Randall MTS amps

[edder]

Saw em at Swee Lee. Didn't even know of their existence. I didn't plug in to check out the sound BUT I really like the concept of modular tube preamps on a permanent tube power amp.

Of course tube amp purists will come in and talk about requiring different plate voltages to get certain X and Y sounds and about phase invertors, tube rectifiers vs solid state rectifiers etc etc etc. It is these difference that makes a tube amp sounds different and not entirely based on the preamp section.

However I still find the concept really cool. Plug in "fender-ish" module. Plug out and dump in a "boogie-ish" module when you feel like it.

Get the bigger version. Have 3 channels. Pick and choose the modules.

Awesome concept.

As always the proof is in the listening and testing. I'm not in the market for a tube amp but if you are, you may wanna just do some research on this particular randall amp.

Check it out here
http://www.randallamplifiers.com/products/amplifiers/mts/index.asp

 

[ciel]

hurhru never played those.
played the solid state randall amps at a gig and i was pleasantly surprised that they took pedals pretty well. hiurhur

+1 for randall

 

[boone]

I read about those things back when they first came out, quite alot of people bought it and gave feedback that it's an interesting amp and it sounds good, but imo, won't pedals be alot more easier? Apart from the fact of signal loss from pedal to pedal, and it's much easier to transport. Unless cash rich la.

 

[gargamelesp]

i dont really see how pedals would be easier to transport in this case.

the different modules are integrated into a single head which is slightly bigger than other heads. perhaps it would be even less of a hassle to have 4 diverse tones in a single head, without the need for pedals

 

[boone]

but it's really heavy! Or so it looks. :lol: pedals just chuck in bag then take, walau this one like take bus so out of place, disturb people also! :lol:
I like it's ability to switch voltages, so can get it without the need to get an external tranny.

 

[gargamelesp]

i think the "problem" of the portability of this amp applies equally to other amp heads too. i havent exactly seen someone carrying one on a bus

i dont think edder is trying to start a debate about head vs pedals. you could go many steps further and say that an amp modeler can do the job too and its so much smaller

rather, if you are interested in obtaining an amp, this one might offer a little more in terms of diversity

 

[boone]

yes guessed I got abit too excited about it.. Though wasn't Randall's forte was in solid state and hi gain? Or rather, as popularised by Lynch and Dimebag. Somebody should try it and give opinions.

 

[edder]

You're not comparing apple to apple.

We're talking about tube amps here. And a very versatile tube amp that have modular preamps.

Pedals are only part of the equation.

 

[ala_carte]

Somebody should try it and give opinions.

yeah man i'm dying for some reviews here too, i'm interested in the amp distortion channel. i'm not exactly a amp distortion person, seeing if the randall's distortion will change my opinion :roll:

if i had the money this is the first half stack i'll get....definitely.

 

[boone]

ah ok, my bad.
One more question- can all three or maybe two of them be used together? Or is it meant to be used standalone per section? Maybe can create a new type of sound by combining the three modules.

 

[gargamelesp]

each module serves as an independent preamp channel.

you cannot combine the sounds just like how you cannot combine 2 channels together on the same amp

 

[Guest]

Don't forget the MTS poweramp rack which can switch between 6L6 and EL34 tubes or run them both in parallel. If it works right, EL34 mids with 6L6 lower mids/lowend when driven. Fills everything up. Maybe even one to a closed back cab and one to an open back cab if you're that sort of tone hound with roadies. Should be interesting.

EDIT: wait I might be wrong on the parallel thing. But poweramp switching's still pretty cool.