New EVH 5150 III amp!

[beachjammer]

Well guys,
I know there's already been alot said about these amps but I just tried one out and thought I'd throw my $0.02 worth out there. Let me first say that I'm not a big EVH fan and really didn't like the other 5150 amps so I'm not biased to say that it's a killer amp just because it's put out by EVH. With that being said I though the amps was AWESOME! I played around with Channel 1 for quite a while and would be perfectly happy with a one channel amp with those tones. It cleaned up very nicely but also had plenty of dirt with the gain cranked. When I switched to Channel 2 the tones only got better! Very plexi sounding but with alot more gain and umph to it! Honestly, I liked it better than any Marshall I've ever played.... When switching to Channel 3 I was blown away by the amounts of gain! It's very "modern" sounding and easily entered Mesa territory. I was using a Charvel San Dimas Reissue with a V-trem , humbucker at the bridge and single coil in the neck. I got everything from spanking country tones to bone crunching distorted tones and everything in between. The only cons of this amp are price, no reverb and it's made in Mexico.... My electronics job is going to Mexico and we've had to rework alot of their mistakes so I know first hand the quality that comes from there and so that would bias my decission on paying that much money for the amp. If the price was cheaper or if it was made in the USA though I definately wouldn't have a problem owning one. I very well may try and find a used one once I get the employment situation worked out.

[deflep]

I played this amp recently and I was blown away!

I'm gettin' one soon....god bless those mexicans

[horns666]

I played the 5150III at length. Not a "bad" amp..but not close to my standard in tone...I'm spoiled!!!!

I does Classic VH MUCH better than the original 5150s..but it doesn't do it better than VHT, Soldano, Splawn, Bogner ot a good Marshall for that matter.

The 5150III lacks alot of girth and crunch of the original 5150.

There is MUCH better amps out there in that price range...far from "awesome" IMO!

I liked it better than my wife did..she thought it sounded flat out lame.

[Robert Burns]

I played the 5150III at length. Not a "bad" amp..but not close to my standard in tone...I'm spoiled!!!!

I does Classic VH MUCH better than the original 5150s..but it doesn't do it better than VHT, Soldano, Splawn..or Bogner for that matter.

The 5150III lacks alot of girth and crunch of the original 5150.

There is MUCH better amps out there in that price range...far from "awesome" ..that's for sure!

I liked it better than my wife did..she thought it sounded flat out lame.

Blue Channel 2 is my fave! But i agree...the VHT edges it out

[horns666]

I've test drove quite a few decent sounding amps last year..the 5150III wasn't even in the middle of that heap.

In fact, I'd take the JSX, VHTs, JVM, XXX, 6505 over the 5150III anyday.

From what I heard from those Splawn clips and vid..it doesn't compare to that..or my Uberschall...hellfugginno

[daisp]

Been on the fence for a while now, but think i'll just save a bit more and get my Bogner...

[horns666]

Been on the fence for a while now, but think i'll just save a bit more and get my Bogner...

Now THAT is a good idea!!!

[SEAN RAF]

I bought the 5150 lll a couple of months ago. It is the best amp I've ever heard. Initially I bought it for channel 3 because of the sick amount of gain it had and because of this, it didn't need a boost to smooth it out. After a couple of weeks messing with the eq (and getting used to the idea of having the bass turned down to 4...!!), channel 2 is now my favourite and main channel. I was nervous to begin with about selling my 6505+ and my Cobra, but they're gone now without no regret at all. I spent most of 2007 trying out almost every tube amp you care to name (Engl being the biggest let down), and the 5150 lll won out by a mile. I get more comments about my tone than I ever had before, it's a joy to play through this amp. It's also the first amp I've ever had where I have excellent cleans and insane, grinding amounts of gain...no compromise on either channel.

The 5150/6505 range are incredible amps, but the 5150 lll is perfection.

[Endrik]

I think 5150 III is better than 99% of the amps in the market today

[beachjammer]

I haven't tried Engl, VHT, Bogner or some of the other high end amps just because we don't have a dealer for those anywhere close to where I live. Compared to what we do have around here which are Marshalls, Mesa's, Peavey's and a few others , I think that it sounds really good. I'd still buy a Mesa for the money it costs but I was pleasantly surprised considering I didn't like the other EVH amps or the 6505's.

[horns666]

Sean, that's right I remember you contemplating dumpin' the Framus/6505..I'm glad the 5150III worked out for you..

I'd like to try the Framus..but haven't came by one yet.

[SEAN RAF]

Bill, the Cobra is hard to describe, there was just something woolly about it. I wanted one ever since hearing KsE's End Of Heartache when I learned they were using them in conjunction with a 5150. Well you need a 5150 running as well to make the Cobra sound good...in fact, just run a 5150 on its own. After copying your settings for my 5150, I was more than happy with my tone (very, very close to KsE), but the cleans sounded like arse, hence fannying around with nearly every tube amp on the market for most of last year. I hadn't even got the 5150 lll on my list of rigs to try, assuming that I was above a signature amp that's made in Mexico...shame on me.

The 5150 lll makes me smile every time I plug into it...bliss.

[minh80]

Awesome, I've been hearing good reviews on that amp. Great clean tones as well as sick distortion out of that thing as well as having great tone. I also heard it doesn't have that buzz and noise that the 5150/6505 series had. For $2000 with those features, I don't think its expensive or too much at all. For people that complain about the price tag, some Engl amps, Bogners, Soldanos, cost way more. Splawns are about the same price, but someone else should A/B those amps.

[yard dawg]

Awesome, I've been hearing good reviews on that amp. Great clean tones as well as sick distortion out of that thing as well as having great tone. I also heard it doesn't have that buzz and noise that the 5150/6505 series had. For $2000 with those features, I don't think its expensive or too much at all. For people that complain about the price tag, some Engl amps, Bogners, Soldanos, cost way more. Splawns are about the same price, but someone else should A/B those amps.

Those boutique amps you mentioned ARE NOT MADE IN MEXICO BY PEOPLE MAKING $4 a week plus some ramen noodles as a bonus for meeting there quotas everyday.

[Firebird V]

I checked one out and I thought it rocked but for the price of one there are many options with better build quality. Bottom line is for me if the 5150III was priced around a Grand or even under $1200 out the door it would be a good bang for the buck...