Solid State Top 10

[TheGoodTexan]

If you've never tried out a Randall RG-80....stop what you're doing right now and go find one!


.
.
.
.
.
.
...ok...what did you think about it?

Actually, the RG-80 is a really, really, good sounding amp. It's a 60 watt, 1x12 combo, in a nice little compact cabinet. They were made from the early to mid 80s, I think. It has two preamps (but just one EQ)that can be used at the same time...set one for slight OD and leave the other one clean, and you can get the "Sparkle Drive" tone right there from your amp.

This amp has been called "the poor man's Dumble", and I don't disagree. Clean tones galore...nice and punchy. The pure overdrive would fit right in there with Robben Ford. Crisp, with lots of sustain, but no mud whatsoever. They came with a stock Celestion.

The best part? They can be found used for $150.

[Jef]

Nobody mentioned Kustom yet? They're part of that classic CCR sound.

Jef

[migra dude]

The thing was a beast. I put casters on it. It had a celestion with a square magnet if I remember correctly. I sold it to a buddy of mine about 11 or twelve years ago. He still has it. I remember it had great overdrive but you had to pull the volume knob to get it. The clean channel was definitely LOUD, but uninspiring if I remember correctly.

[Oskar]

I have an AD60VT Head into a Vox 2x12 cabinet and it's a great amp. My tube amps having been sitting in the corner for the past 8 months.

[Joe-Bob]

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

If you've never tried out a Randall RG-80....stop what you're doing right now and go find one!


.
.
.
.
.
.
...ok...what did you think about it?

Actually, the RG-80 is a really, really, good sounding amp. It's a 60 watt, 1x12 combo, in a nice little compact cabinet. They were made from the early to mid 80s, I think. It has two preamps (but just one EQ)that can be used at the same time...set one for slight OD and leave the other one clean, and you can get the "Sparkle Drive" tone right there from your amp.

This amp has been called "the poor man's Dumble", and I don't disagree. Clean tones galore...nice and punchy. The pure overdrive would fit right in there with Robben Ford. Crisp, with lots of sustain, but no mud whatsoever. They came with a stock Celestion.

The best part? They can be found used for $150.

There's one for sale right around the corner from me. I've never even considered one. Maybe i need to go play through it.

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by Joe-Bob

There's one for sale right around the corner from me. I've never even considered one. Maybe i need to go play through it.

Yeah...at least go try it out. These amps are sleeping around guitar shops and pawn shops all over the place...and they can be had for cheap. Most of us see them, and don't even give it enough consideration to look at it a second time.

Take your guitar with you, and crank up the clean side of it first, then try the OD...then blend them together. The treble control is also a push/pull pot, that seems to add a little compression. Not a huge difference on clean, but fairly noticeable on OD

Each channel has a volume and gain control, and each is capable of both clean and OD tones.

The two channels are switchable via the footswitch...but those footswitches had a wierd connector...so if the footswitch is MIA...you'll have to build one yourself...and I have a schematic for it.

A great little amp for sure, as a backup or practice amp. I have gigged with one several times too. Plently of power for most any gig.

Also...please note...not all "RG" series Randalls are the same. The 25s...50s...and 100s....do not sound like the RG-80 at all.

[Kewlpack]

Have to say no to the Crate stuff. It didn't hold up. 'Nuff said.

I've since found a fantastic tone from the Fender Stage 1000. 3 channels, 7 timbres (very very cool), Celestion g12t-100 speaker (great!), and all the important addons (effect loop, parallel ext out 8 ohm, 160w with ext cab engaged, some decent dsp, light!, portable, consistent tone).

I just bought a Boss GT-8 and run it straight into the clean channel.... tons and tons of tones and tones! 8)

Go try that new pedalboard out - it is teh r0xx0r.
~A~

[popthree]

Originally Posted by Kewlpack

Have to say no to the Crate stuff. It didn't hold up. 'Nuff said.

thats funny...and ironic. when crate came out thats all they were about...durability. sounded like crap, but built like a truck. i have one of the actual "CRATE" bass amps that looks like a crate. sounds hidiously dull, but i believe i could leave it out in the weather for a year without damaging it.

[Kewlpack]

Ya, the GLX212 I had actually began to lose parts. I think the cabinet was okay; very solid; but screws and things were starting falling out. LOL

I figured I'd just take advantage of the GC return policy and keep going on the tonequest.

~A~

[Jakedog]

Not really a solid state fan, but I do love Lab Series L-5 combos! They flat out sound great!

I'll have to keep a weather eye out for one of those Randalls, I'd like to hear one.

I had a Fender Pro-185 when I was a kid, liked it alot. The drive channel sounded awful by itself, but if you cranked the gain in conjunction with a Boss SD-1 it was tone to DIE for. Big, fat, meaty, and sustained for years. Mine is probably still sustaining in a shed somewhere in rural Texas.


Jake

[charliebrown]

All I remember about this amp is, at the time, thinking what a great combo it was...nice sound...it's been so long since I've played through one that I have forgotten the feel and tone though...I'll be keeping my eyes open!

[jericho60]

Peavey Vegas
Peavey Nashville
Peavey KB
70s Yamaha s/s combos
Lab Series

all OK by me...

[Aen]

I'm actually trying to swap my Peavey VTM 120 for a Fender Dyna touch. Can't be luggin a half stack around anymore, plus I need some freakin' CLEAN.

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by Aen

I'm actually trying to swap my Peavey VTM 120 for a Fender Dyna touch. Can't be luggin a half stack around anymore, plus I need some freakin' CLEAN.

I'd swap in a second if I had an amp to swap you. I LOVE my VTM. I get killer cleans from mine, have you tried running into the "low" input? When I run into the high, it's too much gain for me, and not all that toneful. So I run into the low side, gets great clean sounds, and I overdrive with my TS-9's. I would love to have a second one.


Jake

[stantheman]

got INCREDIBLE TONE with Randall Amps and Guild Starfires IV's. This was during the Alligator "Stone Crazy"
period. There are about 5 performances that I saw Buddy give that were unbelievable - even for Buddy - in
the last 35 years and one of them was with the Randall
and Starfire IV rig; the Starfire IV was actually involved
in three of them. Buddy is ALWAYS a great show but on these 5 particular occasions he pitched no-hitters.
For the record: Buddy Guy with a Guild Guitar in his hands is a very dangerous Man. Makes me wonder what Clapton would sound like if he took "the plunge".

[Paul in Colorado]

I forgot about those Randall amps. I used to sell them. They also had a tube combo that I used to check out of the store for "experimental" purposes. But those RG-80's sounded pretty good. I used to gig with the Randall tube combo and a weird Yamaha electric that was sort of Alembic-like with tapped humbuckers. Good sounds all around.

[SteveK]

Ah, my little guilty secrets:

Trace Elliot Tramp. 1x12" 40 Watt all solid state amp (the later versions had a valve in the pre-amp). The distortion is actually quite useable, but I haven't played a gig with it since I bought a Fender Blues Deluxe in a blow-out back in mid '97. It sits at home and I use the power amp & speaker to make my POD 2 loud. Hmm, I mighttake it to rehearsal sometime and see if anyone notices...

Tech21 Trademark 10. The home practise amp that replaced everything for at-home use until I realised that I had to set up my gigging pedalboard and get used to driving it, so it sits in the living room and gets occasional use while I jame along with a DVD or three (sad or what?).

Cheers - Steve

[bongo]

gotta add my 2 cents:

Peavey Special 130 - very, very good clean sound

Peavey Studio Pro - good all around tone, the best Line Out direct recording sound I've been able to get !

Roland Jazz Chorus - :)

[Neill Levine]

gotta add my 2 cents:

Peavey Special 130 - very, very good clean sound

Peavey Studio Pro - good all around tone, the best Line Out direct recording sound I've been able to get !

Roland Jazz Chorus -

I run the Peavey Special 130 as well. I use it clean only with a Boss GT-3 to give me all the effects I need when I am playing fusion, rock or funk.
The clean channel is excellent! I tell you what though, it does not compare to the warm clean sound on my tube 1980 Fender 75 combo. For the jazz I play where the use of effects are banned, I go with the tube amp, with all the character.
The SS is lighter though

[Garrison]

Tech 21 TR 60
Tech 21 TR 30
Kustom HV 30
Kustom 12 Gauge
Roland Blues Cube
Vox Pathfinder
Vox VR 30
Peavey Bandit 112
Line 6 Spider 3
Line 6 Flextone 3

well sorta.... ss that is....