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Thread: EVH 5150III EL34 combo
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02.23.21, 11:17 AM #1
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EVH 5150III EL34 combo
Does anyone have any insight on these? I live in Atlanta and it’s not exactly a Mecca for music instrument stores anymore. I’ve looked and tried to find a store that carries it and I can’t. That being said, I trust (most) you guys with your opinions on gear.
So what’s it like? Anyone played or own this thing?
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02.23.21, 11:21 AM #2
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Sweetwater might have it.
My man, when you are fantasizing, don't go for attainable, you can get attainable at the local Applebee's. - Dave's Dreidel
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02.23.21, 11:27 AM #3
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Mitch I can get it several places. But I want to know what it’s like Instead of someone giving me the selling points on a website that are copied from EVH gear.com.
Sound, tone, the important stuff.
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02.23.21, 11:33 AM #4
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Thanks / Likes - 1 Likesronwabo Liked This Post
02.23.21, 11:52 AM
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I played one once, briefly. I think the demos online are a pretty decent representation of what it sounds like, specifically the EVH Gear ones. It's more similar to the Stealth than the standard 6L6 in terms of gain and compression, but it's voiced darker. The 50w blue channel is so dark that there's a popular mod to clip the C137 capacitor to shift the tone back up to the 6L6 spec.
You probably already know this, but for anybody else: I wouldn't look at the 5150iii EL34 series as a classic VH tone machine. If you know what you're doing with it you can get in that ballpark. But at the end of the day it's still a 5150iii with a twist. It's not a Marshall - and Ed's Marshall used 6CA7s instead of EL34s.
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02.23.21, 12:19 PM
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02.23.21, 02:14 PM
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The metal guys prefer the other models to the el34 one. And I've read where classic rock people cannot tell a difference at all.
Wish I had one so I could be of more help.
02.23.21, 02:40 PM
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02.24.21, 01:27 PM
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I have the 50w head version for just what you said, a different flavor. I actually love it with my silver sky and my strats. Channel 1 is super clean with tons of headroom and thunderous low end, switching to channel two is great for bluesy stuff and channel 3 is over the top nuts. With humbucker guitars channel 1 is beautiful clean that blows away the clean on the 6l6 version which I also own. Channel 2 with buckers is very different then the 6l6. Looser low end and a kind of spongy mid range. When cranked through an evh 4x12 it can get close to the more classic sound that people envision but at a volume that is unbearable. Channel 3 with buckers is sick but there is almost too much gain. I run it around 9-10 o'clock and it's a searing lead tone. I'd love to hear the combo version. I have the 6l6 combo and that is perfect. Not sure what kind of guitars your going to run through it but you just might like it as a different flavor. Channel 1 and 2 with single coils is absolutely awesome. I always wanted a deluxe reverb but got a blues deluxe because it has 2 channels, an effects loop, 6l6 power section, and a presence control. My friend just got a Princeton but I definitly prefer my blues deluxe. The evh el34 definitly does those fender cleans real well. Let me know if I could answer any other questions you have.
02.24.21, 01:29 PM
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BTW I'm thinking of having the c137 mod done but on a switch. I like the stock tone but would like to try that mod.
02.24.21, 01:43 PM
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02.24.21, 01:59 PM
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I saw in another thread you have a 5150ii. I've been playing mine a lot lately. Such a great amp. Channel 1 with the crunch on is so great, and the lead channel blows me away every time.
02.24.21, 04:14 PM
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02.25.21, 04:37 AM
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I have the head with the 2x12 I bought used and was partially Kruse modded. I love it...I have a JHS little black box in the loop to act as a master volume so I can crank it without getting kicked out.
I am in the market for another modder; anyone know of one besides Jans Kruse? I tried communicating with him as I am interested in the variac mod among other things but after some initial discussion he stopped replying to me.....
It's 5150 time!
02.25.21, 01:29 PM
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I had a 50w EL34 briefly when I owned both a 5152 and a 5153 100S (6L6).
Honestly, I didn't really like it. It was just like the 100s, but different, and not in a good way. Hard to describe and explain. Beautiful clean channel though, felt smoother than the 100S, but wasn't a fan of the other channels.
Heck, maybe I'll try one again and change my mind. The AxeFX is doing it all for me now though.
I enjoyed the whole series. The wrapped it up quite well.
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