aristotle
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Which Two Rocks did you have?
More Things To Love About The HX/DA
- Thread starter László
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Which Two Rocks did you have?
Onyx, Onyx Sig Prototype, Onyx Sig, Onyx Sig (second version with a couple of tweaks), Custom Reverb Sig 2, Custom Reverb Sig 3. Somewhere in there I had a Limited in the studio on loan from Bill and Joe during its development period. All superb amps.
aristotle
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Man...that's something. I've only played two (still have them...) They are pricey to be sure, but they really are nice. It's interesting because I've been trying to figure out what part of the MDT is the "D" part. I definitely get the T and the M part, but the thing with D seems to be the cascaded gain stage. Not sure I see the resemblence with the MDT. In any case, I'm loving my HX/DA...just wanted to mention that so that I don't completely derrail the thread!
Based on the clips I've heard, I tend to agree, though the whole original "D" thing seems to have been somewhat of a moving target, as each of the original Dumbles was different.
Then again, my TRs were different. While there was a distinct family resemblance between, say, the Onyx and the CR, the Onyx OD was more toward Marshall, with less midrange compression, and a more rock n roll sound. The clean tones were very close, however. I'm still a huge TR fan; it's definitely a very interesting voice, and a player can do an awful lot with it. My favorite TRs were set up by Bill with small-bottle NOS JAN Phillips 6L6 WGBs. They have a very smooth and fast breakup, and sounded great with TRs.
Here's my weak rationalization: I generally didn't have more than one at a time, it was over an 8 year period (2003-2011), I'm in the recording business, and yeah, I'm nuts.
Fantastic amps, no question about it. At the same time, as with any instruments, it's a question of fit. What most suits your playing style? How do the tones match up with what you want to hear? What works with your guitars?
So back to the topic of the thread:
Was I surprised after being a TR and Mesa guy that the HX/DA turned out to be the best fit for what I do? Absolutely.
I liked the clips of the amp on the PRS product site, but who knows what's going to happen once you get the amp in your own space and start working with it? I hadn't actually played one, and there wasn't one nearby to test. Still, I couldn't get the tones in the clips out of my head. So I called my son who's working in the biz in LA, and is a fantastic player, and said, "Please go to the PRS site, check out this amp, and tell me if you're hearing what I'm hearing."
He texted me back two words a few minutes later: "Get one."
When it arrived, I just couldn't believe how good it was for what I do. I can't think of a thing I'd want to change on this amp. I have no reservations about having it as my only amp in the studio. In fact, I worry about not having a backup in a vault somewhere!
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I know it's kind of bad form to reply three times in a row in one's own thread. Please forgive me. But I wanted to mention something else about the HX/DA.
For me, the term, "creamy" applies to the HX/DA. The sound, right down to the way the amp breaks up, is smooth, warm and rich. Almost buttery. From bottom to top, there's a certain ease to the way a note blooms that works extremely well with every pickup I've tried, single coil or 'bucker.
For me, the TRs (and this is also true of Mesas and certain other 6L6 amps) seem to float my boat more with single coils; in fact, when I had TRs I most often played P-90s or split the coils on my guitars. I can't explain why. That's just what worked best for me. Of course, I did use buckers for certain tracks when I needed to, we're talking preferences/opinions here.
Yet I love the "5x" series of PRS pickups. Having an amp that I think really works well with both 'buckers and single coils is a great thing, too.
For me, the term, "creamy" applies to the HX/DA. The sound, right down to the way the amp breaks up, is smooth, warm and rich. Almost buttery. From bottom to top, there's a certain ease to the way a note blooms that works extremely well with every pickup I've tried, single coil or 'bucker.
For me, the TRs (and this is also true of Mesas and certain other 6L6 amps) seem to float my boat more with single coils; in fact, when I had TRs I most often played P-90s or split the coils on my guitars. I can't explain why. That's just what worked best for me. Of course, I did use buckers for certain tracks when I needed to, we're talking preferences/opinions here.
Yet I love the "5x" series of PRS pickups. Having an amp that I think really works well with both 'buckers and single coils is a great thing, too.
Bob, I completely agree with the points you made in your post - especially the one referring to really putting the controls through their paces and not just doing a "set and forget." Of course, different amps have varying ranges of useful settings. For example, I found that my Mesa tones usually had a smaller range of preferred knob settings for each channel than some of the other amps, and that's not a criticism, it's just what suited my ears with those amps.
The HX/DA is a very forgiving amp, and I find that wherever I set things it sounds darn good. More so than with *any* amp I've owned before.
I like to zero out the controls across the board on the amp when I'm done playing. I want to approach it fresh each time I play. I do the same with the guitars. I think it makes me a little more creative and adventurous to do that, as I tend to be lazy and do the same things over and over if I don't make an effort to force myself to think creatively.
I realize it isn't much of a creativity exercise to twiddle a few knobs, but it's sometimes the little things that spur us in new directions.
I may look old, but I have a young brain. Music helps.
The HX/DA is a very forgiving amp, and I find that wherever I set things it sounds darn good. More so than with *any* amp I've owned before.
I like to zero out the controls across the board on the amp when I'm done playing. I want to approach it fresh each time I play. I do the same with the guitars. I think it makes me a little more creative and adventurous to do that, as I tend to be lazy and do the same things over and over if I don't make an effort to force myself to think creatively.
I realize it isn't much of a creativity exercise to twiddle a few knobs, but it's sometimes the little things that spur us in new directions.
I may look old, but I have a young brain. Music helps.
Yes, I didn't mean to imply that they only work at one setting. My choice of wording wasn't very good. There are so many modes on something like my recent Mark V, or my old Tremoverb, that the amp was capable of great tones in every single mode.
What I mean is that each mode and setting did - for my tastes - have a fairly narrow sweet spot where to my ear the controls sound considerably better - in that mode. But there's room for TONS of tones with all the modes and combinations.
By way of contrast, the sweet spot of each control on a TR is much wider - for me - but there aren't choices of modes. So really, there are fewer tones. The ones that are there are great, there just aren't as many of them. So it's good that the sweep of each knob seems to be less oriented toward a sweet spot, and the amps also give you a wide range of tones because of that flexibility.
Of course, to my ear, the HX/DA has controls with huge useful ranges. But because there's only one channel, and one mode, that's really necessary.
It's a matter of how you want to skin the cat. Switching modes, switching channels, simply twisting knobs, etc.
aristotle
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You may not know it, but you probably want the MDT very badly also. They're different amps for sure, and while the HX/DA is definitely more flexible, there is a certain magic to the MDT that just can't be duplicated. Neither of them seem to have a bad tone in them....
Sekunda
Music is life
So... got my rig home this weekend. Was really jazzed to get home and plug it in. Oh wait... I don't have a speaker cable here! Crap! SO I had to make another trip to local GC to pick up a cheap speaker cable until I can pick up my spare at the practice space... SO... it really took me a while to even get it plugged in. (sigh) I plugged in the Stripped 58 to mess around and see how it sounded... not sure I like the 58 through it. The CU22 has so much more tone and sweetness... guess I'll just have to play with it. But I'm blown away with the CU22 sound on it! Here is a pic before I loaded it in the car...
Oddly enough, my SC58 is my favorite guitar through the HX/DA!
Of course, I don't know what style of music you play, but I'd say don't give up on finding great tones with your Stripped 58. The amp has a huge variety of settings that work really well with the SC/Str 58 models. As with any other great amp that has lots of options, you have to do a little experimenting to find them.
Also, it's very important to use the volume and tone controls on the guitar to get where you need to go.
Of course, I don't know what style of music you play, but I'd say don't give up on finding great tones with your Stripped 58. The amp has a huge variety of settings that work really well with the SC/Str 58 models. As with any other great amp that has lots of options, you have to do a little experimenting to find them.
Also, it's very important to use the volume and tone controls on the guitar to get where you need to go.
Laguitarista
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Bought my HXDA from Wildwood Guitars in Louisville, CO in February 2012. At the store prior to purchase, I played through the Super Dallas, Two channel H, MDT, Recording Amp - and this one fit my tone the best - which is that of a Marshall plexi. I don't use pedals - and wanted a modern, reliable version of a 50w Marshall that I could depend on that also sounded like a vintage amp. And this is it. No frills, no reverb, just turn it up and play. Been VERY impressed at the different types of sounds you can get from this amp (toggling between the HX/DA gain and Bass gain knobs lends to this) - it is highly versatile and despite some reviews, has a nice clean sound as well. Did a sound check for a gig and my bass player turned towards the amp and responded "wow, that thing is crystal clear". I have the 2x12 Stealth cab, which seems to be well made with pine and has the Vintage 30s, which provides a nice collaboration with the amp. My only issue was that I had to replace the power tubes a month or so after purchasing the amp - but after contacting PRS customer service, new biased tubes arrived in a couple of days. Biasing is very easy on this amp. I play les pauls though the amp - though have also played a tele and strat - and the single coils sound equally good as compared to the PAFs.
Sekunda
Music is life
I spent some time with the 58 last night, I can get some really good Nugent, old Rush, and old AC/DC tones with the HX/DA gain cranked up about 5 o'clock and the BASS gain at about 9 o'clock... however it seems to get very thin when I back off the volume on the guitar. When I did the demo in the store I used my Custom 22 and every single adjustment I tried sounded amazing... Maybe I just need to stick with the CU22 with this amp until I get to know it a little better. I guess the main problem here is that I'm used to having so much high-gain with the Mesa Roadster that I just need to spend some time and get used to the amp... This is my first time with this type of amp and sound... I've always been a 6L6 guy so this is a new world. And don't take this as me being bummed, I am willing to experiment and give it some time. I have a 4 day weekend so I'm planning on breaking in those new tubes properly!
Sekunda
Music is life
Apparently the HX/DA sounds MUCH better when it's turned up at least 1/2 way... it sounds really bassy when it's not turned up, at least in my basement. I'm looking forward to getting it in a bigger room with some drums and a bass to see how it sounds opened up. I've also been looking at pedals... I think this Strymon Flint will be the first choice for the new sound. Anybody have one of these? Every clip I have found sounds amazing... check it out:
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docbennett
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I use the EHX Cathedral for reverb on my HX/DA with excellent results.
Bob, you're right in my case; for reverb I generally use the Sonnox. But I've been taking a long look at the Strymon Flint for tremolo and reverb just to futz around with. What I don't know yet is how noisy it is when the gain is turned up on the amp. That will be the determining factor.
Sekunda
Music is life
From every review I have found on the Strymon Flint it seems it is very clear and crisp no matter how you use it... I will be finding out shortly as it is the next piece of gear I'm picking up for the new rig.
Here's a demo by Pete Thorn:
Here's a demo by Pete Thorn:
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Yup, it's a great product. The only thing I need to find out is the noise floor. I've been saving a spot on the board for one!
Sekunda
Music is life
Picked up the Flint today... didn't get time to plug it up yet, I'm hoping to spend some time with it tomorrow after work. I also played an NF3 today... wow! those things sound amazing!
aristotle
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I may be tone deaf, but I've had a Boss FRV-1 forever, and I've never been motivated to look any farther. Do you guys find that the fancy-pants reverbs sound better? Maybe I need to re-think this. I'd hate to think that there was some aspect of tone that I could be spending more money on and I'm completely unaware of it
