Members Crunchtime Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 First off, I have always been a Randall guy. I've owned a lot of high dollar amps and always feel at home on a Randall. So, when I saw the RT503 being blown out for $278 I assumed it was a no brainer. I ordered without hesitation. The RT503 arrived today via UPS ninja. I stepped out to take care of my dogs and noticed a Randall box at the back door. I rushed the amp in and noticed the box read B stock. Not exactly sure what that means but, I don't like the sound of that. Anyway amp was packed very well and looked great. Next I opened the little box with the footswich. No manual, power cable, or 6 pinfootswitch cable. I was bummed most about the foot switch cable because the flake I got my T2 was a total flake ass and I could never get him to send 6 pin footswitch cable for T2 switch. Oh well. Anyway the amp looked sweet and build seem well too. First thing I do is hook it up and check the bias via the handy rear bias points. Here's where things get dicey. I wanted to try the amp at 35mv per tube. The stock reading was 41mv so I went to adjust it and the lowest setting I could achieve was 40mv per tube. Not good in my book. So I fire it up with my ESP XJ6 and go through the channels. First thing I notice is the lack of volume. The amp seems to be fine, it is just really lacking in volume. The lead channel would not breath untill the channel volume was maxed and the master was at 3 O'clock! I maxed the master and was surprised how weak the volume was. I've never maxed a tube amp before. I start fiddling with the knobs and realize the reverb and clean channel bright switch do not work. Randall, I have always been a pimp for you. Why hast though forsaken me? Regarding the tone, it is actually pretty good. The clean is good and can achieve a nice rock tone with the gain up. Did not spend anytime really on OD1 but it seemed like a lesser version of OD2. OD2 was actually really good. Just the way I like a Randall high gain channel. Tight as {censored}, tons of gain, and a mean as {censored} saturation. Sounds just like the way I remember the Ultra XL module when I had the MTS amp. If everything worked and the volume was not so anemic, it would be a steal. However, this is the first Randall I have been disappointed in. It is going back. I am sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gt_jumper Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 nice pic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crunchtime Posted August 9, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 nice pic... Word. $24 cameras {censored}ing rule in the hands of a non sober individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Snave Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 It's not news that Musician's Friend passes off defective returns and b-stock as "new." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NaturalBornBoy Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Eagerly awaiting Nick H's review BAST MAP EVAR! WHY TS7 NO SOUND GOOD BOOST???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DEADBYDAWN Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Nick H "This thing is loud as fk!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NaturalBornBoy Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Nick H "This thing is loud as fk!" The Randall on 3 TOTALLY drowns out both my Madisons on 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wookieslayer Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Dang dude thats a bummer! Are you going to try to get them to send you another? I was always curious about these amps but i was hesitant to their reliability. An Ultra XL amp sounds cool for the price tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timmyfirst Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 those six pin footswitch leads are also a bastard to get hold of. Randall would not sell me one, only the whole footswitch assembly and that was going to be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kurtisqpublic Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 those six pin footswitch leads are also a bastard to get hold of. Randall would not sell me one, only the whole footswitch assembly and that was going to be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timmyfirst Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 If it's the same as the MTS amps, just order a 6 pin midi cable. I got mine from guitar-cable.com and worked like a champ. I dont think its the same. I ordered two 6 pin cables and both of them were ineffective in all the switching functions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Slaymoar Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 So this thing has tubes and you never swapped anything to find out if the tubes are defective? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NinjaRaf Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Yeah, seems like it could be the tubes if youre having volume issues and biasing issues. I dunno about the switches, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dolf Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 There's some broke ass {censored} in that amp. Send it back for a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timmyfirst Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Mine was certainly lacking in volume, even after i revalved it. I frequently had the master flat out just to get the volume from this amp, its just not a very loud 50w! They do sound good on their own though, its only when it goes into a band mix that it really suffers, theres just no cut through at all on any of the channels. As a practice amp its great, but the stupid amount of low end and the vocing of the amp just make it unsuitable for loud live bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Slaymoar Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Mine was certainly lacking in volume, even after i revalved it. I frequently had the master flat out just to get the volume from this amp, its just not a very loud 50w!They do sound good on their own though, its only when it goes into a band mix that it really suffers, theres just no cut through at all on any of the channels. As a practice amp its great, but the stupid amount of low end and the vocing of the amp just make it unsuitable for loud live bands. Something's wrong.. it shouldn't be like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NaturalBornBoy Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Something's wrong.. it shouldn't be like that. What shouldn't be like that? The volume or the lack of cut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timmyfirst Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Something's wrong.. it shouldn't be like that. Yes, the design of the power amp. Its just not a loud amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crunchtime Posted August 9, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 So this thing has tubes and you never swapped anything to find out if the tubes are defective? Yes, tried new tubes this morning with no improvement. Had to borrow some 6L6's from a friend. The amps I have here right now have no 6L6. I suspected this would be the case. The amp sounds good, it is just not loud. It would actually be great for a home player. The bias and reverb issues are enough to make me not want it of course. Not interested in trying to work it out as amp is being discontinued and I've not heard great things about Randall cs lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samnite Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Waitaminnit. You biased it ice cold? Doesn't that at least partially explain the anemic sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nick H Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 FYI, "B-Stock" means somebody returned it and MF is reselling it again, although since these were on backorder, I would have thought these would have come straight from the factory, but I guess not. Mine is out for delivery today, Im sorta bummed to hear this review tho Ill report back when I get mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnowStorm Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Send it back. It seems like a deal too good to be true. I know some Randall amps sound good but I don't trust the quality of them these days. They seem like they're plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crunchtime Posted August 9, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 Waitaminnit. You biased it ice cold? Doesn't that at least partially explain the anemic sound? 40 per tube on a 6L6 is far from Ice cold and I said the tone was good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samnite Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 40 per tube on a 6L6 is far from Ice cold and I said the tone was good.Ah yes. How did I miss that? Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 100 watt Posted August 9, 2012 Members Share Posted August 9, 2012 send it back & get a refund. spend $200-$300 on an old RG100ES Have the best model Randall ever made Riff your balls off Enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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