Please note; This is a preamplifier, and not a distortion pedal. Read more about this below.
Based on the Randall* RG100ES.
High gain, tight and aggressive. Those are the words to describe the tone of the RG. The RGX100 provides the legendary sound of the high gain RG channel, in a compact pedal form. But that's not all, because we have improved upon the original:
Tightness control - lets you tighten up the sound even more by cutting some of the low frequencies from the early gain stages.
Sustain Volume - The original amplifier had an annoying quirk, where the volume would drop significantly when engaging the sustain mode. We've fixed that.
Crunch Mode - Takes you half way between two channels of the original amp, by switching in and out the bypass capacitors in the first gain stage. This opens up additional tonal options, by playing with the combination of Crunch, Sustain and Gain, to achieve a myriad of different sounds.
About Preamplifiers
This is a preamplifier, and not a distortion pedal. We do not recommend connecting this device to the input of a normal guitar amplifier. Instead, it is best used in one of the following ways:
Connected to the Effects Return / Power Amp Input of a guitar amp
Connect your guitar to the pedal input, and connect the pedal output to the effects return. This bypasses your amplifier's built-in preamp, and the signal goes through the pedal instead.
Connected to a dedicated power amp
Some examples include the Seymour Duncan Powerstage, Harley Benton GPA-100, or the Mooer Baby Bomb.
Connect the pedal directly to an audio interface
For recording purposes, the pedal can be connected to either an instrument or line-level input on your audio interface. Using a speaker cabinet simulation plugin, such as an Impulse Response (IR) loader, to emulate the effect of a speaker cab is highly recommended.
The original
The Randall RG100ES earned its significance in the guitar amplifier landscape for several reasons, making it stand out from its contemporaries during its heyday in the 1980s and beyond.
The inclusion of the "Gain Boost" function set the RG100ES apart. This feature allowed players to push the amplifier into even higher levels of distortion, catering to the needs of heavy metal and hard rock guitarists who sought a relentless and ferocious tone.
Several famous musicians embraced the Randall RG100ES for its distinctive tones and reliability. While it may not have reached the same level of ubiquity as some other amplifiers, notable artists who used or endorsed the RG100ES include Dimebag Darrell (Pantera), George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), and Michael Angelo Batio (Nitro), who appeared in promotional ads for the line, and featured Randall amps in the background of many of his famouse shred-instructional videos.
Controls
Bass, Mid, Treble - A classic 3-band tonestack, although more responsible than most Fender/Marshall stacks of the same design.
Presence - Rolls off the highest frequencies to control fizziness.
Gain - The main gain control for the preamp.
Volume - Controls the output signal amplitude.
Tight - Tightens up the sound by cutting low frequencies from the early gain stages.
Crunch - Switches between a lower-gain, mid-heavy tone, and a higher-gain, high-treble tone.
Sustain Switch - Engages the Sustain feature, adding a pair of clipping diodes to the signal path for a very aggressive and saturated sound.
Active Switch - Engages or bypasses the pedal with a relay (true bypass).
Technical Specs
Power Requirement: 9V DC, 200mA
Power connector: 2.1mm center-negative barrel jack (powersupply not included)
Dimensions: 145mm (W) 108mm (D) 61mm (H)
Dimensions (with packaging): 185mm (W) 130mm (D) 70mm (H)
