First Post

[Nimbas]

Hey guys - looks like a good forum here. I've been a PRS lover for years (guitars) and never really thought about the amps much so that's why I'm here. My thinking was if PRS puts the care and quality in their amps that I enjoy in their guitars - win win.

I need a little education on the range though - perhaps a little history. Looks like the current offering is Archon and Custom. Need to know various stuff like that if worth knowing. If the current stuff blows old stuff away no need I guess.

I love cleans tones, clean/breakup, light dirt, moderate crunch - but not heavy saturated gain really. I do enjoy a little EVH stuff now and then, but that isn't as high gain as you think I guess - but yeah in that range would be my max pref. I do not play metal or djent or whatever. The max gain I like would be similar to this:

I saw a youtube vid with Paul and Lee Anderton and the clean tone was epic. It looked like they were playing Archons (25 or 50):

Most of the lead stuff I hear with Archons is way over what I'd ever use - but if it can be backed down that would be ok.

I like the Archon 25 cause the price isn't bad, but the Customs look really cool and might be more my style. Any advise would be great. I can't find this stuff anywhere, but I'm looking.

 

[goat-n-gitter]

Welcome Aboard!
Don't forget the HXDA models: http://www.prsguitars.com/hxda50/
for that plexi thing.
or the Grissom Models:
http://www.prsguitars.com/dgcustom30/

Either range is probably more old school/less modern metal than the Archon.

Tom

 

[CoreyT]

Welcome to the site.
I cannot really offer any advice, but I did like the tones the other day when I watched Paul and Lee play.
I believe they were 25 watt Archons, and I may pick one up one day.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Welcome to the forum!

Only thing I want to point out. the Archon links above... that IS a high gain amp. But then again, Van Halens amps (every since he quit using variac'd Plexi's) are some of the highest gain amps on the planet. So, sounds like you DO like some gain. Me too!

I have a Custom 50 and it has more gain at 11:00 than a JCM 800. At noon, it's pretty much all the gain you could ever use. So, look at the Custom, or the H, (older version of same) and look at the Archon which is officially the high gain amp for PRS.

 

[AP515]

They are not made anymore, but you can find an "H" used. Great amps and not high gain as much as clean and crunch with lots of headroom.

 

[elvis]

The archon is capable of high gain, but you can turn it down. The bright switch gives good control of aggression. It can be really scratchy and Brown, or you can scoop it and smooth it out.

 

[elvis]

And the cleans are really pristine

 

[elvis]

I tried the Archon 25 combo today. Really holds the tone of the series. It loses low end and sounds a bit boxy compared to the 100, but in a mix it would probably work really well. It's a great amp.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

So are you liking the clean channel now, Elvis? I've heard lots of great things. I know my H and Custom 50 have KILLER clean channels! Also interested in your thoughts on the gain range of the Archon. I've heard it comes on fast and goes past classic rock a little to quick for some.

And, I wish they made an Archon 25 head.

 

[elvis]

Cleans are great. I had been running the clean gain too low.

The lead channel has a strong mid scratchiness that doesn't really go away when you back off the guitar volume. It does clean up well if you back off the channel gain.

The thing has TONS of gain. I can't imagine running it past maybe 2:00 on the gain channel. But at 9:00 it's pretty tame but still with that great punchy character. Definitely check out Dave Wiener's review of the Archon 50. It really shows how the amp cleans up.

I agree that a 25W head would have been cool. But if I were to get a 25, it would have to be an easy, compact gigging rig, so I'd get the combo.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Yeah, I've watched the Wiener video numerous times. And the 25 has big glass (haven't seen the trannys but if they are big as well...) and could have more punch than other 25 watters. The combo could be "unboxed" with a second cab attached... I HAVE TO find an Archon to play! At this point, I'm almost certain it will be my next amp. (However, the one I have on the way is one that will keep me very busy for a good while just running it through it's paces!)

Got to find me an Archon!

 

[elvis]

Unfortunately they are tough to find. Just buy one blind like me

The 50W head also does 25W. The 25W panel isn't any smaller.

I just played through my Archon to see how it cleans up vs. classic rock. I run the lead gain at... wait for it... 12:00. If I pull the guitar volume back, it does clean up quite a bit, definitely appropriate for classic rock. But I had mentioned that the crispy mids tend to remain. IMO they are not a problem, but you can always turn off the bright switch (I play with mine on bright) if it is too cutting for you. But I also tried Dave's thing of running with the middle pickup position on my SC245. That actually stayed really tight, but also mellowed out the tone. Turning down the volumes, I got what he got, which was clean if I picked lightly, and punchy if I pushed harder. Then switching to bridge pup (still with volume down) gave me more bite, but still not a ton of gain. I was playing along with my iPod and the different tones I got played amazingly well against whatever I had on at the time. I almost NEVER use the middle position, and never with overdrive, but the tight/punchy dynamics of the Archon have made me reconsider. It doesn't much at all. I am playing leads on the bass pup now, which is also unusual for me. I am used to dialing up the bass a ton so that only the treble pup is useable, but this amp is a whole different thing.

I should mention that I have Bareknuckle Cold Sweats in my 245, so it can be gritty. With a HFS pup in my Navarro SE the cutting scratchy tone is way more mellow. Love me some Cold Sweats!!!

 

[Nimbas]

Did the 2 channel H get replaced by the 2 channel custom? I'm trying to figure out the history of these amps compared to current day so I can tell what the used stuff is worth. Anyone have a timeline?

 

[Nimbas]

Anyone know where I can try PRS amps in the Nashville, TN area?

 

[Deleted member 5962]

H was replaced by Custom, correct.

The Custom added the Presence/ resonance mod, a pull shift mid knob on the gain channel, a pull switch on the reverb which turns it off when you switch to OD channel and foot switchable boosts for each channel.

I have both. My H had been sent back to PRS fit the latest revisions and new verb. The verb sounds killer on my H!

Several of the features the Custom has, can be added by PRS. I'm eventually going to send my Custom in for the mods that my H has to the verb, because the new verb is great!!!

 

[Nimbas]

H was replaced by Custom, correct.

The Custom added the Presence/ resonance mod, a pull shift mid knob on the gain channel, a pull switch on the reverb which turns it off when you switch to OD channel and foot switchable boosts for each channel.

I have both. My H had been sent back to PRS fit the latest revisions and new verb. The verb sounds killer on my H!

Several of the features the Custom has, can be added by PRS. I'm eventually going to send my Custom in for the mods that my H has to the verb, because the new verb is great!!!

Not sure I understand - did they improve the reverb for the custom after you bought it? Do they notify customers of updates and let you send them in to be modified (expensive?)?

 

[Deleted member 5962]

My understanding: My H had a verb issue while it was with the previous owner. When he sent it in, they said they had made revisions to the verb circuit so they did all the revisions and installed a new tank. The verb on that amp rivals the best I've ever heard in an amp!

My Custom doesn't have these mods. I use my Arena with every other amp I've owned so I have a choice of verb styles. With the H, I use its verb!

 

[jfb]

That guy from Matt's is a boss. Love watching him shred.

Sounds like an Archon would be well up your alley.