PRS MT 15
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P
aul Reed Smith is
well-known for some of
the most beautiful and
expensive guitars on the
planet, and the same
goes for the company’s amps.
Thankfully, for us mortals at
least, PRS is also doing a good job
of covering the more aff ordable
end of the market, with its SE
guitars and Sonzera series of
amps. Following on from the
mega-expensive John Mayer
J-MOD 100 head, PRS’s latest
signature amp is the MT 15 Mark
Tremonti signature head, which
promises to seriously deliver on
the high-gain front.
Tremonti is a long-time PRS
endorser and self-affi rmed gear
nut, so it’s no surprise the former
Creed and Alter Bridge axeman’s
amp is a purposeful, no-frills
design, although there are some
cool details. The red side fl ashes in
the perforated steel cover combine
with relief pressing to add a touch
of style, and the valves are lit by
red LEDs for the lead channel and
blue LEDs for the rhythm channel,
which is simultaneously very
practical and extremely cool to
look at. Inside the steel chassis,
most of the components are held
on one large PCB, including the
front panel controls and the
preamp valve bases. Like the
Sonzera amps, the 6L6 output
valves are hand-wired, keeping
the hottest part of the amp clear of
the PCB and signifi cantly
improving reliability.
The MT 15 features two
channels: a clean channel with a
boost and a lead channel with so
much gain it will probably make all
of your stompboxes redundant.
The clean channel’s Fender-
inspired high headroom is
perfectly suited to eff ects –
fl ipping this channel into boost
mode adds a dose of extra gain
that’s perfect for blues and classic
rock crunch – while the lead
channel utilises no less than fi ve
gain stages for one of the thickest,
most massive distortion tones
we’ve ever heard from any rock
amp. Amps with this much gain
quite frequently turn to mush, but
the MT 15 retains exceptional
articulation and defi nition, right
up to the highest reaches of the
gain control. It sounds great with
single coils, but really comes alive
with a pair of beefy humbuckers.
Thanks to its eff ects loop and
half-power switch, the PRS MT 15
has enough versatility to cover
most player’s needs. The towering
lead channel isn’t for shy, retiring
types, but if you play modern rock
and metal, it’s like having all your
Christmases at once, with huge
sustain matched by a fast dynamic
response that’s just as good for
rhythm and lead work and sounds
great with a touch of delay. Best of
all, this all-steel lunchbox hero is
available at a very aff ordable price
that’s practically guaranteed to see
it fl y off the shelves.
Nick Guppy
PRS MT 15
A monster tone machine at an irresistible price
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BOOST
The clean channel’s
pull-boost adds a
vintage overdrive
that’s great for
classic rock crunch
effects – however,
like the FX loop it
can’t be foot-
switched in or out
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BIAS TESTING
There’s a pair of
bias test points and
an adjustment pot on
the rear panel, so the
6L6 power valves can
be kept in peak trim
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HALF-POWER
The MT 15
features a useful
half-power option
that drops the output
to around 7 watts and
adds a slightly thicker,
more compressed vibe
TYPE: Amp head with
all-valve preamp and
power amp
OUTPUT: 15 watts
RMS, switchable to
7 watts
VALVES: 6x 12A X7,
2x 6L6
CONTROLS: Clean
channel: volume, bass,
mid, treble (with pull
boost). Lead channel:
Gain, bass, mid, treble,
master volume.
Master presence.
Half-power switch on
rear panel
SOCKETS: Guitar in,
effects loop send/
return, footswitch
(changes channels),
speaker out x 3
WEIGHT: 8kg
DIMENSIONS:
[HxWxD]
185x355x205mm
CONTACT: PRS Guitars
Europe 01223 874301
www.prsguitars.com
AT A GLANCE
HUGE SUSTAIN MATCHED
BY A FAST, DYNAMIC RESPONSE
£555
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
BEST BUY
AWARD
Photography: Adam Gasson
REVIEW
97
JUNE 2018 TOTAL GUITAR
TGR306.gear_prs.indd 97 4/25/18 2:03 PM