Platinum Blonde

PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag

- Martin Smith

Back in the annals of PRS history, its founder, Paul, became enamoured with the playing and tone of Texas bluesman David Grissom, a guitarist with a stellar roster of clients including The Allman Brothers, John Mellencamp, Chris Isaak and Bob Dylan. The blossoming tonerapport between David and Paul would lead to a number of Grissom signature products, commencing with the highly-esteemed PRS DGT guitar in 2007.

A conversation began between senior PRS amp designer Doug Sewell and Grissom regarding the sound of his four favourite historic amps: specifically the top-end of a Tweed deluxe, mid-control of a Hiwatt, the low-end of the ‘Plexi’ 50 with nods to an AC30, resulting in the 50-watt and 30-watt incarnations of the DG Custom amp in 2012. The 50-watt version had less of the power-stage saturation that David leans on for his gutsy Texan tone and was subsequently discontinued. Released earlier in 2024, however, is this keenly priced new DGT head, designed in the USA and – like the current Archon, MT 15 and 100, HDRX 20 and Sonzera 20 – made in Indonesia.

Pulling the amp out of its substantial packaging, an attractive blonde compactsized 15-watt single-channel amp head emerges with a helpful overlay card offering setting suggestions, followed by a sturdy black anodised, three-way red LED-illuminated footswitch controlling the boost, reverb and tremolo functions with stage-length MIDI-style cable, IEC mains cable and a brief instruction pamphlet to complete the deal.

Built around a Fender-style, downward hanging chassis in heavy gauge black anodised steel, the design aesthetic continues with the blonde Tolex and plush leather strap handle, while the salt ’n’ pepper basket-weave grille cloth subtly hints towards the Marshall influence. It’s a great-looking head that will likely receive approving glances from even the sniffiest amp aficionados.