PRS & Mesa/Boogie
The ultimate nu-metal/post-grunge guitar rig? Most definitely. Let’s just say that if you watched Kerrang or MTV in the early ’00s, PRS guitars could be spotted in most music videos. And often, full stacks of Mesa/Boogie amps were lurking somewhere in the background! An all-American affair, the premium PRS/Mesa pairing was used by a raft of guitarists from that era. Mike Einziger (Incubus), Mark Tremonti (Creed), Dan Estrin (Hoobastank), Brad Delson (Linkin Park) – to name just a few.
But even if you weren’t into any of the aforementioned players or bands, the PRS and Mesa/Boogie combination is actually quite significant. In many ways, it has changed the way that contemporary guitarists and producers approach guitar tone. The tight and fizzy high-gain sound of a Mesa/Boogie Rectifier head can be heard on a bunch of rock and metal albums released in recent years, and in a way, it has set the precedent for what a modern distorted sound should be. That’s why many other amp brands have taken inspiration from that bombastic Boogie tone.
The distinctive sonic traits of Mesa/Boogie amps have proven to merge well with the sounds of PRS’ powerful, humbucker-equipped Custom 24/22 models. However, is the PRS and Mesa/Boogie combination exclusive to just heavy players? No, definitely not! Legendary Latin rock guitarist Carlos Santana is actually the earliest proponent of this well-known guitar and amp combination. He has used his signature PRS guitars with Mesa/Boogie Mark I amplifiers since the late ’80s, helping him to achieve his warm, singing guitar tones.
Fender & Fender
Fender is as famous for its amplifiers as it is for its electric guitars. Well, the latter might have a slight edge when it comes to recognition. But fame aside, Fender’s guitars and amps are practically designed to work seamlessly with one another. I mean, why wouldn’t they be? The unmistakable all-Fender rig has been used by a countless amount of players ever since the ’50s. Some of the most legendary names include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson and Dick Dale.
The Fender guitar/amp combination is one of the most frequently recorded in pop and rock music. There are many reasons as to why it works so well, and it’s also quite easy to distinguish from a sonic perspective. Simply put, the thin and articulate sound of Fender’s single-coil-loaded guitars lends itself well to the high-headroom qualities of their amps. As most Fender amplifiers feature 6L6 or 6V6 power tubes, they can be cranked without encountering excessive break-up. This means that they remain clean at high volumes and thus project a broad frequency response with plenty of dynamic range.