Randall MTS

[SGFanatic]

Does anybody have or have played the Randall module heads, like the Scott Ian head or and MTS head? I love the idea but it seems gimmicky. I'm intrigued with the whole idea. Thanks.

[UberMetalDood]

I owned a nice MTS head and even posted an audio sample on this forum. I think it might still be on my Soundclick. It's an excellent sounding amp although not manufactured in the USA. The plexi, blackface, SL+ and tweed are the best modules in my opinion.

You will not find distinctly different sounding modules. They will all sound kind of similar in some way, and in the end, offer probably less tonal variety than perhaps a Mark V. For instance, the XTC and SL+ modules are so similar that the only difference I could really tell from them is a shift in a few EQ frequencies. The plexi is like the SL+ with lower gain and a slight shift in top end EQ, etc...

The clean modules are very good. The tweed sounds like a tweed and the blackface sounds kind of like a blackface, but a bit warmer without as much sparkle.

The FX loop was excellent and I loved the way my M9 sounded through it. I was able to get some real nice sounding reverb, delay and chorus.

The amps seem to have solid construction and I know a guy who has beaten on two of them for many years without issue. If you get the combo, a speaker change is in order as the Classic Lead 80 compliments that amp more than the stock Seventy 80's or even V30's. I would go as far as to say that the Classic Lead 80 lends the modules to a bit more authentic sounds in the Fender and Plexi modules because it has a nicer top end and high midrange.

[guitfiddle]

I have the RM50, and it is a physically huge amp for a 1x12. It came to me loaded with a Celestion G12T-75, and sounds just fine, as it doesn't have tons of midrange, so you can crank that up on the modules. My clean side is the Blackface, and it is very warm and full sounding. You can get it into the range of the Fender Twin, but you can also make it overdrive more than a twin would unless at crazy volumes.

The XTC is my lead channel, and it does the sound I look for in a crunching amp that's boosted with an OD. I believe I'd rather have the Plexi module, but I also could get my XTC module modded to have the Exctacy's blue channel, and the Plexi mode as well as the red channel

The Blackface side crunches enough with the gain all the way up to make me happy, and then it cleans up really well with the guitar volume. Perfect for rhythm playing the way I do it. The big transformers in the amp add a lot of weight, but with that weight comes some seriously killer tones.

[SGFanatic]

So essentially the head is a power amp and the modules act like as the preamp? I know that may seem obvious, but I'm just trying understand the mechanics of it. So uber, you say there really is no tonal variety between the modules? That's disappointing to hear. I've seen youtube clips of the modules modded by Dave Friedman, but I can't imagine that would be anything less than ridiculously expensive. I'll try to find your clips.

[SGFanatic]

On those clips uber, were you switching between the XTC and the SL modules? Your playing was great and the tone was nice too. I'd like to hear it a rehearsal volume. I bet it would sound good cranked with some nice power tubes.

[indie folk guy]

I think the MTS are some great amps. A lot will depend on the tubes you use in the preamp modules and the power amp section. Speaker selection/cabinet type is also important.

[guitfiddle]

So essentially the head is a power amp and the modules act like as the preamp? I know that may seem obvious, but I'm just trying understand the mechanics of it.

That's right. They have several different power sections (20 watt head, 50 watt combo, 50 watt head, etc.), and the modules work with all of them.

I think the MTS are some great amps. A lot will depend on the tubes you use in the preamp modules and the power amp section. Speaker selection/cabinet type is also important.

I forgot to mention that I changed out the Ruby 12ax7s in the XTC for a couple of older RCAs, and I put in a pair of old RCA 6L6 tubes, and it gave it much more smoothness to the tone. The 6L6s really upped the Blackface's game.

I think the preamps might have similarities, but the thing that makes them all sound the same is using the same PI, power tubes, and speaker for all the modules.

[SGFanatic]

I'd love one these heads, but I would go broke buying the modules. It would be nice to have that much variety as actually buying a Super Lead and a Plexi would ect would not be very practical.

[UberMetalDood]

So essentially the head is a power amp and the modules act like as the preamp? I know that may seem obvious, but I'm just trying understand the mechanics of it. So uber, you say there really is no tonal variety between the modules? That's disappointing to hear. I've seen youtube clips of the modules modded by Dave Friedman, but I can't imagine that would be anything less than ridiculously expensive. I'll try to find your clips.

Well there is tonal variety when you compare completely different modules like the Blackface and SL+ or Treadplate for instance. The SL+ is like a gainy plexi module, but with a little shift in EQ. The XTC module is like the SL+ but also a shift in EQ. The modules are the preamps but you're still using the same power section and circuitry of the amp.

I haven't heard a modded module that I like better than the SL+, and in my opinion is the best module. However, the modded modules generally are better. You can get the Friedman mods or the Egnater mods. They're going to cost you a some more but you can get the sound you want.

You can always buy one of the basic modules relatively cheap and then get them modded later on down the road. That way you don't have to spend a ton of money at once and can still get great sound in the meantime.

On those clips uber, were you switching between the XTC and the SL modules? Your playing was great and the tone was nice too. I'd like to hear it a rehearsal volume. I bet it would sound good cranked with some nice power tubes.

Thanks but my playing was sloppy since I had just started learning those songs. The tone could have been better but I got that amp the same day I recorded it. It was very low volume too so you can tell that it was a bit scratchy. It does sound a lot better once you get the volume up loud enough to play with a drummer.

Yes, it was the Plexi then XTC I think in that order. Both modules are great and need no modification. I think if you got an RM100, you could have the blackface (or tweed), Plexi and SL+ (or XTC) and have a real nice variety of useable tones all the way from clean to metal. If you use an EQ in the effects loop then you can really shape the tone.

I think the Randall modular amps are very good. You can get them relatively cheap with the modules installed. If you have about 4x the amount you would spend on that, you can get the Engater modular amp which sounds a slightly better. Personally, I have been tossing around the idea of getting a Randall RM 50 combo for rehearsal and kicking around at home. If you get one then I don't think you will be disappointed. Even if you end up buying a Bogner or something real nice, you will probably want to keep it around because they do sound good and gives you a variety... better than a modeler.

[indie folk guy]

I loved the Rackmounted MTS best for the simple fact that you could configure your preamps to different power tube types like if you had Fendery/Cleanish modules to a 6L6 and your dirt to something like an EL34/6CA7.

Like I said they can be great but going through the same tubes and speakers you can kinda lose the variety. The idea of getting a new amp for the price of a module and without taking up the space of another amp is very appealing it's kind of a shame it didn't really catch on.

[SGFanatic]

I loved the Rackmounted MTS best for the simple fact that you could configure your preamps to different power tube types like if you had Fendery/Cleanish modules to a 6L6 and your dirt to something like an EL34/6CA7.

Like I said they can be great but going through the same tubes and speakers you can kinda lose the variety. The idea of getting a new amp for the price of a module and without taking up the space of another amp is very appealing it's kind of a shame it didn't really catch on.

I think amps like these have a chance, considering the price of gear nowadays. With so much info out there about gear and tone etc, people are going to look past what Marshall and Mesa are selling. Not that their stuff is bad, they're not the only game in town anymore. 10-15 years ago we didn't know what was available beyond what music stores had to offer, and now you can find it on your phone. I love the concept, I'm just afraid tone might get lost somewhere in all that circuitry.

[indie folk guy]

The tone is their you just have to know how to unleash it like I said you can't expect authentic Fender cleans from anything but a 6l6 or 6v6 imho and the speaker type also is a signature part of that Fender sound.

[formula73]

I've never had the pleasure of trying one of these out but they've been on my radar for years. The last time I had a choice of one of these or a different 3ch amp, I went for the other (Framus Cobra) just because I knew what to expect.