YT: Randall Diavlo RD40C & Washburn Parallaxe PXL20B - Metal

[fek]

That guitar is really badass. Anyone doesn't want to shell out the $$ for a Gibson Axcess LP should seriously check this out. Single cut modern design. Totally killer.

Really? I might start looking for one on the used market. Do they make a hardtail version? I block my trems but like the upper fret access and ebony board on that thing.

This is a hard tail! I don't think you will find one used right now as they are just being released.

Sweet! I didn't think I saw a Floyd on there. I just saw your comment about the LP Axcess and immediately thought about the Floyd version.

 

[killertone]

That guitar is really badass. Anyone doesn't want to shell out the $$ for a Gibson Axcess LP should seriously check this out. Single cut modern design. Totally killer.

Really? I might start looking for one on the used market. Do they make a hardtail version? I block my trems but like the upper fret access and ebony board on that thing.

This is a hard tail! I don't think you will find one used right now as they are just being released.

Sweet! I didn't think I saw a Floyd on there. I just saw your comment about the LP Axcess and immediately thought about the Floyd version.

Right on. I was thinking about the non-floyded version of the Axcess. This guitar reminds me of that one but for a ton less $$.

Speaking of hard tails…this has the Babicz Full Contact bridge which is just absolutely killer. I had never seen that until this guitar. It allows for precise intonation and individual string height adjustment unlike regular TOM bridges.

 

[killertone]

One last try...

 

[gibson5413]

Awesome Jason! Sorry I didn't reply sooner. I know what you mean. My clip threads drop faster than Paris Hilton's pants. Keep it up. I love your clips!

 

[jkdsteve]

Love the way u always look so bored when laying down the killer slabs of metal! \m/

 

[killertone]

I saw the video and came looking for info on the rd40c, glad I found the man himself lol, also a fellow Texan so that's awesome. I have a question or a few and figure this would be a good place, I'm looking for a new amp setup and I've crossed Marshall/Blackstar out and am simply looking at Randall(great sound IMO), specifically the RD series 40c/5/1 and RG series 13/80

The amp will be used in my bedroom for now so people might automatically say either the RD 5/1 or RG13, and I would lean more towards the RG with a 1x12 or 1x10 cab mainly for the fact the RD's only have a tone knob rather then the 4 band eq of the RG. But I was wondering people are always suggesting a tube amp with a master volume for bedroom use, so even though it has that would the 40c be overkill being a 40w tube amp. As for the RG80 even though it's 80w which would totally be over the top for a tube, but with it being SS would I be able the get good crunch to high gain tones at lower volumes?

Sorry for such a long reply but this seemed like an appropriate place to ask, if it's not let me know and I'll start a thread of my own, if you read this and have any insight and help THANK YOU.

The RD40, 45, and 20 all have an excellent master volume that will allow you to get a great sound at low volume levels. I personally prefer the RD series over the RG quite bit. The RD5 is killer and has more sonic flexibility than you might think. If I had to do a combo amp though, it would probably be an RD40C.

 

[Laura]

Finally listening. Sounds awesome as always Jason!

 

[killertone]

Thanks, Laura!!

 

[C1-ocaster]

I just got a RD45 head, same amp as the combo.
I can't get any high gain distortion like that, not even close.
There has to be something wrong with it cause I've seen and heard many videos of this amp and nearly all of them have a great saturated distortion, but not the one I got.

User error.

How could it be user error? I really don't think anyone in here doesn't know what a gain knob does and how to get more. I tried the RD45 and it has loads of gain, I was able to dial in a good tone in like 5 seconds.

You are correct. This user knows his way around amps.

Yes, I was expecting a great gain and distortion.
I really really wanted this amp to do that, cause I love the size and simplicity of it.

I may pull it back out of it's shipping box and put new pre and power tubes in to see if it is a bad tube of two.

 

[C1-ocaster]

I just got a RD45 head, same amp as the combo.
I can't get any high gain distortion like that, not even close.
There has to be something wrong with it cause I've seen and heard many videos of this amp and nearly all of them have a great saturated distortion, but not the one I got.

The Laney Ironheart 60 watt head I also picked up destroys the RD45 in terms of high gain.
But my Egnater Vengeance has even better, hotter, smoother, and more articulate high gain distortion.
I was expecting more from the Randall and Laney.

Did you get it used? Maybe someone replaced some preamp tubes with some low gain alternatives like a 12at7?

Brand new from GC.

 

[C1-ocaster]

Hey y'all!

 

[C1-ocaster]

Based on this video and everyone's comments I decided to pull the RD45 head back out of the shipping box and swap out the pre tubes to see what's up.

MUCH BETTER!
Now it's what I was expecting.

I took out the quartet of Ruby pre tubes and installed a Tung Sol in V1 and JJ's ECC83's in V2-V4.
Ruby tubes SUCK!
They came stock in my Egnater Vengeance, this RD45, and the Laney Ironheart.
In the Vengeance they were at least installed properly.
In the Laney and Randall they were installed with bent pins, and in the Laney 2 of the Ruby's had bent pins so bad that I don't think they were making contact or full contact.

There must be a bad Ruby in the RD45 or poor contact, cause now with the Tung Sol and JJ's this amp has some really good high gain.
It's still not as hot and robust as the Vengeance, but the Vengeance uses 4 gain pre's and PI.
RD45 and Laney have 3 pre's and PI.

Ditch the Ruby's or take them out and make sure the pins aren't badly bent.
I don't know what ruby uses to make their tubes, but the pins feel like they are made of mostly lead, they are really soft and bend easily.
The pins don't even have a nice clean shine on them either. All the Ruby pre's have dull pin metal.
One of the Ruby power tubes that came stock in the Vengeance blew out.
And I almost returned the RD45 because of them, and whoever installed the tubes.
It was just as bad with the Laney. I pulled those tubes cause it wasn't sounding right.

Anyway, the RD45 is sounding much much better. It lives up to Randall's reputation of a high gain amp.
I don't know if I'll keep it, I'll play with it some more.
It's a very limited amp tonally. The EQ has limited range.
It's a really good base/basic tube amp, but a bit too much so.
The clean channel isn't bad, but it doesn't have a channel volume like the high gain channel.
It just has gain then straight to master.
Not even a built in DSP reverb.

I think I'm going to pick up an EVH 5150 III 50 watt head.
I've played through that amp twice and really liked it, but it was only for a couple of hours.
Need to have more time with it.

 

[Robby G]

Damn Jason that was bad ass!!

 

[napalmdeath]

I just got a RD45 head, same amp as the combo.
I can't get any high gain distortion like that, not even close.
There has to be something wrong with it cause I've seen and heard many videos of this amp and nearly all of them have a great saturated distortion, but not the one I got.

User error.

How could it be user error? I really don't think anyone in here doesn't know what a gain knob does and how to get more. I tried the RD45 and it has loads of gain, I was able to dial in a good tone in like 5 seconds.

I'm referring to C1-ocaster. I've owned 2 RD45H heads, and they just plain kill. I used the boost, gain around noon, and an OD boost. Brutal as shit!

 

[napalmdeath]

Based on this video and everyone's comments I decided to pull the RD45 head back out of the shipping box and swap out the pre tubes to see what's up.

MUCH BETTER!
Now it's what I was expecting.

I took out the quartet of Ruby pre tubes and installed a Tung Sol in V1 and JJ's ECC83's in V2-V4.
Ruby tubes SUCK!
They came stock in my Egnater Vengeance, this RD45, and the Laney Ironheart.
In the Vengeance they were at least installed properly.
In the Laney and Randall they were installed with bent pins, and in the Laney 2 of the Ruby's had bent pins so bad that I don't think they were making contact or full contact.

There must be a bad Ruby in the RD45 or poor contact, cause now with the Tung Sol and JJ's this amp has some really good high gain.
It's still not as hot and robust as the Vengeance, but the Vengeance uses 4 gain pre's and PI.
RD45 and Laney have 3 pre's and PI.

Ditch the Ruby's or take them out and make sure the pins aren't badly bent.
I don't know what ruby uses to make their tubes, but the pins feel like they are made of mostly lead, they are really soft and bend easily.
The pins don't even have a nice clean shine on them either. All the Ruby pre's have dull pin metal.
One of the Ruby power tubes that came stock in the Vengeance blew out.
And I almost returned the RD45 because of them, and whoever installed the tubes.
It was just as bad with the Laney. I pulled those tubes cause it wasn't sounding right.

Anyway, the RD45 is sounding much much better. It lives up to Randall's reputation of a high gain amp.
I don't know if I'll keep it, I'll play with it some more.
It's a very limited amp tonally. The EQ has limited range.
It's a really good base/basic tube amp, but a bit too much so.
The clean channel isn't bad, but it doesn't have a channel volume like the high gain channel.
It just has gain then straight to master.
Not even a built in DSP reverb.

I think I'm going to pick up an EVH 5150 III 50 watt head.
I've played through that amp twice and really liked it, but it was only for a couple of hours.
Need to have more time with it.

Put a pair of JJ 6L6's in, and bias a little warmer. Turns into a BEAST!

 

[C1-ocaster]

I just got a RD45 head, same amp as the combo.
I can't get any high gain distortion like that, not even close.
There has to be something wrong with it cause I've seen and heard many videos of this amp and nearly all of them have a great saturated distortion, but not the one I got.

User error.

How could it be user error? I really don't think anyone in here doesn't know what a gain knob does and how to get more. I tried the RD45 and it has loads of gain, I was able to dial in a good tone in like 5 seconds.

I'm referring to C1-ocaster. I've owned 2 RD45H heads, and they just plain kill. I used the boost, gain around noon, and an OD boost. Brutal as shit!

You're overstepping with the insult, cause you don't know me, nor do you know whether or not I know what I'm doing.
There's not reason for you to act like that.
If you want to be helpful, great, give your experience and offer some insight.
Throwing one liner insults doesn't make you look knowledgeable.


I know my way around amps and other musical electronics, so I know how they work and how to set them up.

As for the RD45 just plain killing, well, that's also a matter of opinion.
Yes, it's a good amp for the money, and I can see why some will like it very much.
I'm still trying to decide if I want to keep it.
It hasn't WOW'ed me as it has you.

I'm looking for an amp that will give me natural tube high gain without pedals, but so far it's been a losing battle.
My Egnater Vengenace is as close as I've gotten, but it's too powerful for my needs, and the RD45 is a great small size.

 

[C1-ocaster]

Based on this video and everyone's comments I decided to pull the RD45 head back out of the shipping box and swap out the pre tubes to see what's up.

MUCH BETTER!
Now it's what I was expecting.

I took out the quartet of Ruby pre tubes and installed a Tung Sol in V1 and JJ's ECC83's in V2-V4.
Ruby tubes SUCK!
They came stock in my Egnater Vengeance, this RD45, and the Laney Ironheart.
In the Vengeance they were at least installed properly.
In the Laney and Randall they were installed with bent pins, and in the Laney 2 of the Ruby's had bent pins so bad that I don't think they were making contact or full contact.

There must be a bad Ruby in the RD45 or poor contact, cause now with the Tung Sol and JJ's this amp has some really good high gain.
It's still not as hot and robust as the Vengeance, but the Vengeance uses 4 gain pre's and PI.
RD45 and Laney have 3 pre's and PI.

Ditch the Ruby's or take them out and make sure the pins aren't badly bent.
I don't know what ruby uses to make their tubes, but the pins feel like they are made of mostly lead, they are really soft and bend easily.
The pins don't even have a nice clean shine on them either. All the Ruby pre's have dull pin metal.
One of the Ruby power tubes that came stock in the Vengeance blew out.
And I almost returned the RD45 because of them, and whoever installed the tubes.
It was just as bad with the Laney. I pulled those tubes cause it wasn't sounding right.

Anyway, the RD45 is sounding much much better. It lives up to Randall's reputation of a high gain amp.
I don't know if I'll keep it, I'll play with it some more.
It's a very limited amp tonally. The EQ has limited range.
It's a really good base/basic tube amp, but a bit too much so.
The clean channel isn't bad, but it doesn't have a channel volume like the high gain channel.
It just has gain then straight to master.
Not even a built in DSP reverb.

I think I'm going to pick up an EVH 5150 III 50 watt head.
I've played through that amp twice and really liked it, but it was only for a couple of hours.
Need to have more time with it.

Put a pair of JJ 6L6's in, and bias a little warmer. Turns into a BEAST!

I put in a spare set of Ruby 6L6's I had laying around, and this pair is better.
The original pair sounded a bit too wooden.

 

[wickedout2014]

My 1st post here as well. That was a great demo and review. Thanks man!

 

[napalmdeath]

I just got a RD45 head, same amp as the combo.
I can't get any high gain distortion like that, not even close.
There has to be something wrong with it cause I've seen and heard many videos of this amp and nearly all of them have a great saturated distortion, but not the one I got.

User error.

How could it be user error? I really don't think anyone in here doesn't know what a gain knob does and how to get more. I tried the RD45 and it has loads of gain, I was able to dial in a good tone in like 5 seconds.

I'm referring to C1-ocaster. I've owned 2 RD45H heads, and they just plain kill. I used the boost, gain around noon, and an OD boost. Brutal as shit!

I You're overstepping with the insult, cause you don't know me, nor do you know whether or not I know what I'm doing.
There's not reason for you to act like that.
If you want to be helpful, great, give your experience and offer some insight.
Throwing one liner insults doesn't make you look knowledgeable.


I know my way around amps and other musical electronics, so I know how they work and how to set them up.

As for the RD45 just plain killing, well, that's also a matter of opinion.
Yes, it's a good amp for the money, and I can see why some will like it very much.
I'm still trying to decide if I want to keep it.
It hasn't WOW'ed me as it has you.

I'm looking for an amp that will give me natural tube high gain without pedals, but so far it's been a losing battle.
My Egnater Vengenace is as close as I've gotten, but it's too powerful for my needs, and the RD45 is a great small size.

I apologize. Really. These amps are brutal as shit. Good tubes are a must. I hate the Rubys too. Again, I've owned 2, I'm glad to help, just PM me.

 

[killertone]

My 1st post here as well. That was a great demo and review. Thanks man!

Thanks and welcome to the forum!