Deep Knob on Archon is best control ever

[elvis]

I have been struggling a bit with my Archon in terms of staying out of the way of the bass guitar frequencies. I LOVE the nice deep sound from the amp, but combined with a recto 2x12 vertical cab, it's been sounding a bit mushy. I was also missing that great bite that I loved about the Archon.
My band leader complained after last rehearsal. I was a bit at the end of my rope, as I have struggled with tuning this sort of thing on amps before and didn't want to sound nasal.
I have never had an amp with a Deep control before, and had actually forgotten about it. I remembered it, turned it down a bit, and the amp tightened right up. I also got a lot of the bite back, and don't feel that I lost any tone. I just gained some presence without getting ice-pick-y.

I also like that I can use it to dial in for a given venue, rather than messing with tone controls.

 

[HANGAR18]

That's what I've been telling people! I even told Doug Sewell himself that I thought the DEPTH knob on the Archon was "The Secret Weapon of Tone".

 

[elvis]

It really is. Way more powerful than I had realized.

 

[WeFixFlats]

I think I know the answer to this question, but I have to ask it anyway:

Was there a user/owner manual included with the amp(since there's not one on the support site) describing the controls(e.x.-Depth) and their overall effect(plus and minus) on the tone stack(s)? Thanks.

 

[elvis]

The manual has VERY limited information. Not even a tube chart. It's pretty awful.

 

[bodia]

The manual has VERY limited information. Not even a tube chart. It's pretty awful.

Ditto

 

[László]

It would be a good thing for PRS to include a dedicated manual for each amp model. It doesn't need to be full of "Tubular/Awesome, Dude" like a Mesa manual.

Creativity not needed, just a basic rundown of the features, knobs and switches would be helpful.

My HXDA and DG30 came with tube charts on the cabinet. Doesn't the Archon?

 

[elvis]

I was just inside mine and I don't recall seeing one.

 

[gush]

My custom 50 has tube chart printed on chassis.

 

[elvis]

Opened mine back up, looked around with a flashlight. No chart

It was made 4-15, I wonder if they added charts later or something.

 

[The Fight]

Cool story and find, I'm glad you found your answer!

 

[watelessness]

In the vertical 2x12 cabinet for the win!

 

[mad monk]

Does your depth knob pop loudly when engaged, even if the volume itself is low? Mine makes an awful pop, as though your pulled your cable out. I was told it's normal, but the reverb and mid-cut knobs do no such thing.

 

[elvis]

It's not a pull knob on the Archon. No clicks or pops when I adjust it.

 

[mad monk]

Thanks. On the Custom 20, it's the presence knob. Pull for depth.

 

[elvis]

Is it a ganged pot, or do you lose presence control when you adjust depth and vice-versa?

 

[mad monk]

Either-or. Not both.

 

[elvis]

Bummer.

 

[shinksma]

So this thread had me hankering to play my Archon and mess with the depth knob, which has been ignored the last month or two due to other activities (the whole amp, not just that Depth knob!).

I played about 30 min of nice heavy metal using my CU24 (also ignored recently) with the Depth knob at various settings. Without a bass player to conflict with, it sounds really nice and chunky cranked. But turn it down, and the Archon really does tighten up and leaves a nice space for bass.

I really like that amp! I need to start a second (well, third) band that is more metal oriented, and can play loud enough that the Archon is warranted.