Monsters of High Gain '13 - Randall Thrasher

www.premierguit... Feared and Six Feet Under guitarist Ola Englund takes the Randall Thrasher through its paces.
For more Monsters of High Gain videos or to watch one of Premier Guitar's 2,000 other videos, visit www.premierguit...

[@danielgoldberg7875]

Dude I just started playing thru a Randall Warhead X2 and I cannot believe how INCREDIBLE it sounds!!! It's like having Dimebag's Wall of Randalls in your living room!!! Very versatile, brutally powerful and has a fantastic clean sound!!! I am just blown away every time I turn it on!!!

[@OTCRock4one]

Finally Ola Englund you made an amp video with only the amp and guitar. This helps the buyer decide if they like the amp or not because they are not hearing multi tracks great work Ola!

[@marcoa.cortezano5214]

???¿..

[@bigbleach1603]

10 years and i dont think hes ever done this again

[@sebastianlepuri8960]

You have an amp that is called "Thrasher" and you are not playing some thrash riffs but you are playing the same riffs of your songs!!!

[@xdx2653]

lol its just a name for example evh 5150 dont sound at all like evh tone.

[@leonardsullivan]

@@xdx2653 Actually.....it's sounds exactly like his tone lol Its just that metal guitarists loved the distortion quality that he helped design and realized it could be used for heavy stuff.

[@wolfman109h]

It's very sick how much mr. Englund achieved! Thanks to him I'm highly motivated to move on in music!

[@mrpositronia]

Clean sounds nice, but the high gain sounds quite thin. I think the Engl is the winner out of this bunch! :)

[@BeyondtheMeasure]

Dear Gblackie13 Not all guitarists play classic heavy metal and hard rock. This series is directly aimed towards the heavier part of metal. Live with it, and look up the other 23842342384723472342 videos of rock reviews of amps (Not even lacking of those)

[@BlakeBagnell]

Yes, this is a series of videos I would happily keep up to date with.

[@luistijerina]

After hearing the Thrasher in Ola's own demos. I believe PG's micing and sound engineering leaves much to be desired.

[@DjMrGrimM]

I love watching Olas pick hand. He has such a unique style compared to everyone else i have watched over the years.

[@doom3380]

Yeah, unique because he holds the pick wrong like a scrub

[@ilikepotatoes1345]

@@doom3380 There's no wrong way to hold a pick.

[@godsreclamation2539]

This amp is a beast. Great for everything

[@hotrodsather]

You got it bro, He also said he could make any amp produce his tone with a distortion pedal.

[@mrcregg0915]

I really dig this amp head's lead performance and The Blackstar Blackfire 200's compression. Slowly narrowing down my search for a new setup. Thanks KZbin!!

[@fredyshred]

One of the best Premier Guitar amp demo

[@Bandersnatch786]

This is done in Ola's home studio by himself. It's not the micing or sound engineering that leaves much to be desired, it's the amp.

[@RM8807]

I play a 120 watt amp through a 4x12 and have ZERO problems playing small bars and clubs. Its easy to dial virtually any amp in to fit a room, and transporting it doesn't require roadies. You do not need to be a touring musician to have an amp like this.

[@rufusambler7308]

First riff reminds me of Burzum

[@HenrikBerger]

Finally a metal amp shootout with a great guitarist ;) Wuuhuuu

[@VegasGuitarPlayer]

LOL...finally, someone realize you need to have a real metal guitarist to demo the amps. Most of the time its hard to make a decision on whether or not to buy a product that is being demo'd by a class rock or blues guitarist if you're a metal head guy like me. Thanks for the demos Ola. Now I can really shop around for the right amp.

[@coobert15]

if dime didnt care what he played then why did he collaborate with randall on amplifiers that had dimes name on it and on sale for the market ?? he was endorsed by randall you know that. thats all he played during his time with the company.

[@JACKSONLEWISOFCANADA]

on paper but he had solid states powering his rigs in reality…. noir really any company just power amps into effects,

[@MrHALOCOUST]

Weird thing is this is Ola's home studio and probably he miked himself. And if you watched any of his videos his recording is top notch dont know why this one sounds like this.

[@BatutzTheGreat]

the clean channel on this amp is better than the rest

[@MaGariShun]

you are. people buy 100w over say 50 mostly for the headroom. Also volume difference is not that huge between 50 and 100 watts (a 100w head is only about twice as loud as a 10w one). And the 4x12 is there for the low end, I'd even use one with a 5w amp

[@WillelmMacguyver]

Ola Englund is a good guitarist, so don't get me wrong with this; but almost everyone of his equipment demos sound pretty much the same. I am not referring to his playing, but rather his method of recording. I had to stop watching his videos because I became so frustrated that there was not much difference in what piece of gear he was trying out. Whether it was a Diezel or cheap solidstate Marshall, they all sound the same.

[@barrywood8249]

Exactly this. I think Ola is a great player with some killer riffs on him, but his tone is the same no matter what he's playing. Just how he likes his tone I guess. But it gets annoying. Especially since he's demoed every hi-gain amp in existence. Too bad I can't tell too much difference between any of them. Oh well, I guess.

[@C_mao]

Barry Wood even the backing tracks he uses sound the same, i'd like to see some demos by a guitarist with more versatility, like maybe Christophe Godin or Vivian Campbell, or even Scott Ian

[@yadiryplata6245]

I almost like that that happens. He makes EVERYTHING sound good

[@ericellis2729]

Maybe, but Eddie Van Halen would sound like Eddie Van Halen almost completey regardless of the equipment (aside from using a cheap guitar and a cheap amp). A good bit of your tone comes from your hands. Gear and hands make up the whole equation.

[@themetalchannel96]

holy shit its ola!! god damn, hes in six feat under, feared, sponsored by randall and is now on premier guitar. but best thing of all is that we get to finally hear his voice haha

[@givemeajackson]

siggi braun VS-2 (second version of the viktor smolski signature). siggi braun is a small german custom manufacturer who makes incredible guitars. expect prices for a standard model to be about 4000 bucks.

[@TheScaredofsilence]

Thanks PG. Ola is a great choice for this.

[@mikescanlan4653]

No wonder it sounds shitty. 2 mid? 4.5 treble? Wtf. Crank the mids to about 6 and the treble anywhere to 5-7. Give that thing more life.

[@somerandomarmydude]

Mike Scanlan I like my treble higher then my mids.

[@mikescanlan4653]

Anthony Haller Thats great, have fun trying to cut through a mix with that.

[@somerandomarmydude]

Mike Scanlan Sounds tighter.

[@mikescanlan4653]

Anthony Haller Thats awesome man. Have fun cutting through a mix.

[@somerandomarmydude]

Mike Scanlan Sounds too muddy when I try it with higher mids.

[@elsalvador702]

this is way better than the old monster of high gain vids

[@JerryBaezAlchemus]

Yeah, it sounds hash, but I believe it's the mic position, not the amp. It looks very off-axis. Sometimes that position with SM57s (the mic that they're using) can bring a hash sound, depending on the type of speaker and type of amp (and it's settings) of course. I bet that it'd have sound better if they'd have placed the mic differently.

[@1970borntorun]

You guys can talk all you want about your ENGL's, Bogners , and Diezel's, but I have heard the Holy Grail of high-gain heads - the Friedman Steve Stevens & Brown Eye models. The creamiest, most musical distortion you have ever heard with peerless note-to-note definition, an extended top-end that doesn't tear your head off and sound strident like a Dual Rectofier, and tube warmth without mud and slop like a Marshall. My search is over. Don't say I didn't warn you... ;)

[@hotrodsather]

False Dimebag also played marshalls and other amps. He een said in interviews that he could make any amp produce his sound with most distortion pedals.

[@anahowana]

the amp is DA BOMB! even if you want to you can't dial it in a way that leaves much to be desired! obviously it's the micing and the sound engineering that is behind a huge part of the final results.

[@richardmartinez1628]

I don't think you guys can handle new riffs... Ola would melt your fucken faces!

[@ryanvincentjaeger]

Better blame him then, because they sent the heads to him and he recorded it all... The mic position was changed slightly from the other videos unfortunately. All seem to have been 45 degrees off-axis, but this one was 45 degrees off-axis and pointing up a little. Oh well.

[@gkward1981]

So true! The other guitarist in my band has a 50W, single 12" Engl combo that is just as capable as my Carvin v3 set to 100W w/ a 4X12 cabinet. I'm seriously considering downsizing now because my rig is just a waste of space an a hassle to haul around.

[@wickedsensationphotography]

Great playthrough Ola!!! Any way in the next videos to play along with backing tracks like in you're own play through videos? Even for just one minute would be great to get a feel for how it sounds with a band. Thanks again!!!

[@TreeFiddy350]

Seeing as this amp is literally called the Thrasher, could somebody do a demo where they play actual thrash riffs in standard tuning (or E flat at the lowest)?

[@PJyrstinkangas]

Let me take that back, I actually like this tone more than anything Ola has done in the past.

[@philtheairplanemechanic]

Most people looking for a new amp know what they sound like. And if they don't, there are hundreds of reviews on youtube. The amps they chose are less common and have fewer good quality reviews. Mesas have been done already.

[@givemeajackson]

well, even with a 20 watts head i enjoy the sound of a 412. in the rehearsal/recording room i have a 412 and i dont move it around at all, and i'm happy with that. i always use my home 212 for gigs. it's not about volume there, it's about the tone, the 412 smoothens things out a lot imo. there's no real difference in volume anyways between a 212 and 412, all that matters is wattage.

[@00Dakka]

I dunno about being shot, but i agree. Also the amp doesn't really sound like it has been recorded loud enough.

[@skylarwanke5310]

I like it, although I don't know if it'd be my first choice if I were to get a new amp.

[@EmilBringsli]

There is a demo by Misha Mansoor on the Dual Rectifier II in the series :)

[@Shadowborg]

He's playing a Siggi Braun. Not sure which model though.

[@ShoreStudios]

There is a long running YT joke about how the sound of Paul's videos are, Ola would be a great substitute here and there to switch things up.

[@givemeajackson]

agreed, but the 20 watt metal amps were rather scarce in the last years, so you didn't really have a choice other than buying a 100 watt head. luckily that's starting to get better these days.

[@zonie9872]

The $10,000 price is on gearhoundsdotcom.

[@Darkwarrior006]

Why is the Volume on 2 for every channel? Ola usually opens the amps up. You cant really get a good idea of what it sounds l like with the volume that low.

[@MaGariShun]

I'm not bashing solid state. I said it has it's place. First you have to differentiate between actual solid state (analog circuits) and modeling (digital), cause modeling is really catching up these days and there are no limits in theory as to how close to tube amps they can get. Solid state does extremely clean and facecrushingly heavy very good, but the in between is somewhat lacking. They are by no means bad, tubes are just better

[@m4ssee]

Never been too huge on Randall's but this one sounds pretty cool and tight.

[@blackjackmcgack]

Awesome black metal amp

[@insanitylord5649]

I was thinking the exact same thing

[@anwar.termizi]

+blackjackmcgack You have an awesome profile picture.

[@livepunx]

is kind of fun that they ask him a different shirt for every single video for this reviews but the pants remain the same.what the fuck im talking about ola is awesome

[@Souldk86]

I agree... for a "high gain amp" it annoys me a bit that in this vid(or most premiere guitar vids) the clean sound is the best one...

[@PatDeJongeSoundwise]

Doesn't do the amp justice! I played it at Frankfurt Music Messe last weekend and it sounds awesome.

[@Gblackie13]

dear premier guitar... not all guitarists are metalcore or super high metal players... Some of us play classic heavy metal and hard rock... You could have another guitarist demo the amps too... A guitarist like Steve Stevens... Thanks

[@wiziek]

Then did you do blind test? Not some 3k$ dollars set vs roland cube or line 6 spider. Everyone keeps bashing solid state because most of market are cheap, small and digital amps.

[@thrashislaw666]

This is waaaaaay better than Ty and Misha's demos of MoHG

[@C4ndleJ4ck]

In just a few short years Olas gone from some random youtube bum to having his own signature guitar, signature randall amp, signature fucking socks, being in a band with the original cannibal corpse vocalist, and now hes doing demo videos for premier guitar. Its like a fairy tale for bedroom metalheads everywhere!

[@Gblackie13]

steve stevens,eddie van halen played also the 5150... in flames are using the same amp... I LOVE those types of amps... And I certainly don't expect any blues licks...

[@ravenshadow1969]

What kind of guitar is he playing? I think that guitar looks awesome. Kind of reminds me of Schecter Sinister Gates model.

[@Marol2137]

how come other videos from those tests sound better?

[@MaGariShun]

you should get a marshall MG combo, that sounds just like the right amp for you

[@NeZversSounds]

I wouldn't say like that. Probably just your preferences doesn't match (and probably different mic placement would give you different opinion). It's pity that Ola haven't done double tracked demo like in his channel. Because this amp really sound punchy and has crunchy overtones.

[@MaGariShun]

3. a combo is far more cumbersome to handle than a cab + head. 4. in a practice situation I already get power tube distortion which is detrimental to a good fast low end. 100w would have more headroom

[@JHdgsn903]

I'm pretty sure Ola Micd it, usually Ola double tracks stuff in his own videos.

[@mcrekkr]

Am I the only guy here really digging that paw print on the fret bored of that 7 string?

[@ThomasMetal75]

You ever play 5150/6505 (+ or not) or even the EVH III? You now stand corrected!

[@bellmeisterful]

I was the same way as Ola here. Mids on low. But mids gotta be higher at around 7. Bass is about right as I used to have it a lot higher. Treble should be high. Guitar is for highs, Bass is for lows

[@grigno97]

it's you, to me sounds awesome

[@SpinnGuitar]

HOLY HELL OLA IS ON THIS GOOD CHOICE PREMIERGUITAR. WATCH THE VIEWS POOR IN

[@mrcregg0915]

I don't think Mesa Boogie came out with anything so far this year. I was thinking the same thing.

[@Nidhogg420]

So, being in Six Feet Under and Feared is the same as playing at home? .__.

[@ravenshadow1969]

Sorry I just didn't hear or understand what he said is all. Besides I am a beginner and I just got my first guitar which is a Fender 1994 Midnight Blue Telecaster. Use to belong to my late Father. I'm just beginning to learn the guitar. I just loved the way his guitar looked.

[@GuitaristAidan]

Excellent choice going with Ola, PG!

[@kylermacintire4823]

Go to ola's channel (fearedse). he has a video of the thrasher in a mix.

[@wiziek]

right... i wonder what care you have and how much your half stack weighs

[@theprovider9853]

Is the clean part at 5:00 an actual song or is it just improv ? Great playing as always, Ola!

[@givemeajackson]

actually, dime played randall cause he didn't give a fuck about the amps he used and happened to have a randall. and the amp here is not designed by randall, the circuit is exactly the same as the fortin natas. it's just built by randall, but this is essentially a fortin.

[@ozzyismetal]

Why is it premierguitar never seems to be able to mic cabs or mix right in their demos?

[@kaczy1191]

now I have a reason to sub premierguitar

[@puppetmaster532]

you need your ears checked, ola plays in Six feet under and Feared. Both are Death metal bands

[@joeylodes]

Mike Fortin rules!!! The Randall sounds KILLER!!!!! \m/

[@Preussenpenner]

The Diezel costs less than 2000 bucks , dude . Its just about 200-300 Bucks more Expensive than an EVH 5150 , at least here where I live .

[@DrAL00isin]

I know Randall is known for metal but I don't see a lot of metal guys using them, WTF

[@frozenmammoth420]

randall had an off decade for the 2000's. the new line up is great, and mike fortin is a brilliant metal amp designer. hopefully people take notice.

[@BlakeBagnell]

Scott Ian has been using them since the late 90s but yeah, other than Kirk Hammett too there wasn't many metal guys on there roster until the Fortin overhaul.

[@Linkmitch]

funny thing is that ola englund over here has his own signature amp from randall called 'SATAN'

[@TheMrWafflefries]

After the burial shitted on axe fx and uses this head now.

[@tylerfoster2774]

Are you forgetting that dimebag used one?

[@JACKSONLEWISOFCANADA]

is it bad to say its between this and a bugera trirec?

[@DropdaLTDtoB]

New series with some very Epic amplifiers \m/

[@tothesciencemobile4707]

Theres some interesting tone in there somewhere, I can hear it. But there's also something horrible sounding in there too, and its a bit overwhelming. I don't think that's Ola's playing (although I did hear a little sloppiness, but that happens to everyone), I think its PG's fault, cuz I've heard those songs (especially the low gain solo) sound way better than it did here. Not sure what it is exactly.

[@levisnotjeans]

Premier guitar made the right choice for a metal demoist, keith merrow and ola are the best!

[@buzzguy224]

Why does this amp sound so bad here? I refuse to believe such a good guitarist could dial in such a bad tone on such a good amp.

[@cast390]

Opinions on tone are like assholes, we all have one

[@jonashellborg8320]

Listening now, I think Ola went for a nasty death/black metal tone. So..yeah,....that wouldn't please everyone just like the genre doesn't. Personally I hear evil, is that good or bad? Depends on the day!

[@lithiumirl2238]

Jonas Hellborg sounds good for me atm! =)

[@johnt.campbell316]

that's what I was thinking. It leaves you to think that this amp sucks... That's what I'm going with for now.

[@larrytate1657]

It does sound lousy here though.

[@AxisOfHumanity]

Ive always sworn by randall amps, I just like the deep heavy tones you can get out of them. I prefer the sound of the Randall V2 over this one though. Ill always prefer real amps to processors like fractal audio's axe fx. So many bands use that now it's ridiculous. I can understand why though. Very portable and it sounds pretty great.

[@ChrisSmelko]

Ola should do all metal amp demos on KZbin.

[@MR-hm5hw]

Sounds pretty metal to me. Don't know a lot beyond that in this genre

[@wiziek]

Did i wrote that? Big amps and cabinets are tools, if you are in big band playing big show having roadies that's place for them. Learn to understand what you are reading and now tell that all of people owning 100w heads and 4x12 play big show or in proffesional studios.

[@MrDismon]

yes,mesa boogie is really missing here

[@Hellwarrior1000]

what? i'm pretty bad with amps, i dont understand what ur saying

[@GusAndrade]

Okay, now let's hear it in a mix..

[@C4ndleJ4ck]

They did that in the last series with Misha Mansoor and that christian metal kid on guitar

[@grimm26]

I'd like to hear it with the mic on-axis.

[@SteelSkin667]

They already reviewed it previously.

[@zonie9872]

Is it true that it costs $10,000?!