Bad Cat Lynx vs PRS Archon

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ape2000

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Howdy!

Long-time lurker. I've seen a few similar posts, so my bad if I'm double/triple-posting.

I currently have a Mesa Electra Dyne. LOVE the cleans. Hate the weight, don't love the high gain. The low-gain blue channel is great, but more in the edge of break up way than anything else for me.

Had a Budda SuperDrive 30 years ago. Wouldn't mind going down that path again, but I'm testing the waters.

Looking for a portable combo (preferably, but I could do head and cab).

Not trying to spend tons of money.

Great, big, warm, lively cleans and taking pedals like a champ is a must.
As for dirt, I love low-mid chunk. Don't need metal amounts of dirt but I definitely play rock with some heavier influences.
In-betweens would be cool, but I can always rock a pedal for that.

My searching has led me to the Bad Cat Lynx 50 (or new Player's Series Hot Cat 30R) OR the PRS Archon 50 as serious contenders.

Now, I know Bad Cats can be heavy (physically).

But, the PRS seems to be best for either super clean or mega dirt.

Anyone happen to have played both and can offer insights?

Here's a link to a song of mine that runs the gamut of tonal variances I use. (Clean, heavily effected, mid-gain, chuggy)
https://lunasoltera.bandcamp.com/track/shattered

Overall, I'm pretty 90's influenced with some metal in me. But I do venture into indie rock, too. Think Thrice, Deftones, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Hum, Failure.

Feel free to suggest something outside of the amps listed. I will say these two are contenders based on current availability to me through some conversations and searching I've done. Can't spring for a Wizard or anything too crazy.

Cheers,
Raf
 
The Archons are pretty nice. I have extensively played a few. I think there are other amps I personally would pick up first, but for your needs it could be a good fit for you. My Sam Ash was blowing the combos out a few months ago.

I would look into a mesa mkiii or mkiv combo, they can be had used at a good price, and they are rock fucking solid.
 
swamptrashstompboxes":24wxfybr said:
The Archons are pretty nice. I have extensively played a few. I think there are other amps I personally would pick up first, but for your needs it could be a good fit for you. My Sam Ash was blowing the combos out a few months ago.

I would look into a mesa mkiii or mkiv combo, they can be had used at a good price, and they are rock fucking solid.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! I'll def. look into older Marks. What others might you recommend?
 
Just depends on budget tbh. It's hard to beat a mesa mark IMO. all of the channels are pretty solid. Great cleans and a decent variety of gain.
 
swamptrashstompboxes":gyzvlasz said:
Just depends on budget tbh. It's hard to beat a mesa mark IMO. all of the channels are pretty solid. Great cleans and a decent variety of gain.
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True. Looking to keep it under $1200 used. You're right about the Mark series though.
 
I will say, someone just called my attention to the Carol Ann Triptik.
 
I owned an Archon combo for a few months. It was ok but I found it voiced really dark. I guess eq or a new speaker could have helped but I ended up trading for a 5150 iii 50 watt combo and vendor looked back. The new ones with concentric knobs sounds like a great fit for you but it’s friggin heavy
 
Maybe a few bucks more but a Friedman JJ jr will do that
A Mesa Triple crown is an option not really a mark or Recto kind of in between
Orange amps to or a Victory Kraken
 
mystixboi":2re4yz1q said:
I owned an Archon combo for a few months. It was ok but I found it voiced really dark. I guess eq or a new speaker could have helped but I ended up trading for a 5150 iii 50 watt combo and vendor looked back. The new ones with concentric knobs sounds like a great fit for you but it’s friggin heavy
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight! How's the clean on the new 5150? I've always known it for it's gain.
 
gtr31":30yguxno said:
Maybe a few bucks more but a Friedman JJ jr will do that
A Mesa Triple crown is an option not really a mark or Recto kind of in between
Orange amps to or a Victory Kraken
Click to expand...


A friend has the TC. Great amp. Does the JJ Jr. have good headroom? I worry about it being 20w but I love Cantrell.
 
ape2000":b7lf07pq said:
mystixboi":b7lf07pq said:
I owned an Archon combo for a few months. It was ok but I found it voiced really dark. I guess eq or a new speaker could have helped but I ended up trading for a 5150 iii 50 watt combo and vendor looked back. The new ones with concentric knobs sounds like a great fit for you but it’s friggin heavy
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight! How's the clean on the new 5150? I've always known it for it's gain.
Click to expand...

It’s great. I believe it’s based off of a Bassman. With the newer version you have concentric knobs so the gain between the clean and crunch channels are separate. That’s a win win for me
 
5153's are great, haven't owned one, but I have played a few. I would personally go that route over the Archon.

I REALLY do like the Archon though. I wonder what a tube swap would do for the darkness, but TBH one thing that I like about the Archon is that it is dark.

I still say Mesa mark though. I have had my mkIV for over a decade and just love it. It does whatever I want it to and more. The footswitch is great too haveing more possibilities than some of the others, with the EQ and loop being switchable. I also like it with different kinds of power tubes. I like the simuclass as well.
 
Those tones are pretty much what I like too. The Archon covers that ground well. I haven’t played a combo, so I can’t comment there. The mistake many people make is running either the bass or deep knobs too high. EL34’s sound great in it too.
 
Since the 5153 and Archon are both being discussed, here is a quick video I did that includes these 2 amps.



Also, here is one between the Archon and MT15. The MT15 has become my main amp for band practice and gigging haha. Its so killer. I loved the Archon, too, but didn't feel it was worth $800 more than what the MT15 cost...Though for recording, that amp is exceptional for what I play.

 
Lots of solid feedback so far. Thanks, my dudes.

Currently on the hunt for a Carol Ann Triptik, too.Seems to suit what my ears are wanting a bit more closely, but I'll take a sincere look at the newer 5150, Mark series, and PRS offerings. Probably easier to find and play in store at least.
 
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