When Paul Reed Smith talks amps, he strips the mystery away and shows how every knob, part, and design choice matters. In this new video, shot at Fret 12 in Chicago, PRS digs into what makes vintage-inspired amps so musical, from Hendrix’s Woodstock rig to the transformers and capacitors that shape an amp’s voice.
Smith demonstrates how a true amplifier reacts differently depending on the guitar plugged in and why components like tone pots, mid controls, and presence knobs don’t just tweak EQ—they fundamentally shape feel, distortion, and clarity. He emphasizes that no part is insignificant: from the way a capacitor is built to the interaction between treble and bass, every decision changes the sound.
For PRS, the art of amp building comes down to trust and experience: "You want something you viscerally like from the moment you plug into it." Watch the full breakdown in the video above.