Fortin + Randall = ??? Discuss...

[Anonymous]

Word is that Mike will start making Bones amps again and sell them exclusively through Mod Squad
Someone needs to inquire into this a bit more for confirmation though

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I have nothing against Randall but lost interest in Fortin after he stopped making his own amps. Cool to hear he might be making his own amps again...

 

[Bloodrock]

Randall made some pretty good amps before they got bought by US musical. Every company they buy turns to shit. They could have made a fortune back in the Dimebag Darrell days if they could have built an amp that didn't last half as long as a Bugera on a good day. The X2 was a monster amp but was plagued by problems. I guess the MTS were their high point. Should have stuck with those. I imagine being with Randall will do nothing positive for Mike Fortins career or reputation. Even he can't fix stupid.

 

[gtrwun]

Word is that Mike will start making Bones amps again and sell them exclusively through Mod Squad
Someone needs to inquire into this a bit more for confirmation though

Being the owner of a Bones, I'm not sure if this is good news or not?

 

[godgrinder]

As for the made in China thing... that's been beat to death. Bottom line is companies won't start building stuff here until buyers demonstrate that they're willing to buy a stripped-down US amp at the price of a multi-feature Chinese amp or when they demonstrate they're willing to get out their wallets for a much more expensive US amp. Randall is stuck at the low end of the market, so they can't just release a $4,000 head to compete with a VH4, even if the Meathead design could/should be considered in the same air. Who would buy it? Everyone would just laugh at them. Look at Schecter, who tried to bring out American built amps that were priced in line with Mesa. Most people, including me, were like, WTF? Who would pay that much for an amp from a company not known for making high quality amps? Maybe Randall saw Fortin's name as a way out of the low end market, but cheesy aesthetics and amp names like "Satan" aren't going to get them there.

The 667 is $2500 and the Satan is $2000, still too expensive really. At that price point people can already buy feature-packed big name amps made in US or EU, eg Mark V, Powerball etc.

 

[Anonymous]

Word is that Mike will start making Bones amps again and sell them exclusively through Mod Squad
Someone needs to inquire into this a bit more for confirmation though

Being the owner of a Bones, I'm not sure if this is good news or not?

So I guess your amp will start sounding less good when new ones are made?
Stop worrying about its value and play it

 

[Erock]

Considering how much Randall was mentioned before Fortin, seems like a complete win for them to me. A few years ago, the only time Randall was mentioned was in dime threads, or die hard MTS threads. At least there is some curiosity now. I know 3 guys that bought a Randall/fortin designed amp in the last year. Before that, I knew one guy that bought a brand new Randall RGT100 back in 1989.

 

[cardinal]

As for the made in China thing... that's been beat to death. Bottom line is companies won't start building stuff here until buyers demonstrate that they're willing to buy a stripped-down US amp at the price of a multi-feature Chinese amp or when they demonstrate they're willing to get out their wallets for a much more expensive US amp. Randall is stuck at the low end of the market, so they can't just release a $4,000 head to compete with a VH4, even if the Meathead design could/should be considered in the same air. Who would buy it? Everyone would just laugh at them. Look at Schecter, who tried to bring out American built amps that were priced in line with Mesa. Most people, including me, were like, WTF? Who would pay that much for an amp from a company not known for making high quality amps? Maybe Randall saw Fortin's name as a way out of the low end market, but cheesy aesthetics and amp names like "Satan" aren't going to get them there.

The 667 is $2500 and the Satan is $2000, still too expensive really. At that price point people can already buy feature-packed big name amps made in US or EU, eg Mark V, Powerball etc.

Whoa, I had no idea they were that expensive. Aren't Mesa Rectos and Mark Vs around $2,000? But they expect to sell a MIC amp named "Satan" for that much? The 667, well, that's kinda a strange beast, but $2,500 seems steep to me. The amps may well be totally awesome sounding and well built, but at that price point, it'll be really hard for them to convince people to take the plunge. They'd have been better served launching a new brand and trying to stay "classier" IMHO.

 

[Lampshade1973]

Well Im digging my little RD45 head, for the money its a great little amp to tinker with, a little reverb and an EQ in the loop and it smokes...sure its not a diesel or bogner but I paid less than 450 bucks for it brand new, but I agree about the graphics..ughhh

 

[alcoholocaust]

I still can't even get my hands on Thrasher in Australia! Let alone a Satan.

 

[bubbastain]

If the 667 sounds as good as the clips of the Meathead I've heard, I'm getting one. Will still take me a while to save up but it should be a one and done amp for me. It will still be a lot more money than I have ever spent on an amp but I'm pretty sure I will dig it big time. I will have to play it in person before I buy though. So they do need to get into the stores. I would also ideally like to play the Thrasher, Satan, Scott Ian amp and the 667 and choose the one I like best. However, that pretty much seems impossible unless I took a trip to Randall headquarters or Ola's house.
Ya know, in all the years that I have been playing guitar(all rock/metal) I have never had a desire for a Randall amp until Mike Fortin came on board. The Meathead clips are seriously fucking killer to me. Problem is there was just no way I could afford one. Teaming up with Randall and being built overseas at least puts it within reach for me. I have a Fortin modded amp and still now three years later it is still the best sounding amp I have played.

 

[joepete77]

I don't like the cosmetics at all but from what I've heard so far, the new amps sound pretty good. I also think that the prices are high for a made in china amp. But With a lot of people it's the exclusiveness of owning a real fortin. I bet that mike could put a real handmade natas, bones, etc,( an amp that people raved about) and put them in a Randall headshell for half price and many would suddenly not like the tone. Has anyone looked inside to see if any of the components Randall is using are same as fortin used previously? Any complaints on build quality?

 

[Anonymous]

I just sold my Bones yesterday
Amazing build quality, great tones and versatility
Despite all the mojo associated with that amp, I just had to face the facts: not a tone for me, too much of a fast attack and dry tone

 

[alcoholocaust]

I just sold my Bones yesterday
Amazing build quality, great tones and versatility
Despite all the mojo associated with that amp, I just had to face the facts: not a tone for me, too much of a fast attack and dry tone

See thats what i'm after, the Fortin fast attacked and super tight tone!

 

[ericsabbath]

the current diavlo models sound great and are quite cheap for the features and build quality
just wish they had some british voiced model

 

[sytharnia1560]

randalls customer services was so bad here in new zealand that every importer dropped them and won't pick them up again. Add to that the launch of the fortin randalls seem so staggered (as in took ages for anything to be released and the lack of quality demos) that I for one lost any interest in getting one imported over here. Not much point hotrodding what you are selling if you have the same floored business model

 

[Moshaholic]

I just sold my Bones yesterday
Amazing build quality, great tones and versatility
Despite all the mojo associated with that amp, I just had to face the facts: not a tone for me, too much of a fast attack and dry tone

The amount of so called mojo associated with that bones amp blew me away. I thought that amp sounded like utter ass and total soulless fizz and fuzz in every clip I ever heard of it. What can I say except that tone is subjective.

Now I bet the build was par none and as top shelf as it gets.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

The build quality of a Fortin IS as top shelf as it gets. I guess one mans trash in another mans treasure. Especially when it comes to tone.

Just sad to see "watered down" versions of Fortin designs.

I always admired Fortin build quality, loved looking at the Natas transformers. Had Meathead gas at one point badly...

Just not interested in the Randall-ized iterations....

 

[gtrwun]

Word is that Mike will start making Bones amps again and sell them exclusively through Mod Squad
Someone needs to inquire into this a bit more for confirmation though

Being the owner of a Bones, I'm not sure if this is good news or not?

So I guess your amp will start sounding less good when new ones are made?
Stop worrying about its value and play it

Whoa there cowboy. Im not worried about anything and i play it every night, thanks for your sweet response though.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I just sold my Bones yesterday
Amazing build quality, great tones and versatility
Despite all the mojo associated with that amp, I just had to face the facts: not a tone for me, too much of a fast attack and dry tone

The amount of so called mojo associated with that bones amp blew me away. I thought that amp sounded like utter ass and total soulless fizz and fuzz in every clip I ever heard of it. What can I say except that tone is subjective.

Now I bet the build was par none and as top shelf as it gets.

I agree completely. I played one and was not impressed at all.