prs se 20 amp - are you experienced?

domhatch

so i've been thinking for a while now about a new amp. my li'l vox is great, but it's li'l, and i'd really like the two channels. i've been surfing and looking, looking and surfing, and i happened to be looking at the prs site, where i came across their se amps line. a 20w amp would be just about brilliant for my application, and having 'heard' (via the online demo, which naturally colours things for a number of reasons) the amp, i'm keen to give it a go.

called toms sandton this morning. trouble is these amps are only brought in on demand. so i'm expecting quite a hefty price tag - an inordinately hefty price tag, given it'll probably be a once-off rather than part of a batch - and there's no real guarantee i'll love the product once it lands.

which is why i'm asking y'all. anyone had experience with these things? good or bad? i'm not really expecting many of you to answer yes, coz there probably aren't many of these things around.

anyhoo, looking forward to the responses, one way or t'other. fangs.
dh

Mr-M

I've had a super brief listen but not enough to form a real opinion. From actual experience, I would recommend a Blackstar HT Studio 20H which is in a similar sort of tonal ballpark - although with a bit more gain on tap and a more British voice with the EL34 output valves vs the PRS' 6V6s. And they are locally available AFAIK.

domhatch

hehe. nearly clicked 'report to moderator' before i caught myself. sorry 'bout that.

thanks for the feedback... i got a call back from toms, and the head on this thing, as i expected, is first-off going to be hellishly expensive - they can only bring them in in what would be a viable batch. if i were living in the states, it would be much more affordable, but i ain't. secondly, as you rightly point out, there would definitely be a bunch of options out here - already in stock - that i could try out.

so, besides wanting a new tokai les paul, and a prs korina se, i am also now going on the prowl for a new amp. and i don't want to sell anything, either.

so bugger. and happy hunting me!
dh

AlanRatcliffe

Odd. I would have thought it would be no problem to get a single amp head slipped in with the next guitar shipment from PRS.

Oh well, there are lots of other good options that are already available locally. Even if you are shopping on the boutique side (Dr Z, Swart, Two-Rock, etc.)...

domhatch

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Odd. I would have thought it would be no problem to get a single amp head slipped in with the next guitar shipment from PRS.

well, you woulda thunk, wouldn'tcha? transparently not.

Oh well, there are lots of other good options that are already available locally. Even if you are shopping on the boutique side (Dr Z, Swart, Two-Rock, etc.)...

and the extra, added, free and gratis bonus is that i get to go out and try 'em all. AAAALLLLLLLLLL!!! sorry. carried away.

wish me luck as you wave me goodbye, cheerio, here i go, on my way...
dh

Mr-M

domhatch wrote: hehe. nearly clicked 'report to moderator' before i caught myself. sorry 'bout that.

That wouldn't have been very nice. ☹ If I'd tried to point you to a VOX though, I would have deserved it. ? No worries! ?

domhatch wrote: thanks for the feedback... i got a call back from toms, and the head on this thing, as i expected, is first-off going to be hellishly expensive - they can only bring them in in what would be a viable batch. if i were living in the states, it would be much more affordable, but i ain't. secondly, as you rightly point out, there would definitely be a bunch of options out here - already in stock - that i could try out.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Odd. I would have thought it would be no problem to get a single amp head slipped in with the next guitar shipment from PRS.

The difficulty with anything made in the east, is that there would usually be a minimum order quantity from the manufacturer, which is fine if it is a small number. Ordering less than the MOQ is often not possible or means the distributor pays a higher price for it. The MOQ is probably fairly sizable being as these are made in Korea AFAIK.

AlanRatcliffe

Ah! Wasn't aware it was made in the East. Interesting that the distributor obviously does not think they can move enough PRS branded amps to make it a viable proposition. But then I suppose $1,000 translates to a lot of money for a MIC/MIK amp...