Randall Amplifiers

Randall Amplifiers
Type	Private
Industry	Musical instruments
Founded	1970
Founder	Don Randall
Headquarters	1000 Corporate Grove Dr., Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Area served	Global
Products	Guitar amplifiers
Parent	U.S. Music Corporation
Website	http://www.randallamplifiers.com

Wall of Randall amps and cabs at the 2014 NAMM Show.

Randall Amplifiers is a manufacturer of guitar amplifiers, a subsidiary of U.S. Music Corporation. Its products have been used by artists such as Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, George Lynch, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Chuck Schuldiner of Death, Ty Tabor of King's X, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, and Ola Englund of Six Feet Under and Feared. Randall makes both solid-state and tube amplifiers.

History

The Randall Amplifier Company was founded in 1970 by Don Randall, a lifelong radio and audio amplifier enthusiast. Randall began working as a salesman for a radio supply shop after graduating from community college in Santa Ana, California. It was there that he began a business relationship with Leo Fender, who at the time was operating a nearby radio repair shop. Randall went on to serve in the Army Corps of Engineers, the Signal Corps and Army Air Forces during World War II. After the war, he took a job as general manager of Radio & Television Equipment, a wholesale distributor of electronic components, where 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, California.

Fender was anxious to expand his business, and was receptive when in 1946 Randall suggested 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, California. Randall sold the company in 1987. In the mid-1990s, it was purchased by U.S. Music Corporation.

MTS Series

In the early 2000s, the company worked with Bruce Egnater of Egnater Amplification to create the MTS (Modular Tube System) series of guitar amplifiers. These 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 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 than the standard RM100 head.

It was hinted and confirmed during Winter NAMM 2012 that the MTS line of amplifiers would be discontinued and that Egnater would take over the line.

In April 2012, Randall confirmed that the MTS amplifiers were discontinued and would be replaced by a new, high-end line of amplifiers.

Partnership with Fortin Amps (2011 - 2015)

Mike Fortin

In December 2011, it was announced by the head of Fortin Amplification, Inc. that they would be teaming up with Randall amplifiers to design a new tube amp line based on the Fortin Meathead amplifier. Endorsee Kirk Hammett currently has four of the prototypes, one which he used for the Big 4 show at Yankee Stadium and concerts in India. It was also announced that they will be addressing their current amplifier line, both solid state and tube.^[1]

In April 2012, Randall Amplification introduced Mike Fortin as an exclusive design engineer for Randall Amplification. As the founder of Fortin Amplification, Inc. he has forged a worldwide reputation for creating cutting edge high gain amplifier designs. His first priorities will be a new multi-channel, 150 watt Kirk Hammett Signature Model Head and a whole range of high end, high gain all tube amplifiers to be manufactured in North America. The new Fortin designed series of Randall amplifiers will replace the discontinued MTS Series.^[2]

The collaboration produced a series high gain tube amplifiers such as the 667 and the Thrasher and several signature models. In addition to the Kirk Hammett signature models, Randall released the Ultimate Nullifier EN 120, a signature amp for Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian in 2014.^[3] Randall and Fortin also collaborated with The Haunted guitarist Ola Englund and designed a signature amp based on Englund's Fortin 'Natas' amplifier called 'Satan'.^[4]^[5]

On January 1, 2016, Fortin announced his partnership with Randall had ended the previous day, and he would not be renewing his contract.

Current

In 2014, the Fortin designed flagship 6 channel model 667 head was announced. Additionally, Randall entered the pedal market with the RG13 1 Watt, 3 channel amp/pedal, the Facepunch overdrive, MOR boost pedal, RGOD preamp pedal and RF8 8 button midi pedal.

References

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