(see rating details)

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

I came across one of these for sale used a little while ago. Couldn't be happier with the performance of this amp. It can be a little pricey (as can anything with the name Paul Reed Smith on it can be) but it lives up to the billing. Silky smooth tone that is warm and round. The two channels are distinct but can give a little overlap to give a nice transition from clean to lead. The clean channel has great, twinkly, crisp, articulate sound that when mixed with a little of that reverb sounds quite ethereal on it lower gain settings and it can be pretty crunchy if you turn up the gain and dial back the master volume. Great for that bluesier kind of sound that I dig for my rhythm. The lead channel goes from crunch to grimy yet velvety distortion that goes all the way from a little less than metal when cranked, to that silky smooth "Trey Anastasio" from the Divided Sky kind of feel. I don't think this is really a metal head kind of high gain kind of amp. But that makes me no difference as I don't really play much of that anyway. It didn't really take too long to figure out how to dial in the tone I wanted either. The controls are pretty straight forward and laid out in a way that just makes since. I would suggest throwing a volume pedal in the effects loop if you want to practice indoors as it can be a bit loud if you want the tone that it is capable of generating. This tone is pretty unique onto itself. If you are looking for a "sounds like" type of amp this may not be it and for the money you may as well get a "real" Fender or a "real" Marshall or Vox. But, for being its own entity, it certainly will give you a sound that not many others have. If you like effects, you will have to add them as this really only does the two channels and the reverb, but it takes my pedals well and does have the loop option if you are into that. All in all, this is probably top two or three amps (for my ears anyway) that I have played thru. I started playing when I was 18 and I am 41 now.

Musical Background:

Musical Style:

(see rating details)

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

Can't beat it for the money. Sounds like a vintage Marshall out of a 4x12. Plenty of low end. Warm, brown and classic. I use a tube screamer and a compressor in front of it and I can do anything but metal. Its worth every penny, and with a 5 yr warranty, whats the risk? Nice JJ's and tung sols included, decent reverb, plenty of power. It weighs a bit, but its solid and a great tone machine.

Musical Background:

Musical Style: