Anybody have any experience with a Randall rc-280 I am considering going to check one out and was wondering if it is worth my time, I mean is it a good amp? or should I avoid it, I'm a little gun shy after this horrible Peavey fiasco I just went through.

I have had some exposure to Randall amps but I've never owned one. I have 2 friends who own them. One is tube, one is solid state. The tube amp is a 212 combo and the S/S amp is a 200 watt chorus head which he runs through a Marshall 412 slant top. They both seem to exhibit the same kind of behavior. What they do well, they do really well. Great heavy rock crunch. So good it's almost the definitive rock crunch in some peoples minds. What they do poorly they do really poorly. Cleans are sterile, lifeless and basically ugly sounding. Both of my friends know full well their amps are one trick ponies but that's the trick they want so it's perfect. These amps are not for country, rockabilly, surf, blues, roots, jazz, lite rock or even 90% of classic rock. These amps are for guys who fondly remember spandex and hairspray.

There is another member on this board whom I don't think we've seen in a while who owns a Randall of a different nature and he says his behaves very differently. Replaceable pre-amp modules or some such technology but that would not apply to the one you're looking at.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Thanks BMW, I was looking at 2 amps an Ampeg ss 140c and the Randall rc-280 and really had my heart set on the Ampeg but Thank God the guy was a good dude and up front and honest with me and told me that it works great but after about 45 minutes it overheats and cuts out, so after some research I found out it is a common problem with the Ampeg 140c and you have to reflow all the solder points in the amp so I didn't want to deal with that so I went and got the Randall but heck I got it for $70 bucks and that was from loose change I had in a jar on my kitchen counter. As far as sound it's not to bad actually I think it's pretty good and the stereo chorus is awesome but I dont really like the dirty channel to much but that could be the Texas Specials I don't think they lend themselves to the type of heavy music I like to play, well the Bridge pickup anyway but I love the Middle and Neck Pickups they are sweet but in my opinion that Bridge Pickup sucks arse. BUt anyway I just got the Randall this morning and so far i'm happy with it I tell ya it's a lot better than that crappy peavey I got rid of but I am going to bring it to an amp tech to clean up a few things that need attention. I think it'll work until I can save enough for a really nice amp.