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info    updated 29/1/2010

Radial Engineering

The company began in 1991 as the Canadian distributor of Mogami cable and Jensen Audio Transformers. In 1992, it became a limited corporation under the JP Cabletek Electronics Ltd. banner. The Radial name was first used on house branded cables and snake systems. The Radial name and logo represents a cross section of quad cable; Radial being round.

In 1996 the Radial JDI direct box was launched. This led the way to the Radial JDV and today, over 50 electronic products are now being produced under the Radial, Tonebone and Forest Audio brands.

In 2001, the Primacoustic brand was launched to address the growing demand for acoustic products for the burgeoning home recording market and in 2006, the company officially changed its name to Radial Engineering Ltd. [Source: Radial]

Radian

Radian amplifiers by Entertec of New York.

Image Radian 200 eBay:

Radian combo guitar amplifier

Randall

Don Randall used to make amps with Leo Fender.

search at http://www.vintageguitar.com

Randall amplifier schematics

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Randall

Image eBay:

Randall amplifier head

Ratajczyk Amplifiers

Handmade amps, Redbank, Queensland, Australia.

"Most of my amps the serial number was the date - no code necessary .
Production models started in `89 , they had black front panels and ran for about three years. Grey hammertone models started about `94 thru to `06 .(about 8 different models)
Stainless steel models started `06 and are current designs .
Clients can call or email me for specific info
." [Source: John Ratajczyk, email 20/8/2008 ]

Raven Amps

"Thank you for your interest in Raven amps.

We appreciate your request but have to respectfully decline participation." [Source: Raven amps, 8/9/2009]

 Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Raven+Amps

Real McCoy Custom

Image Teese MFOB number 16 of 20 eBay:

Real McCoy pedal

Reason Amps

Reason Amplifer Co, St Louis Missouri, USA.

Recording King Amplifiers Gibson made amps with chassis by Lyon & Healy and cabinet by Gieb. [Source: Gruhn Guide to Vintage Guitars 2nd Ed]

Redback

Guitars made by brothers Rod and Ed in Sydney, Australia

Redback at myspace

Red Bear

Red Bear amplifiers were hand made manufactured (by hand) by a company called Novik, ltd. located in St. Petersburg, Russia. [Source and more information: Red Bear tribute site]

Red Bear amplifier schematics

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Red+Bear

Red Star Audio

Redstar Audio is an independently-owned, guitar and bass speaker cabinet manufacturing company located in Houston, TX.
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Redstar+Audio

Redstuff

Redstuff amps are made since "1989 in Germany.

Dating Red Stuff amps

Manufacturing date is handwritten inside the chassis." [Source: Stefan Hüther, Redstuff Amplification, email 8/9/2009]

http://www.myspace.com/redstuffamplification

Redstuff amplifier

Red Teletronix

 

Regal

Canadian amps.

Examples http://www.fenderbronco.com/id14.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Regal

Image eBay:

Regal combo amp

Regent effects

Canadian label for Guyatone in '60s

Reinhardt Amps

Lynchburg VA, USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Reinhardt

Image eBay:

Reinhardt amp head

Retro King

Retro King Amplification, Chuck Dean, Marcellus, New York, USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Retro-King+Amps

Revenge Amps

Hand wired, all tube amplifiers made by Greg Perrine in Conway, Arkansas, USA.

Date of manufacture available from serial number.

Revenge Amps Models

Revenge Classic - Solid pine cabs, hand wired, hand stained and lacquered.
15 to 20 watts - 2xEL84, 3x12AX7. Push/Pull engages extra Gain stage. All cab have removeable center panel for closed or open back use.

Revenge "LiL Rock" 5 watt head
tweed covering, 1x6L6, 1x12AX7, 5 watt/3 watt triode/pentode switch, XLR direct out, 4&8 ohm speaker out

Revenge "Hard Rock" 30 watt head
4xEL84, 3x12AX7 with REVERB, footswitchable Clean/Lead,
Lead Boost, XLR direct out, 4,8,16 ohms speaker out

[Source and images: Greg Perrine, Revenge Amps, email 15/9/2009]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Revenge+Amps

see Low Watt Valve amps for image

Reverend

"Joe Naylor and Dennis Kager announced ... that reverend has stopped production of the reverend king cobra 20/60 (reworked hellhound 40/60), goblin 5/15, reverend speaker enclosures, and reverend all tone speakers.
according to Mr. Naylor, only 1,000 hellhounds were made, 350 hellhound heads, approx. 600 king cobras.
this means collector, so a heads up...to all of you, lock in these amps if you have the ka-ching...i was considering parting ways with mine, but after the tube change and this news, i'm keeping that hellhound.
all reverends are hand numbered, and some have knob and label misprints (higher demand). [Source: forum: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-254495.html 9/2/2005]

Reverend amp and speaker serial numbers http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/archive/amp_cab_sn.html

search at http://www.vintageguitar.com

Reviews http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/archive/media/reviews/amp_reviews.html

Reverend forum http://www.reverendguitars.com/forum/

Image Reverend Hellhound amp eBay:

Reverend Hellhound amp head

Rex

Rex Amplifiers, were made in Australia by General Music Co according to this serial number label seen on eBay. 

See more on Rex amps at Ozvalveamps

Images eBay:  Note the serial number label is not from the little solid state unit.

Rex amplifer Australia Serial Number Plate General Music Co Rex Solid state amplifier Made in Australia

Reynolds Valveart

Peter and David Reynolds make Reynolds Valveart amps in in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia.

"Building amps (for other people/customers) was something we never set out to do - I had been servicing/fixing/modding amps since 1979. The first amp of our own design was built for myself to use when I jammed with the blokes I use to play with in the 70's - it was an ugly bloody thing....plain pine box, screws sticking out everywhere with a toilet door handle on top. I think the cab took me about 15 minutes to knock up (it only had a cab to stop people touching stuff that would give them a fist full of lightning ;-) That was it - there was no plans for anymore.

My brother Dave started borrowing it and suggested some changes. After a year or two he'd basically claimed it and the "Antichrist" as it became known was seeing a fair bit of work. Other guys also used it from time to time and made some positive input to it's evolution.

Then Dave asked if I could make a better looking cab for it as it was a bit embarrassing having it up on stage under lights. We got "on it" one night and Dave asked if the amp had to be in a rectangular box.......and we came up with the "dollshouse" shape.

It's called a "Dollshouse" cab because Sydney guitarist/drummer Dave Peck was visiting when I was in the process of building the cab - I asked him what he thought of the new amp cab and he looked around the shed and said "what cab?", I pointed the cab shell out to him and he said "that thing? I thought you were building a dollshouse or something!" So that's where that name came from.

The first chassis of the new dimensions was built and brother Dave had his amp. The cabinet was covered in burgundy vinyl auto upholstery. The only reason the amp has timber panels on the front and back is because my mate who did the upholstery refused to cover them in vinyl - he said "how the F@#k am I going to get all those inside corners done?!?" I asked him what I should do and he said "take them home and paint them". I spoke to my wife about the problem and she said that she could try staining/laquering them - so that's where they came from. The  control panels were bits of sheetmetal finished in gold "hammertone" enamel. Lettering on the panels was simple "lettraset" labels you can buy at a newsagents with a bit of clear paint over them to stop them rubbing off. Other people saw/heard the amp and before we knew it we were in the amp biz.

The Antichrist was built probably in 1995/96? It's currently buried in my workshop - it doesn't work because I knocked the transformers off years ago to use for something else. I must get it going one day.

The first Dollshouse amp (which Dave named "Frankenstein") was built around the end of 1997/beginning of '98. Frankenstein lives on a shelf in the amproom at work and it works (or did the last time I tried it - which is a few years ago now ;-)

The first 50 watt amp made for someone else was built in 1999 and had "proper" screenprinted anodised aluminium control panels. Only the first few had the model number APR50 stamped on them. After a couple of mods were made we found ourselves with two 50 watt models and named them the APR501 and APR502. The first amp stamped APR501 appeared around the end of '99 (I think!).

Serial numbers were/are stamped into the rear panel as well. The serial number starts with a "P" (for "Pete" as I built the amp - I was thinking that maybe someday someone else may be mad enough to build one) then four numbers for the month and year, then 2 letters which were/are the initials of the person who the amp was made for. For example the serial number "P1199SC" means the amp was built by me in November 1999 for a guy named Shane Curl.

There have been a few 100 watt amps built - these have the model number "APR100"

There are some added letters to the model number - for example "APR501CVR" means a Custom model with Valve Rectifier.

We decided a few years ago that we were never going to go into full time production and that we would keep all amps as custom made. The model number is now for example "APR501C".

The 150 watt amps (DPR1501/2) have their serial numbers in the same fashion. The first "Sledgehammer" was built in 2002.

The first JFR25 was built in 2001 and (as it turned out) for an electric violin player in Western Australia. It was a "one off" and there were no plans for anymore - I didn't even keep any drawings/schematics of it. But people had heard it and played with it in our workshop over the months it was developed and eventually I was asked to build another one. The only way I figured the circuit out was by looking at 35mm photos I'd taken as progress shots to send to WA.

There have been no model/serial numbers stamped on the JFR's made until now. The first JFR's had a chassis that was 150mm high. This was later changed to 180mm high to allow a bit more room inside the chassis.

Then an extra gain switch (known as the "Ludicrous Switch") was added to the back of the amp (lower RHS).

Then two power reduction switches were added to the back LHS of the amp - the Fixed/Cathode bias switch was moved to be next to these two new switches.

There will be model/serial numbers on the JFR's we're building now - we just have decided where/how to do it just yet. I will let you know when we work this out.

We have built a few "JFR50" amps. These are 50 watt 2x12 combo versions of the 501 heads. There is no "Middle" control on Channel A. The amp has reverb. There have been no model/serial numbers on these either. There will be in the future.

 

Just so you know.....

"APR" are my Dad's and my Grandad's initials.

"JFR" are my Grandmother's initials.

"DPR" is a combination of Dave Reynolds, Pete Reynolds and Dave Peck (the bloke who insisted on a 150 watt amp and also named the cabs "Dolls house")

 

I have not kept records of how many amps I have built - or the serial numbers of these amps. As I mentioned in the beginning none of this was really meant to happen - I thought I'd build a few funny looking amps for people crazy enough to want them and that would be it. In total I'd say that so far there have been no more than 100 or so amps and cabs made.

 

Our logo was designed by my son Shayne when he was 12 years old using Microsoft Paint on an old 486 PC.....pixel by pixel.

[Source and images courtesy of: Pete Reynolds, email 16/8/2008 ]

Reynolds amplifier

Richards Amplifier Company

 

I have been building amps under about four different names since 1970 !!

The amps have always been hand-built in relatively small numbers, and always toa customer order, they have never been sold via retail (when new).  So my first customer order was in 1970 and was a nominal 100 watt 4 x 6L6GC head.  Unfortunately I never took serial numbers very seriously until the 1990's - the serial numbers now are in fact engraved into the control panels, and I'm not sure exactly when I started this practice.

During the 1970's I built valve amps under the logo of 'Knight Amplification', which started out as a partnership, but I ended up doing it all & retained the name (even though my name is obviously not 'Knight').

During the 1980's for whatever bizarre reason it became unfashionable to buy Aussie custom amps (& pedals) and I mainly built small PA systems for bands and schools etc - this was under the 'RAK' logo, which stood for Richards & Kelly.

Along came the 1990's and people became interested in what I was doing again, including some more high profile players, and I started building valve amps again under the 'VanAmp' logo, which obviously stands for Ivan's Amps. However, most people just didn't get 'VanAmp', even though it is pretty bloody obvious, and also I discovered a USA amp builder with exactly the same name !! you wouldn't believe it..... so I finally changed the logo to 'RICHARDS' and everyone is happy now and a lot more people are taking an interest in what I do.

The actual name of the amp building side of my business is: the Richards Amplifier Company - Australia

Approximate years of manufacture:
Knight 1970 to 1982
RAK 1983 to 1994
VanAmp 1995 to 2003
Richards 2004 onwards with 4-digit sequential serial numbers engraved into control panel - this practice probably started around 1997.

This photo of one of my amp models  clearly show where the model name and serial number are located on the rear panel this practice was implemented around 2005.  Some amps prior to this had a serial number on the front panel under the power on indicator light (during the 'VanAmp' period)

Richards Amplifier Company Blue Mood Series guitar amplifier

 

You may be surprised to learn that we Aussie's were actually building pedal-steel guitars back in the 1940's with
matching amps to complete the set (my father, Jack Richards, was responsible for this).

Ivan Richards Custom Pedals
All my pedals have a 4-digit sequential serial # in dymo tape underneath & inside the pedal enclosure this practice commenced when I went retail in the late 1990's.

Apart from a handful of pedals and power supplies made previously, production of guitar FX pedals & switchers began in 1997. Anyone with a serial # can email me for specific details

My workshop is in Wyoming NSW ie Gosford/Central Coast, half way between Sydney-Newcastle " [Source: Ivan Richards, email 13/8/2008 ]

Richter Amplification

http://www.richteramplification.com/

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Richter+Amplification

Images eBay:

Richter amplification head

Rickenbacker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickenbacker

Rickenbacker amplifier schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Rickenbacker schematic

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rickenbacker

Image Chicago Music Exchange:

Rickenbacker amplifier control panel

Rick Tone

Hand wired tube amps by Rick Campbell 1984 to 1992.

Ricktone at wikipedia

Rick Tone amplifier schematics

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Rivera

Paul Rivera, based in California, USA since 1976. Also designs for Fender, Yamaha and Pignose.

Rivera amplifier schematics

http://www.blueguitar.org/schems.htm

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rivera

Image eBay

Rivera amplifier logo

Riviera

see Pepco

RMI

see Rocky Mountain Instrument Company

Road

Road amp logo

 They were made by Bud Ross of Kustom Amps,in Kansas and,later bought out by Griffin Music. [Source: Sunn Discussion Page ]

According to the example found here on eBay Griffin Music Inc, was located Los Angeles California.

Images eBay:

Road 220 Bass amp Road 220 Griffin Music Inc

Roccarorte

Doug Roccaforte builds amps in California USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Roccaforte

Rock

Rock Amps, Rock Amplifier Company, Pomona California USA. Solid state amps. 1960s and early 1970s

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rock+Amplifier+Company

Images eBay:

Rock amp Rock combo guitar amplifier

Rocket

ADA Amplification Rocket Combo Amplifier

Brand of ADA Amplification, California.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rocket

Images Rocket A20R Combo eBay:

ADA Amplification Rocket Amplifier Control Panel

see ADA

Rockhouse

Rockhouse amps made by Kanda Shokai.

Images Rockhouse amp Yahoo auction:

Rockhouse amp combo Rockhouse Kanda Shokai Corp

Rockit

Rockit amps are made in Auckland, New Zealand by Clef Industries

Models inlcude Pro Champ, Superlead 130

Dating Rockit amps

At least one example at Harmony Central has a date (1981) recorded on a test label inside the case.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rockit

Images Rockit Super Lead 130 amp ebay.

The Rockit Superlead 130 Pro Amp Series Mark V was built in NZ during the late-70s/early-80s.  130 Watts (switchable to 75W) through a 15” 8-ohm JBL E-130.  6L6 valves in the power stage, and 12AX7s in the preamp.  Single input, switchable between clean, or sustain with Brite, Boost, Sust and Fat selections.  Speaker impedance switchable between 8- and 4-ohm.  Additional Poweramp input and Preamp output.  Also has spring Reverb

Rockit amp Clef Industries Auckland Clef Industries Auckland Rockit Pro Champ combo amplifier New Zealand

Rockman

Amplifiers by Tom Scholz, member of the band Boston.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockman_(music)

http://www.rockmancentral.com/RockmanCentral/Start.html

Rockman ads

http://www.grailtone.com/rockman-ads.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rockman

Image eBay:

Rockman XP212 guitar combo guitar amp

Rockola

Rockola Schematic

Rocktron

"Rocktron started selling gear in 1984. You can not track the year made from the serial numbers. There really is no way to tell for sure. Gear has been made all around the world while your specific unit will say what country it was made in. " [Source: Jim, Rocktron email 7/4/2008]

Image eBay:

Rocktron Velocity 250

Rocky Mountain Instrument Company

RMI

During the 1970s the Allen Organ company owned Rocky Mountain Instruments or RMI, makers of the RMI Harmonic Synth, Keyboard Computer, Electra Piano and others. [Source: Organ Forum] They also made a guitar amplifier the RMI 140.

History of Rocky Mountain Instruments

Image RMI-140, 100 Watt guitar amp Bidcorral:

RMI 140 Rocky Mountain Instrument Company

Rogue

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rogue

Rokaxe

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rokaxe

Rola

Rola speakers Made in Australia, Cleveland Ohio, elsewhere?

They bought Celestion

Rola Australia technical bulletin # 24 with full specs for Australian made Rola speakers and output transformers used in Australia radios, TVs, guitar amps and speaker systems

Rola Company Richmod Victoria Australia Rola Company Cleveland Ohio USA speaker logo

Roland

Founded by Kakehashi Ikutaro in Japan 1972.  His previous company was Ace Electronic Industries.

Amps

Amps were made in USA in 1980s and again in 1990s.  "Roland produced 1000's of JC120's in La Mirada Ca at the Roland Audio Development Corp in the mid 90's. I ran the factory as Director of Operations. Chassis were fabricated in Taiwan, cabinets built locally and speakers provided by Eminence Corp USA." [Source: eBay]

Roland equipment spec digest

Roland amplifier catalogs

1984 http://lngngo1001.ifdef.jp/index.html

2007 Roland Amplifier Catalog

Roland  owners manuals http://www.roland.com/support/en/

Roland amplifier schematics

http://www.blueguitar.org/schems.htm

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Roland

Effects

1983 Roland guitar synthesizer catalog http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/gr-guitarsynthesizer/197x/index.html

Analog delay http://mightyblowhole.com/gear/AD202.pdf

http://ushigomepan.cool.ne.jp/effect/catalogue.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Roland

Images US made Jazz Chorus (1981-1984) eBay

Roland Jazz Chorus Amplifier Made in USA Roland Jazz Chorus Amplifier Made in USA

Image courtesy of Harley, Dirty Bird a 1970s Jazz Chorus

Roost

Roost amps was founded in 1972 by Brian Roost and Ron Bailey in Southend On Sea in England. Amps were made until 1984.

1972 - 1980 - Southend, England
1980 - 1984 - Leeds, England

Dating Roost Amps

The serial numbers are quite random BUT the date of manufacture can be gauged from

- place of manufacture (Southend or Leeds)
- specifications (e.g. transformer type - Partridge '72 - '78/Drake '79-80)
- Colour of lamp (orange was used '72-73/red from '73-80 and green from 80-84)
- model numbers changed prefixes in 1976-77 - e.g. from ST22=SA100 for the 100w head. [Source: Andy, email 10/9/2009]

Roost made amps for Funkshun in 1978.

Review http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Roost

Roost amp head

Rosac

Amps and effects (including Nu-Wa Fuzz pedal)

Images eBay including rare early 1970's Rosac Nu Fuzz built by Ed Sanner, the man who designed the Mosrite Fuzz Rite.

Rosac Bassmaster Amplifier head Nu Fuzz Rosac Electronics and MFG Co

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Bass+Amp/brand/Rosac

Rose Amps

Rose amps were made from 1970 to 1973 in Tualatin, Oregon, USA.

Solid state, reverb, tremolo, RF control ("re-generated frequency." sounded like a cross between distortion and presence), bronze-colored faceplate, black knobs; wood amp cab and speakers cabs covered in boat flooring textured material, colored light brown with white flecks; bass amp use rear mounted speaker.

Kris Caristmos and Allen Gill worked for Sunn Amps in Tualatin, Oregon in the late 1960s. They teamed up to produce their own amp, called Rose, named after Allen's cousin, Rose Eibel. Bands in the Portland, Oregon area played these amps. Leo Kottke wanted one, but would not pay in advance. The band Cowboys and Indians with Allen on guitar and voice and other musicians used Rose amps exclusively

[Information and image courtesy of Lawrence Fritts, USA 19/2/2009]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Rose+Amplifiers

Rose amplifier

Ross

Founded by Bud Ross (who established Kustom), Keas Electronics, Chanute, Kansas in the 1970s. Primarily an amp manufacturer but started to produce effects around 1978 (US made). Later made in Asia. [Source: Vintage Guitar Price Guide]

Images eBay.

Ross Effects Keas Electronics

Ross Flanger Effects Pedal Ross Flanger Effects Pedal

Route 101

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Route+101+Guitars

Royal

http://tix.gozaru.jp/stompbox.html

http://tix.gozaru.jp/amp.html

Rozz

http://tix.gozaru.jp/stompbox.html

Rozz combo amplifier

Ruetz amps

Ruetz amps at myspace

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Ruetz+Amplification