Pricing and availability
Average Price: $500
Standard/Professional
$300
$701+
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Description
The Randall Commander II is a vintage combo amplifier that combines tube like tone with solid state reliability, making it a favorite among both seasoned musicians and hobbyists. Despite its early solid state design, the Commander II delivers a rich, warm sound, comparable to that of vintage tube amps. This amp is engineered to offer a versatile sound palette, from clean and crisp tones to gritty, edge of breakup distortion, and has been favored throughout a wide variety of musical styles.
Built with an onboard spring reverb tank, the Commander II adds depth and dimension to your sound, creating lush textures that enhance your playing experience. The intuitive layout of controls allows for easy adjustments, letting you shape your tone effortlessly. Whether you're playing in a small venue or a larger stage, this amplifier provides the power and clarity needed to ensure your sound is heard with precision and detail.
Key Features:
- Innovative solid state preamp, lush cleans and high headroom
- Spring reverb for drippy sound textures
- Intuitive control layout for easy tone shaping
- Versatile sound palette suitable for various genres
- Reliable performance for both practice and live settings
Product specs
| Brand | Randall |
| Model | Commander II Model RG-120-212 120-Watt 2x12" Guitar Combo |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1970s |
| Categories | Guitar Combo Amps |
| Built-In Effects | Built-In Effects |
| Color Family | Black |
| Direct Output | No Direct Output |
| Electronics | Solid State |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 4 Inputs |
| Output Power (Watts) | 120 |
| Power Tube Type | None |
| Reverb | Spring Reverb |
| Speaker Configuration | 2x12" |
FAQs
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What are the tonal characteristics of the Randall Commander II RG-120 212 amplifier?
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The Randall Commander II RG-120 212 is known for its solid-state clarity and powerful clean tones, making it suitable for genres that require clean headroom. It also features a spring reverb for added depth.
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Is the Randall Commander II RG-120 212 amplifier loud enough for live performances?
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Yes, with 120 watts of output power and a 2x12" speaker configuration, this amplifier is more than capable of handling live performances, even in larger venues.
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Does the Randall Commander II RG-120 212 amplifier work well with pedals?
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The solid-state design of the Randall Commander II RG-120 212 offers a clean platform that typically pairs well with a variety of effects pedals, allowing for versatile tone shaping.
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What built-in effects does the Randall Commander II RG-120 212 offer?
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This amplifier includes a built-in spring reverb effect, which can add a rich, ambient quality to your sound.
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How many channels does the Randall Commander II RG-120 212 amplifier have?
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The Randall Commander II RG-120 212 features two channels, providing options for switching between different tones and settings during performances.
Videos
Baskah Official
Randall Commander II / Nirvana - Rape Me tone test
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Randall Commander II RG-120 212.
Features and functionality
Comparisons
Use cases and applications
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Capable of delivering Nirvana's "Bleach" album tones, yet also excels with bluesy sounds when paired with a Guild archtop and P90 pickups.
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This amplifier is noted for its ability to retain clarity and power, making it suitable for high-volume settings without sacrificing sound quality.
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Value and pricing
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Despite its age, current market value remains around $200, though some older sales have reached over $400.
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Other
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Variants like the 1x15 Accordion 115 exist, highlighting Randall's diverse naming conventions in the late '70s and early '80s.
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Setup and maintenance
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It's been noted that if the channels sound different, the amp may require servicing, as changes over time shouldn't affect channel consistency.
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Owners have observed that changes in the amp over time involved the shift from discrete circuits to op amp-based circuits in reverb drive and recovery.
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Mods and upgrades
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Users mention that modding solid-state amps is complex, but one suggestion is to adjust pedal settings for better compatibility with the amp's treble-heavy nature.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
In this image you can see Kurt using a Randall Commander II head with a SoundTech 2x12 speaker cabinet.
For the Celebrity Skin sessions, Love plugged into a variety of amps, including Fender tube gear, Matchless, Ampeg, Silvertone and a solid-state 1976 Randall Commander that formerly belonged to Love's late husband, Kurt Cobain. "He did like his Randall Commander," she says.
Album Usage
The Randall Commander II RG-120 212 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Randall Commander II RG-120 212, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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