Who's got a PRS Archon 4x12? Looking for info on construction/quality

[vultures]

I'm looking to pick up an Archon 50 and I'm a sucker for matching head/cabs. Anyone have an Archon 4x12 and cracked it open? Is the construction solid? Baltic Birch on the back panel too? And what the hell are Celestion V-Type speakers? Are they close enough to V30s or trash?

 

[The~Kid]

I'm looking to pick up an Archon 50 and I'm a sucker for matching head/cabs. Anyone have an Archon 4x12 and cracked it open? Is the construction solid? Baltic Birch on the back panel too? And what the hell are Celestion V-Type speakers? Are they close enough to V30s or trash?

I really think youre better off with an EVH 412 or if you can spend the extra dough on a Friedman, Bad Cat or Mesa 412 or even a Marshall or Orange 412.

These things arent bad but compared to other options in the market and opportunity cost there you are better off getting almost anything else IMO.

 

[sloanthebone]

I went down this rabbit hole a couple months ago when one came up for sale locally. The general consensus was that they don’t sound good at all and I am a huge PRS fan. The~Kid has the advice you should follow. On a side note, I have one of the PRS USA Archon 50s and it is a fantastic amp. You can get them cheaper than the new offshore versions of them.

 

[The~Kid]

Friedman 412 cabs are on sale too......


So maybe it makes sense to go that route or as said check out Bad Cat, Mesa, Orange or Marshall or other options out there.

 

[japetus]

When it comes to cabs these days, buy used.

 

[The~Kid]

When it comes to cabs these days, buy used.

This too, you can find a good price on used but new ain't bad either especially if you can land one in sale or with a discount.

 

[Devin]

V-Type is decent; definitely the best "budget" Celestion speaker I've owned. I still ended up swapping mine for a heritage greenback though


Been decades since I had a V30 cab though so I couldn't really compare them

Suhr seems to really like them, for whatever that's worth

 

[napalmdeath]

I really think youre better off with an EVH 412 or if you can spend the extra dough on a Friedman, Bad Cat or Mesa 412 or even a Marshall or Orange 412.

These things arent bad but compared to other options in the market and opportunity cost there you are better off getting almost anything else IMO.

Not made in USA. Trash, garbage. Buy USA. Everything else is trash, cheap garbage. USA only. Trash. Even Marshall. Garbage screws from China.

 

[napalmdeath]

Yeah.. Built in USA.. Bump. No garbage. Trash. I just wanted to say, buy USA. Everything else is garbage.

 

[napalmdeath]

I've had the

I'm looking to pick up an Archon 50 and I'm a sucker for matching head/cabs. Anyone have an Archon 4x12 and cracked it open? Is the construction solid? Baltic Birch on the back panel too? And what the hell are Celestion V-Type speakers? Are they close enough to V30s or trash?

I'd say if the price was right, go for it and upgrade the speakers if you get it cheap enough. I had the Indonesian Archon 50, and I found it pretty legit. Build quality was great, and it was really neat and tidy inside when I pulled the chassis out of curiosity. From a tone standpoint, they more than hold their own. I put KT77's in mine, and it punched well above its price tag. Throw a 12AU7/ECC82 in the FX loop tube slot and you'll get a much quieter loop.

It's like a mix of Peavey 5150 and a Recto, to my ears. Moreso with 6L6's, but I liked it with the KT77's more. E34L's sounded pretty aggressive too with nice chunk. It chuggs. One of the best masters I've ever experienced. Can do mouse fart volume with ease.

 

[The~Kid]

V-Type is decent; definitely the best "budget" Celestion speaker I've owned. I still ended up swapping mine for a heritage greenback though


Been decades since I had a V30 cab though so I couldn't really compare them

Suhr seems to really like them, for whatever that's worth

They are decent yes but let's face it..... you're going to swap the fuckers out no doubt.

 

[The~Kid]

Not made in USA. Trash, garbage. Buy USA. Everything else is trash, cheap garbage. USA only. Trash. Even Marshall. Garbage screws from China.

At least the EVH cabs are Made in North "America"...... but yeah they are pretty damn good and come with EVH Greenbacks.

Marshall 412s with GT12-75 are pretty damn good and for around the same price would go with that vs a PRS Cab or this one at least. The cabs Marshall makes are UK/MIE and Orange cabs too.

Friedmans use a mix of Greeback and V30 so if you want a vintage feel with a modern touch that may be the route for OP.



I have a Lynx 212 V30 loaded Bad Cat Cab and I love it, speakers are MIE/UK too, they also make some cabs with proprietary undoped V30s. The Cabs are MIA and the Speakers are UK/MIE. For me and my money it just makes sense to go with any of these other options.



The EVH is a good starting point but can't go wrong with any of the others.

 

[The~Kid]

Check this one out if you're going PRS you can get an Open Box for a better price or this Marshall Cab too.

 

[vultures]

I really think youre better off with an EVH 412 or if you can spend the extra dough on a Friedman, Bad Cat or Mesa 412 or even a Marshall or Orange 412.

These things arent bad but compared to other options in the market and opportunity cost there you are better off getting almost anything else IMO.

I currently 6 Orange PPC412s with different speaker combos, I have a couple Mesa's and I've owned dozens. I've owned Marshall 1960a's, 1960ax's, MF280's and I hated all of them. I've had a few Badcats combos and small cabs, didn't vibe with them. Friedman was extremely rude to me when I met him in a professional capacity so I want nothing to do with his products.

Mainly trying to figure out where these cabs are made and if they're half decent with good speakers. I can score one at a good price. I can't find any pictures or videos of PRS making the cabinets in house. If it's the kinda thing where they outsource to BAD or Mojotone I'm not too interested. Hoping some pictures of the inside of the cab could help me figure it out. They're supposedly solid baltic birch, but I can't imagine how PRS sells them for $999 unless they're built oversees or with some weird out of house deal.

 

[motorboy1]

Bogner

 

[The~Kid]

I currently 6 Orange PPC412s with different speaker combos, I have a couple Mesa's and I've owned dozens. I've owned Marshall 1960a's, 1960ax's, MF280's and I hated all of them. I've had a few Badcats combos and small cabs, didn't vibe with them. Friedman was extremely rude to me when I met him in a professional capacity so I want nothing to do with his products.

Mainly trying to figure out where these cabs are made and if they're half decent with good speakers. I can score one at a good price. I can't find any pictures or videos of PRS making the cabinets in house. If it's the kinda thing where they outsource to BAD or Mojotone I'm not too interested. Hoping some pictures of the inside of the cab could help me figure it out. They're supposedly solid baltic birch, but I can't imagine how PRS sells them for $999 unless they're built oversees or with some weird out of house deal.

I figure they aren't bad and mainly said check other places given the speaker compliment ain't so great but not so bad but not so great.


Consider the PRS HRDX Cab then or if not gopher the Archon one at a discount and sell and swap speakers. Friedman arent bad either and well it's a good product IMO and it's hard to beat. The new Bad Cat stuff ain't too bad either IME and worth a second look at a good price.


Tbh I beat the Archons aren't half bad and you could do worse, maybe get one at a discount or go for the PRS HRDX. The EVH 412s ain't bad either in either case.

 

[Speeddemon]

I've owned Marshall 1960a's, 1960ax's, MF280's and I hated all of them.

I was gonna say... Whenever someone recommends a current production Marshall 1960A cab with T75's, the value of their opinion immediately drops towards the level of some 17 year old kid playing his first 'big' show in a 300 seat venue and being allowed to use the venue's backline in favour of his own Bandit 112 and gushing over said Marshall cab afterwards.

Now, if he just had said "try to score an early 80's one with G12-65's or a mid 80's one with white label, serifed font T75's", *then* I would at least know either he has experience with years of playing and testing... Or just with visiting this forum and the Marshall forum.

 

[napalmdeath]

I currently 6 Orange PPC412s with different speaker combos, I have a couple Mesa's and I've owned dozens. I've owned Marshall 1960a's, 1960ax's, MF280's and I hated all of them. I've had a few Badcats combos and small cabs, didn't vibe with them. Friedman was extremely rude to me when I met him in a professional capacity so I want nothing to do with his products.

Mainly trying to figure out where these cabs are made and if they're half decent with good speakers. I can score one at a good price. I can't find any pictures or videos of PRS making the cabinets in house. If it's the kinda thing where they outsource to BAD or Mojotone I'm not too interested. Hoping some pictures of the inside of the cab could help me figure it out. They're supposedly solid baltic birch, but I can't imagine how PRS sells them for $999 unless they're built oversees or with some weird out of house deal.

They're made in Indonesia. Being baltic birch at 89lbs, I can't imagine they wouldn't be high quality. The V-types are supposed to be a blend of Greenback and V-30. On paper, I'd say it's on par with an EVH, (maybe better), minus the speakers.

 

[The~Kid]

They're made in Indonesia. Being baltic birch at 89lbs, I can't imagine they wouldn't be high quality. The V-types are supposed to be a blend of Greenback and V-30. On paper, I'd say it's on par with an EVH, (maybe better), minus the speakers.

But at that point may as well get the EVH cab one would say as they kind of cost the same and the EVH cab arguably has a better speaker compliment too.


The HRDX 412 cab is worth considering too at a deal and I think those are made here or in Maryland or whatever.

 

[harddriver]

But at that point may as well get the EVH cab one would say as they kind of cost the same and the EVH cab arguably has a better speaker compliment too.


The HRDX 412 cab is worth considering too at a deal and I think those are made here or in Maryland or whatever.

EVH cabs are not Marine Grade Baltic Birch construction. EVH says they are Baltic Pine which to me is a play on words.

The main difference is:

• Baltic Birch: Comes from a broad-leafed tree that sheds its leaves. It produces a strong, dense, and tightly grained wood.
• Pine: Comes from a needle-leafed evergreen tree that has cones. It usually produces a softer wood that is easier to cut but dents more easily. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Baltic Birch is usually sold as a high-end plywood. This means many thin layers of real birch wood are glued together to make a flat, strong sheet.