Randall Amplifiers
Encyclopedia
Randall Amplifiers is a manufacturer of guitar amplifiers, a subsidiary of U.S. Music Corporation
. Its products are/were used by artists such as Chuck Schuldiner
, Dimebag Darrell
, Metallica
, King's X
, Nirvana
and Anthrax
. Randall makes both solid-state and tube amplifiers.
, who at the time was operating a nearby radio repair shop. Randall then went on to serve in the Army Corps of Engineers, the Signal Corps, and Army Air Forces during World War II
. Once he returned home, he took a job as general manager of Radio & Television Equipment, a wholesale distributor of electronic components. There he discovered that Fender had begun making a few lap steel guitars and small amplifiers in his shop on what is now Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton, CA.
Fender was anxious to expand his business, and was receptive when in 1946 Randall suggested that that Radio & Television Equipment distribute his guitars and amps. In February 1953 Fender Sales Corporation and Fender Electric Instrument Company were established. Randall, in charge of sales and distribution, was responsible for naming most of the classic Fender products which included the Broadcaster (which later became the Telecaster) and the Stratocaster. Randall subsequently became vice president and general manager of the Fender Musical Instrument and Fender Sales divisions of CBS. In 1969 Randall left to found Randall Amplifiers. Randall Amplifiers was founded in 1970 in Irvine, CA. Randall then sold the company in 1987. In the mid-1990s it was purchased by U.S. Music Corporation
.
of Egnater Amplification to create the MTS (Modular Tube System) series of guitar amplifiers. They involve a single amp head consisting of the power amp and part of a preamp, and slots in the head (one for the RM20 head and combo, two for the RM50 head and combo and RM22 head, and 3 for the RM100 head and RM100C combo, and 12 for the RM1250H) in which you can insert their various preamp modules. These modules are tube preamps in themselves that model various amps, from Vox
and Fender style cleans, to Marshall
crunch, to all out Mesa Boogie
style distortion.
This series also has a rack-mount preamp unit called the RM4 that can hold up to four preamp modules at once.
George Lynch
, Kirk Hammett
, and Scott Ian
have their own signature modules and RM100 heads. The heads both have unique cosmetic differences, and some tonal difference. The only tonal difference in the three modular heads is that George Lynch's Lynch Box RM100LB comes loaded with with JJ E34L power tubes, Scott Ian's RM100SI comes loaded with JJ EL34 power tubes, and Kirk Hammet's RM100KH has added depth in the power section for more bottom end then the standard RM100 head.
U.S. Music Corporation
U.S Music Corporation is a company based in Mundelein, Illinois. US Music Corp is an international musical instrument company that manufactures and distributes products worldwide under the Washburn Guitars, Parker Guitars, Randall Amplifiers, Eden Electronics, Oscar Schmidt, Hagstrom, Jay Turser,...
. Its products are/were used by artists such as Chuck Schuldiner
Chuck Schuldiner
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.Schuldiner was the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band Death, which he founded in 1983, initially under the name Mantas. He also recorded as guitarist and songwriter with his other band, Control Denied...
, Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
and Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. Randall makes both solid-state and tube amplifiers.
History
The Randall Amplifer Company was founded in 1970 by Don Randall, a life long radio and audio amplifier enthusiast. Randall began working as a salesman for a radio supply shop after graduating from community college in Santa Ana, CA. It was there that he began a business relationship with Leo FenderLeo Fender
Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender was an American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, or "Fender" for short...
, who at the time was operating a nearby radio repair shop. Randall then went on to serve in the Army Corps of Engineers, the Signal Corps, and Army Air Forces during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Once he returned home, he took a job as general manager of Radio & Television Equipment, a wholesale distributor of electronic components. There he discovered that Fender had begun making a few lap steel guitars and small amplifiers in his shop on what is now Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton, CA.
Fender was anxious to expand his business, and was receptive when in 1946 Randall suggested that that Radio & Television Equipment distribute his guitars and amps. In February 1953 Fender Sales Corporation and Fender Electric Instrument Company were established. Randall, in charge of sales and distribution, was responsible for naming most of the classic Fender products which included the Broadcaster (which later became the Telecaster) and the Stratocaster. Randall subsequently became vice president and general manager of the Fender Musical Instrument and Fender Sales divisions of CBS. In 1969 Randall left to found Randall Amplifiers. Randall Amplifiers was founded in 1970 in Irvine, CA. Randall then sold the company in 1987. In the mid-1990s it was purchased by U.S. Music Corporation
U.S. Music Corporation
U.S Music Corporation is a company based in Mundelein, Illinois. US Music Corp is an international musical instrument company that manufactures and distributes products worldwide under the Washburn Guitars, Parker Guitars, Randall Amplifiers, Eden Electronics, Oscar Schmidt, Hagstrom, Jay Turser,...
.
MTS Series
Recently they have worked with Bruce EgnaterBruce Egnater
Egnater is an American company that manufactures boutique guitar amplifiers.-History:The company was founded by Bruce Egnater in Detroit, Michigan. After attending the University of Detroit Engineering School, he opened a guitar and amplifier repair shop in 1975...
of Egnater Amplification to create the MTS (Modular Tube System) series of guitar amplifiers. They involve a single amp head consisting of the power amp and part of a preamp, and slots in the head (one for the RM20 head and combo, two for the RM50 head and combo and RM22 head, and 3 for the RM100 head and RM100C combo, and 12 for the RM1250H) in which you can insert their various preamp modules. These modules are tube preamps in themselves that model various amps, from Vox
Vox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...
and Fender style cleans, to Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
crunch, to all out Mesa Boogie
Mesa Boogie
Mesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
style distortion.
This series also has a rack-mount preamp unit called the RM4 that can hold up to four preamp modules at once.
George Lynch
George Lynch (musician)
George Lynch is a hard rock/heavy metal guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken, his own bands Lynch Mob and Souls of We.-Pre Dokken:...
, Kirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, and Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
have their own signature modules and RM100 heads. The heads both have unique cosmetic differences, and some tonal difference. The only tonal difference in the three modular heads is that George Lynch's Lynch Box RM100LB comes loaded with with JJ E34L power tubes, Scott Ian's RM100SI comes loaded with JJ EL34 power tubes, and Kirk Hammet's RM100KH has added depth in the power section for more bottom end then the standard RM100 head.