An Authentic-sounding Hendrix-inspired Amp from PRS
Back in 2018, Paul Reed Smith and PRS Amp Designer Doug Sewell got their hands on Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock-era amplifier — a late-'60s British non-master-volume model. After meticulously studying the original amp's circuitry, PRS retooled and refined it, giving rise to the HDRX 50. This amplifier head features a period-correct tube configuration, along with a custom-designed output transformer that captures the flexibility, power, and balance of the original. The HDRX 50 not only delivers the vaunted dynamic range that British non-master-volume amps are renowned for, but it also includes a contemporary power supply and filament design to safeguard against unwanted hum and hiss. You'll appreciate the HDRX 50's streamlined control layout, and its internally bridged channels eliminate the need for external jumping. If you desire an authentic non-master-volume playing experience but value the convenience and improved sonics of a modern amp, the PRS HDRX 50 was tailor-made for you.
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Elicits classic British non-master-volume sound
If you're yearning for the sound of a classic British non-master-volume amplifier, then the HDRX 50 will satisfy your tonal craving. Heavily inspired by the amp Jimi Hendrix played through at the legendary Woodstock music festival, the HDRX 50 includes three JJ ECC803S preamp tubes and two New Sensor EL34EH power tubes, along with a custom-designed Straight Edge output transformer. Beyond that, the HDRX 50 includes a 100-watt power supply, which makes it sound much closer to the original 100-watt amplifier than a typical 50-watt amp. Like the non-master-volume designs of yore, this tube amp head exhibits incredible dynamics, enabling you to go from clean chime to crunchy grime by altering your picking pressure — try doing that with a modern master-volume amplifier! Push the HDRX 50 to its upper limits, and you'll experience clear, aggressive tones that sing smoothly and sweetly when you back off. Beyond that, this amplifier is quieter than its vintage counterpart, thanks to an updated power supply and filament design — you can crank the HDRX 50 to the max with astonishingly low levels of hum and hiss.
Familiar controls with modern-day flexibility
The PRS HDRX 50's controls mirror those of a historic British non-master-volume amplifier. A 3-band equalizer gives you ample tone shaping; a 3-way bright switch and High Mid Gain switch offer further sonic customization. You also get a Presence control for dialing in your upper harmonics. The guitarists here at Sweetwater have found the HDRX 50's controls to be familiar for guitarists familiar with vintage non-master-volume amps. That said, this modern-day iteration includes increased flexibility and control players couldn't even dream of in 1969.
Convenient internally bridged channels
Just about everyone who played a British non-master-volume amp back in the day jumped its two channels, feeding their instrument's signal through both channels simultaneously for increased gain — that's where the amplifier's magic lies. The HDRX 50 eliminates the need for an external jumper cable by bridging its channels internally. That said, you still get two independent Volume controls for easy blending of its boosted, bright Lead channel and its flatter-sounding Bass channel. Courtesy of its convenient, contemporary design, dialing in the HDRX 50's distortion is a piece of cake.
PRS HDRX 50 Head Features:
- 50W tube guitar amplifier head based on a vintage British non-master-volume amplifier
- Heavily inspired by Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock-era amp
- Late-1960s tube configuration: 3 JJ ECC803S preamp tubes; 2 New Sensor EL34EH power tubes
- Custom-designed Straight Edge output transformer lends an in-your-face quality to your playing
- 100W power supply mirrors the sound of the original 100W amplifier
- Incredible dynamic range — achieve everything from clean chime to crunchy grime by altering picking pressure
- Updated power supply and filament design safeguards against unwanted hum and hiss
- Familiar 3-band equalizer gives you ample tone shaping
- 3-way bright switch and High Mid Gain switch offer further sonic customization
- Presence control for dialing in your upper harmonics
- Internally bridged channels eliminates the need for external jumping
- Per-channel Volume controls for easy blending of channels
