Custom 50 users

[Iceman63]

Hello folks,
New to the forum here. Been PRS guitar player for several years. Just recently picked up a PRS amp...a like new Custom 50 combo. So far I'm really liking it. I do wish I could get more breakup from the clean channel. I talked with Matt from PRS, and he said not much can be done other than internal mods. I'm not much on excessive tube rolling. But may play around with the first three positions as I"ve got a few pre amp tubes laying around. I see Ruby's are in the output section. But haven't even taken the covers off the pre's.
Any Custom 50 users chime in with you're experiences with this amp. Thanks!

 

[Bluesboy998]

Some gigs I just use the clean channel and a full tone OCD for crunch the whole object of the amp is to have two different channels I love the clean channel

 

[Bluesboy998]

 

[Boogie]

Depending upon the type of breakup you're looking for, you can try a NOS RFT in the ch2 tube (not sure which tube that is on the Custom) slot. That's a dark and extra crunchy tube used for metal applications (Diesel, in particular) but is very musical in other situations. Otherwise, you need to drive the input with a boost and/or a strong pickup (like a DGT).

 

[Iceman63]

Not looking for heavy crunch on the clean channel. Just more breakup when needed...think the Romantics. Oh, I think the cleans are wonderful. Yes, so far I'm using my Sparkboost or Drivetrain for a little breakup. One thing on this amp...on the lead channel, I get a lot of hiss. I'm running the volume(gain) around 2:00, so not really high.

 

[Bluesboy998]

I get hiss from my amp too this is inherent in all high gain amps I usually run the master at about 10 o'clock and bring the volume up accordingly you have to play around with it.Iam not much on tube rolling I always found after spending tons of money I end up with the original tubes anyway you must experiment the amp is fabulous.

 

[László]

I guess I like tube rolling. I don't have a 2 channel 50, but I just swapped some tubes on my (edit, I stated the wrong amp earlier) DG30 single channel amp to get a little bit lower gain, and put some NOS BRIMARs in all the positions except the reverb driver, and took out a JJ that was breaking up a little too early for my taste.

A lot of players like the JJs for a bit of earlier breakup on clean, though I prefer to get my grit from the output tubes when I want that transition from clean to grit.

If memory serves, the 2 Channel 50 has 6L6 tubes. I don't know if it's possible to swap in a set of 5881s, such as JAN Phillips (usually marked 6L6 WGBs), but if you can, you'll crunch earlier on the clean channel. Also, you'll get breakup earlier in the high gain section, and can lower your gain control thus reducing hiss.

Another thing about hiss...if you're running pedals into the amp, usually that can be a major source of hiss as you crank the gain, especially digital pedals, like many delays, etc, though analog dirt pedals can also hiss and make noise.

 

[Boogie]

Not looking for heavy crunch on the clean channel. Just more breakup when needed...think the Romantics. Oh, I think the cleans are wonderful. Yes, so far I'm using my Sparkboost or Drivetrain for a little breakup. One thing on this amp...on the lead channel, I get a lot of hiss. I'm running the volume(gain) around 2:00, so not really high.

An RFT is a must-have, IMO, for any parts drawer because of the unique character. It does different things to different amps. It's like keeping oregano in the spice rack - you may not want to put it in chocolate chip cookies, but in the right recipe, it's magic.

Boost pedals are just as amp-specific. With the EP Booster, set at 10:00, it's great with the SuperD but the Boogie hates it. Lots of experimentation required here.

Hiss? If you unplug the input cable and take the custom off standby, does it still hiss?

 

[László]

Boost pedals are just as amp-specific. With the EP Booster, set at 10:00, it's great with the SuperD but the Boogie hates it. Lots of experimentation required here.

I agree, although I've found that both the HXDA and the DG30 get along fine with the same boost pedals. I guess I'm more picky than my amps - I really had a time finding one that did everything I wanted a boost pedal to do, and didn't do what I didn't want a boost to do. I finally found one, the Suhr KokoBoost. With the DG30 it's on a good deal of the time, and I even use it with the HXDA for those moments in a tune where I want to push a solo, etc.

 

[Iceman63]

An RFT is a must-have, IMO, for any parts drawer because of the unique character. It does different things to different amps. It's like keeping oregano in the spice rack - you may not want to put it in chocolate chip cookies, but in the right recipe, it's magic.

Boost pedals are just as amp-specific. With the EP Booster, set at 10:00, it's great with the SuperD but the Boogie hates it. Lots of experimentation required here.

Hiss? If you unplug the input cable and take the custom off standby, does it still hiss?

Yes still get hiss with no input cable on lead channel. I know lead channels can be noisy. But this one sure does hiss loudly.

 

[László]

Yes still get hiss with no input cable on lead channel. I know lead channels can be noisy. But this one sure does hiss loudly.

I'd check the preamp tubes; it's not unusual for them to develop noise. You might have a bad one.

If you turn down the master, but the hiss stays, it's probably a preamp tube.

 

[Boogie]

I agree, although I've found that both the HXDA and the DG30 get along fine with the same boost pedals. .

I've found that it depends on e design of the boost pedal and the input impedance of the amp. If the two don't work together, move on to another pedal. And if you put it in the loop, it's a totally different story (though impedance matching is an important thing, too). My two primary amps are differently designed and would expect many of Doug's designs to be similar. That being said, I'd expect the Archon to be different than the HXDA and DG series.

 

[László]

And if you put it in the loop, it's a totally different story (though impedance matching is an important thing, too).

I really don't understand putting a boost pedal in a loop at all.

That would come toward the end of the circuit, after the V1, and after the EQ, the two things that a boost pedal most affects, and in the case of the EQ, the tone shaper for the boosted signal.

I mean, sure you're gonna hear it, and I suppose there are no rules, and if it works it works, but...

Sorry, for me, does not compute.

 

[Bluesboy998]

I never use the loop

 

[László]

I never use the loop

Me either, on amps that have 'em. I'm old school.

Maybe that's because I'm just old.

 

[aristotle]

Can't say about the custom 50, and haven't run a boost in the loop of my 2 channel C, but the results of putting a clean boost in the loop of a Marshall 2466 is amazing...

 

[Boogie]

...the results of putting a clean boost in the loop of a Marshall 2466 is amazing...

I like a boost in the loop of the MkIII, too. But I don't have a loop in any of my other amps. I like slamming the input of single channel amps.

 

[Iceman63]

I'll play around with the first three pre-amp tube slots.
I run everything through the front of my Badger. My modulation pedals sound best through the loop of the Custom 50. But I've never been a loop user really. So many cables.

 

[László]

OK, guys, but you know what happens when you penetrate the wrong input of the amp with your pedal. Yup. The Gods of Tone consider this a mortal sin, in this case, Boostodomy...

SFX: Harp glissando. Scene changes to a strangely lit underground cavern with an eerie red glow.

Guitarist: "Wait...where...where am I?"

Attendant: "You're in Guitarist's Hell, of course, ya big doofus. Here, this is your new guitar."

Guitarist: "B-but this is a...a...Carvin! I'm a PRS player!"

Attendant: "You mean you were a PRS player. You're lucky to have this. The guy from Kiss was given a 3/4 sized Hello Kitty Squire. Here's your amp."

Guitarist: "There really must be some mistake. This is a Peavey Bandit, it's a solid state amp, and it sucks! I only play hand-wired boutique tube amps! Do you have a supervisor? I really need to speak with him or her."

Attendant: "Ohhh...you're not gonna like the supervisor, I can tell you that..."

SFX: Rumble from below. Guitar Satan appears, looking like every guitarist's nightmare. Strapped to his chest is an accordion.

Guitar Satan: "Did I hear a complaint?"

Guitarist: "Yes, sir. This is not me. This guitar is not what I play, and this amp sucks. I play a PRS and I only play boutique hand-wired tube amps. This is not acceptable."

Guitar Satan: "Bwaahahahahahaha! Attendant, give this so-called guitarist new equipment. (in a twisted voice) So guitar player, how do you like your new Kay with strings an inch off the fretboard and your new Second Generation Pod Bean? Bwahahahahahahahah! This is how we treat complainers!"

Guitarist: (breaks down, falls to his knees and weeps)

Guitar Satan: "You will weep for eternity!" (disappears in a puff of smoke).

SFX: Harp glissando, we are back to the present...

"Wait Les, I guess I really don't want to commit Boostodomy with my pedal after all."

"Well, that's probably a good thing. Now be on your way, and when you get home say three Hail Jimis and one Hail Eric, and stop doing the nasty stuff.

 

[g.wizz]

OK, guys, but you know what happens when you penetrate the wrong input of the amp with your pedal. Yup. The Gods of Tone consider this a mortal sin, in this case, Boostodomy...

SFX: Harp glissando. Scene changes to a strangely lit underground cavern with an eerie red glow.

Guitarist: "Wait...where...where am I?"

Attendant: "You're in Guitarist's Hell, of course, ya big doofus. Here, this is your new guitar."

Guitarist: "B-but this is a...a...Carvin! I'm a PRS player!"

Attendant: "You mean you were a PRS player. You're lucky to have this. The guy from Kiss was given a 3/4 sized Hello Kitty Squire. Here's your amp."

Guitarist: "There really must be some mistake. This is a Peavey Bandit, it's a solid state amp, and it sucks! I only play hand-wired boutique tube amps! Do you have a supervisor? I really need to speak with him or her."

Attendant: "Ohhh...you're not gonna like the supervisor, I can tell you that..."

SFX: Rumble from below. Guitar Satan appears, looking like every guitarist's nightmare. Strapped to his chest is an accordion.

Guitar Satan: "Did I hear a complaint?"

Guitarist: "Yes, sir. This is not me. This guitar is not what I play, and this amp sucks. I play a PRS and I only play boutique hand-wired tube amps. This is not acceptable."

Guitar Satan: "Bwaahahahahahaha! Attendant, give this so-called guitarist new equipment. (in a twisted voice) So guitar player, how do you like your new Kay with strings an inch off the fretboard and your new Second Generation Pod Bean? Bwahahahahahahahah! This is how we treat complainers!"

Guitarist: (breaks down, falls to his knees and weeps)

Guitar Satan: "You will weep for eternity!" (disappears in a puff of smoke).

SFX: Harp glissando, we are back to the present...

"Wait Les, I guess I really don't want to commit Boostodomy with my pedal after all."

"Well, that's probably a good thing. Now be on your way, and when you get home say three Hail Jimis and one Hail Eric, and stop doing the nasty stuff.

This is funny as HELL :congrats: :laugh: