Introducing the Updated MT 15 and All New Archon Classic Amplifiers!

We are excited to bolster our amplifier offerings with the updated MT 15 and brand new Archon Classic! Both of these amps have been meticulously designed to take your sound to the next level, whether you're looking for the low-wattage high gain punch of the MT 15, or awesome 80's rock sounds with the Archon Classic. You can learn more about both of these amps below, including a word about the development of each model from PRS Senior Amp Designer Doug Sewell!

The MT 15 is getting an upgrade in 2025 with the addition of a push/pull overdrive control on the Lead channel that removes two gain stages to produce vintage, crunchier “mid gain” tones. This amp packs a punch but no matter what tone you dial in, the MT 15 stays balanced across any sound you might need! Additionally, the MT 15 received a number of aesthetic updates including the front grill plate, top handle, and more! Below, PRS Senior Amp Designer Doug Sewell shared his experience with updating the MT 15 while maintaining its core identity.

A Note From PRS Senior Amp Designer, Doug Sewell

With several years of brisk sales and the introduction of its big brother the MT 100, the MT 15 lunchbox head became a great candidate for a design update. The MT 100 project produced an aesthetic that took no cues from any existing PRS amp, borrowing heavily from Industrial influences that projected a no-nonsense, all-business attitude. Most significantly, the MT 100 added a third channel to the MT amp brand, a new “overdrive” channel with a medium gain structure inspired by one of Mark’s rare vintage amps.

It became our design mission to retain the charm of the original MT 15 while borrowing from the DNA of the MT 100, so they more obviously related with each other as family members. The upper cage was re-designed with scaled-down “hotdog” openings to match the 100. We added a proper PRS logo in lieu of the silkscreen and matched the color and style of the chassis graphics. The side “Tremonti Pillars” were changed to a light gray color, with the only splash of red on the metal occurring on the MT 15 front cage graphics—another tip of the hat to the 100. Many will applaud the comfy full-sized leatherette handle like the bigger brother. Need to stack two or three of these or load it in a rack? Just unscrew and remove the handle for a smooth, flat top to work with. The cage is threaded so no loose nuts will get lost inside either.

Circuit-wise, we wanted to retain the well-respected performance of the original. If any changes were to be made, they would be in addition to, but not mutating the existing circuit in any way. After careful study, we experimented with creating a medium gain structure to somewhat mirror the new “Overdrive” channel of the MT 100. We implemented this with a pull-knob at the Treble location of the Lead channel. The pull function simply bypasses two gain stages but retains the tone of the Lead channel, as requested by Mark. Same tone, lower gain. We labeled this as “Pull Overdrive” to relate to that channel of the MT 100. We also took the opportunity, at Mark’s request, to change the LED array in the cage associated with the Overdrive mode to Amber/yellow like the MT 100. So, Blue for Clean, Amber for Overdrive, and Red for Lead for a “Groovy Light Show” indeed!

You can get a feel for the MT 15's new design in this demo highlighting both the clean and dirty channels as well the all new push/pull Overdrive Control!

“Seven years ago, we released my signature MT 15 amplifier, a compact powerhouse that quickly became a go-to for players seeking both pristine cleans and crushing high-gain tones. In 2023, we took things even further with the MT 100, delivering a full-scale amplifier that carried my signature sound to the next level. That inspired us to find a way to fit the 100’s third channel into the 15’s lunchbox size.

Today, I’m beyond excited to introduce the next evolution of the MT 15, now featuring a push/pull overdrive control on the Lead channel and a half-power switch, giving players even more tonal flexibility to shape their sound with a compact amp. Can’t wait for you all to plug in and experience it!”

– Mark Tremonti

If you want to learn more about the MT 15, click here!

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We're excited to unveil a brand new addition to the PRS amp lineup and Archon family of amplifiers - the Archon Classic! And with it comes a new 4x12 cabinet offering, the "Archon 4x12."

"The Archon Classic is not a re-issue of the original Archon, but a newly voiced circuit with the Lead channel excelling in 70s and 80s rock tones and a hotter Clean channel able to go into breakup. This is the answer for those wanting an Archon with a hotrod vintage Lead channel gain structure without changing preamp tube types and a juiced up Clean channel without having to use a boost pedal all wrapped up in a retro inspired cabinet de-sign.”

– Doug Sewell, PRS Amp Designer

With a refined gain structure from the original Archon, the Archon Classic offers a wide range of tonal options, and can navigate from pristine clean to edge of breakup sounds with ease. Senior Amp Designer Doug Sewell dives deeper into the development of the Archon Classic--and how it differs from the Archon--in the note below!

A Note From PRS Senior Amp Designer, Doug Sewell

The original PRS Archon boasts crystal clean and blistering lead tones. Even as we tempered this vast contrast so that the Archon could be used and considered beyond solely being a “metal” amp, there was still discussion on social media from those wishing for more vintage tones from the Archon. Some customers were replacing 12AX7 tubes with lower gain tubes to try and achieve this. Others were just using the clean channel with a boost pedal. With such a great platform to work with, we realized that a sister amp could be created to fit the bill for those desiring a more vintage performance.

One would think the process of piggybacking on a successful design would be fairly easy, especially when the re-design could be considered somewhat “subtractive”, but that did not turn out to be the case. We drew heavily on help from Paul, whose love for vintage tones is extreme, and finally landed on a design that allows both the clean and lead channels to achieve those edge-of-breakup volume settings that great vintage amps are coveted for. Since the two channels are inspired by different circuits, the edge-of-breakup tones are individually great, but tonally unique. Going beyond the “edge” settings, the lead channel can indeed extend to British gnarly and the cleans can still give you that sweet west coast vintage clean. Couple the circuit changes with a new vintage-inspired aesthetic, and we feel we have created a cool and very versatile design.

Learn more about the Archon Classic here.

Learn about the Archon 4x12 Cabinet here.

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