NAD - Randall Thrasher 50 (Review)

[napalmdeath]

Got the amp Friday, actually, but spent good time with it over the weekend.
First, and foremost, props to Zachalou. I received it with 2 cracks in the headshell, which obviously happened in shipping. To his defense, (and something I really don't care for), the headshell is MDF! He filed a claim with Fedex, and was quickly shot down, but he made good, and was a stand-up guy about it. He really went out of his way to see that things were made right, and I commend him for his efforts.


Well, plugging it in, I wasn't a happy camper. With my RP1000 in the loop, it didn't play nice, even though I found the sweet spot running it in series, and adjusting the level to about 1 o'clock. I had this fizz going on, that didn't sound right. So, I decided to try some KT77's in it, thinking maybe the Tungsols he put in weren't all that. Checking the bias putting them in, I had 0.00 on the meter. I was like, "WTF?" I took them out of my Yeti, and knew they screamed in that amp! So, I put the Tungsols back in, and checked their reading - 8.3mA! So, I cranked it up to 32mA, and BAM! Let the brutality begin! (Just for shits and grins, I tried the meter again with the KT77's, and cranked up the bias & only got them to 12mA cranked all the way up. Obviously, they're a seriously cold pair, and the bias was dialed back so far, the Tungsols being 8.3mA was DEFINITELY the fizz problem!) This said, I think an EL34 variant will need to be a pretty warm pair to get them up to snuff. They bias up fine in my Yeti? I have some E34L's I want to try as well.

Making a long story short, I absolutely LOVE this fucking amp! I run a 10-Band MXR in the loop of the RP1000, and just use the RP for effects into the amp's loop. I just have single patches I use, (Chorus, Delays, Reverbs, Phaser, minimal). It sounds absolutely glorious. Setting the loop level just right is key, and a little too low, or a little too high makes all the difference, between sweet, & not so sweet.


The tone is just raw, in-your-face, and aggressive. I actually run the gain somewhat low, (about 1 o'clock), don't use the onboard boost, and hit the front end with an Exotic EP Booster into an MXR GT-OD. (That EP Booster is something special in front of an OD. I love that thing!) The note separation is impressive, it's tight, focused, and punishing, (once dialed in). The HF gain & LF gain controls are extremely interactive. Once again, you have to find the sweet spots, but like Ragu - "it's in there!"

It's a unique amp, for sure. Mids are very forward and aggressive, (I run the TSS all the way down). For reference, however, I run 2 Greenbacks on top, and 2 G12T-75's in the bottom of my 4x12, so the Greenbacks really warm up the mids, and they're really up front. But, easily leveled out, and pleasant. This amp fucking rips guys, I absolutely love it! The Yeti's going to either get sold, or sit in the closet for a long time! The thing I love most, is it's different. It has it's own thing going on, and it does it VERY well.

 

[Bad.Seed]

Man, you're making me have regrets about selling mine! I never really did bond with mine all that much, but I didn't roll tubes, nor ever get the bias adjusted on the 6l6's that came with it. I felt mine lacked mids, and both times I used it live, I got buried by my other guitarists 5150. I feel I need to give it another go to give it a fair chance, but I had the diavlo 100 at the same time, and preferrred the diavlo.

All that said, glad you're digging the amp. It definitely had its own thing going on, a lot of snarl and clarity.

 

[errrrrl]

Grats man! Makes me want to tube roll too lol. So you gonna post some clips?

 

[RKnight]

Great to hear such a great and fresh review! I love the Fortin Randall stuff. It's always been just so easy for me to get such a great tone pretty much right out of the gate with those.
I have a rd45 and a kh103 myself, and have always wondered how the thrasher might compare. I just picked up a Satan 50 which should be here Wednesday that I could post some thoughts on if anyone might be interested. I'm absolutely stoked to be able to finally check out one of these badboys!

Congrats on you NGD!

 

[napalmdeath]

Man, you're making me have regrets about selling mine! I never really did bond with mine all that much, but I didn't roll tubes, nor ever get the bias adjusted on the 6l6's that came with it. I felt mine lacked mids, and both times I used it live, I got buried by my other guitarists 5150. I feel I need to give it another go to give it a fair chance, but I had the diavlo 100 at the same time, and preferrred the diavlo.

All that said, glad you're digging the amp. It definitely had its own thing going on, a lot of snarl and clarity.

I can't see this amp getting buried, or lacking mids. Can't fathom it. Like I mentioned, I run the TSS switch all the way down, (mids galore), and have the mids on the amp at about 1 o'clock. I suppose Greenbacks play a role, but it certainly doesn't lack mids.

 

[napalmdeath]

Great to hear such a great and fresh review! I love the Fortin Randall stuff. It's always been just so easy for me to get such a great tone pretty much right out of the gate with those.
I have a rd45 and a kh103 myself, and have always wondered how the thrasher might compare. I just picked up a Satan 50 which should be here Wednesday that I could post some thoughts on if anyone might be interested. I'm absolutely stoked to be able to finally check out one of these badboys!

Congrats on you NGD!

I had the RD45H multiple times, (and just sold one). The clarity is night and day, and the build quality is superior. I still love the RD, but this amp is a notch above, without a doubt.

Just to clarify, it was retubed when I got it - Tungsol 6L6-STR's in the power section, and Tungsols in all 4 preamp slots. It was never biased! I left a Tungsol in V1, went with JJ ECC83S's in V2 & 3, and a Mullard RI in V4. The Tungsol in V1 gives it some nice grit and clarity, and the JJ's added some warmth and chunk.

FWIW, I'm sure the Thrashers come stock with all Rubys. I'd never run any amp with all Rubys. I find them stale, and very bland. Don't kid yourselves. The reason so many builders use them, is because they're cheap, cheap, cheap, cost-wize. I think they're junk. The pins are cheap, flimsy, bend easy, and break off. I hate those garbage tubes. That's the first thing I yank with the Diavlos. Do yourself a favor, retube it with JJ 6L6's, bias it up to 35-36mA, stick a Tungsol in V1, JJ's in V2 & V3, and a Mullard or Sovtek LPS in V4, and welcome home your new amp.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I think they're junk. The pins are cheap, flimsy, bend easy, and break off. I hate those garbage tubes.

I don't really understand how this can be the case...Ruby isn't a tube manufacturer...they take various tubes and re-brand them...You can get JJ and Chinese Rubys. Also, I have also found JJs from Eurotubes to be the cheapest tubes you can get. I am sure amp manufacturers buy Chinese tubes in many cases, but I have yet to buy an amp that came with Rubys stock...always either unmarked chinese tubes or JJs. Just by the fact that Ruby re-brands tubes and adds their own mark-up to them means that they can't really be cheaper in terms of cost. I have been using Rubys for years, always bought from Laura, and have not had any issues. Personally find the Ruby HG and HG+ ones to be the quietest and most reliable of tubes that I have bought. Some of those Rubys I still run in my EVH are close to 10 years old, and are still working great with low noise floors.

 

[shred-o-holic]

Definitely try the E-34L in the Thrasher. They are killer in my 120 although their average life span is about 6 months. I am using JJ 6L6 GC in my 120 and they sound good and hardier but the E-34L's will be in there again they are my fave

 

[shred-o-holic]

Man, you're making me have regrets about selling mine! I never really did bond with mine all that much, but I didn't roll tubes, nor ever get the bias adjusted on the 6l6's that came with it. I felt mine lacked mids, and both times I used it live, I got buried by my other guitarists 5150. I feel I need to give it another go to give it a fair chance, but I had the diavlo 100 at the same time, and preferrred the diavlo.

All that said, glad you're digging the amp. It definitely had its own thing going on, a lot of snarl and clarity.

How the hell did your Thrasher get buried in the mix? I gigged for a year and a half and my 120 always stood out. The amp has plenty of mids..........just turn them up?

 

[napalmdeath]

I think they're junk. The pins are cheap, flimsy, bend easy, and break off. I hate those garbage tubes.

I don't really understand how this can be the case...Ruby isn't a tube manufacturer...they take various tubes and re-brand them...You can get JJ and Chinese Rubys. Also, I have also found JJs from Eurotubes to be the cheapest tubes you can get. I am sure amp manufacturers buy Chinese tubes in many cases, but I have yet to buy an amp that came with Rubys stock...always either unmarked chinese tubes or JJs. Just by the fact that Ruby re-brands tubes and adds their own mark-up to them means that they can't really be cheaper in terms of cost. I have been using Rubys for years, always bought from Laura, and have not had any issues. Personally find the Ruby HG and HG+ ones to be the quietest and most reliable of tubes that I have bought. Some of those Rubys I still run in my EVH are close to 10 years old, and are still working great with low noise floors.

I'm aware they re-brand. 99.9% of the time, coming in a new amp, they're Chinese. Manufacturers buy them in large volume, so they get them dirt-cheap.

The pins on them are way flimsier than JJ's by far. Whether you like the tone of JJ's or not, one thing I'd certainly argue, is their build quality. I can agree to disagree, and they do have thinner pins on some of their power tubes, (E34L's, for example), but the ECC83S's are far sturdier, construction-wise.

Every new Randall I've ever owned was loaded with Chinese Rubys, as was a few Peaveys, and a couple Jet City Custom 22's. Chinese Rubys, Chinese Rubys, and Chinese Rubys. Liking their tone is subjective, but their flimsy, cheap pins stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[napalmdeath]

Man, you're making me have regrets about selling mine! I never really did bond with mine all that much, but I didn't roll tubes, nor ever get the bias adjusted on the 6l6's that came with it. I felt mine lacked mids, and both times I used it live, I got buried by my other guitarists 5150. I feel I need to give it another go to give it a fair chance, but I had the diavlo 100 at the same time, and preferrred the diavlo.

All that said, glad you're digging the amp. It definitely had its own thing going on, a lot of snarl and clarity.

How the hell did your Thrasher get buried in the mix? I gigged for a year and a half and my 120 always stood out. The amp has plenty of mids..........just turn them up?

Has me scratching my head too. Unless the TSS is switched in the middle position, (scooped), the mids are plentiful. It's FAR from a scooped sounding amp, (unless you dial it in that way). It's quite the opposite, can be overwhelming in the mids!

 

[shred-o-holic]

Man, you're making me have regrets about selling mine! I never really did bond with mine all that much, but I didn't roll tubes, nor ever get the bias adjusted on the 6l6's that came with it. I felt mine lacked mids, and both times I used it live, I got buried by my other guitarists 5150. I feel I need to give it another go to give it a fair chance, but I had the diavlo 100 at the same time, and preferrred the diavlo.

All that said, glad you're digging the amp. It definitely had its own thing going on, a lot of snarl and clarity.

How the hell did your Thrasher get buried in the mix? I gigged for a year and a half and my 120 always stood out. The amp has plenty of mids..........just turn them up?

Has me scratching my head too. Unless the TSS is switched in the middle position, (scooped), the mids are plentiful. It's FAR from a scooped sounding amp, (unless you dial it in that way). It's quite the opposite, can be overwhelming in the mids!

Yeah it's a strong mids amp that people like to bitch about the lack of low end actually. It's just misunderstood that to get a looser low end you gotta manipulate the high/low gain knobs to be less tight. Personally I am not a fan of loose boomy bass so the ultra focused scorching mids of the amp are a joy to me.

 

[napalmdeath]

Man, you're making me have regrets about selling mine! I never really did bond with mine all that much, but I didn't roll tubes, nor ever get the bias adjusted on the 6l6's that came with it. I felt mine lacked mids, and both times I used it live, I got buried by my other guitarists 5150. I feel I need to give it another go to give it a fair chance, but I had the diavlo 100 at the same time, and preferrred the diavlo.

All that said, glad you're digging the amp. It definitely had its own thing going on, a lot of snarl and clarity.

How the hell did your Thrasher get buried in the mix? I gigged for a year and a half and my 120 always stood out. The amp has plenty of mids..........just turn them up?

Has me scratching my head too. Unless the TSS is switched in the middle position, (scooped), the mids are plentiful. It's FAR from a scooped sounding amp, (unless you dial it in that way). It's quite the opposite, can be overwhelming in the mids!

Yeah it's a strong mids amp that people like to bitch about the lack of low end actually. It's just misunderstood that to get a looser low end you gotta manipulate the high/low gain knobs to be less tight. Personally I am not a fan of loose boomy bass so the ultra focused scorching mids of the amp are a joy to me.

I use an MXR 10-band with EVERY amp, so bass is never an issue. I have plenty, and it's tight, punchy, and angry!

 

[shred-o-holic]

I've used the 120 with a Line 6 HD 500, a Digitech RP360, a Axe FX 2, and a Helix HX. All sounded killer....I'm talking effects/eq/etc........the amp always delivers...

 

[Bad.Seed]

Man, you're making me have regrets about selling mine! I never really did bond with mine all that much, but I didn't roll tubes, nor ever get the bias adjusted on the 6l6's that came with it. I felt mine lacked mids, and both times I used it live, I got buried by my other guitarists 5150. I feel I need to give it another go to give it a fair chance, but I had the diavlo 100 at the same time, and preferrred the diavlo.

All that said, glad you're digging the amp. It definitely had its own thing going on, a lot of snarl and clarity.

How the hell did your Thrasher get buried in the mix? I gigged for a year and a half and my 120 always stood out. The amp has plenty of mids..........just turn them up?

Has me scratching my head too. Unless the TSS is switched in the middle position, (scooped), the mids are plentiful. It's FAR from a scooped sounding amp, (unless you dial it in that way). It's quite the opposite, can be overwhelming in the mids!

I honestly can't remember what the TSS setting was at, it's been over a year since I've owned the head and I didn't have it long. The mids were literally dimed on both occasions I used this. Cab was a marshall MF400 with the k100 speakers, amp was boosted with my MXR M77 with the mid bump on. I have no problem dialing my other amps in to sit well in the mix, and my other guitarist usually complains that I use too much mid on the dial and he has to dial his up to compete with me. But he also agreed, the thrasher wasn't cutting through in a live setting.

Maybe mine had an issue? Maybe the tubes were shot or not biased correctly? Can't say for sure, but I sold it shortly after those 2 shows and have not had a chance to mess with one since.

 

[napalmdeath]

Man, you're making me have regrets about selling mine! I never really did bond with mine all that much, but I didn't roll tubes, nor ever get the bias adjusted on the 6l6's that came with it. I felt mine lacked mids, and both times I used it live, I got buried by my other guitarists 5150. I feel I need to give it another go to give it a fair chance, but I had the diavlo 100 at the same time, and preferrred the diavlo.

All that said, glad you're digging the amp. It definitely had its own thing going on, a lot of snarl and clarity.

How the hell did your Thrasher get buried in the mix? I gigged for a year and a half and my 120 always stood out. The amp has plenty of mids..........just turn them up?

Has me scratching my head too. Unless the TSS is switched in the middle position, (scooped), the mids are plentiful. It's FAR from a scooped sounding amp, (unless you dial it in that way). It's quite the opposite, can be overwhelming in the mids!

I honestly can't remember what the TSS setting was at, it's been over a year since I've owned the head and I didn't have it long. The mids were literally dimed on both occasions I used this. Cab was a marshall MF400 with the k100 speakers, amp was boosted with my MXR M77 with the mid bump on. I have no problem dialing my other amps in to sit well in the mix, and my other guitarist usually complains that I use too much mid on the dial and he has to dial his up to compete with me. But he also agreed, the thrasher wasn't cutting through in a live setting.

Maybe mine had an issue? Maybe the tubes were shot or not biased correctly? Can't say for sure, but I sold it shortly after those 2 shows and have not had a chance to mess with one since.

My guess is the TSS switch was in the middle position. That scoops the mids right out. You'd get buried for sure!

K100's don't help. They relax the mids quite a bit. I have (2) T75's in my cab, but on the bottom with (2) Greenbacks in top. The amp gets along with them nicely!

 

[shred-o-holic]

I honestly can't remember what the TSS setting was at, it's been over a year since I've owned the head and I didn't have it long. The mids were literally dimed on both occasions I used this. Cab was a marshall MF400 with the k100 speakers, amp was boosted with my MXR M77 with the mid bump on. I have no problem dialing my other amps in to sit well in the mix, and my other guitarist usually complains that I use too much mid on the dial and he has to dial his up to compete with me. But he also agreed, the thrasher wasn't cutting through in a live setting.

Maybe mine had an issue? Maybe the tubes were shot or not biased correctly? Can't say for sure, but I sold it shortly after those 2 shows and have not had a chance to mess with one since.

Yeah the Thrasher is all about mids..........had to be a setting or something wasn't right. But you have a Quickrod so you gotta know about overly present mids with that amp. The Thrasher may not have as much mids as the QR but it isn't too far off lol...

 

[Bad.Seed]

I honestly can't remember what the TSS setting was at, it's been over a year since I've owned the head and I didn't have it long. The mids were literally dimed on both occasions I used this. Cab was a marshall MF400 with the k100 speakers, amp was boosted with my MXR M77 with the mid bump on. I have no problem dialing my other amps in to sit well in the mix, and my other guitarist usually complains that I use too much mid on the dial and he has to dial his up to compete with me. But he also agreed, the thrasher wasn't cutting through in a live setting.

Maybe mine had an issue? Maybe the tubes were shot or not biased correctly? Can't say for sure, but I sold it shortly after those 2 shows and have not had a chance to mess with one since.

Yeah the Thrasher is all about mids..........had to be a setting or something wasn't right. But you have a Quickrod so you gotta know about overly present mids with that amp. The Thrasher may not have as much mids as the QR but it isn't too far off lol...

Exactly, and I fucking love the mids of the QR, they don't get dialed back by me, so I'm not a mid scoop type of guy haha. I remember i messed with every switch on the thrasher and couldn't get something that worked for me in a mix, but there are so many variables, and I never checked out the internals to see if anything was changed. Who TF knows. I'm not opposed to trying one out again. I also like to make sure people know that this was MY experience, and YMMV. Not trying to sway anyone's opinions here. Haha

To the OP, would love to hear some clips, glad you're enjoying the amp.

 

[mchn13]

have you had it at band volume? I know you've had the evh50 like I use now, and the rd45, and ive used both of those at more than enough band volumes. the thrasher is pretty much the only one I haven't had my hands on, and sounds better in clips than the satan or the diavlo, which Ive had plenty of time on.
if I were to get one, I would rather get a 50 than a 100-120watt.

 

[napalmdeath]

have you had it at band volume? I know you've had the evh50 like I use now, and the rd45, and ive used both of those at more than enough band volumes. the thrasher is pretty much the only one I haven't had my hands on, and sounds better in clips than the satan or the diavlo, which Ive had plenty of time on.
if I were to get one, I would rather get a 50 than a 100-120watt.

I don't do the band thing anymore, but I've had it up pretty loud. I can say, without a doubt, that it loves volume, and comes alive when you crank it. The RD and EVH just get louder, the Thrasher gets meaner.