Which does Hendrix better? PRS HDRX 20 vs Marshall JTM ST20

[@MikelBluni]

A quickie from the road....filmed in a local music store. I enjoyed both amps a lot! I think the iPhone captures the basic characters very well! Lets discuss....

[@bradwestcott1917]

Don’t keep us in the dark! What did you think, in the room? Thanks for the video.

[@MikelBluni]

@@bradwestcott1917 Loud?!? I thought both sounded very dynamic, the ST20 a bit richer in harmonics, the PRS ballsier and louder. Both mentioned features not in a bad way, but there’s definitely a difference ✌️🎸

[@ThePedalsComparison]

Jtm for sure

[@BradRocker]

Both have their unique tone, I prefer the PRS.

[@Voodoo66Chile]

I've been playing guitar for over 20+ years now and have been obsessed with Jimi the entire time. I absolutely love my HDRX20 and really enjoyed this comparison as I've also been gassing for a ST20. I think the HDRX20 does an excellent job at capturing both early Jimi tones and later, specifically up to 1969 US tour (i mean it is based on a Jimi owned '69 era Superlead). I found in this comparison the HDRX20 edged out the ST20 simply becauae I feel you could capture a wider era of tones where the ST20 does the early JTM era tones fairly well, it does distinctly sound like a JTM where the HDRX20 sounds almost like a blend of a JTM and Superlead, maybe like a Superbass. I also think you can push the HDRX20 even more in the JTM direction by using the Bass channel. I do think the HDRX20 excels at, obviously, his '69 US tour tones. Listen to the Newport '69 show (the actually JHE gig and not the famous jam with the wall of Fender amps) and you'll hear that distinct bright upper mid pushed Superlead tone familiar in the HDRX20. I still thoroughly enjoyed the ST20, I still want to get one! I personally prefer Jimi's earlier JTM 45/100 tones with Monterey being imo his absolutely best tone followed by the October Winterland shows in '68. Thanks for the great video and comparison for us Hendrix heads! P.S. I feel the HDRX20 sounds better overall as I also had a SV20 initially but sold it once I got the HDRX20. The Marshall studio amps imo sound "small" even for 20w amps where the HDRX20 actually the girth of a larger amp. I believe many insist the HDRX20 is closer to 30w, closer to an actual JTM45 and I believe it. Yesterday all the neighbors were gone and I got to dime my HDRX20 thru my Heritage G12H30 55hz 4x12 and it was LOUD! The SV20 could get impressively loud too but always lacked punch and girth... That's what I'm hearing also with the ST20 here.

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks for your insights ✌️🎸 You nailed it it pretty much 🎸💯

[@johnb4024]

How many speakers have you tried with the HDRX 20? I also have a pair of G12H 55 15ohm. What are your thoughts on those speakers compared to others you've tried?

[@cliffordjohnson988]

Fantastic video Mike ! I own the HDRX 20 and love it. I attenuate it with a captor x as it's pretty loud.

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks a lot ✌️🎸 The HDRX is a Power horse 🎸

[@joannewerestiuk257]

I think I slightly prefer the HDRX, however both are absolutely fantastic choices. Also, the iPhone sounded really good, you should try incorporating some room audio from the iPhone into your regular videos. Great video!

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks for sharing ✌️🎸 My regular videos are shot with a Sony cam, not with the iPhone 😉 There’s always a tiny bit of room in the recordings, though 🎸💯☮️

[@Strotophonic]

Both are magnificent Hendrix Choice and capture his early and later stages...........AND THAT LOVER MAN INTRO...........UFFFF!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@MikelBluni]

Yes, both do a great job ✌️🎸

[@johnb4024]

I have the HDRX and love it! Thanks for another awesome Jimi vid!

[@MikelBluni]

Definitely an amp that can capture some Jimi textures very well. How are you running it - which cab/speaker and are you using an attenuator or the master volume? ✌️🎸

[@johnb4024]

@@MikelBluni I have two 2 by 12 cabs. One cab greenbacks the other cab vintage 30's. Using a combination of the master volume and a Torpedo Captor 8. I bought two G12H 55HZ 15 ohm speakers before they were discontinued. But they're in the boxes for a rainy day. That amplifier might be 20 watts but it is loud as hell

[@MikelBluni]

@@johnb4024 Great input, thanks ✌️🎸 I guess the G12H30s will compliment the tone of the HDRX a lot. ☮️💯

[@johnb4024]

​@@MikelBluniI'm anticipating it will. Your vid on the G12H's helped decide it. Thanks!

[@mattragan1142]

Thanks for another absorbing Hendrix themed video!!! I'd agree that the iPhone captures the basic characters informatively. Listening in headphones, there is a noticeable iPhone stereo mic placement difference in relation to the cabs though (the Marshall more positioned right in the stereo field, which fits with the visual). So the Marshall is assumedly captured more off-axis, which typically affects the recorded sound/ the tone color, albeit not as pronounced with this relatively distant mic'ing as it would be with a close mic. I know you're well aware of this Mikel, and you're clearly only offering this as a basic character quickie capture, but those of us attempting to do finely detailed listening comparisons might be well served to keep in mind that this is not exactly a 100% scientific A/B.

[@darwinsaye]

PRS is rounder and more punchy in the bass notes, and the JTM is a little more indistinct and dark. It’s especially apparent in the comparison at 7:23 and 7:57 . That is quite accurate to the characters of the two amps they are based on.

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks for adding ✌️🎸

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also I feel sad ❤😢😊

[@darwinsaye]

Love this, Mikel. If you ever do it again, I would love to see the PRS HRDX compared to the Marshall Origin 20. Those are the two amps I was considering a few months ago because of their affordability. I ended up choosing the Origin since it had the combo option.

[@MikelBluni]

A combo format might have been a big win for PRS…who knows ✌️🎸

[@sidmicheals9739]

DAMN!! THAT HDRX20 is FIRE. Makes me want to buy it with my Marshall

[@MikelBluni]

It’s a wonderful amp - go ahead ✌️🎸

[@albertjabberin739]

Thanks for the vid. Hard to tell just with phone, but I would imagine the hdrx head and cab is louder, hits harder in room, more bass, while the Marshall combo isn’t as loud but it sounds like it drips with tone, great lead sound. Would like to hear the Marshall head with same cab. Hdrx sounds closer to a real jtm45 or 1987x, so it’s a far better deal for the money imo.

[@MikelBluni]

It’s the same speaker for both, cab and amp case construction are very close. HDRX is louder, can’t confirm that it is closer to a real JTM45 or 1987x. The ST20 seems harmonically a tad richer ✌️🎸

[@albertjabberin739]

@@MikelBluniI agree

[@GCKelloch]

a JTM45 and1987x are very different sounding amps. The former has a shared cathode with virtually no power supply filtering, a more mid scooped tone stack with more lower bass, a tube rectifier, and a Fender style OT. If anything, the JTM20 is more like a JTM45, and the PRS is more like a 1987x.

[@MikelBluni]

@@GCKelloch Thanks for your comment. I’m playing a 1987x and the PRS HDRX sounds nothing like it 😉✌️☮️🎸

[@albertjabberin739]

@@GCKelloch I’m not sure about the hdrx20 but I heard Paul say the big hdrx amps have some jtm45/100 circuitry and the 20 using 5881 tubes made me think of that comparison, maybe closer to a jtm50? I’m not a Marshall guru but I was getting at the hdrx20 having a bigger sound than the studio jtm, closer to a jtm45 or 1987x or in between. I have an hdrx20 and I still don’t know what to compare it to, maybe you’re right like a less powerful 1987x.

[@ToddHavel]

A controlled studio sound recording has so many nuances that the engineer does, sometimes the amp is just a little Fender Princeton or Champ! But live the equipment needs to be so different, your going through an P/A! I would love to have a sound engineer review these sounds. Love the music with just one guitar, thank you for sharing. I really like the Hendrix clean tones that are not really clean, they are on the edge of break up giving sustain. I always wonder what amp and what pedals where used for Wind Cries Mary, and Remember. Some of the tracks were recorded at different studios too! We just assume it was done like Eric Clapton and brought the big Marshall into the studio and dimed it ! Set the mic across the studio and told the engineers to play and don’t tough anything!

[@bradwestcott1917]

I think it’s a tough call because it seemed like PRS was a little louder, and your ears will always prefer the louder one. Both sounded great.

[@MikelBluni]

The PRS is louder by a big step. I personally would prefer the amp that fits my context the best. Let’s say cut through in a band mix, volume against drummer, capability of still being hear when guitar volume is rolled back, overall harmonical richness ✌️🎸

[@kostisk8914]

Great vid! I think PRS sounds "more Jimi", though I think your killer playing leans toward SRV style :0). Marshall sounded like it had less lows/lower mids and felt more open and less compressed/choked back at times. PRS was darker and is what I think of when I hear Jimi's studio tones. I would think Jimi live (i.e. being at the show with 4x12s pointed at you) with singles through a 100watt marshall would have benefitted from some warmth.

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks a lot ✌️🎸 Both amps are somehow different, at least more different than I would have expected. But…you can get a big pallet of Jimi tones with both 😃

[@c63tay70]

Try the higher watt HDRX, the 50 watt is impossible to use in my bedroom, but I try, and it’s INSANE

[@GorganKotaJan]

They are both amazing, but Marshall combo style is more easiest for transportation and better for little spaces

[@MikelBluni]

That’s a good pro argument ✌️

[@JDStone20]

Hey you ever noticed how similar "Who Knows" main riff is with "Sunshine of Your Loves' main riff?

[@MikelBluni]

That’s a good remark ✌️🎸

[@frankieconcepcion7860]

I’m thinking to pick up the HDRX20 as a backup head. Sounds great. Mikel do you think you could do a video on Jimis Reverse Delay tones?

[@MikelBluni]

That’s a cool backup then my friend ✌️🎸 Regarding the reverse delay, please check this video - it also starts with a reverse delay 🤞 kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWe4kqlribl6mZYsi=C1rSoSfKBk12UgU1

[@geirmagnusknardahl5889]

Many thanks for an awesome video, been following you for a couple of months your channel is an absolute gold mine for Hendrix nerds like myself. This was the exact decision I had a month ago when deciding on a small(ish) Hendrix inspired amp. I went with the Marshall combo for space and simplicity reasons, and just bought an axis fuzz after watching your videos @MikelBluni. I pair it with a Captor X for attenuation. Haven’t had the opportunity or time to dial in a good tone with axis fuzz, so this video is a very good starting point. What were your settings on the axis fuzz? Did you play the Marshall on the 5w or 20w setting?

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks a lot for your words ✌️🎸 I’ve played the Marshall on the High Treble, Vol on 9, High mode! Axis was Fuzz around 3 o‘ clock and volume around 12 o’ clock. Good luck my friend ✌️☮️

[@rijancaffe]

Great video! Could you compare the the Marshall Origin 50 to the PRS someday? I definitely wouldn't mind hearing that comparison.

[@MikelBluni]

I’ll keep that in mind for next time ✌️🎸☮️

[@jeffreylazzarinisr7419]

Great vid as always! Settings on the Marshall please? Thank you.

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks. Please check the beginning of the vid. There’s a shot where you can see the settings of both amps.

[@Strange752]

Sound amazing!! What type of speaker are you playing the Hdrx20 through?

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks ✌️🎸 I’ve played both amps through the same speaker which is a Celestion Creamback 65.

[@Strange752]

@ thanks for the response, I recently purchased the HDRX20. I can’t seem to get the sound I’m looking for. It sounds too “muffled” on my rig for some reason.

[@MikelBluni]

@ It’s a little on the bassy side, which also influences the mid spectrum a good bit. But, go back and listen to Hendrix’s sound…it’s somewhere there. I think the PRS does a good job in replicating Jimi’s tone, but I know what you mean. The Marshall was more transparent.

[@darrenc8776]

I've been using a marshall origin 20 combo for a while now. It's a cracking little amp. With the option of power reduction, you can get some power tube distortion at low ish volume.

[@VODECI]

I think these two are miles above the origin but the origin is much cheaper and has built in attenuation that can go to 0.5 watts and is also cathode biased like these two as well

[@darrenc8776]

​@VODECI, yes, I agree. The origin is much cheaper. I think in direct comparison with these amps, it wouldn't sound as good. But if you're driving it with fuzz and using a few pedals for ambience it's very close. Plus the combo 20 if really light if your giging with it 😂.

[@Sir_Peppers]

I used a origin 20 with a greenback. Perfect.

[@nathanbouton6700]

I took home the Marshall before I bought the PRS HDRX 20. The Marshall falls apart in the low end soo horribly, I couldn't buy it. It's really a beautiful amp visually, but the PRS does it better.

[@Terry_Aki]

Which one did you sort of like playing a little better Mikel ?

[@MikelBluni]

Hard to say. I enjoyed both, as they have their areas where they shine. Overall the ST20 seemed more lively.

[@pippydog28]

I have or had them both prs is better. . Both are a lil hard to dial in

[@VODECI]

Jtm all day

[@MikelBluni]

Why?

[@VODECI]

@@MikelBluni it has Marshall in its name and Jimi played a jtm 🤷‍♂️

[@Gimi.Endrics]

The clean channel of both amplifiers failed to impress me. Adding overdrive improved their sound, but the Marshall edged out the other in terms of my personal preference, even if it doesn't perfectly replicate Jimi Hendrix's tone.

[@MikelBluni]

Both amps are a bit on the warm bassy side, so the Fuzz does a lot of clean up. That’s actually also what Jimi did in his early phase - think Monterey…Fuzz was always on 🎸

[@Gimi.Endrics]

@@MikelBluni You're right, the PRS is a clone of the Marshall amplifier from Woodstock, if I'm not mistaken, but honestly, I hear very little of the Woodstock sound.

[@darwinsaye]

Neither of these amps has a “clean channel”. There is a treble channel and a normal (bass) channel.

[@kuitaristi3003]

PRS for sure

[@Des-de-Nova]

Are you playing thru the same cab?

[@MikelBluni]

Yes ✌️🎸

[@kurtisbrand49]

HDRX has way more character

[@frankorobinson1540]

More power and more drive 😂i like a thunderstorm 😂😂😂

[@Terry_Aki]

It's close but maybe the Marshall for me.

[@teresathomley3703]

Slight edge to the PRS

[@deanmlshredder]

Did you jumper the channels? The HDRX is internally jumpered. Not sure if you mentioned doing this in the video but if you didn't that's why the PRS is louder and dirtier by such a wide margin.

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks for your consideration. As this is a Hendrix tone test I’ve only used the high treble channel. The PRS is intensely jumpered, but you can turn tone each channel which makes it unjumpered again. Actually, jumpering a Marshall does not effect the loudness ✌️🎸

[@JDStone20]

I didn't like either one of them two be honest. The Marshall sounded too bassey and muddy, and the PRS sounded two treblely and thin. But that reversed at around the 5:45 mark were you started playing blues, the Marshall sounded thin and the PRS sounded muddy on the first song and then after that they both sounded fine, I would like to have either one to be honest.

[@MikelBluni]

Thanks for sharing. There’s a good portion of bassiness in both amps but that is described in their origins. Try an original JTM45 or JTM45/100. Focussing on Hendrix tone, both deliver a little something ✌️🎸

[@dariuszhylewicz2208]

PEACE!!!

[@JDStone20]

@@MikelBluni Well, the amp you use sounds on the money, and at the end of the video the amps sounded pretty close to a Hendrix sound and sounded pretty good. I plan on trying out a JTM45 as soon as I can get my hands on one. The closest amp to a marshall I have ever played was a Sovtek MiG50

[@bluevd12]

is not accurate because yur guitar is not an upside down strat . yur playing is very good. hendrix had his amp at 8 doubtful yu are playn it at 8...