Warren Haynes Talks PRS Amps: NAMM Show 2011

By: Staff

Besides announcing a number of new guitars at this year’s NAMM show, PRS was also showing off some great new amplifiers. But, even more exciting than that news, was Paul’s announcement that the company will now be launching a Custom Shop for amps. So, while in the past this option was only available to artists, custom amps are now going to be available to all customers starting now.

Let’s check out what PRS and Warren Haynes had to say about the PRS line of amps, and check out Paul’s announcement on the new Custom Shop.

Warren Haynes PRS Amps

Warren Haynes PRS Amps

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Paul Reed Smith

I want to continue on talking about the amplifiers for a minute. When we started making amplifiers we had a meeting, we were trying to figure out who the guys were that were known for their amp sound, and the three names that we immediately came up with were Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks and Dave Grissom. So we started to send them amplifiers, and you gotta understand that people don’t change their gear easily.

They only change their gear if they were getting something out of this gear that they couldn’t get out of the other stuff. It becomes a real comfort thing. And to find out that I got a call from Brian Farmer, who works with Warren Haynes, that he was not only using the amp, but turning it on more than other stuff, was very heartwarming for us.

Warren Haynes has been generous enough [Speaks to Warren], this is only the second NAMM show that you’ve ever been to, is that correct? [Warren Nods]

Warren Haynes PRS Amps

Warren Haynes PRS Amps

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Warren Haynes

When you hear a great guitar company saying we’re now making these great amplifiers, sometimes your first thought is, maybe you should stick with what you’re good at. But, Paul and I have been friends for 20 something years, and we have a great relationship, and he calls me up saying “You’ve gotta try out this amp.”

So, he came to Merriweather Post and brought some amplifiers there, and I heard Terry trying one in the dressing room and I thought “Hey, what’s that, that sounds great?” I walk over there and he said we have this amp we want you to try. The first thing I did was I plugged in this amp before I turned any of its knobs, the sound was great. And to me that’s the sign of a great amplifier.

If, when you first plug it in, it sounds great, then you can only make it sound better. There are so many good amps out there with too many bells and whistles and knobs, it’s too frustrating. So, I plug into this amp and I was like “Wow.” I was about to do this tour with the Grateful Dead, and that’s the kind of sound I’m looking for.

But also, I need more high gain sound and he said, “Oh yeah, listen to this!” and changed it, and all of a sudden I have like an Allman Brothers sound at the same time. That was very odd, that I get two great sounds that quickly, without even having to turn the knobs. So, we’ve been working on them over the last couple of years, changing some things here and there, and I’m now playing these amps all the time.

Warren Haynes PRS Amps

Warren Haynes PRS Amps

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Paul Reed Smith

Also, I want to announce that we’ve started a Custom Shop. What we do for you Warren, we’re going to do for all our customers and our dealers. So, when a dealer calls and they want a special amp, we’re going to do it for them. We’re not going to do it not just for artists anymore, as of this show, right now, I’m announcing, we’re going to do it for everybody.

Warren Haynes PRS Amps

Warren Haynes PRS Amps

3 Comments

  1. Mark piazza (13 years ago)

    who is Ryan Farmer? Possibly Brian Farmer?

  2. Publisher (13 years ago)

    Yep, that’s Brian, just a typo, nice catch!

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