Premier Guitar's Chris Kies is on location in Cedar Rapids, IA, where he catches up with Papa Roach's Jerry Horton and Tobin Esperance. The guys discuss about condensing their rigs from arena-ready juggernaut stacks to carry-on-approved size. Horton talks about collaborating with Schecter on his signature Solo 6, and Tobin explains why picks aren't his thing.
Jerry Horton Gear
Guitars
Horton has rocked Schecter guitars for well over a decade. He's been one of the companies longest-running endorsees and has his own signature model that he uses almost exclusively during live shows. Horton's signature six-string is based on the company's singlecut Custom Solo 6 model with a few tweaks. He requested for his signature that they incorporate a TonePros AVT-II wraparound bridge and they took out the standard Seymour Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge for his preferred JB bridge pickup setup. And since he's been on the Carnival of Madness tour, his tech recently swapped out the standard 19:1-ratio Schecter locker tuners for Grovers. The graphics found on both of his signature models were co-designed with a hot-rod artist from Tennessee. The lone backup he has on this tour is an old Schecter Tempest. For strings, Horton uses Jim Dunlop Nickel Plated .013—.056 strings and custom Jim Dunlop Papa Roach-designed .88 Tortex picks
Amps and Effects
Horton—who once rocked a four-amp setup that included 3 different Marshall heads and a Vox AC30—scaled down his rig for an early 2013 gig in Russia and hasn't looked back. He now uses two Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II units for all his amp models and effects and relies on a lone expression pedal for wah sounds and controlling the amount of overdrive/dirt on certain patches like on the song "Hollywood Whore."
Tobin Esperance Gear
Basses
Master of the Roach's low-end, Esperance relies heavily on his custom Lakland 44-94 4-string models. At first glance, these look like standard production models, but Esperance simplified the control layout opting to get rid of the 3-band EQ for a passive sound—he always had it on 10 and he was turning the wrong knobs during dimly-lit shows—and giving the 44-94 a sleeker, more modern-metal look with all black hardware. He currently uses D'Addario .050—.120 strings and never really uses a pick onstage because he feels he can control the tone and sound of his rig best with his fingertips, how hard he plays and whether he plays near the neck for sub-sonic lows or near the bridge for cutting, ripping thumping.
Amps
Following Horton's reduction motif, Esperance is only bringing out two rackmounted Ampegs amps. His main stage head is a SVT-4 Pro and the backup is a BR5.
Effects
Esperance keeps a tidy house when it comes to his pedalboard, which only has three boxes on it--a Jim Dunlop 105Q Cry Baby Bass Wah, a Malekko B:Assmaster Harmonic Octave Distortion, and a Boss Tu-2 tuner. A Voodoo Lab Pedal Power2 juices his modest board.
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PRS Guitars today released the updated MT 15 and the new Archon Classic amplifiers, along with a larger Archon speaker cabinet. The 15-watt, two-channel Mark Tremonti signature amp MT 15 now features a lead channel overdrive control. An addition to the Archon series, not a replacement, the 50-watt Classic offers a fresh voice by producing retro rock “classic” tones reminiscent of sound permeating the radio four and five decades ago. Now twice the size of the first Archon cabinet, the Archon 4x12 boasts four Celestion V-Type speakers.
MT 15 Amplifier Head
Balancing aggression and articulation, this 15-watt amp supplies both heavy rhythms and clear lead tones. The MT 15 revision builds off the design of the MT 100, bringing the voice of the 100’s overdrive channel into its smaller-format sibling. Updating the model, the lead channel also features a push/pull overdrive control that removes two gain stages to produce vintage, crunchier “mid gain” tones. The clean channel still features a push/pull boost control that adds a touch of overdrive crunch. A half-power switch takes the MT to 7 watts.
“Seven years ago, we released my signature MT 15 amplifier, a compact powerhouse that quickly became a go-to for players seeking both pristine cleans and crushing high-gain tones. In 2023, we took things even further with the MT 100, delivering a full-scale amplifier that carried my signature sound to the next level. That inspired us to find a way to fit the 100's third channel into the 15's lunchbox size,” said Mark Tremonti.
“Today, I’m beyond excited to introduce the next evolution of the MT15, now featuring a push/pull overdrive control on the Lead channel and a half-power switch, giving players even more tonal flexibility to shape their sound with a compact amp. Can’t wait for you all to plug in and experience it!”
Archon Classic Amplifier Head
With a refined gain structure from the original Archon, the Archon Classic’s lead channel offers a wider range of tones colored with gain, especially in the midrange. The clean channel goes from pristine all the way to the edge of breakup. This additional Archon version was developed to be a go-to tool for playing classic rock or pushing the envelope into modern territory. The Archon Classic still features the original’s bright switch, presence and depth controls. PRS continues to stock the Archon in retailers worldwide.
“The Archon Classic is not a re-issue of the original Archon, but a newly voiced circuit with the lead channel excelling in '70s and '80s rock tones and a hotter clean channel able to go into breakup. This is the answer for those wanting an Archon with a hotrod vintage lead channel gain structure without changing preamp tube types, and a juiced- up clean channel without having to use a boost pedal, all wrapped up in a retro-inspired cabinet design,” said PRS Amp Designer Doug Sewell.
Archon 4x12 Cabinet
As in the Archon 1x12 and 2x12, the mega-sized PRS Archon 4x12 speaker cabinet features Celestion V-Type speakers and a closed-back design, delivering power, punch, and tight low end. Also like its smaller brethren, the 4x12 is wrapped in durable black vinyl and adorned with a British-style black knitted-weave grill cloth. The Archon 4x12 is only the second four-speaker cabinet in the PRS lineup, next to the HDRX 4x12.
PRS Guitars continues its schedule of launching new products each month in 2025. Stay tuned to see new gear and 40 th Anniversary limited-edition guitars throughout the year. For all of the latest news, click www.prsguitars.com/40 and follow @prsguitars on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
