Randall EX15FX

Year unknown but likely 04 or 05 as this model has been replaced with the RX series.
Features are standard fare for small 15W "practice" amp category: 2 channels (clean & overdrive), 15W, 3 EQ, volume, gain, delay, chorus, reverb...etc. Straight forward 15W single 6 inch speaker amp.
Nothing special or unique.

Sound quality is good; as good as one might expect from an amp such as this. As with most inexpensive amps, the costs are kept low with bargin components, speaker(s) most often. Therefore, I replaced the stock 6 inch Randall speaker with a Jensen MOD 6-15 4ohm speaker. The little box came alive with this small $20 modification and yields tones that are very 60's British. The weakness in the overdrive channel was overcome by the addition of a FAB distortion pedal for a mere $15. So, all-in-all, about $35 in mods makes an already good little amp, a REALLY good little amp for most applictions.

Its been around for several years, although lightly used, so I can only assume it will continue to function for several more years to come.

Unknown, but made by a reputable company that's been around for years.

After shopping around for an inexpensive small amp from a known manufacturer ($59-140) and strongly considering the VOX Pathfinder 15 @ around $120, I found this Randall EX15 in a pawn shop for $26, made a $20 speaker modification and have a GREAT sounding amp with basic features for under 50 bucks! The only thing missing is the spring reverb from the VOX, but for the price difference, I can live without it.

Quick features rundown:

15 watts
8" speaker
Compact design, light (just under 13 pounds)
Single channel (with overdrive button; no footswitch)
1/4" guitar in
CD/Tape in (RCA style inputs R and L, front)
1/4" line out (in back)
Headphone jack (in back)
Power switch (in back)
Reverb
Delay
Chorus

I bought 2 of these amps for my 12 year old sons just starting out, taking a gamble as I had never actually heard the amps. I had them shipped to me also, which makes returns a pain to deal with. As soon as I plugged in I felt I had made a mistake. I immediately cranked the gain and engaged the "overdrive" button, but where was the distortion? Uh oh. After this, I engaged the built in effects by turning up the reverb knob. Sounded like cheap digital reverb to me. And it is.

But here's the deal: I really like this amp for what it is. After playing with it for about an hour I feel I've put it through its paces enough to at least offer this information, since I could find NO other reviews ANYWHERE on the internet. I've been playing for over 20 years and I know what I like. This is a decent amp, especially for what I paid.

As far as the usefulness of the features, I think the reverb is DEFINITELY serviceable. Adds nice depth to the sound as long as you don't crank it. The delay, again, is serviceable for what it is: a single, short, mild-volume echo great for adding a bit of depth to your sound. It's not adjustable, so it is what it is, but it's nice to have available. You can pull off a decent rhythm guitar effect with it at certain tempos, and it's nice for Gilmore-esque leads (again, as a very beginner-type effect).

The chorus, however, is a disaster. Not adjustable, waaaay too much depth variation. It basically makes your guitar sound out of tune no matter what you do. A total waste, which is disappointing. One minor tweak could have made it very usable: just reducing the depth of the effect could have rendered it serviceable like the delay. But alas, no.

CD-in might be cool. It's a straightforward input system which delivers a full volume signal, bypassing the preamp and effects entirely, which is what I would have expected. Using it for a drum machine (which I tested) or an MP3 player should work as intended.

I'm giving this category a 7 simply because you can achieve an immediate, full sound using the reverb and delay running a guitar directly into this amp, which is more than I can say for most practice or beginner amps at this price point. Also this little baby gets pretty loud and stays fairly buzz-free doing so, so the wattage and speaker combo isn't too bad. It sucks that the chorus is essentially a wasted effect, but the other effects carry the day.

I tested this amp with an early 90's Fender contemporary strat with a bridge humbucker (with a coil splitter switch).

At first I thought this little amp really lacked in the distortion department, and it kind of does. Metal and thrash fans are going to be disappointed if they were hoping for a high gain amp. But here's what I like: The distortion that's here is very musical. It's a bit on the mild side yet crunchy and raw. You can play entire chords anywhere on the fretboard and clearly hear all the strings ring out without mudding up, which I really like. I would much rather have this than over-saturated distortion without concern for maintaining the integrity of the notes. If you want high gain you'll have to get a pedal or multi-effects unit of some kind. (I tested an old Dean Markley "Overlord" pedal with this amp, which uses a real 12AX7 preamp tube, and it sounded pretty darn good).

The distortion that IS here sounds kind of cool and old school. Should be serviceable for standard rock, classic rock, etc. when sitting "in the mix" of bass, drums and vocals, where you want to cut down on the distortion a bit anyway. You might not be able to keep up with a band with only 15 watts and an 8" speaker, but this little amp just might deliver a decent sound when miked-up with a shure sm-57 for recording or playing live.

I REALLY liked the clean sound. Very chimey, low noise, clean and clear. Sounded really nice with the touch of reverb and delay this amp offers.

The headphone jack totally blows. Doesn't deliver the amp's sound accurately to headphones at all in my opinion but hey, it's there.

For the nice balance of great clean and classic, old school distortion I really have to give the sound a 7. (Again..KEEPING IN MIND WHAT THIS AMP IS: A CHEAP PRACTICE/BEGINNER AMP).

Sorry. Can't offer any info on reliability. Randall does furnish a 5 year non-transferable warranty, however. But for the price, it would likely be cheaper to replace the amp with something new (unless you truly fell in love with this amp. It might happen...who knows?)

Again, no info.

I really just wanted to offer SOME info on this amp, as I found ABSOLUTELY NO FEEDBACK OF ANY KIND ANYWHERE. I would have appreciated SOME info before taking the chance I took.

Now that I've played with it, I found myself actually thinking I would like to own one myself, if only for the fact you can just plug directly in and get useable, loud amplification for many styles of music (other than high-gain styles, of course). My sons live with their mother, and these 2 amps are going to live at her house. I found myself really digging the clean, musical, old school Randall solid state distortion and excellent clean sound. Plus you get the immediate, direct-in depth of the very serviceable reverb and mild delay. Pretty cool.

One problem is that these amps are discontinued and getting hard to find...I snagged the last two at the online seller I bought from! Without a doubt worth the price I paid, assuming (and hoping) they hold up.

This review is for a 15 watt solid state practice amp made in 2006. It has a 6 inch speaker, one channel with adjustable gain, volume, bass, middle, and treble. The best part of this model are the effects-spring reverb, digital chorus and delay. There is a level control for the reverb, but the chorus and delay are not adjustable. You can have reverb only, reverb with delay or reverb with chorus. There are CD rca inputs on the front panel and headphone and a line out on the back. I would like a speaker out as well since the little 6 incher can't handle all the power of the amp section.

For a small amp it sounds really good. Much warmer and more musical than my Line 6 15 watt. With the delay and reverb cranked up I get the most beautiful Chris Isaak Wicked Game tone with my Strat. Flip over to chorus and nail the Rooster sound of Alice in Chains. Turn off the effects hit the gain button and you are in Pantera country.
The speaker farts out at high volume, but for apartment use it is more than loud enough. The tone controls are very good and respond well to small adjustments. Very little background noise on the clean channel however on gain there is some hiss at high gain/volume, this is due to the four JRC 4558 DD op amps, may switch these out to 4558P or OPA2604AP low noise.

The cabinet is very thick and well built and the amp seems reliable. Remember this is a small practice amp not meant for playing live, but would be good for backstage tuning and warm up.

When I got it (used) the nut on the input was broken,probably from falling over onto the guitar cord. I contacted Randall and after several emails this was their response from Tim McCarthy in customer service was this is an import model and no parts are avaible.

I've been playing since the mid 60's and have several other practice amps (Line 6 Spider II 15, Cube 15, Microcube, Behringer GM 108, Marshall Valvestate 10,Peavey Blazer 158, Laney 30) and this has some of the best sounds for low level practice. My "big" rig is a Fender Stage 112 100watt. Guitars: Gibson Les Paul, Washburn D12CE elect/acoustic. and a Berringer Strat copy that is a very good low cost axe when professionally setup. I haul it around to practice and parties and don't worry about scratching it up. I might pick up another.