Why is the PRS Archon not more popular?

[Pentatonic Wanker]

Just picked up a 50 watt Archon on Reverb at a killer price.

Was prepared to be completely underwhelmed........but damn, this thing RIPS!

Is there a reason this amp is not more popular. Am I missing something?

 

[skullfxr]

I liked the one that I played. I know a few regulars on here have one. It is one amp I want to play again sometime. May consider one for the right price.

 

[skullfxr]

I was looking at the prices, and I remember it being a little cheaper than it is on the used market. Looks like $1,100 for the head shipped. There is a lot of competition in thay price range.

 

[squank]

A couple of things. First, it's from an established company well known for guitars, not amps. They don't have high profile players (are there even any high profile players anymore?) using the amp. Finally, Mark Tremonti has his own PRS sig amp, and it's an import at a VERY attractive price point covering most of the Archon's tones and reaching the same audience. The MT15 has stolen a lot of the potential market away from their own Archon line.

 

[stratjacket]

As someone who has been on the verge of buying one a couple times in the past, I think I’m tainted because one sold really cheap on here a couple years ago, about $700 or $800, so I can never justify a greater than $1k going rate. But I know that’s a me thing and they are good amps.

 

[Mailman1971]

I own the 100 watt. It freaking KILLS!!!
I had a VH4 and that amp the same time. It sent the Diezel Vh4 packing.
Dialed them in the same. The Archon was a tad bit ‘sweeter’ to say?
Definitely a island amp.

 

[stratjacket]

I own the 100 watt. It freaking KILLS!!!
I had a VH4 and that amp the same time. It sent the Diezel Vh4 packing.
Dialed them in the same. The Archon was a tad bit ‘sweeter’ to say?
Definitely a island amp.

Heresy!!

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

I had one. If I ever went back to tubes, it'd be one of the 2 amps that I'd own.

 

[Devin]

It's a bit "vanilla" sounding IMO

 

[Chris6870]

It's a bit "vanilla" sounding IMO

My thoughts also. I had the 25 watt combo,which is different from the bigger heads but even through a 4x12 it was super bland sounding, almost like a distortion pedal. Big disappointment. I bought it used from GC, so maybe it was worn out but could not get that thing returned fast enough.

 

[sleewell2]

i keep hearing its got a sweet clean channel which is not always a ringing endorsement for a high gain amp. but i would still love to play one. i use the archon clean sim on my helix a lot.

 

[Meeotch]

I've owned and sold the 100w head twice. For 1k ish they are an awesome value, and they do rip no doubt. I'd agree with the vanilla description. It is a dark sounding amp, and a bit honky sounding in general. I ran an EQ in the loop, and with fairly aggressive EQing up front I got some great tones. Overall, it just never could stand up against other boutique amps, which is how I roll, so it didn't stay.

It's true, the clean channel is amazing...better than most high gainers I have owned. The gain channel is smooth. I couldn't quite get it to punch how I like it. For punchy thrash, I've settled on a Mark IV and JP-2C. I think the Archon can do modern metal very well, and rolling back the gain on channel 2 does classic rock in spades. Overall, definitely worth checking out but just not for me.

 

[vchizzle]

A couple of things. First, it's from an established company well known for guitars, not amps. They don't have high profile players (are there even any high profile players anymore?) using the amp. Finally, Mark Tremonti has his own PRS sig amp, and it's an import at a VERY attractive price point covering most of the Archon's tones and reaching the same audience. The MT15 has stolen a lot of the potential market away from their own Archon line.

I’d agree with most of this. More the first half. I have a 100 watt head and it’s my main amp and I love it. The 50 is great too but the 25 doesn’t do much for me. I much prefer the MT-15 to the Archon 25. I’ve owned a bunch of high gain heads(Mesa, Friedman, Marshall, 5150, Bogners, Axe Ultra thru 2/50/2) and played Diezel (VH4, Herbert, Einstein), Rhodes..., probably forgetting some stuff. The Archon punches well above it’s weight and just sounds and feels fantastic. Presence above 3:00, gain 10:00-Noon adjust everything else to taste. No secret I’m a prs fanboy, but if it wasn’t awesome, I would’ve stuck with what I using before. Prices are a hair higher, I think just because there’s less used on the market with covid boredom, but you can often steal them used.

 

[Apex1Rg7X]

A couple of things. First, it's from an established company well known for guitars, not amps. They don't have high profile players (are there even any high profile players anymore?) using the amp. Finally, Mark Tremonti has his own PRS sig amp, and it's an import at a VERY attractive price point covering most of the Archon's tones and reaching the same audience. The MT15 has stolen a lot of the potential market away from their own Archon line.

I’d agree with most of this. More the first half. I have a 100 watt head and it’s my main amp and I love it. The 50 is great too but the 25 doesn’t do much for me. I much prefer the MT-15 to the Archon 25. I’ve owned a bunch of high gain heads(Mesa, Friedman, Marshall, 5150, Bogners, Axe Ultra thru 2/50/2) and played Diezel (VH4, Herbert, Einstein), Rhodes..., probably forgetting some stuff. The Archon punches well above it’s weight and just sounds and feels fantastic. Presence above 3:00, gain 10:00-Noon adjust everything else to taste. No secret I’m a prs fanboy, but if it wasn’t awesome, I would’ve stuck with what I using before. Prices are a hair higher, I think just because there’s less used on the market with covid boredom, but you can often steal them used.

Do you think their is a noticeable improvement from the 100 watt over the 50? I've had a the 50 and really liked but felt like something was missing and I've heard numerous times that the 100 is just better. I'm kinda on the fence here with grabbing the 100 or an Engl Fireball 100.

 

[vchizzle]

A couple of things. First, it's from an established company well known for guitars, not amps. They don't have high profile players (are there even any high profile players anymore?) using the amp. Finally, Mark Tremonti has his own PRS sig amp, and it's an import at a VERY attractive price point covering most of the Archon's tones and reaching the same audience. The MT15 has stolen a lot of the potential market away from their own Archon line.

I’d agree with most of this. More the first half. I have a 100 watt head and it’s my main amp and I love it. The 50 is great too but the 25 doesn’t do much for me. I much prefer the MT-15 to the Archon 25. I’ve owned a bunch of high gain heads(Mesa, Friedman, Marshall, 5150, Bogners, Axe Ultra thru 2/50/2) and played Diezel (VH4, Herbert, Einstein), Rhodes..., probably forgetting some stuff. The Archon punches well above it’s weight and just sounds and feels fantastic. Presence above 3:00, gain 10:00-Noon adjust everything else to taste. No secret I’m a prs fanboy, but if it wasn’t awesome, I would’ve stuck with what I using before. Prices are a hair higher, I think just because there’s less used on the market with covid boredom, but you can often steal them used.

Do you think their is a noticeable improvement from the 100 watt over the 50? I've had a the 50 and really liked but felt like something was missing and I've heard numerous times that the 100 is just better. I'm kinda on the fence here with grabbing the 100 or an Engl Fireball 100.

Hard for me to answer that as I’ve only played a 50 one time at a store. All I can say is I didn’t have the letdown that I had when I played the 25. The master is so good on the 100, I’ve never even flipped the half power switch. Wish I could give better advice. I haven’t ever found an Engl in the wild, so can’t even compare the 2.