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The HDRX 20 captures the Hendrix-inspired tube head magic of PRS’ HDRX line in a lower-wattage head that’s ready for action! 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 model. After meticulously studying the original amp's circuitry, PRS retooled and refined it, giving rise to the HDRX series. This amplifier head features 5881 power tubes that break up well at lower volumes, three 12AX7 preamp tubes, and an all-new master volume knob that makes nailing saturated tones a breeze, even at low volumes. You'll appreciate the HDRX 20’s streamlined control layout, versatile channel blending, and powerful EQ features like 3-band EQ, presence, and gain controls. If you’re chasing an authentic British-style amp with a dash of American ingenuity, the PRS HDRX 20 from Guitar World was tailor-made for you!
Heavily inspired by the amp Jimi Hendrix played through at the legendary Woodstock music festival, the HDRX 20 includes two 5881 power tubes preamp tubes and three 12AX7 preamp tubes. PRS’ amp team hand selected these tubes for this lower-wattage HDRX head. The 5881s in particular were found to deliver thick but articulate tone that excels in a lower-wattage format. Put to work, this tube head exhibits incredible responsive output that lets you go from clean chime to crunchy grime just by altering your dynamics and attack. Push the HDRX 20 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 20 to the max with astonishingly low levels of hum and hiss.
The PRS HDRX 20’s controls mirror those of a historic British non-master-volume amplifier. A 3-band equalizer gives you ample tone shaping; a 2-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 Guitar World have found the HDRX 20's controls to be familiar for guitarists familiar with vintage non-master-volume amps. That being said, this new HDRX iteration includes a master volume knob, so you can now adjust the output to taste — a must-have for getting the most out of this low-wattage head.
Classic players of British non-master-volume amps often jumped both amp channels simultaneously for a resulting gain boost — that's where the amplifier's magic lies. The HDRX 20 eliminates the need for an external jumper cable by bridging its two channels internally. The front panel offers two independent volume controls for easy blending of its boosted, bright Lead channel and its flatter-sounding Bass channel. Such a convenient, contemporary design makes dialing in the HDRX 20’s distortion a piece of cake.
