Randall HR100gl amp-head question.
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Posted on Oct 16, 2009 12:10 pm
Hue
Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member Since: Apr 11, 2004
Forgive me if this sounds dumb... it's been one of those weeks, guys. lol
I recently aquired a very lightly used Randall HR100gl head to power my 8-Ohm 4x12 cab. It's rated to power 4, or 8 Ohm cabs, but there are two speaker-outs on the back of the head, and neither of them indicate which is what Ohmage. However, the manual shows differently... one marked 4, and the other 8.
Yesterday, when messing around with it for the first time, I plugged in my speaker cable into the one that, in the manual, is labeled for 8-Ohms, and it sounded quite nice, but seemed to be somewhat under-powered... to me, it seemed as though it should've been louder that what it was.(?) It could just be my perception, or even the way I gain-staged the front-end... not really sure.
Is this a case of the power-section being split into 4-Ohm sections... that are to be both used to tap the 8-Ohms of it, or is this something that I can simply use one of to get the proper results? If so, which one, as they aren't marked? If it is the case of being split-up, how would I achieve proper wattage-placement with only one input on the cab?( had a Crate cab that worked like that, once.)
I think this puppy wont have the 'high-volume-issues' that my Flextone does. Also, I really like the way both channels sound! So much so, it may be replacing my beloved Flextone rig.(If I can find the right cabs, and effects to fill the gaps) : )
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TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 16, 2009 12:36 pm I can't seem to find anything about the HR (even if that was a typo and you meant RH) amps from Randall. Very vaguely related materials suggest that's a tube amp, is that true? Or are those still a solid-state amp?
Geez, finding old Randall manuals seems to be a tightly guarded secret. All I see on the Randall forums about these amps' manuals are replies saying "check your private messages". Have you put your manual under a microfiche reader to see if there's like plans for the Death Star imbedded in it or something?
Sorry, no help on the resistance of the 2 outputs. If it is a tube amp, you certainly want to get that output resistance right or that output transformer could get very unhappy very quickly.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 16, 2009 12:49 pm Yeah, that was a typo... RH is the model.
But yeah, it was a bit of a struggle to find the manual, and when I did, it was one that covered all the RH series amps from that era.(100,120,150,and 300 watt models) The newer ones have a tube preamp section.(I'll bet they're wicked sounding!)
It didn't blow up within the couple of hours that I was messing with it, so maybe I have it hooked up right, and just not gain-staged properly.(?)
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 16, 2009 01:08 pm I threw a pic of the rig up in m'a profile... not really helpfull... just looks cool. : )
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 16, 2009 01:17 pm I forgot that Randall made those insanely overpowered solid state amps. Can you imagine a 300 watt guitar amp? I guess a solid state 300-watter might still pale in comparison to a 100W all-tube Fender Twin though. Loudest 100 watts in existence I think. Close second is the Vox AC30. 30 watts of the loudest, most piercing all-valve power anywhere.
I think that SS amps are going to be a little more forgiving for mismatching the output impedance, too.
Maybe getting a hold of Randall would be a good idea, just to clear it up before you need to turn up the volume to performance levels and potentially damage the amp.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 16, 2009 01:37 pm Yeah, those 300-watters are for the Warhead-stacks.(4x12's + 2x15s cabs) Monster mo-mos!
I do know what it sounds like to plug in a mismatched cab to an amp... nothing as good as this one did. It sounds like something that you want to unplug, really quickly! lol
I hear that their customer service is awefull. sigh... I'll figure it out, one way or another. Just thought someone may have had some experience with this amp model.
Thanks bud, for the insite.
Oct 16, 2009 01:39 pm On the opposite end of the spectrum, you could get one of those cheesy Peavey amps that say they are 100 watts but sound like about 30...
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 16, 2009 02:53 pm Haha yeah Peavey's entry-level amps have always been pretty poor, and they really degrade the brand recognition for Peavey. Peavey excels at PA gear and their 5150/6505, 5150 II/6505+ are terrific high-gain guitar amps. Same for their XXX and JSX amps. But those crappy little solid-state, underpowered, muddy, harsh distortion laden, amps that they keep in their product line are a detriment to their whole brand identity.
Same goes for Crate, but Crate doesn't have the high-end PA or guitar gear to even out their poor brand identity. Pretty much all of their amps sound like crap.
Oct 16, 2009 02:55 pm Yeah, I've always liked Peavey's PA stuff.
Crate, actually, I like there amps, the "higher end" ones...or at least I did 15 years ago when a few friends had 'em...
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 16, 2009 03:00 pm True, but out of fairness to Peavey, they do make some killer tube amps, and even the '80s-built models that you're refering to, can usually take a tumble into a ditch and keep on working. : )
Their bass gear is pretty sweet, as well.
s'Funny that you commented on this thread, Dan... I was wondering if you would. When I was doing the research on that Randall, I did a search here at HRC to see what would come up. There was some thread regarding 'good metal amps', and you had a bit to say about Randalls there. I'm not sure who would win a face-to-face shoot out, between one of Peaveys better tube amps(5150, 6505, etc...) and the upper-end Randalls, such as the signiture series. I will tell you one thing about this particular solid state line,(RH) it has that VERY distinct 'Randall' tone... even on the cleans! It's deffinately something that I could see working with for a very long time... something of a good foundatioin for that sound in my head that the Line-6 stuff came very close to as well.
Come to think of it, I believe Tadpui commented there, as well...
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 16, 2009 03:08 pm I have to hand it to Crate, they've been trying to get back in the game and cater to someone other than teenage bedroom guitarists lately. They've jumped into the low-wattage tube amp craze with their BlackHeart series (they wisely put no mention of the Crate brand name on these amps except on the inside of the cabinet next to the serial number hahaha). They've also put out a few larger tube amps that get at least mixed reviews, which is an improvement.
All I remember from Crate from 15 years ago is their solid-state practice amps that several of my friends had. Those little 5-watt practice amps that sounded pretty much identical to the Peavey practice amps.
Man, I can't believe how far amps have come in the past few years. Small, low-wattage tube amps, new innovations in hybrid tube/solid-state technology, modelling and digital effects sections, much lower costs and higher build quality...almost all of the bigger amp manufacturers have done these same things. Fender's Frontman and DEC series, Peavey's Vyper series, and several others have all been kickstarted by Line 6's success at adding all of these features to amps that the average beginner or intermediate guitarist can actually afford.
When it comes to Randall though, the amp of theirs that attracts me is their MTS series. What a cool idea, and they actually made it work: you take a tube power amp and hook it up to a preamp that accepts pre-manufactured and interchangable preamp modules that mimic well-known preamp circuits from amp history. They have units that will house up to 4 of these preamp modules, so you can have a Marshall Plexi, a Fender Tweed, a Mesa Mark I and a Fender Twin all in one box, all totally independant of each other. Expensive as hell though. For the price, I'd rather get a Mesa Mark V and have most of that versatility.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 16, 2009 03:52 pm Oh yeah, that MTS line IS pretty sweet, indeed! And yeah, a small fortune to own.
I may be picking up one of those mini Marshall stacks to have here to play at work, later this week. Ever mess around on one of those?
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 17, 2009 11:46 pm It depends on which mini Marshall stack. They have a tube version that sounds OK, but the solid state ones are pretty unimpressive. They're run-of-the-mill SS amps that cost more due to the Marshall name. Might as well buy 2 Crate practice amps and sit them one on top of the other for 1/3 of the price.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 18, 2009 08:44 pm I'll only jump in for a moment on two things here.
Hue, it is usually correct that if it sounds like utter crap you are in the wrong port. Not really heard what the RH series sounds like plugged that way so not much help. Other then ya, it should sound like crap if it is wrong.
@ Tadpui on the Blackheart amps. I am absolutely stunned by them. You know I love the tone that the little modded Valve Jr has and at only 5 watts. I got to plug into a straight up 5 watt Blackheart last week and I have to admit. I would off the Jr in a heartbeat for this thing. In fact I may just buy it to have and still keep the Jr. It has a killer clean tone and the grind on it is awsome in bone stock condition. I am bringing a Tung Sol set in to swap into it and try it with those. But I'm pretty sure I'm gonna buy it just for kicks. And a 1 x 12 Engle cab he has sound just perfect with it. As it is the same as the Jr, a 5 watt class A single ended tube head. OK, I gotta go clean out my drawers now from just thinking about it.
But Hue, you'll know if you plug in wrong on that. But its worth investigating to avoid messing it up.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 18, 2009 09:18 pm Tad, and Noize: Right...
I have yet to check out one of those Blackhearts... didn't know it was a Crate product buy what I've heard, and read about them
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 18, 2009 09:28 pm Oh, and regarding the Marshall-mini... I've heared alot of peeps run the outs of their PODs, modelers, etc... into the CD/MP3 input that it offers, and BLAM! So, I've got a bunch of stuff up on CL for trade, as I'm really angling for a POD xt, or x3 in any form. I really miss the xT that I had. At the same time, the line of trade lead me to my 2nd Gibi, so....
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 18, 2009 10:13 pm If you're just going to use a guitar amp for its line input, you might be better served finding a seperate power amp and speaker, or a more PA-style setup. Heck, maybe even a keyboard amp (they tend to be relatively cheap compared to guitar amps).
You just might be able to get a cheaper setup and avoid paying for proprietary preamp circuitry that you're not going to use, if your POD is going to be your preamp.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 19, 2009 08:32 am No money to be saved... these are aquired by Craigs List trades of gear I'm not using. So...
Oct 19, 2009 08:35 am I think over the 25 years or so I've been playing, I have found Randall amps to be vastly underrated. They have some truly awesome sounding amps. Powerful, good tone, well built, but never got past the Marshalls and Fenders of the world. Generally, I'd take a Randall over a Fender any day.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Oct 19, 2009 11:01 am Yup. I'm liking this Randall so much that it may indeed be replacing my FlextoneIIIxl rig. The only thing that is really holding me up is the replacement of the modulation and delay fx that the Line-6 stuff does so well.
I may look to trading the FlextoneIIIxl for something of a floor-POD... XT, or X3. That would take care of all of the fx, plus give me back the direct recording capeabilities that I've relied on the Flextone for, as well.
