Need Advice

[jonnyc]

I was made an offer that I'm seriously contemplating. I'm being offered a Randall MTS head in trade for my Vox AC30CC head and Marshall 1960a cab. I only paid 200 for the cab so to me it's pretty close to an even trade but I wanted to know what you guys thought before I went ahead and did the deal.

 

[TelePaul]

Well, you don't play right? What styles are the bands you record into? It was my impression Randall was popular with metal players.

 

[jonnyc]

Well, you don't play right? What styles are the bands you record into? It was my impression Randall was popular with metal players.

Yes Randall is more known as a metal amp however the MTS series is the one with the swappable modules. His amp has a Blackface(Fender), Plexi, and XTC(Bogner) modules. I've heard the amp and it sounds great and each channel definately has it's own definitive sound.

 

[TelePaul]

Yes Randall is more known as a metal amp however the MTS series is the one with the swappable modules. His amp has a Blackface(Fender), Plexi, and XTC(Bogner) modules. I've heard the amp and it sounds great and each channel definately has it's own definitive sound.

Modules...is it a simulator?

 

[jonnyc]

Modules...is it a simulator?

Not at all, Google it, it's a truly amazing amp. The Randall itself has it's own power section while each module is a preamp section, complete with tubes and all.

 

[TelePaul]

Not at all, Google it, it's a truly amazing amp. The Randall itself has it's own power section while each module is a preamp section, complete with tubes and all.

Crazy, really 3 amps in one then??

 

[jonnyc]

Crazy, really 3 amps in one then??

Yeah, plus you can buy and swap out modules, I think they have something like 20 or 30 or them. I'm just wondering if people think it's a fair swap. The only problem is it leaves me with just a 1x12 cab.

 

[TelePaul]

Long term it looks like a pretty good move, considering you can upgarde the modules.

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

I've had the pleasure of tinkering with a bunch of MTS modules and I think it's a really good sounding system. The Top Boost module may fill the void of your old AC30.

The best setup is the RM4 preamp chassis + their 2 channel power amp, in which one channel has 6L6 tubes and the other has EL34s. Kind of cool to mix and match preamps with power amp channels.

I hope to pick up some MTS stuff within a month or so. Only mild reservation is I'm not totally confident with the state of the company. I'm not sure their stuff is selling that well and Bruce Egnater has his own, more expensive, version of the system.

In any case it's a great studio tool that, IMO, beats digital modelers soundly.

Can't comment on the dollar for dollar trade value, but ebay is good for that of course. There's always MTS stuff on there.

 

[jonnyc]

I've had the pleasure of tinkering with a bunch of MTS modules and I think it's a really good sounding system. The Top Boost module may fill the void of your old AC30.

The best setup is the RM4 preamp chassis + their 2 channel power amp, in which one channel has 6L6 tubes and the other has EL34s. Kind of cool to mix and match preamps with power amp channels.

I hope to pick up some MTS stuff within a month or so. Only mild reservation is I'm not totally confident with the state of the company. I'm not sure their stuff is selling that well and Bruce Egnater has his own, more expensive, version of the system.

In any case it's a great studio tool that, IMO, beast digital modelers soundly.

Can't comment on the dollar for dollar trade value, but ebay is good for that of course. There's always MTS stuff on there.

If you were in my position would you make the trade?

 

[Outlaws]

That is an amp I would love to spend some time with if I ever stumble onto one.

If you trade your cab will you have any speakers to use with the head still? The AC30CC is what $850 new? The Randall is $1000? So I would take the used price they are selling for on ebay for both and find the difference. If your Marshall cab is even close to good condition there is no reason it is not worth $400.

I would trade the head and even some cash, but I wouldn't offer up the cab unless it was my best friend...and that would only be because you got the cab cheap. If its a stranger or someone you don't know that well, I would skip that portion of the trade.

If it was me, I would offer the Vox and $100. Assuming both amps are near mint.

 

[jonnyc]

The amp goes for around a grand new, but that's with no modules and his comes with 3. Filled with modules I see them going closer to 1500. I do have a 1x12 cab with a vintage 30 in it but that's it.

 

[Outlaws]

The amp goes for around a grand new, but that's with no modules and his comes with 3. Filled with modules I see them going closer to 1500. I do have a 1x12 cab with a vintage 30 in it but that's it.

If that is the case, then I would take the trade assuming you like the amp every bit as much. A single Vintage 30 imo sounds better than 4 of those G75T's that are in most 412 cabs.

 

[TelePaul]

The amp goes for around a grand new, but that's with no modules and his comes with 3. Filled with modules I see them going closer to 1500. I do have a 1x12 cab with a vintage 30 in it but that's it.

Did you find out why he wants to get rid of it? That might be a factor in your decision.

 

[Outlaws]

I should point out though that you might run into some issues though with one Vintage 30.

The Randall is 100 watts right? So a Vintage 30 is rated to handle 60 watts. BUT a 100 watt tube amp when cranked will typically output upwards of 150 watts and may even spike more than that at times. That is something to keep in mind. You might have to shell out for an attenuator.

 

[jonnyc]

Did you find out why he wants to get rid of it? That might be a factor in your decision.

Because he's in love with my Vox. I picked the MTS out for him, he bought it solely based on my recommendation.

 

[jonnyc]

I should point out though that you might run into some issues though with one Vintage 30.

The Randall is 100 watts right? So a Vintage 30 is rated to handle 60 watts. BUT a 100 watt tube amp when cranked will typically output upwards of 150 watts and may even spike more than that at times. That is something to keep in mind. You might have to shell out for an attenuator.

That's what I'm worried about, however I generally record at relatively low volumes.

Let me ask you this, if you had a chance to pick up either an AC30CC(I know how much you love this amp ) or the Randall and the price was equal, which would you pick up?

 

[TelePaul]

Because he's in love with my Vox. I picked the MTS out for him, he bought it solely based on my recommendation.

Ah cool. Seems ike the only worry is the high saturation point.

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

If you were in my position would you make the trade?

Sorry, I'm afraid only you can make the decision since it purely depends on your needs. If you love your AC30, then the decision is tough. If you really feel the need for usable versatility, I think the MTS is very good.

I rarely do trades so I'd probably want both unless I didn't like the AC30 or didn't use it very often. I tend to keep stuff around for a rainy day

Best of luck to you man.

 

[Outlaws]

That's what I'm worried about, however I generally record at relatively low volumes.

Let me ask you this, if you had a chance to pick up either an AC30CC(I know how much you love this amp ) or the Randall and the price was equal, which would you pick up?

I haven't played the Randall so I can't say. However, I would say the Randall seems much more studio friendly.

I don't like tube amps that are not cranked (sans Fender) so I would say with a HotPlate and that single Vintage 30, you would probably be set.

Without the HotPlate I wouldn't want 100 watts and a single speaker.