PRS Paul Reed Smith HDRX Guitar Amplifier Head (20 Watts)

Sear through the mix like a hot knife through butter with this refined, British-inspired amp, designed to bring unprecedented clarity to your highs!

Overview

The PRS HDRX 20 captures the flexibility, power, and balance of late '60s British-inspired tone in a lower wattage package. The PRS HDRX 20 features an "Authentic Hendrix" Touring Circuit. This circuit is heavily inspired by one of Hendrix's personal amps, purportedly used at Woodstock, which Paul Reed Smith and PRS Amp Designer Doug Sewell were able to study in 2018.

Designed to push the high-end so it is very clear, but not so much that it's harsh, the PRS HDRX shines without glaring and allows for aggression that can be backed off for smooth, sweet tones. The PRS HDRX 20 is driven by two 5881 power tubes. Chosen for their lower power, smaller size, and organic voice, the 5881 tubes bring thick but articulate tone that drives well and breaks up beautifully in this lower-wattage amp.

The PRS HDRX 20 features a 3-band TMB tone stack, 2-way bright switch, high-mid gain switch, and presence controls. These features mirror the historic amp and give players flexibility and increased control of their tone. The PRS HDRX 20 is also designed with internally bridged channels with individual treble and bass volume controls. This eliminates the need for a jumper cable (historically used on the outside of the amp) and allows players to dial in their distortion level and tone more easily by blending the lead and bass channels' individual volume controls, bringing more modern convenience to the amp. The addition of a Master Volume control on the HDRX 20 is another modern convenience. Players… read more can use the Master Volume to control the power amp section of the HDRX, making it more user friendly for players who do not want to add a volume attenuator to their setup.

Specs

-Wattage (nominal): 20
-Power Tubes: 5881
-Preamp Tubes: 3x 12AX7
-Preamp Positions: V1- Input, V2- Cathode Follower, V3- Phase Inverter
-Front Panel Controls:
- Channel 1 Controls Bass Volume
- Channel 2 Controls Treble Volume, Bright (off/bright)
- Common Controls Presence, Master Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble,
- Mid Gain (off/on)
-Back Panel Features:
- Inlet IEC w/ integrated fuse
- Output Jack
- Configuration/ 2x4, 2x8, 1x16 Ohm Selection
- Bias Adjustable (accessible bias monitor jacksand adjustment potentiometer)
- Channels 2, Internally-Bridged B+ Fuse Holder T500mAL/500V fuse
-Covering: Black Tolex
-Piping: Black
-Trim Panel: Black Tolex
-Amp Width: 17.25"
-Amp Depth: 9"
-Amp Height: 9"
-Amp Weight: 27.6 lbs

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Base Item: Shipping Weight: 28.25 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 23 x 15 x 14 in; Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 108456::ST--:
Warehouse Resealed: Shipping Weight: 28.25 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 23 x 15 x 14 in; Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 108456::ST--:

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 410-643-9970
Email: custserv@prsguitars.com
Web: https://prsguitars.com/support

Reviews

(2 ratings)

Submitted November 23, 2022 by Dean Allen in Alameda, CA

"Hendrix, Stock Plexi and more, find it Here."

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

Not as simple to review as you might think. Is it authentic plexi circuitry? Not entirely, Paul Reed Smith himself tells us that. Can we nail Hendrix' tones with it? To my ear, you're damn right you can. I could take this in too many directions since several Marshall models and mods come into the equation of this amp, I just won't go there. There is an excellent video of Paul and Doug Sewell discussing the HDRX history you should watch instead. Number one, I usually scoff at any amp below 30 watts because of using a Deluxe reverb in a pinch when a 100 watt head failed on a gig; didn't cut it, and that's not the only time. I can't say why but I just thought this amp would be different. Besides I knew I could return it if it failed. Last night playing it through a Marshall 4x12 with Greenbacks I drowned out a drummer, not a pounding Metal drummer but not a light tough either. And I had a ways to go still on all three volumes; I think not just because it has 5881's instead of the more typical 6V6's or EL84's for power, but that as part of the whole design; thank you PRS! I get the sounds I want from Jimi's "real albums"; Are You Experienced, Axis and Electric Lady, not to mention Robin Trower tones when I want, although as they say, the HDRX amps are modeled on an amp, in the state it was in at the end of his career, very different from when he first got it. I also can get almost tweed Twin tones with the very useful "Mid Gain" switch turned off, and great tones of my own with the… read more very powerful tone controls, unlike any of the actual Marshalls or clones I've had; within "vintage Marshall parameters", it's very versatile. Depending on the guitar the input volume controls can stay clean well after noon unlike my Granger 1987, and the Master Volume is VERY well engineered. With an open back 2x12 cab with Mojotone Greenback Style speakers or the afore mentioned 4x12 it can give a big amp sound. Speaking of the master, I almost took away one star because if they were going to break form on the 20, why not an fx loop and/or a digital verb like so many builders are having tremendous success with? But it's a super quiet amp and gets along great with pedals without all that, and well, this amp is not about that, they did what they set out to do in frickin' spades, which is to give the general public one of the best, most useable, timeless and loved tones any guitar has ever seen, and in the case of the 20, with power enough for most gigging, defying it's 20 watt rating. Killer price, light weight, good looks and appears flawlessly built, although I wish they used a brighter gold ink for the logo and panel text, maybe opted for gold piping, my ONLY complaint. WELL DONE PRS!!!

Sound
Love the 5881 tubes. Far more efficient than typical "small amp" tubes. The tone of a 35 or 40 watt amp. So much to like.

Features
Features are bare, but you don't miss them on an amp like this although the Master Volume is helpful. Do miss having a stand-by switch.

Ease of Use
Great sound almost immediately. Dials in VERY quickly.

Quality
Can't speak to reliability but looks impeccably built. No weird noises, crackling, perfect performance.

Value
Fantastic deal.

Manufacturer Support
I asked if I could use full size 6L6 tubes, got a prompt friendly email (they said yes)

The Wow Factor
Nails a very illusive sound and even lets you build on that.

Musical Background:
Gigging since childhood (1970), have owned most of the great amps.

Musical Style:
Americana, California stoner country, Rock-n-Roll, Hendrix, Allman Bros. tribute band.

10 of 10 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?