Randall George Lynch Headhunter Limited Run of 45 Amps

[Chubtone]

Finally!

From Randall USA 4/7/15:

So, after three years of development, we are proud to announce that the new George Lynch Signature “HEADHUNTER” is ready for production and units can be reserved by ordering now.

As a tribute to Randall’s 45th Anniversary, we will be producing only 45 of this very special Limited Edition amplifier.
To complete production, George will be on site at our US factory to personally inspect, play and hand sign and number each of the 45 units as they come off the production line.
Production is slated for Summer 2015 with delivery in September.
Make sure your dealers lock this in early or they’ll miss out.
Contact me directly with requests so I can reserve that # into the production.

* Designed by Mike Fortin and Joe Delaney
* Point to point hand-wired, USA assembled.
* 50 watts all tube/single channel.
* “Variac” style wattage control
* Electro Harmonix “big bottle” 6CA7 power tubes
* Tung Sol 12AX7 preamp tubes
* Preamp line output
* Signature cosmetics with accents such as real brushed aluminum knobs, old school toggles and lazer etched graphics.
* MOR boost pedal included with every amp (George uses this Randall pedal as a front end boost)

USM-HEADHUNTER50
MSRP - $4999.99
MAP - $2499.99

 

[Bloodrock]

$2500 for an amp co-designed by the guy from Bugera? Will George actually play one before releasing his next signature amp? Lol

 

[Chubtone]

Has George ever had a signature amp designed with a guy like Mike Fortin and hand-wired in the USA? That's kind of why I'm a little excited about this one. For the last 10-12 years, his sig amps have been compromises IMO.

But yeah, of course I am jaded, like anyone else who follows Lynch's endorsements should be. The difference on this one is the Mike Fortin involvement.

 

[thiswaythatway]

George will probably use it for less than 45 days before moving on. But does it come with a built in Phase 90?

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've always felt that Lynch's sig amp was the SLO.

 

[Scotty]

Lynch never had a PTP limited production hand built amp before so I would not equate this with his other sig amps myself. Gainfreak's Fortin variac clips were ripping so I would use those as a starting point to the tones you could expect.

Looking forward to any thoughts you may have Curt due to your past history of tone and playing

 

[neilli]

3 years of development and they're only going to make 45 of them? Uh huh..

 

[thiswaythatway]

I've always felt that Lynch's sig amp was the SLO.

I thought it was the borrowed purple Marshall since he used that on the Dokken albums. I have a magazine interview from Lynch where he said he used an SLO on only 1 song on the first Wicked Sensation album.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've always felt that Lynch's sig amp was the SLO.

I thought it was the borrowed purple Marshall since he used that on the Dokken albums. I have a magazine interview from Lynch where he said he used an SLO on only 1 song on the first Wicked Sensation album.

I think I remember the interview you're referring to. I thought he said that he used the SLO on only one solo, but used it for all the rhythm tones. The purple Marshall was on all the other solos on that disk. That's what I remember from that interview. Man, that was a long time ago!

 

[crankyrayhanky]

This amp looks interesting....

 

[Soulstealer]

This must be the prototype amp he was messing with at Matt's Music a couple of years ago.

 

[IndyWS6]

Sounds interesting. The MAP price point is more than fair for a USA-assembled, hand-wired, PTP amp. Especially with the other features listed. I'll be curious to hear one.

This line makes me laugh, though:
"To complete production, George will be on site at our US factory to personally inspect, play and hand sign and number each of the 45 units as they come off the production line."

First, he's not going to wait for them to come off any "production line". They're hand-built, right? They will build them and stack them in a room until his schedule allows him to be there. He's probably not going to "inspect" them, either. They'll turn each one on, he'll play 30 seconds worth of something to make sure it isn't a dud, then he'll sign and number it and move to the next one. Not sure how much value that adds for anyone other than a Lynch fanboi...

My guess is that the "limited run of 45" is bogus, too. If they sell, then they'll probably keep making them. He may only sign 45 of them, but they won't stop building units if there is a market and a profit margin.

Not trying to trash the amp or the crew behind it - I just find the marketing gimmicks somewhat humorous

 

[jcj]

George will probably use it for less than 45 days before moving on. But does it come with a built in Phase 90?

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Not a bad price point but not blowing me away either. Essentially it is a NMV amp with some power soak feature... and a "FREE MOR PEDAL" lol. So in other words, doesn't really have shit for gain beyond a JTM45/1987x and you will need boost pedals with it. Why not spend less and get a Splawn or something with more features? This amp will not be played by Lynch either let's be honest. He is also currently working with Rob over at Jaded Faith as he liked Rob's upgrades to the RM100/Lynchbox head. He is supposed to be demo'ing that sometime in the future as well. Newsflash, he won't use that amp either. Lynch just liked f_cking around with gear and ends up sounding more or less the same once drenched in phase 90 so not sure what the fuss is about. They could have offered this with a switchable gain stage via and extra half preamp tube and offered a voicing switch or two. This is essentially a PTP Marshall. I have a gutted Laney with "quality PTP board components" and "upgrades".. anyone want to buy it for 2500$? It sounds incredible. Must be the PTP handwiring... all jokes aside though, my amp sounds amazing and goes to show you don't need to drop that cash for something that already exists out there at lower price points. Show me him playing this live in 6 months and i will eat my words.

 

[legend71]

I have to agree with the above post. Seems like an endless cycle of redundancy to me. Getting these tones is pretty easy nowadays.....and not expensive if you know what you are looking for.

 

[JohnSykes]

I have to agree with the above post. Seems like an endless cycle of redundancy to me. Getting these tones is pretty easy nowadays.....and not expensive if you know what you are looking for.

I agree.

Still, its ok if its a limited run, maybe just for GL fanatics?

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

That is one hell of a lot of money to pay for a lynch signature!!

 

[Chubtone]

Could we discuss similarly priced, hand-wired, USA built alternatives to this amp that have the pedigree of Mike Fortins design teamed with George's ear and playing style? Let's not even worry about the limited to 45 build number and the cert of authenticity and Lynch at least waving his guitar cord in the general direction of each amp.

The MTS series was Randall's next big thing. George had history with Randall. So they brought George in and tried to do some modules that would be exactly what he was looking for. Given that format, I think they did a really good job. But does anyone think a modular amp made in China was George's first choice for his own signature dream amp?

Everyone laughed and complained that George was using his '68 plexi behind the MTS stuff on stage. So we could guess, George's dream amp would be that '68 plexi but in a more modern, hopefully more road-worthy package. I guess Metro can do that, but not at $2500.

Heck, I paid that for my Mojave 10 years ago.

 

[Chubtone]

Lynch never had a PTP limited production hand built amp before so I would not equate this with his other sig amps myself. Gainfreak's Fortin variac clips were ripping so I would use those as a starting point to the tones you could expect.

Looking forward to any thoughts you may have Curt due to your past history of tone and playing

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Doesn't exactly sound like gainfreak's tweaked amp here does it?

Essentially as gainy as an 800. Sounds good for what it is but very one dimensional that's for sure. It does have the built in variac but besides that, straight up Marshall clone.