When you think of Derek Trucks, you think Fender tube amps. Specifically the old “Super Reverb” he is so well known for. No doubt that Derek gets an amazing tone from his old Super, and who would ever think he would start using a different amp.
But Derek trucks strives to break new ground. This is one of the reasons I like Derek so much. It seems to me that Derek is willing to explore new things with his music and his tone. Not content to stay in a comfort zone and always willing to try new things is what makes Derek so special in my opinion.
With that said, Derek now uses the new line of guitar amps from PRS. There are many different models to choose from, and they all seem to be really cool.
I went to a seminar about 15 years ago when Paul Reed Smith gave a demonstration of his new guitar he was working on. It sounded great and he seemed to know a lot about getting guitar tone, and which is why I have to doubt his amps probably smoke.
Check out Derek’s opinion of the new PRS guitar amps.
Derek still uses his Super, but from this clip I say that amp sounds pretty sweet! I’d love to try one out.
What do you think of the new PRS line of guitar amps? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear opinions about this.
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I think the new PRS line of guitar amps realy great.
Dang it! I just put my money down for a custom amp.. Then these PRS amps appear!! Talk about poor timing, I would really like to try\buy one of the 3 PRS models! The Amp models are :
Blue Sierra -Evocative of classic British and American amps – but with a distinct Texas attitude – the Blue Sierra offers gain structured for equally great cleans to medium gain overdrive tones. With the Blue Sierra it’s easy to get a big 3D sound and hard to get a bad one at any setting. Available in EL34 or 6L6.
Available configurations50 or 100 Watt Head
2 x 12 Combo, 50 or 100 Watt
1 x 12 Combo, 50 Watt
FeaturesEL34 Power Tubes or 6L6 Power Tubes
Dallas -Reminiscent of classic 6L6 American reverb amps, our Dallas model offers sweet highs, solid lows and modest midrange. This model gives you an open 3D tone for huge sounding cleans. The Dallas amp leans toward the clean side but moderately overdrives nicely.
Available configurations50 or 100 Watt Head
2 x 12 Combo, 50 or 100 Watt
1 x 12 Combo, 50 Watt
Features6L6 Power Tubes
Reverb
Original Sewell -Recalling the complex tones and harmonics of 50’s era amps, the Original Sewell brings you sweet highs and tight lows that surround a warm midrange. The Original Sewell has a smooth tone that was crafted to give an expressive, vocal quality to lead work. Notes bloom and sustain with rich harmonics enhancing your fundamental notes. Available in EL34 or 6L6.
Available configurations50 or 100 Watt Head
2 x 12 Combo, 50 or 100 Watt
1 x 12 Combo, 50 Watt
FeaturesPRS Original Sewell Preamp
EL34 Power Tubes or 6L6 Power Tubes
Reverb (optional)
All of them are at least 50 Watts, more than enough to play in a small-medium gig.
We will have to stay tuned to see what other reviews are saying about these…. cool amps!!!
very cool tones from Derek. I haven’t read anything on the PRS amps yet, I will start checking them out. I played a PRS guitar once in a Louisville, Ky store. Awesome sound thru a vintage Twin Reverb, but since I have decided to play slide exclusively I am still searching for a different tone. John, I think your tone with your rig is awesome. SG, 72 Twiin and the tubescreamer fits and is a tone to die for.
My rig is a 78 LP and a 72 Twin. Still can’t get what I want out of it. What I am looking for is something Derek just demonstrated, overdriven tones that were slightly mellow on the high notes.
My research so far is leading me to something along the line of Trainwreck Express clone because I darn sure can’t afford 25K for an original. There is a clip on youtube of a guy named Kuykendall using an original Trainwreck express and and original 59 LP. That in my opinion is the best rig I have ever heard. It might be a little bit screechy though. I am still looking.
John, YouTube video sounds great. Looking forward to hearing him live in Cleveland in a few weeks with the new amp. I’m not a gear head, but isn’t the makeup of this amp fairly similar to the structure of the Super Reverb? He’s also a pro, with a new home studio, and I would think that in addition to “breaking new ground” he’s also breaking the bank with some new cash money from PRS and some awesome free gear. But I have to give them credit, they have taken his sound and made it even nicer. Even the covering seems to mesh with the DTB style artwork. Nice job PRS–can you make one for the common man now?
Thanks for everything you do for the aspiring guitarist. . .
Ben
Wow! Now that’s pretty expensive. I don’t I’m going to be able to afford that.
Thanks for the link. I would still love to try one out. Maybe Guitar Center has them.
Better save your pennies.
http://www.sweetwater.com/c625–Paul_Reed_Smith–Guitar_Com bo_Amps
Kyle, those prices are in the range of and just slightly higher priced than the Komet’s. Does anyone know if the PRS amps are handwired, i.e. handcrafted with point to point wiring essentially making it custom/boutique?
Here’s the tone video http://www.learningguitarnow.com/slide-guitar-lesson-tone.shtml
Thanks!
hey john, i saw a video w/you flexin this litttle 15 watt fender custom speaker w/a huge sound. what was that? please email me.