NAMM 2012: PRS Amps, Amps, and more Amps!

By: Staff

Although it was just officially launched in 2009, the PRS amplifier division has quickly matured into a comprehensive product line (exclusive pics below). From the core family of Maryland-made PRS amps to the exclusive Custom Amp Design (CAD) program to the SE amplifier line, PRS now has an option for every musician. As has become expected, PRS artists have signed on in support of all three tiers of PRS amps and are flying the PRS amp flag with vigor.

PRS’s core amplifier line continues to earn a strong presence in the market. Just like PRS guitars, they are now known for their unique and reliable tone as well as their craftsmanship. Several PRS artists are now playing their PRS guitars through PRS core amplifiers, including Tom Johnston and David Grissom. Tom Johnston commented on his PRS 2 Channel “H” amp, “I’m impressed with its sustain, wicked bottom end, and brighter high end. It sets my sound on stage apart.” David Grissom, a fan of single channel amps, mainly plays a Super Dallas and a 25thAnniversary amp, both from PRS’s Core line. He also has a CAD “30” that amp-designer Doug Sewell worked with him to custom build. David has cherry-picked amps for years, but has found that the variety of tones he can get with PRS amps is so broad that they work for multiple guitar parts from rhythm to melody to high-gain leads.

The CAD program takes PRS’s line of amplifiers to interesting new heights with models like the HXDA, MDT, and Blistertone. PRS Amp Designer Doug Sewell and Paul Reed Smith himself have been working closely together since the program’s inception to provide the most personally crafted PRS amplifiers available. “One-off” pieces can be ordered through this program, yielding amps like Jennifer Lopez guitarist Mario Sebastian’s 2 Channel “H” with white cosmetics.

The SE amplifier line expands PRS’s 2 channel offerings, providing affordable tube amps without sacrificing tone or quality. The SE 20, 30, and 50 are all available as 1 x 12 closed back combo amps or as heads. Joey Santiago of the Pixies, who is already an endorser of PRS Mira and Starla guitars, is using the SE 50 on tour and plans to incorporate an SE 30 into his rig soon. “It has this great punky edge, but it’s also really warm. What really set it apart was its definition…It’s versatile. I love its clean sounds as well…It has a sparkly high end that I can’t get with a Marshall,” said Santiago.