PRS Archon 100, is it a good amp for modern metal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrSauce85
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^^^
When I was amp shopping a few years back I was looking heavily at the Archon, but I read quite a few posts by Archon owners in regards to complaints about the loop noise issues. It steered me away from that amp, and I wound up in the Engl camp. Not sure if they rectified the loop issues that owners were unhappy with.
 
The 2 Archons I owned both had really quiet loops.
I ran a mxr graphic eq in the loop as I do on all my amps.
Archon is one of the best bang for buck amps out there
 
^^^Good to know Dan. Can't remember the exact issue but there were quite a few people with loop issues. Maybe there was just a bug that needed to be fixed in the earliest release of that amp?

Yep. I absolutely require an eq in the loop of every amp as well. Couldn't do without it :thumbsup:
 
I had one and liked it quite a bit. I sold it before I had the gear and knowledge I have now. I'd love another go with one. Check out my YouTube page for more demos of the Archon.

It won't do EVH stuff... The clean is nice and chimey. I recommend replacing the power tubes with 6ca7 tubes. It boosts well for that over the top metal sound. The gain gets to be a little too much after 7. Decent master volume.

I also recommend pickups with around 12k resistance though I never tried any super high resistance pickups. Anything lower than 10k will probably benefit from a boost. The amp can get fizzy but that can be dialed out.

I had one of the first run Archons and mine had zero loop issues.

Read the descriptions for complete info on how the clips were recorded.

 
lowmantotempole":zjtoy8mw said:
I had one and liked it quite a bit. I sold it before I had the gear and knowledge I have now. I'd love another go with one. Check out my YouTube page for more demos of the Archon.

It won't do EVH stuff... The clean is nice and chimey. I recommend replacing the power tubes with 6ca7 tubes. It boosts well for that over the top metal sound. The gain gets to be a little too much after 7. Decent master volume.

I also recommend pickups with around 12k resistance though I never tried any super high resistance pickups. Anything lower than 10k will probably benefit from a boost. The amp can get fizzy but that can be dialed out.

I had one of the first run Archons and mine had zero loop issues.

Read the descriptions for complete info on how the clips were recorded.

Click to expand...




I remember these clips they were the best out of that amp IMO
The Lynchbacks clip I really dug but all sound great
I agree that it not a great Van halen or 80s Marshall type tone
It would do that about as well as an Uber
I think you can get lynch solo type tones but the character is to aggressive and modern to hit the rhythms
 
I tryed to fiddle with this one once. Wasn't quite my sound. Mark Tremonti used this instead of an Bogner uberschall for a while, then got back to the Bogner.
They are dooing an PRS Signature amp, not sure when it will be released. I think that could be interesting, if you like the alter bridge "metal" tone...
 
PRS is working on a Tremonti sig amp, as well as a new low gain combo going after the older Fender sound. Looking forward to both!

I really dig the Archon. I've only been able to play one for about 15 minutes, but I loved it. It was basically the ideal Rectifier sound. The recto sound I've been looking for and failing to find for many years. If you like the Rectifier/Ubershall sound, the Archon is for you. The clean channel is miles ahead of both of those amps as well. The price is right too, especially used. You can pick one up for half of a vintage "desirable" recto. Ubers aren't cheap either, and with the Archon you basically get a free clean amp thrown in :).
 
I have an Achon 100, and until last night I had a 5150 III 50 watt. I have a deal in place to sell the Archon 100. I love the Archon sound and have a 25 watt combo version on its way. It is overall a darker amp than the 5150 III but it also has more clarity. To get the more classic sounds you really need to reduce the bass, and resonance controls and roll the guitar volume down a bit, but it can do quite good lower gain sounds that way. I find that you need to get the master up a good way before you can get the resonance up past 10:00 or else it can sound a bit muddy, but once the master is up around 10:00 and up it is glorious.

I am getting the 25 watt version in hopes I can get to that point where it opens up at lower levels. I am also planning on installing a power scaling kit to help with that too.
 
I don't really get the recto and uber comparisons here. There is a YT video comparing the archon and uber as well as against a mini recto - clear differences. Uber is more aggressive. Recto is a bit closer. Having owned a recto and a roadster as well as a Diezel for years, and currently owning an archon 100, I think Mailmans comparison to a VH4 ch3 is much more accurate. It's REALLY close. My 2 cents. Stellar cleans. Fantastic value on this amp.
 
Also noticed Line6 just added the clean & lead models of this amp to the Helix. Given how rabid the user community is for new amp models and that L6 can only crank out about 1 amp model per month, I think that reflects positively on the amp. For whatever thats worth!
 
Just got an increase on my sweet water account.
Think I might see another Archon heading my way soon. :D
 
Didn't like the Uberschall. Always felt and sounded odd to me. Love the Archon.
 
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