EVH 5150 III amps

[mantis]

Hey guys,
Is there a lot of issues with the 5150 III's? I want to revisit the 50 watt combo 2 x 12 but if it has issues, I'm staying clear. I heard a few things about the older models that has some issues, I'm wondering if they are now resolved and they are cool now.

[DRM]

What issues specifically? With the exception of the volume jump between the green and blue channels, I honestly don't recall any reliability issues with them.

[DonP]

Didn't they burst into flames when they first came out?

[catzodellamarina]

I don't remember volume jumping issues between green and blue channels. It has been so long since I ran it without going through my G-Major to control levels. I never use the red channel. I have tried to force myself to use the red but the Blue is just so damn good I don't need it. The green gets dirty enough to go overdrive, depending on your pick attack.
I am completely satisfied with my 5150III. I get many compliments on the sound. It is my live rig that replaced a rack setup I had for 10 years - modded Rockmaster preamp with VHT 2902 (later a Mesa 50/50, a Carvin TS100, and also a MosValve 962).

[bucketbrian45]

I love my EVH 5150 III combo.

[mrhiwatt]

I have the 5150 III 50 watt head its 3 years old and not a single issue. No volume jump if you can set the gain to 1:30 on the shared eq. Some like that for clean some don't but no volume jump. That being said I did order a Mesa JP-2c last week. I have had many amps over the years and change every 3 to 5 years. All though my longest keeper was a Hiwatt 15 years

Mrhiwatt

[mantis]

What issues specifically? With the exception of the volume jump between the green and blue channels, I honestly don't recall any reliability issues with them.

I heard the same thing and also some heads just died. Didn't hear anything about the combo amps. This is heads dating back to 2012

[mantis]

I don't remember volume jumping issues between green and blue channels. It has been so long since I ran it without going through my G-Major to control levels. I never use the red channel. I have tried to force myself to use the red but the Blue is just so damn good I don't need it. The green gets dirty enough to go overdrive, depending on your pick attack.
I am completely satisfied with my 5150III. I get many compliments on the sound. It is my live rig that replaced a rack setup I had for 10 years - modded Rockmaster preamp with VHT 2902 (later a Mesa 50/50, a Carvin TS100, and also a MosValve 962).

Are you using Midi to change channels?

[mantis]

I love my EVH 5150 III combo.

1 or 2 x 12?

[mantis]

I have the 5150 III 50 watt head its 3 years old and not a single issue. No volume jump if you can set the gain to 1:30 on the shared eq. Some like that for clean some don't but no volume jump. That being said I did order a Mesa JP-2c last week. I have had many amps over the years and change every 3 to 5 years. All though my longest keeper was a Hiwatt 15 years

Mrhiwatt

I'm not a huge amp jump around kinda guy. I find the sound I want and go. Lately I'm looking for a more versatile amp. I'm not even sure the 5150 is the right amp for me as I have played it several times and walked away wanting more. I did however love the gain channels but the clean isn't very good. Not even close to as good as my Krank which I love but it's a one trick pony on the gain channel. The Cleans however are as good as a Fender Twin or Bassman 10. Smokes the hell out of the new Bassman series which I personally don't like at all. Very British sounding, doesn't even sound like a Fender.

Mesa Makes killer amps and I'm gonna re visit their line as Russo's Music in Trenton NJ has a few model for me to plug into as well as Blackstar's to compare to. They now carry Charvels again so I don't even have to bring a guitar.

[catzodellamarina]

YES - I use Midi to switch channels.

[mantis]

YES - I use Midi to switch channels.

Awesome!!!

[mantis]

I got to play the Head Not the combo today and I spent some time listening more then actually playing.
I got a Shector with Blackouts and a Hard tail to really push the front end straight. I played the clean channel first and you know what? I actually got a nice clean tone out of it. How I dialed it was Gain on 1 Bass on 5 Mid's on 5 and High's on 7. Presence was about 12-1 O'clock . Volume was about 1/4 the way up and I got some nice cleans out of this amp with NO break up. I was Impressed. The 50 watt head cleans up really nice. No Tipical Fender nice or my Krank amazing but Good enough to use with some Chorus in the Loop along with a nice DD-7 Delay pedal.
I so Badly want to try out the 50 watt 2 x 12 combo but NO ONE had one in stock to test drive. I live by 7 places I could have done to and NONE of them had one. I hate it.
So I had to use the 50 watt head along with a Orange loaded V30 2 x 12. I know I can get better tone out of the EVH speakers he has Fender put in there. I think they are a Green back with some Eddie to them.
But I was able to really dig my heels into this amp and I think I'm ready to just buy the 50 watt combo site un played. This is extremely RARE for me as I don't buy anything without playing it first or many times. I'm about as picky with my tone as it gets.

But back to my demo today, I was amazed on how damn good the cleans broke up with you add a touch of gain to them. I dialed in about 3 to 4 and man was I getting some awesome Mid range hump and clarity out of the gain structure. WOW I was in Rock heaven. I played just a touch of "Run to You" by Brain Adams and It was nailing that tone( Using the Coil Tap).
This is what my Krank can not do at all. It has NO ability to back off the gain and get that warm Marshall vintage tones. The EVH can and then some. I see nothing in front of this amp ever. I will try my spark but I'm not sure I'll need it for anything.
I have a GT100 which is always on the chopping block looking for something like it but better. But it does has Midi control and the Krank does not. I do however can change amp channels on the Krank with it just not Lead Boost. I have to build a patch to do that. With Midi control, I should be able to build Patches for all 3 channels with ease including turning on and off the Reverb on the combo.
Man I wish they had at least the little single 12 combo, then I could fool around with the Reverb and the power selection. The head just allowed me to get a good idea on how the Combo is going to sound. Honestly I almost just purchased the head but I hate the way the EVH 2 x 12 combo looks being all long and low, stupid looking if you ask me. It looks like a 4 x 12 cut in half.
Anyway I'm digging this amp and I want it right now. I gotta find someone with in driving distance for me to go play the 2 x 12 so I can feel better about buying it. I want to plug in , get lost in the amp so I know I'm making the right decision. I might and thats a strong might sell the Krank. Maybe not as I really love what it does as what it does it does better then anything else I've played. If your just a heavy metal only to trash guitarist, this amp is brutal and cleaner then most everything made. It's so damn clear and clean. You have to play it to really know that it's just like having a Twin reverb like sound just a bit darker but with that amazing head room and clarity for years.
The EVH 50 watt head is damn killer man, I can't stop thinking about just driving back and buying it. I want to and just use the 2 x 12 in the Krank as it's cabinet until I find a 2 x 12 I fall in love with. The Krank has Eminence Legends in it and they are remarkable speakers. I tried other speakers and the Legends always go right back in. They have an amazing clear powerful sound. They seem to cover the entire range of the guitar well.
Maybe I'll get a Krank 2 x 12 cab I learned Tony is back making Krank amps order only. I'll have to check out his cabinets or maybe a Mesa Boogie.

[bucketbrian45]

1 or 2 x 12?

I have the 2 x 12

[bucketbrian45]

I love my EVH 5150 3 combo. Mine has the Celestion GM12 speakers and sounds great and versitile. My favorite thing about the combos is the ability to go from 1 to 50 watts. I'd recommend buying from musicians friends or someone with a good return policy just to be sure you like it.