PRS Dallas 2 info wanted please.

[Yamaha 350]

OK you all know I love the PRS PRS Sonzera amplifier head. So I found a PRS Dallas 2 Combo Amplifier for a smoking deal. And I need info. What do most guitar and PRS players think of them? How is the quality etc.. ?

 

[Yamaha 350]

So any info?

 

[Guitar Dave T]

High quality circuitboard construction, killer tones when cranked, a Doug Sewell designed, professional amp that's meant to be gigged. Thick, punchy midrange that's responsive and articulate. Great amp.

 

[Dead Astronaut]

The Dallas was PRS's spec'd out version of a blackface Fender Super Reverb, presumably with some extra preamp gain staging in there (hence the Master control) – I know there's also a Dallas that's the front end of a Super Reverb with the power section of a Plexi, but I believe that's the Super Dallas, not the Dallas II.

... OK, just did a bit of research, and the Dallas II is substantially the same amp as the Dallas, except it's part-handwired and part-PCB, hence the lower price point. 50 watts out of 2 6L6s, which is going to be plenty of volume for any modern stage.

So, basically, it appears to be a part-PCB, master volume-enabled version of a Super Reverb, and in every writeup I can find, Paul and his amp designer Doug Sewell mention that it's specifically voiced to add heft to single-coil guitars, so, as @Guitar Dave T says, "thick, punchy midrange" sounds very correct. A Super Reverb hardly lacks for mids on its own, so it sounds like a pretty screaming version of that circuit.

Greg Koch can make most things sound good, so caveat auditor, but this sounds pretty gotdamn good to me! Much like what I imagined: the basic tonality and top end of a Super, with a whole lot of extra crunch and punch in the middle:

 

[Dead Astronaut]

(That's the Custom Dallas, not the Dallas II, but I believe the main difference is the build method, not the voicing or anything.)

 

[Yamaha 350]

High quality circuitboard construction, killer tones when cranked, a Doug Sewell designed, professional amp that's meant to be gigged. Thick, punchy midrange that's responsive and articulate. Great amp.

The Dallas was PRS's spec'd out version of a blackface Fender Super Reverb, presumably with some extra preamp gain staging in there (hence the Master control) – I know there's also a Dallas that's the front end of a Super Reverb with the power section of a Plexi, but I believe that's the Super Dallas, not the Dallas II.

... OK, just did a bit of research, and the Dallas II is substantially the same amp as the Dallas, except it's part-handwired and part-PCB, hence the lower price point. 50 watts out of 2 6L6s, which is going to be plenty of volume for any modern stage.

So, basically, it appears to be a part-PCB, master volume-enabled version of a Super Reverb, and in every writeup I can find, Paul and his amp designer Doug Sewell mention that it's specifically voiced to add heft to single-coil guitars, so, as @Guitar Dave T says, "thick, punchy midrange" sounds very correct. A Super Reverb hardly lacks for mids on its own, so it sounds like a pretty screaming version of that circuit.

Greg Koch can make most things sound good, so caveat auditor, but this sounds pretty gotdamn good to me! Much like what I imagined: the basic tonality and top end of a Super, with a whole lot of extra crunch and punch in the middle:

(That's the Custom Dallas, not the Dallas II, but I believe the main difference is the build method, not the voicing or anything.)

Thank you for the info. I have learned a lot.

 

[ProfRhino]

worth mentioning in the PRS context that they sometimes use super HQ PCBs in their handwired amps, in a unique, innovative way that arguably might even be superior to the classic ways of handwiring.

• the PCB has an extra thick copper layer on the back, and only carries printed ground planes for superior shielding
• anything else, components & connections, is fully handwired on eyelets, old school
• goes without saying, pots, jacks etc are offboard, as you'd expect

Doug claims the printed ground planes go a long way towards keeping noise down, and also consistency - imhe he's right !
beautiful builds, and you hear it !

as for the Dallas 2, I have never seen one, so I can't comment how much, if any, of the above applies here.
but I would buy any amp Doug designed sight unseen, if its concept appeals to me.

sorry for the slight OT, but I figured it might be interesting,
cheers,
Rhino

 

[Yamaha 350]

worth mentioning in the PRS context that they sometimes use super HQ PCBs in their handwired amps, in a unique, innovative way that arguably might even be superior to the classic ways of handwiring.

• the PCB has an extra thick copper layer on the back, and only carries printed ground planes for superior shielding
• anything else, components & connections, is fully handwired on eyelets, old school
• goes without saying, pots, jacks etc are offboard, as you'd expect

Doug claims the printed ground planes go a long way towards keeping noise down, and also consistency - imhe he's right !
beautiful builds, and you hear it !

as for the Dallas 2, I have never seen one, so I can't comment how much, if any, of the above applies here.
but I would buy any amp Doug designed sight unseen, if its concept appeals to me.

sorry for the slight OT, but I figured it might be interesting,
cheers,
Rhino

Thank you for the info.

 

[LikeAMotherF]

It'd have to be a really smokin deal for me to jump on one. They don't seem to hold value- I mean, all of those early PRS amps seemed to tank in value on the used market- but the Dallas II appears to have held up especially poorly. I've seen them sit on the market for $600 and less.... And just sit.

I was tempted to try one out because the price was so low, but I decided it's probably not going to be "the one", and I don't want to list it and sit on it or take a hit, so I passed.

If you get one, though, I'd be curious to hear what you think of it!