amp. I've been playing since Christmas and I don't have one, lol. I've been playing my guitar through my computer's surround sound speakers through a program called Guitar Rig 2 so I've REALLY been spoilt for choice with the dozens of top level amps, cabs, racks and pedals that come with that program, but I can't just cart my desktop to jam sessions all the time, can I? So... the hunt for the perfect (portable!) beginners amp has begun.

I've roadtested a lot of the well known amp brands (Marshall, Line 6, Orange, Fender) and the better quality ones seem just out of my current price range. Until I came across the RG-40R, but a company called Randall, which I'd previously never heard of (Randall is big in the US, I hear? Not many laymen have heard of Randall here in Australia) and I LOVED the sound that came out of it. It was fairly lightweight for a 40 Watt, and I could get a load of different sounds out of it. *I* thought it was good, but after 3 months, really, what do I know?

I was just wondering if anyone had played the Randall RG-40R before?

It's a 40 watt combo amp; 2 channels (overdrive/boost and clean), multieffects loop, reverb. I found a youtube video of the CLEAN sound with a bit of reverb here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLDLu9j1sAw) (not really my kind of music, but it gives you an idea of the sounds this amp can produce) and I've played with the dirty channel a bit in the shop and it's gorgeous.

----

I'm looking for a sweet amp to use over the next year or so, just until I find my bearings on the guitar. I won't be playing any gigs (most likely! :confused:) but I'd like to be able to drown out my friends drum kit when I jam with him without the speaker freaking out on me.

Basically, I can get the RG-40R for AU$300 (Approx US$240) whereas it usually sells for around AU$450. I thought that was a pretty good deal! And I believe that it's not in production anymore, so I could probably even talk them down to AU$250-270.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to other amps I should have a look at? :)

My budget is around AU$300, and I'm looking for something with a headphone jack and line out. I play a lot of songs that switch between heavy distortion and clean chords, so two channels (clean/dirty) and a foot selector switch would be awesome.

Bands I like, and whose sounds I'd like to try to emulate are:
My Chemical Romance, Green Day, Iron Maiden, MxPx, A.F.I., Billy Talent, Breaking Benjamin, Guns 'N Roses, The Living End.

I have an Epiphone Les Paul :)

Thanks in advance!

[disobedience]

Hey vaxwell,

Randall is a good amp. I haven't tried the model you're asking about..but I have heard really good things about them for quality and tone.

You should also check out Kustom amps. The DFX65 will pass your drummer easily on volume and the tone is great.
Plus..they're built like a tank.
;)

[vaxwell]

Mmm, I've heard you guys talk about Kustom amps, but the only problem with them is that there's only one distributer located in Australia, and they're in Queensland, and I'm in Victoria (ok, pretend you're in New York and the amp is in California...), I'd say that I'll look out for them, but honestly, in the 20 or so music stores in my area, I haven't spotted one. The stores here kinda limited and often only specialise in a few differnet brands. For instance, Allens music (like Guitar centre in the US) either have Fender or Marshall, smaller shops will specialise in Behringer or Orange, or if they're over priced shops they'll only have Line 6, Fender, Marshall, Vox etc. There's only one store so far that stock Randall. Hehe... It's a hard life, hey?

[disobedience]

That's ok...I live in Moncton NB...we have 2 music shops in a 100 mile radius.
Lucky for me they're both 10 minutes from my house...lol

Randall is a good brand..if you can get one local...go for it!
;)

[Marshalldude]

If you have a restricted choice like that chosse the one that fits you the most. Try it and look if it has a good sound or not ...

[Whiskey]

I think this all part of finding yourself and your own sound. I've never played Randall, but have seen good reviews for them. So it pretty much comes down to whether or not you like the way the amp makes you sound. Its gonna be your sound. So if you think its reflecting the way you want to hear your music, then by all means go for it.

[vaxwell]

Mmm I suppose so. :)

I know it's up to me as to whether or not I like the sounds that come out of the amps, but I guess I wanted to see if anyone has had any experience with the amp/brand and how good it played over time.

I mean, I've played loads of Behringer amps (v-tones, v-ampires, etc) in stores and I thought that they sounded awesome! But there were so many bad reviews on internet forums saying that they're rubbish and don't last long. In fact, most people bag out Behringer products, but my distortion pedals (UD100 for guitar, BOD100 and BLE100 for my bass) still sound awesome and haven't been wrecked at all. *shrugs*

Maybe I'll have to learn from experience on this one. :)
I'll go in on Monday and have another noodle around (tell the salesman to leave me alone - I hate when they stand over your shoulder) and really TEST it. :)

[daiakuji]

I'm not sure how it is in Melbourne but I do agree with what you're saying about the lack of music stores and variety. It kinda sucks up here in Sydney too.
If you're looking for a practice amp, you could always go for something smaller and cheaper. I hear that the small Vox boxes can get that sort of distortion and overdrive you're looking for.
Behringers...I've heard they're really a hit and miss..you can get a good amp and it'll last you for years or you can get a dud which blows in a month.

Go with the Randall if your hearts set on it. In my opinion, if you love the sound, go out, get it and rock on.

[vaxwell]

If you're looking for a practice amp... I hear that the small Vox boxes can get that sort of distortion and overdrive you're looking for.
Lol, you must have been reading my mind. I went out tofive different music stores today and asked if they could show me/i could play every amp they had in the $200 - $400 price range. I even playeda couple of VOX and marshall amps (mostly 15 watt. The 30+ W were a bit pricey). I mucked about with some Fenders. I went back to the beloved Randall, and fiddled around with the Behringers: V-TONE GMX112 which sounds gorgeous and the V-AMPIRE LX210 which I wasn't too impressed with after hearing the beefier sound of the randall and the V-Tone. The cheaper Marshalls and VOXs seemed to have that annoying buzz you get when you turn smaller speakers up loud. I didn't like them at all - not compared to the Randall, at least. If I had some more cash to play with, I'd upgrade and get a really nice quality Marshall, or even a Kustom, but money is tight, there are too many bills, too many car and HECS (student loan) loans to pay off so $400 is a big investment as it is. :(

Behringers...I've heard they're really a hit and miss..you can get a good amp and it'll last you for years or you can get a dud which blows in a month.Yeah. I've heard a lot of things like that. Apparently about three years ago, Behringer were having teething problems with some of their equipment, but even though it's sorted out now, it annoyed enough people to give them a bad rep. I even talked to two salemens (different stores) about it - I never ever ever walk up to someone and question the quality of their goods, but I figure that it's too much money just to throw away. Luckily the stores have a 1.5 yr warranty, and I think that if an amp is going to blow because it sucks, it'll do it in the first couple of months and not a year or two later. :)

So anyway, I ended up going back to the Randall RG40R. It's out of production because Randall are starting to manufacture all of these amps with loads of built in digital effects. I mean, I LOVE a lot of options when I play, but after playing with the Behringer V-Ampire and seeing how long it took to find a good setting, and setting ten different controls up and then finding that the first setting wasn't quite right so having to do it all again... I decided that I didn't need all of that rubbish on my amp, and that I just wanted a really nice PLAIN two channel amp with built in reverb. Simple. The Randall is pretty darn perfect (except a little part of me keeps just wondering about that V-tone and all it's goodies... but no.)

I've already got an Ultra Distortion stompbox, so that's three configurations. ;) I'm going to spend the money I saved on the amp by getting a Digitech RP50 multi-effects pedal. Though the R80 looks pretty good, too. I like the idea of the seperate line out and headphone output. Anyone have any comments on that?

[daiakuji]

I probably read your mind because I'm also on the hunt for an amp for my A/E guitar and looking to get an electric. :D I've got my eyes set on either a Vox or Roland. I'm tempted to get a Roland because the gain's higher and I'll probably pick up and MT-2. I like that overdrive sound similar to Superjesus (I'm learning to play Gravity).

I think it's a good idea to get a simple amp and just use the pedals to muck about with the settings. And sorry, I'd have no idea on Randall amps but if the 80's what I think is, you're gonna be heard from all the way in Mildura :eek:

[vaxwell]

I'd have no idea on Randall amps but if the 80's what I think is, you're gonna be heard from all the way in Mildura :eek:

The Randall is NICE and loud (even on 2, I thought it was way too loud for the shop - people started coming around and watching) so if the RP80s what you say it is, AWESOME! I have family in mildura! ;)

[anarchyboy]

i don't know about you but the best amps i know are marshal. they last there loud and they have the best damb effects ive ever seen!

ROCK ON!

[vaxwell]

So... I ended up buying the Randall RG40-R, got him home, christened him 'Randall' (yeah, I'm TOTALLY original!!) and rocked out for a bit. :D

It's not a very charming amp. It'll run up behind you with a baseball bat and then knock your teeth out while you're lying on the ground. It's... LOUD (especially for a 40 watt!)

So, here's some specs for you amp nerds :)
RG40RMX. - 40 watt amp.
12" Jaguar bass guitar speaker / 100 watts RMS
2-channel: Boost (w/ gain, shape, prescence, level) / Clean (w/ level, treb, mid, bass, reverb) and a two pedal footswitch that switches between the channel, and turns the reverb on or off.

Only 13kg - But my girly arms love it. :D
I bought it for AU$280 / RRP AU$399

If you'd like, I can record something with it if you'd like to hear it :)
Hey, shush! I'm excited!

[ez-one]

Vox Valvetronic 30 is a great little amp with plenty of power for most stuff, lots of effects built in, and its probably easy to find there. Berrenger Amps I would avoid, they have a cheap sound and feel to them IMO, when I got my VOX I had also played the Berr, and just the feel of the knobs the tone ect... the Vox was aobut 10 times better and only about $30 bucks more.

[Shihonage]

I grabbed a Randall RG40R from Five Star Music about a week ago, for $299. Looks like you beat me by a few dollars. ;) Good amp though, and very loud for the size. Can barely play it past 2 before it's too loud for practice at home. Mine has a few crackling problems needed to be sorted out but it's only with mine, no qualms with the amps themselves.

[vaxwell]

I grabbed a Randall RG40R from Five Star Music about a week ago, for $299. Looks like you beat me by a few dollars. ;) Good amp though, and very loud for the size. Can barely play it past 2 before it's too loud for practice at home. Mine has a few crackling problems needed to be sorted out but it's only with mine, no qualms with the amps themselves.
Hell Yeah! We must live really close to eachother :D I bought mine at Drum power in Bayswater because the last time I went to Five Star Music, their price was $399. Ouch. Glad to see they came down a bit!

Haha, yeah! The only way I can get it past 2 is with headphones on. lol. I do like that you can set the volume of the clean channel seperately to the gain channel. Most of the other amps I was looking at had a 'master' volume and a gain channel volume, so that sucked :/

Mine doesn't have a crackle (just had a thought - maybe yours crackles because of dust or something on the connections, and it needs to be worn in?) but it has a low hum... because I went and put chrome pickup mounting rings on my LP and I have a feeling they're interfering with the magnetic field. lol.

We should get together and have a jam sometime... It's so great to meet someone so close to home!

[Shihonage]

Drum Power in Bayswater was where I was going to buy mine till the winter sale at Five Star began - that, and they would've dropped the price for me anyway once I told them of Drum Power's price. I go there anyway for lessons so it's just more convenient to grab the amp at the same spot. I was looking at a hughes & kettner 60w blue edition for a little at one point but the extra $150 didn't look or sound warranted enough to my limited uni student budget ;).

A jam would be good, though at present I suck... quite a lot! Still trying to get used to switching chords and strumming fluently enough to play anything, let alone anything fancy. Can do a fair number of random riffs and so on, but that's about it :/.

[Shihonage]

Haha, also just noticed your band interests/influences in your first post - Breaking Benjamin are easily my favourite band since I got into them a few years back. They're beginning to get some recognition in Aus. :)