Randall Solid State head vs. Tube amps

[lttoler]

I have a few different tube amps such as Mesa, Budda, and Fender. The other day my friend left a Randall RH200 solid state head at my house. I believe this is like a Dimebag Darrel model amp. I am not the biggest fan of metal, mainly just pop rock in my cover band, but this amp sounded really great to me and at a fraction of the price. I did not get to test it for that long but the little bit of time have got me interested in these amps. How do they compare to other tube amps such as the Mesa's?

[Tank]

you have to be kidding me. a randall sounds like a chainsaw compared to a dual recs distortion.

[lttoler]

Well it had more low end than the budda but a lil less than the Mesa. Maybe my ears just suck. I will post sound clips.

[jb4674]

If you have tube amps and you think a solid state amp sounds better, I'd say you've lost a bit of your hearing. To me, ss amps sound fake and predictable whereas a tube amp will have guts.

Jimmy

[jemaholic]

I have found that when you are playing alone - in your bedroom - a SS amp sounds great - especially with built-in effects.

BUT - if you try and use a SS amp playing with a band or at higher volume levels they get buzzy and thin-sounding and don't cut through the mix well at all.
I use a Marshall 15 watt DFX SS amp for practice in the house and I use (2) DSL 100 tube heads and (4) 1960 4x12" Marshall speaker cabinets live with the band- both rigs sound great in the right situation.

[scotte_za]

Originally Posted by jemaholic

I have found that when you are playing alone - in your bedroom - a SS amp sounds great - especially with built-in effects.

BUT - if you try and use a SS amp playing with a band or at higher volume levels they get buzzy and thin-sounding and don't cut through the mix well at all.
I use a Marshall 15 watt DFX SS amp for practice in the house and I use (2) DSL 100 tube heads and (4) 1960 4x12" Marshall speaker cabinets live with the band- both rigs sound great in the right situation.

you must be playing massive gigs to need a rig like that!

[lttoler]

What about the hybrid amps that have tubes in the preamp section but a solid state power section. All my sounds will always be miced btw and go through the clubs speakers.

[elcid]

Originally Posted by lttoler

What about the hybrid amps that have tubes in the preamp section but a solid state power section. All my sounds will always be miced btw and go through the clubs speakers.

What about them? It still doesnt give you real tube sound, you need power tubes for that.

[Mr.WizardNeck]

Originally Posted by lttoler

What about the hybrid amps that have tubes in the preamp section but a solid state power section. All my sounds will always be miced btw and go through the clubs speakers.

That amp isn't really considered a hybrid. A Musicman RP100 is a hybrid as is the Randall V2.

[Dantesstudio]

From what i hear and see at the local shops the hybrids seem to have some pretty bad matinence issues. They also dont come close to the tone of a tube amp. They still get frail and week at higher volumes. A bandmate of mine has a Randal V2 on top of a orange 4 by 12 cab. My Mesa Stiletto destroys it all day long no matter what i am using for a cab. Trust me man there is no substitute for a tube amp.

Crank your friends amp up to about 6 or more and see what his tones like then, youll understand. It doesnt take much of an ear to hear the difference.

[Tank]

Compared my JSX played through the crappiest Behringer 1x12 NONAME speaker with a Marshall Hybrid played through my Mesa 4x12... The JSX destroyed the Marshall even through this crapcab.

[Mr.WizardNeck]

Are we talking about the Bugera speakers or the Jensen ones. I love those Jensens that came with my Behringer.

[GLG421]

Originally Posted by jemaholic

I have found that when you are playing alone - in your bedroom - a SS amp sounds great - especially with built-in effects.

BUT - if you try and use a SS amp playing with a band or at higher volume levels they get buzzy and thin-sounding and don't cut through the mix well at all.
I use a Marshall 15 watt DFX SS amp for practice in the house and I use (2) DSL 100 tube heads and (4) 1960 4x12" Marshall speaker cabinets live with the band- both rigs sound great in the right situation.

That's a $$$ take right there.

I've got a similar set-up with an AVT 20 and a JCM800 w 2 4x12's.

at 2 the AVT has the tone of the JCM on 8, just without the feedback, and responsive attack. But as the volume increases it's tonal values start to diminish and it sounds less and less like the JCM.

For a practice amp, or jamming with some buds, it sounds great. I don't think I'd gig with a hybrid, but for the niche they're trying to fill, they're pretty good.

[Tank]

Originally Posted by Mr.WizardNeck

Are we talking about the Bugera speakers or the Jensen ones. I love those Jensens that came with my Behringer.

Nope its the cheap 1x12 which has the chinese speaker, no Jensen.