Description
Do a double-take if you need to. That’s right, PRS has boldly gone where no other guitar/amp manufacturer has gone before and essentially made a Jimi Hendrix amplifier! Heavily inspired by one of the Seattle-born legend’s personal touring amps purportedly used at Woodstock — which Paul Reed Smith and PRS amp designer Doug Sewell were able to study in 2018 — the PRS HDRX 20 captures the flexibility, power and balance of the quintessential late ’60s British-style Hendrix tone, in a compact low-wattage package.
Paul Reed Smith on the HDRX:
“Designing the PRS HDRX was not an exercise in over-engineering — it’s a fairly straightforward build with the right parts and circuit. We kept historic specs where it made sense, and we made substitutions based on availability, safety, and experience. In the end, I think we have made a great-sounding amplifier with exceptional build quality and enough power to blow your pant-leg when you play it!”
“These HDRX amps are intended to sound exactly the same as Hendrix’s touring rig, not look exactly the same. But we know this is hallowed ground. We feel privileged to reach back into history and bring something special into the current music landscape.”
5881 Power Tubes
Designed to push the high-end so it’s 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 — these 5881 valves bring thick but articulate tone that drives well and breaks up beautifully!
Modern Enhancements
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 you the flexibility and increased control of their tone. The PRS HDRX 20 is also designed with internally-bridged channels with individual treble and bass volume knobs. This eliminates the need for a jumper cable (historically used on the outside of the amp) and allows you 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, a new feature for HDRX Series amps, is another contemporary refinement. Players can use the master volume to control the power amp section of the HDRX, making it more user-friendly for those who don’t want to add a volume attenuator to their setup.
Specifications
Electronics
- Wattage (Nominal): 20
Tubes
- 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 with Integrated Fuse
- Output Jack Configuration/Ohm Selection: 2×4, 2×8, 1×16
- Bias: Adjustable (accessible bias monitor jacks and adjustment potentiometer)
- Channels: 2, Internally Bridged
- B+ Fuse Holder: T500mAL/500V Fuse
Materials/Covering
- Covering: Black Tolex
- Piping: Black
- Trim Panel: Black Tolex
Measurements
- Amp Width: 17.25″
- Amp Depth: 9″
- Amp Height: 9″
- Amp Weight: 27.6 lbs
