Randall RG100 ES

Mid-eighties Randall, made in Irvine, Californ-i-a! This is not Washburn crap. I honestly don't know how Washburn can feel good about themselves with the garbage they put that Randall nametag on? Anyway, as the others have said, you've got your basic volume and gain for each channel, plus a shared reverb, presence, bass, mid, and treble knob. The treble knob also pulls out to give the red channel a full volume distortion at practice levels. Very nice feature. My amp didn't come with a footswitch, and they are hard to find, but luckely you can still use both channels independently, or mix them together for a 'holy mother of satan' sound you won't believe. This amp has every feature I could ever want.

I play an old (San Dimas, CA) Charvel with a Duncan distortion in the bridge position. I also have an SG, but who doesn't, right? They both sound awesome through the Randall head, which I have going into a matching cabinet with the Celestion speakers. The amp makes a little hum at idle, but once she gets barkin' you can't hear any of that. This amp can do it all, from hard rock and metal, to surf and blues. You just have to know how to turn the knobs. Unlike my old Marshall JCM 900, the knobs actually sound good in other combinations besides all dimed. The red channel has two levels of distortion, depending on if the treble knob is pulled out. The green channel is the clean channel, but honestly when you turn the gain all the way up it sounds like an old Fender or something. It's definately not real clean, that's for sure. Then you can run both channels together. I've never seen an amp that could do all that, so I give it a perfect 10 rating.

Solid state never breaks. F*ck tube amps. But I'm not giving a rating because of my horrible luck and good old Murphy's law.

Washburn sucks. I called them to find out about getting a footswitch, and they took about 10 minutes switching me from department to department only to eventually get me through to someone that kept me on hold for about 20 minutes, only to come back and say 'Sorry, we don't know anything about the old Randall amps...'

Gee thanks guys, I'm glad you were able to waste my WHOLE lunch hour for nothing...

This amp rocks my world. Even with the crappy looking fuzzy carpet covering. Gee, Mr. Randall have you ever heard of T-O-L-E-X??? But seriously, buy one if you can find one. No, wait a second, don't buy one because I don't want or need everyone sounding like me, and buying up all these cheap Randall amps I see in pawn shops and used music shops. Yes, I need them all!!!!!! I've become Randall obsessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This 150W solid state head needs no effects. It has 2 channels that are controllable through the foot switch. Foot switch has 2 buttons. One button changes channels, the other toggles a single channel/both channels feature. Seperate pre-gains and masters for each channel. There is an effects loop, though I've never used it. The "red" channel has a gain boost to give you a fantastic crunch at low volume.

This amplifier provides probably the best crunch you'll ever hear from a solid state guitar amplifier. I regularly play it through a 4x12 Crate, but it sounds even better through 4x12 Marshall cabinets.

I've been playing mine since the late 80s. I spotted it in the used gear section of a local music store. When I played it and compared it to the store's "new" stock of Randall amps, there was a noticable difference. This amp has balls. My only complaint is that little plastic ring that holds the on/off switch in place broke so the switch jiggles around a bit.

Never delt with the company. 30 day warranty on used gear.

If you ever spot one of these, play it. You might find yourself making the owner an offer on it. Two of my friends have hounded me for years to buy or trade for it.

This is a big old Randall head, and is definitely pre-Washburn. It's dated from 1983, and has a cream front panel, and 2 channels. It has an effects loop, and reverb as well. Although this is a solid state amp, it sounds incredible. I bought this amp after seeing an old picture of Cobain using it on the Bleach tour. His looked Identical to this one. It is easily as powerful as my Marshall Silver jubilee 2555. I guess this is the first attempt of Randall to enter the high end concert amp market, and it looks like an older JMP style case.

Now I am a pure Marshall fan, with a collection ranging from a 1969 plexi on up, but this amp surprised me. I use Fender Jazzmasters, Mustangs and Strats, and here's the clincher. I have an original Small Clone and DOD Overdrive pre-amp 250. When I run these 2 pedals through this amp I get the most unbeleivable STP meets Nirvana and Soundgarden. It is the thickest, most hypnotizing sound I've heard. The solid state nature of this amp brings out a pure Chorus surround sound. I've never had this sound before from my Marshalls. The overdrive is pure STP. The one thing I hate is that 80's rasp, but this amp seems to be designed to give a full HIWATT overdrive at reasonable volume levels. I know they changed the circuit on the Randalls because my friends sounds more like a late 80's thin chainsaw sound. If you find this version, I say get it.

This is a solid state amp, so you don't have to worry about tubes. I think that you have to be carefull about Filter caps and other conponents. This amp seems to have been running since the time it was made, without basement stagnation. It has the old Daly filter caps, but no hum. I guess it's in top form. I've run it 12 hrs. to break it in, just in case it sat. No problems

The one thing I didn't luck out with is the foot switch. It didn't come with one, and unfortunately Randall made the jack interface to some special plug. Everone I've called told me that it would be nearly impossible to find. I'll keep checking. Washburn has nothing remotely close.

If your looking for a more unique sound than everyone on the block, then get this amp. I cannot vouche for later model Randalls, because they sound totally different. Look for the cream panel without the white piping around the case. Mine also has a Silver aluminum logo. Later ones were white. Great amp. Get one if you can find this model.