PRS DGT 15 David Grissom 15-watt Tube Head

Signature Grissom Tone Packed with Session-ready Tools and Effects

PRS designed the David Grissom 15-watt tube head to capture the conviction, warmth, and fidelity of the versatile guitarist’s favorite vintage amplifiers. With three footswitchable effects and four global parameters, this amp exceeds the capabilities of most compact heads. Lower levels produce sparkling and soulful vintage-style cleans, ideal for the signature tones Grissom delivers when working with artists like Storyville and John Mellencamp. Meanwhile, the Master volume control and a footswitchable boost provide a vast canvas for dynamic rises, falls, and saturated overdriven tube tones.

The heart of this amplifier lies in its premium tube complement: two EL-84s, one GZ34 rectifier, three 12AX7s, and one 12AT7. These components drive three onboard effects: a lush reverb, a variable boost, and a vintage-style tremolo fueled by real-time changes in the tube bias. Each effect can be triggered with the included PRS footswitch, while three onboard toggles allow you to tailor how the Boost, Bright, Master volume, and Tremolo behave during performance.

Small Footprint, Massive Potential

Choosing a smaller tube head often means compromising on tone options, but that isn’t the case here. The control panel is jam-packed with premium sculpting tools. The Master volume control can be deactivated or linked to the footswitch’s boost mode, providing a customizable boost that acts as a “secret second channel.” Similarly, the 3-way Bright switch can be configured to automatically deactivate when the boost is triggered. To suit different environments and gear, the Presence knob offers global brightness control, while the Top Cut—inspired by classic British builds—lets you remove unpleasant ultra-high frequencies. Additionally, a full 3-band tone stack gives you a significant EQ advantage over other similarly sized heads.

Three Onboard Effects: Tube Tremolo, Reverb, and Boost

According to Doug Sewell, senior amp designer at PRS, the David Grissom 15-watt head is “one of our most feature-laden designs to date.” Unlike minimalist small heads reserved only for the studio, this head offers a “have-it-all” experience. The tremolo is a true old-school tube bias design, providing the warmth and immediacy of amplitude variations happening directly inside the vacuum tubes. Because each of the three effects is footswitchable, players have a treasure trove of textures for live performance. Vintage enthusiasts will find pairing the tremolo and reverb creates a lush, retro appeal that is hard to match.

Tech Specs

• Type:Tube
• Number of Channels:1
• Output Power:15W
• Preamp Tubes:1 x 12AX7 (preamp), 2 x 12AX7 (reverb), 1 x 12AT7 (phase inverter)
• Power Tubes:2 x EL84 (power), 1 x GZ34 (rectifier)
• Effects:Boost, Tremolo, Reverb
• EQ:3-band EQ, Top Cut, Presence, Bright Switch
• Inputs:1 x 1/4″
• Outputs:2 x 1/4″ (switchable 4/8 ohm), 1 x 1/4″ (16 ohm)
• Footswitch I/O:1 x 5-pin DIN (Boost, Reverb, Tremolo)
• Footswitch Included:Yes, 3-button footswitch
• Bias Type:Cathode
• Construction Material:Blonde Tolex
• Power Source:Standard IEC AC cable
• Height:9.25″
• Width:17.25″
• Depth:9″
• Weight:21.4 lbs.
• Manufacturer Part Number:114100::BL–:

PRS David Grissom 15-watt Tube Head Features:

• 15-watt single-channel amplifier based on David Grissom’s favorite vintage amps
• Small, compact, and easy to travel with a robust feature set
• Presence, Bright, Top Cut, and Master volume supply pinpoint global control over output and tone
• Tube-bias tremolo with speed and depth controls results in sumptuous vintage trem tones
• 3-band tone stack wields major EQ advantages over similarly-sized heads
• 3 extension speaker jacks with 2-, 4,-, and 8-ohm options for near-universal compatibility
• Powered by 2 x EL-84 power tubes, 1 x GZ34 rectifier tube, 3 x 12AX7, and 1 x 12AT7
• Customizable footswitch functions open up dynamic realms of possibility
• Includes a 3-button footswitch for activating boost, reverb, and tremolo