Archon 25
- Thread starter Fro
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D
Deleted member 5962
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Not sure why you haven't gotten any answers from the Archon owners here. I'm not one or I'd answer. 
I hope to try one soon.
I think if you do a search, you'll find your answer though, as this has been discussed in other Archon threads.
I hope to try one soon. I think if you do a search, you'll find your answer though, as this has been discussed in other Archon threads.
The Fight
Long Hair Demigod
Hey I'll let you know, I just ordered a 100 watt Archon. But I really don't think that sound like a Marshall, I'd almost say more closer to a Soldano.
D
Deleted member 5962
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well, if that's the case, I REALLY need to speed up my search!
I think that partly depends on which era Marshall you're talking about.
Example: My HXDA 30 (and the 50 Watt version I also had) get a fantastic late 60s-early 70s Marshall crunch tone. In fact, they're cloned from the actual Duane Allman "Live at the Fillmore" amp, as well as being switched into a Plexi PRS borrowed from Eric Johnson. So if you want that plexi thing, the answer is to buy an HXDA.
However, there's a whole 'nother world of Marshall type tones out there, such as JCM800, JCM 2000 series, etc. I think the Archon can indeed get close to those tones, but it's really designed to be more of a high gain fire-breather than a Marshall style amp. Incidentally, I think it sounds different from a Mesa Rectifier.
The real question is, how authentic a Marshall type sound are you looking for, and from what era?
And of course, another thing to think about is whether any 25 watt amp is really going to give you that big-transformer Marshall style sound in any case. Since the clean channel is superb, another thought might be to use something like an Xotic BB or other Marshall-style pedal in front of the clean channel if you're not 100% thrilled with the crunch tones you can dial in...
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D
Deleted member 5962
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Have they ever said what it WAS designed to sound like? I asked the same question about my H and Custom. I got opinions from users, but never have seen the official PRS remarks of what they were aiming for.
For the Archon, I've read that it sounds like "a boutique, high gain Marshall," "it's in between Mesa Boogie and high gain Marshall," "Soldano," and many more. One buddy of mine at TGP told me "you like Marshall, Mesa Boogie and Soldano, so you'll love the Archon." Well, I may love a Bad Cat too, but that doesn't means it sounds like a Soldano or Mesa Mark.
For the Custom's I've heard "Higher gain JCM 800," "boutique higher gain Marshall," "somewhere between classic and modern Marshall," etc., etc. but it has 6L6s.
Has PRS ever officially said what they were voicing them towards? I'm getting ready to throw some EL34s in mine, play it through greenbacks, and then WILL it to be a better, prettier Marshall. :rock:
For the Archon, I've read that it sounds like "a boutique, high gain Marshall," "it's in between Mesa Boogie and high gain Marshall," "Soldano," and many more. One buddy of mine at TGP told me "you like Marshall, Mesa Boogie and Soldano, so you'll love the Archon." Well, I may love a Bad Cat too, but that doesn't means it sounds like a Soldano or Mesa Mark.
For the Custom's I've heard "Higher gain JCM 800," "boutique higher gain Marshall," "somewhere between classic and modern Marshall," etc., etc. but it has 6L6s.
Has PRS ever officially said what they were voicing them towards? I'm getting ready to throw some EL34s in mine, play it through greenbacks, and then WILL it to be a better, prettier Marshall. :rock:
Maybe they wanted the Archon to sound like exactly what it is - the PRS high gain amp - a unique sounding design that can do a lot of things in a variety of directions.
Really, if you need an official description of what it is 'supposed to' sound like, what's the point of listening to clips, or having your own ears and opinions? Because IMHO it doesn't sound like another amp, it sounds like an Archon, which is a very good thing.
I know that's what they went for on the Grissom 30W amps - simply great sounding amps on their own. I've talked to Doug Sewell about it.
That doesn't mean, of course, that they can't be adjusted to cop various tones, but really it's a question of intent. Original or a clone of something? They have the clone covered with the HXDA, but I think Doug Sewell likes to break new ground with his designs. I don't blame him one bit. He has his influences, sure, and he likes to combine different tried and true topologies, but they're unique.
Besides, there's no "do-everything-for-all-players" amp on the market. That's actually a nice thing, because it gives us a reason to buy more amps!!!
(OK, so maybe that's a nicer thing for the amp makers of the world...heh)
Postscript:
Incidentally, I've had some Mesas that could take 6L6 or EL34s. And in every case, even with the tube change, they've still sounded like Mesas, not Marshalls. Because the designs of the circuits and tone stacks have much more to do with things that tube types. The tubes changed the tonal balance a little, but it didn't turn the Mesas into Marshalls. The same will be true of your amp - it'll be a little different with EL34s, but you'd probably be better off with an Xotic BB pedal into your clean channel for a real tone change in the Marshall direction.
As an example, one of the very best Marshall JTM45 clones on the market I've heard is the Germino - one that uses 6V6 tubes, not EL34s. The tube type really isn't the key factor; it's one of many.
So I honestly think if you're looking for a Marshall sound, buy something that starts out sounding like a Marshall. You'll be a lot happier. And there's nothing wrong with having a few amps that do different things to switch between.
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D
Deleted member 5962
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Maybe my statement came off stronger than it was intended. I'm not trying to make my H or Custom sound just like a Marshall or whatever. I would like to push it a little more that way though. I love the clean channel with V30s in the PRS cab, but don't love the gain channel with that cab. I really like it with greenback type speakers though.
I know the power tubes themselves don't make an amp sound like a Marshall, or Mesa, or whatever. I was the one laughing at all the guys at TGP saying that the Mark V25 sounded killer in the demos, but they'd never buy one because it had EL84s and that would make it sound like a Vox or Marshall, instead of a Mark. No, Sparky, you heard the demo and it sounds like a Mark! LOL
I was just curious as to their intent when they designed it, and if they had ever said what they were going for. Perhaps it really was "this doesn't sound like anything else but we think it sounds good." If I have this much money tied up in amps, I don't want to only use the clean channel with pedals. I'm wanting one that has a great clean channel and a great OD channel. I have Mesa Boogie amps so I'm looking for something at least Marshall flavored or something like that. Heck I'd LOVE it if it sounded like a Soldano! Maybe I just need to try an Archon and then if it sounds great to me, just sell these two to get one. But, maybe EL34s>greenback type speakers would get me something I love with the Custom.
I know the power tubes themselves don't make an amp sound like a Marshall, or Mesa, or whatever. I was the one laughing at all the guys at TGP saying that the Mark V25 sounded killer in the demos, but they'd never buy one because it had EL84s and that would make it sound like a Vox or Marshall, instead of a Mark. No, Sparky, you heard the demo and it sounds like a Mark! LOL
I was just curious as to their intent when they designed it, and if they had ever said what they were going for. Perhaps it really was "this doesn't sound like anything else but we think it sounds good." If I have this much money tied up in amps, I don't want to only use the clean channel with pedals. I'm wanting one that has a great clean channel and a great OD channel. I have Mesa Boogie amps so I'm looking for something at least Marshall flavored or something like that. Heck I'd LOVE it if it sounded like a Soldano! Maybe I just need to try an Archon and then if it sounds great to me, just sell these two to get one. But, maybe EL34s>greenback type speakers would get me something I love with the Custom.
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Perhaps I misunderstood, I think we actually agree.
I do think that if I wasn't sure, before I plunked down the cash, I'd play an Archon first, or at least make a deal with whoever sold me the amp that I could have a 24 hour evaluation period with it.
As you know, incidentally, while I think PRS amps are the ne plus ultra of the amplifier world (for me anyway), I also love Mesa amps for what they do. And I use them from time to time.
I guess what I'm saying is that it's really hard to find a single amp that does all this different style amp stuff really well. I honestly think that it's good to have a few amps, and use them to really get after what they do best, with the speakers that work best with them, and let the chips fall where they may.
I remember trying a Bogner Shiva, because everyone told me, "It does Fender cleans and Marshall OD." And to me it did neither very well, even though on its own merits it was a very, very good amp. I had a Metropolis that I thought sounded more interesting, though, because it wasn't trying to be anything other than a cool Bogner design.
I guess that's where I stand with amps. I just need more than one or two. More is more!
Tahlee
Tollywood Rhode Island
I guess that's where I stand with amps. I just need more than one or two. More is more!
I feel the same way, Les. I like to hear how I sound playing through my different amps. I think it's exciting to have some variety. I still sound like me from amp to amp, but with subtle variations in my tone.
Exactly!
I think part of the reason the variations are subtle is that we tend to like a certain range of sounds and dial 'em in that way anyway. But one thing I will say that differentiates my amps, at least besides the differences in tone: each one of them "feels" different. They respond to the guitar differently.
So I may in fact sound pretty much the same through any one of them by the time the sound is picked up by the mic and sent to my DAW, but I play a little differently through each amp. I think that's a big reason why, for example, I like to do longer single note solos with the HXDA, but I prefer to play more rhythmic parts via the DG30, even if it's gained up. It responds to my picking in a certain way that I like for that kind of stuff, and the feel is different from the HXDA.
Same with the Mesa Lone Star, that feels really easy to play on power-chordy stuff, or certain kinds of cleans, because it's more compressed.
And some of the reasons I pick an amp for certain tones is what I'm trying to accomplish; the HXDA is very vocal, and very warm, almost a purr. The DG30 has a sound that reminds me of a different vowel combination, more of a diphthong. Whereas the Mesa almost has less personality, but feels like I'm pushing more against the note, which is sometimes a good thing.
Last night I was watching another Tim Pierce video - I'm addicted to Tim Pierce's videos even though I play like dog poop compared to him - and he was demonstrating his different amps, this time a Divided by Thirteen, a Matchless, a Wizard, a Diezel, and a couple others.
And it was pretty obvious that despite the sonic differences between these amps, once he gets going on a track, he sounds like himself, just with small variations as you say.
Still, looking around his studio you could see his PRS amps, his favorite Naylor, set up on their ends because he's literally out of space around his workstation, he's got them all hooked up and working, and on and on -- so many amps!
He's also got his pedalboard at his feet, and a zillion pedals just lying around the tables, all connected via a switch box from the heads into the cabs he keeps in his garage in a soundproof closet.
But he plugs his cable from his pedalboard into each head instead of using a switcher, something I found interesting. I don't know why he does that, maybe it's just to keep things less crazy? Maybe he thinks a switcher going into the amp will screw with his tone? Who knows.
All very interesting, nonetheless.
Blues Trucker
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2014
- Messages
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Tim Pierce is awesome. I cant believe a guy at his level takes the time to do videos to show us stuff. Hes a great teacher too.
A few guys that owned them and compared to try and dial in similar said it can get a less compressed and less hi fi Diezel VH ch3
It kind of a tighter ,more articulate ,Faster attack ,Recto/Soldano with the bright switch on adds more Soldano upper mid bite
The Fight
Long Hair Demigod
It's definitely an extreme amp, tailored to those that thirst for more gain. Iv found you can even get it to sound almost fuzz like.The Archon has a wide range of sound, and with its clean channel makes it a very useful tool for my playing needs.
andross182
New Member
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- Aug 7, 2015
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- 228
I really wonder the reasoning for the speaker difference between their closed back cabs and their combos. They come without a V30.
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Same reason Mesa uses different speakers for different types of cabs and combos. The designers feel that certain speakers sound better with certain rigs, and not others.
Pretty simple, really.
The beautiful thing about guitar speakers is that the end user can always change them out.
