Zeus 8401 Mini Amp - the model designed and used by Randy Rhoads

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

SUMMARY: Zeus 8401 Mini Amp from original owner - in excellent condition like mine, they're selling for $400 & up on eBay, Reverb etc. They're going for $200 as parts donors, and ratty ones are priced in the middle. I haven't used it in years, but it's still working perfectly. The case is heavy aluminum and it's very well made. If you love it (and you have to love it to buy it), take it away for $150 plus shipping in the US. Make me an offer - even if I don't like the offer, I still like you!

The story behind these is simple: Randy Rhoads practiced a lot, which apparently drove Ozzy Osbourne crazy when they were working together. So Rhoads had his friends at Zeus come up with a battery powered amp the size of a brick (and just as solid) that he could use to practice through headphones whle traveling with Ozzy and with Quiet Riot (the band he founded and for which he played guitar). He also put one on his pedalboard and apparently used it as a distortion effect in addition to a practice amp.

This is one rare bird...and a little weird. I bought this brand new when they first came out to use when we traveled. It's a 2W amp powered by a 9V battery with an 1/8" external power input that I've never used. It turns out to be surprisingly good for jazz, even through its internal 2" speaker. Reviews have consistently described a Marshall-like breakup that must appeal to the rockers who love them, and it does have a nice fusion-y OD sound when you push the preamp much above 11 o'clock.

It has both a preamp output and a headphone jack, and it's one amazing little amp. It drives a Toob Metro well enough to use on a quiet restaurant gig. But it's great with headphones and actually pretty nice with the internal speaker for practicing with an archtop. Here's ATTYA on my laminated 7 string through it:

These are both rare in great shape and coveted by RR fans, which keeps the market price higher than I expected. I'd been keeping it because I thought it was worth $100, which wasn't enough for me to let it go. But here are web prices today:



And here's my amp:

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Lots of very strange interest, but nobody's bought it. Maybe I priced it too high...so take it away for $150 plus shipping (US only). It's cool, it's solid as a brick, and it actually sounds decent. Check out the video! You too can be a Rhoads scholar...

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

SERIOUS PRICE DROP!!

$150 plus shipping takes it.