Randall Amplifiers

Randall Amplifiers is an American musical-equipment brand specializing in guitar amplification. Its product history includes both solid-state and vacuum-tube amplifiers, with a particular association with high-gain guitar tones and metal-oriented equipment. The brand was founded in Irvine, California, in 1969 by Don Randall, a key early figure in the commercial development of Fender instruments and amplifiers. Don Randall entered the electronics business before the Second World War and met Leo Fender while working in Southern California. After military service, Randall became general manager of Radio & Television Equipment Co., a wholesale distributor of electronic components. In 1946, he recognized the commercial potential of Fender's early lap steel guitars and small amplifiers and proposed that his company distribute them. This relationship helped establish the sales and distribution infrastructure around Fender products. Fender Sales Corporation and Fender Electric Instrument Company were formed in February 1953, with Randall responsible for sales and distribution. He later served as a vice president and general manager of Fender's musical-instrument and sales divisions under CBS ownership. Randall left Fender in 1969 and established the Randall Amplifier Company in Irvine. The company developed a separate identity in the amplifier market and was later associated with robust solid-state designs as well as tube products. Randall was sold in 1987 and acquired by U.S. Music Corporation during the 1990s. U.S. Music Corporation subsequently became part of the Canadian corporate group Exertis | JAM, which is identified as the current group associated with the brand. One of Randall's most technically distinctive product families was the MTS, or Modular Tube System, developed in the early 2000s in cooperation with Bruce Egnater of Egnater Amplification. MTS systems used amplifier heads, combos, or rack units with sockets for interchangeable tube preamp modules. The modules were designed around different amplifier voicings, ranging from Fender- and Vox-inspired clean sounds to British-style crunch and modern high-gain distortion. The range included systems such as the RM20, RM50, RM100, RM1250H, and RM4 rack preamp. Artist-associated versions were connected with George Lynch, Kirk Hammett, and Scott Ian. Randall announced the discontinuation of the MTS line in 2012, after which the company moved toward a new high-end range. This transition led to a major collaboration with Mike Fortin of Fortin Amplification. Announced in late 2011 and formalized through Randall in 2012, the partnership produced high-gain tube designs, including the 667 and Thrasher, as well as signature products associated with Kirk Hammett, Scott Ian, and Ola Englund. The collaboration also generated the Satan amplifier, based on Englund's Fortin Natas concept, and the Ultimate Nullifier EN 120 for Scott Ian. Fortin announced that the partnership ended on December 31, 2015. In 2014, Randall announced the six-channel Fortin-designed 667 flagship head and expanded into effects and compact pedal-format equipment with products including the RG13, Facepunch, MOR, RGOD, and RF8. The brand's historical positioning therefore spans practical amplifier engineering, modular tube architecture, high-output metal amplification, and artist-driven product development. Available reference material does not establish a complete current product catalog or detailed present-day distribution footprint, but Randall remains identified as a U.S. Music Corp. brand.

Randall Amplifiers traces its origins to Don Randall's work in the Southern California electronics trade and his early business relationship with Leo Fender. Randall worked as a salesman for a radio-supply business after graduating from community college in Santa Ana, California, and met Fender, who operated a nearby radio-repair shop. Randall later served with the Army Corps of Engineers, Signal Corps, and Army Air Forces during the Second World War. After the war, Randall became general manager of Radio & Television Equipment Co., a wholesale distributor of electronic components. In 1946, he learned that Fender had begun producing lap steel guitars and small amplifiers. Randall proposed that the distributor handle Fender products, helping establish an important commercial link between Fender's product development and a broader sales network. Fender Sales Corporation and Fender Electric Instrument Company were formed in February 1953, with Randall overseeing sales and distribution. He subsequently became vice president and general manager of Fender's musical-instrument and sales divisions after CBS acquired Fender. Randall left Fender in 1969 and founded the Randall Amplifier Company in Irvine, California. The new company developed guitar amplifiers under its own name, including solid-state models and later tube-based products. Randall sold the company in 1987. During the mid-1990s, U.S. Music Corporation acquired the brand. U.S. Music Corporation is now associated with Exertis | JAM, a Canadian corporate group. During the early 2000s, Randall worked with Bruce Egnater to create the MTS Modular Tube System. Rather than relying on a single fixed preamp architecture, MTS products allowed players to install interchangeable tube preamp modules in compatible heads, combos, and rack units. The available platforms included the RM20, RM50, RM100, RM1250H, and RM4 rack preamp. Modules offered different tonal approaches, including clean, classic British, and modern high-gain sounds. Artist editions and modules were connected to George Lynch, Kirk Hammett, and Scott Ian. The MTS range was phased out around 2012. Randall then pursued a new high-end tube-amplifier strategy through a partnership with Mike Fortin, founder of Fortin Amplification. The collaboration was announced in 2011, and Fortin became an exclusive Randall design engineer in 2012. Its products included the 667 and Thrasher amplifiers, Kirk Hammett signature models, Scott Ian's Ultimate Nullifier EN 120, and the Satan amplifier developed with Ola Englund. Randall also entered the pedal market with the RG13, Facepunch, MOR, RGOD, and RF8 products. Fortin announced that the partnership ended on December 31, 2015. The available references do not provide sufficient information to document subsequent corporate management, product releases, or the brand's current manufacturing arrangements.

• 2016

  Fortin partnership ends

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  Mike Fortin announced that his Randall partnership had ended on December 31, 2015, and would not be renewed.

• 2014

  667 and pedal products are introduced

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  Randall announced the Fortin-designed 667 head and entered the pedal market with several amplifier and effects products.

• 2012

  MTS is discontinued

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  Randall confirmed the discontinuation of the MTS range and its replacement by a new high-end amplifier line.

• 2011

  Randall and Fortin begin a design partnership

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  Randall and Fortin Amplification announced a collaboration focused on high-gain tube amplifiers.

• 2000

  MTS Modular Tube System is developed

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  Randall worked with Bruce Egnater on a modular tube-amplifier platform using replaceable preamp modules.

• 1990

  U.S. Music Corporation acquires Randall

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  During the mid-1990s, Randall became part of U.S. Music Corporation.

• 1987

  Don Randall sells the company

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  Randall sold the amplifier company after approximately eighteen years of independent operation.

• 1969

  Randall Amplifier Company is founded

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  Don Randall left Fender and founded the Randall Amplifier Company in Irvine, California.

• 1953

  Fender sales organizations are established

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  Fender Sales Corporation and Fender Electric Instrument Company were formed in February, with Don Randall responsible for sales and distribution.

• 1946

  Randall proposes distributing Fender products

  [1]Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org

  While serving as general manager of Radio & Television Equipment Co., Don Randall proposed distributing Leo Fender's early lap steel guitars and amplifiers.

A performance-oriented guitar-amplifier brand associated with high-gain tones, metal and hard-rock applications, solid-state reliability, tube amplification, modular preamp technology, and collaborations with prominent guitarists and specialist amplifier designer Mike Fortin.

• Modular tube amplifier system · 2000

  MTS Modular Tube System

  The MTS family used amplifier heads, combos, and rack units with sockets for interchangeable tube preamp modules. The modules provided different amplifier-inspired voicings, from clean sounds associated with Fender and Vox designs to British crunch and modern high-gain distortion. The family included RM-series platforms and the RM4 rack-mounted preamp. It was discontinued around 2012.

• Modular tube amplifier head and combo

  RM100

  The RM100 was one of the larger MTS platforms and provided three module positions for interchangeable preamp units. Randall also produced artist-associated versions, including models connected with George Lynch, Kirk Hammett, and Scott Ian, with differences in cosmetics, power tubes, and power-section voicing.

• Rack-mounted tube preamp

  RM4

  The RM4 was a rack-format MTS preamp capable of holding up to four interchangeable tube preamp modules. It extended the modular concept to rack-based guitar rigs and allowed users to combine several distinct preamp voices in one unit.

• High-gain tube amplifier head · 2014

  667

  The 667 was announced as a Fortin-designed Randall flagship. It featured six channels and was intended for high-gain guitar applications, representing the brand's post-MTS move toward a premium tube-amplifier range.

• High-gain tube amplifier

  Thrasher

  The Thrasher was part of the high-gain tube-amplifier series produced through Randall's collaboration with Mike Fortin. It formed part of the brand's focus on aggressive distortion and metal-oriented amplifier design.

• Artist-associated high-gain tube amplifier

  Satan

  Satan was developed by Randall and Fortin with Ola Englund of The Haunted. The design was based on Englund's Fortin Natas amplifier concept and was marketed as a high-gain instrument for heavy and extreme music.

• Artist-signature tube amplifier · 2014

  Ultimate Nullifier EN 120

  The Ultimate Nullifier EN 120 was a Randall signature amplifier associated with Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian. It was released during the Fortin collaboration period and extended Randall's use of artist partnerships in high-gain product development.

• Amplifier, preamp, and pedal unit · 2014

  RG13

  The RG13 was a compact Randall product combining a low-power amplifier function with three channels and pedal or preamp-oriented features. It represented Randall's expansion beyond conventional amplifier heads into integrated floor-based equipment.

• Guitar effects and preamp pedals · 2014

  Facepunch, MOR, and RGOD

  Randall entered the effects market with the Facepunch overdrive, MOR boost pedal, and RGOD preamp pedal. These products complemented the company's amplifier range by offering portable gain, boost, and preamp functions.

• MIDI foot controller · 2014

  RF8

  The RF8 was an eight-button MIDI pedal designed to provide foot control within Randall amplifier and effects setups.

• 2014

  Launch the 667 and expand into pedalsProduct launch

  Background

  Randall's Fortin collaboration was being used to rebuild the brand's premium tube-amplifier offering after MTS.

  Action taken

  Randall announced the six-channel 667 flagship and introduced products including the RG13, Facepunch, MOR, RGOD, and RF8.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened Randall's high-gain product portfolio from amplifier heads and combos into floor-based effects, preamps, and control equipment.

  Source

• 2012

  Discontinue MTS and replace it with a high-end lineGeneration change

  Background

  Randall's MTS Modular Tube System had been developed with Bruce Egnater and was built around interchangeable tube preamp modules. By early 2012, the company indicated that the range would be discontinued.

  Action taken

  Randall confirmed that MTS amplifiers would be discontinued and redirected its development toward a new high-end amplifier family.

  Aftermath

  The transition led to the Fortin-designed high-gain tube range, including the 667 and Thrasher, along with several artist-associated models.

  Source

• 2012

  Appoint Mike Fortin as exclusive design engineerStrategy

  Background

  Randall sought a new high-gain, all-tube product direction after the planned retirement of the MTS line.

  Action taken

  Brand director Joe Delaney introduced Mike Fortin as Randall's exclusive design engineer, with an initial priority of developing a multi-channel Kirk Hammett signature head and a broader North American-made tube range.

  Aftermath

  The partnership produced several high-gain amplifiers and signature models before ending at the close of 2015.

  Source

1. 1Randall Amplifiersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Randall Amplifiers official websiterandallamplifiers.com