PRS archon thoughts

  • Thread starter Thread starter BrentSSL
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BrentSSL

BrentSSL

Active member
Just wanted to get some opinions I have experience with the 50 watt combo don't love or hate it but thought it might be a good addition to the collection. It sounds kinda similar to the EVH 5150 III tho
 
I have the Archon 100 and I don't think it sounds anything like the EVH 5150 III. I had the 5150 III 50w for a while too for reference. The Archon has a lot more depth to the tone, and the cleans are vastly superior.
 
I also own an Archon 100 head, it's an absolutely incredible sounding amp! It's near perfect for a "solo" amp but does great rhythm guitar well too. I changed out the JJ 12AX7's for the gain stages of the Lead Channel for some NOS balanced Mallard 12AX7's and it REALLY opened the Archon up on the gain side of things!!! I know some have had problems with the fx loop, which I have too, but the new factory mod on the loop level components that they have done has made the fx loop near perfect for me.
I use ONLY a G-Lab Smooth Delay in the loop and it does great!! I used to use a TC Flashback but have moved up a tad to the G-Lab.

The clean channel is borderline Mesa Mark V clean!!! It's REALLY REALLY fat and VERY clean!! Tons of head room!!

In short...I love my Archon!!!! It's definitely a gathering of some different high gain amps all kinda rolled into one. It has some 5150, Bogner Uberschall and JCM800 type things going on...which is very nice!! Never getting rid of it! It's going to stay with my other amazing amp collection because it holds its own with them.
 

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I agree. The archon rules. My all time favorite amp.
So thick and rich in tone. It's insane good.
 
The craziest part of the Archon is the prices they are going for used. Nobody seems to know how good they are.
 
jc986":1a4a9j4x said:
The craziest part of the Archon is the prices they are going for used. Nobody seems to know how good they are.
Click to expand...
I know it!!! :doh:
I did a full blown A/B test with my diezel VH4. And they sounded spot on. Crazy I know. But channel 3 was the Archon Lead Channel. Had 4 other guys in the room.
We all agreed. It went as far as a blind fold test. ;)
 
I believe it. Thy Art is Murder recorded their album "Hate" with a VH4, Uberschall, and 5150. They recorded their album "Holy War" with an Archon, Uberschall, and 5150 and the tone on each of those albums is pretty much spot on.
 
Makes me laugh when guys say the Archon is a fuzzy mess. :hys:
My Rig is SUPER DEFINED tight ass chugging metal with sweet lead notes. :yes:
 
Well I may need to try a the Archon more in depth and I guess I should say the feel is more 51503 imho but if MailMan likes it then that's saying something.

Mailman how would you rate it with your modded Dual rectifier?
 
DennisJr":2ku62k7h said:
I also own an Archon 100 head, it's an absolutely incredible sounding amp! It's near perfect for a "solo" amp but does great rhythm guitar well too. I changed out the JJ 12AX7's for the gain stages of the Lead Channel for some NOS balanced Mallard 12AX7's and it REALLY opened the Archon up on the gain side of things!!! I know some have had problems with the fx loop, which I have too, but the new factory mod on the loop level components that they have done has made the fx loop near perfect for me.
I use ONLY a G-Lab Smooth Delay in the loop and it does great!! I used to use a TC Flashback but have moved up a tad to the G-Lab.

The clean channel is borderline Mesa Mark V clean!!! It's REALLY REALLY fat and VERY clean!! Tons of head room!!

In short...I love my Archon!!!! It's definitely a gathering of some different high gain amps all kinda rolled into one. It has some 5150, Bogner Uberschall and JCM800 type things going on...which is very nice!! Never getting rid of it! It's going to stay with my other amazing amp collection because it holds its own with them.
Click to expand...

I agree it is similar to the Uberschall in a lot of ways, and with the bright switch engaged it can definitely get some of that 5150 high end sizzle and aggression. Any particular reason you put up a pic of Mark Tremonti's rig?
 
Yeah I've always been a fan of Tremonti's tone. Never particularly care for Stapp at all but always enjoyed Mark's guitar work. I do really like Alter Bridge and Tremonti's solo stuff is pretty solid too.
 
BrentSSL":1agi48rd said:
Well I may need to try a the Archon more in depth and I guess I should say the feel is more 51503 imho but if MailMan likes it then that's saying something.

Mailman how would you rate it with your modded Dual rectifier?
Click to expand...
I think its more FULL sounding then the Recto. :thumbsup:
recto is slightly 'meaner' ......but the Archon is just so RICH sounding? :dunno:
Hard to describe a "perfect" tone.. ;)
That 120 watt head goes NO WHERE!!! :lol: :LOL:
Again......if someone cant get a good tone out this head...YOU MUST BE DEAF!! :yes:
Just got in from jamning it for 3 hours with a drummer.
It bashed thru like a champ. :rock:
 
Any good demos of this amp that doesn't sound like mid scooped dog shit?


2:30-3:00 on of this demo may possibly one of the worst amp tones I've ever heard. I was honestly interested in the amp but clips I've seen heard are pretty bad.
 
I officially have Archon GAS after hearing some recent clips.
 
I recently picked up an Archon 100 head and a Mesa 2x12 vert cab, and my roadster and rectoverb 25 have been collecting dust ever since. The versatility of this amp is extremely good. The clean channel is phenomenal, takes pedals extremely well and responds quite well to volume roll of the guitar. The lead channel has the gain tone I have always looked for without any of the buzz, and some awesome tones can be found by rolling back guitar volume and using pedals to drive.

Most videos online unfortunately are mid scooped medal sounds, but the amp is capable of so much more than that. Even with everything at noon, this amp brings out my PRSi like my roadster never could, and I am finally hearing dynamics that I never knew existed in these guitars through my other amps. Just because this is PRS' take on high gain, people are really doing the amp a disservice by only doing scooped sound videos.

If you are considering one, find one and actually play it and play around with the EQs, you will probably be pleasantly surprised.
 
I wish they had released the 25 in a small head ,got chance to play combo it and sounded great ,probably the 5881 instead of the usual el84 ,but it really had good tight lows and was punchy
 
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