RANDALL AMPLIFIERS

[Mystic]

Hey y'all,

We talk a lot (lol) about geetar amps 'n such, but one of the names that doesn't pop up much is Randall.

I've owned a few of their early 1970s models and thought they were pretty good. I mean, they do have that "Fender DNA" goin' for 'em.

Anyway, I grabbed a piece from the company's interthing site, i.e., The Randall Story. It's a good piece which I think y'all will also enjoy.

LINK: https://www.randallamplifiers.com/about-randall/

PS: Please share your personal experiences / recollections of Randall gear w/ us.

 

[YY1]

Currently looking locally for a crunchy 60w-ish combo.

 

[arts]

I remember having to use Randall bass amps (300, RB300?) on a couple of occasions in the 1980's. They were the ones with the orange stripe across the front. Horrible, nasty, unreliable things that made every note sound like a farting tuba. Perhaps the guitar models were better?

 

[BillyTheKid]

I've never run across any Randall equipment.
They were part of US Music Corp, that owned the Guild Guitar factory for a while. They were half-decent owners...didn't do too much damage. At least they didn't shut it down and throw everything away like Fender did.

 

[Mr Boochie]

Played on a 50 watt head, a long time ago. Nice amp. Had 6L6GC output tubes.

 

[Mr Boochie]

50-watt heads are my favorite. Especially, after I stopped playing Stadium tours.

 

[YY1]

If a bass amp doesn't have a built in compressor (or if it's broken), that's what causes, I believe the technical term is "farting out".

Usually doesn't come in to play until the volume gets up a bit.

An external compressor would likely fix the issue.


Interestingly, one of the best bass rigs I've ever played through was a Peavy Reknown 2-12 guitar amp. No compressor, and I never used one with it, but it had plenty of punch, never farted out, and actually worked better as a bass amp than a guitar amp IMO. I've been back burner looking for another one for a while.

I tend to play with the gain on "11" on a guitar amp and I've found Peavy's to have way too much uncontrollable feedback when set this way.

 

[Mr Boochie]

If a bass amp doesn't have a built in compressor (or if it's broken), that's what causes, I believe the technical term is "farting out".

I've seen farting or blocking distortion in amps where the gain stages are not set up properly. Usually, too much capacitance in the coupling stages or wrong grid stopper resistors for the gain stage tube. Causes momentary cutoff or lost of signal.

https://www.aikenamps.com/index.php/what-is-blocking-distortion