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A sexy, smokin' three headed beast
I happened to be in the Orlando, Florida GC when the sales guys pulled the store's first EVH 5150III out of the box. It was a week day, so the store wasn't overly crowded with eager onlookers. This was my good fortune and allowed me to be the first awestruck customer to give this particular 5150 III a whirl.
First, I was struck with the cosmetic touches that have been applied. The fit, finish, and overall sexiness of the amp is a real draw. I tried the white one, and will go for that color when the cash finally piles up. I especially like the ease of the three channel layout with all three presence controls on the right side. The fact that the input jack is labeled "insert" is perfect! It could also be labeled, "duh?"
Secondly, I was truly impressed with each of the three channels different tonal characteristics. The first channel was actually jangly! It compared with top level Vox, Fender, and other boutique amp clean channels that I've demoed. Early 5150s had no usable clean channel. This model, Eddie's given a real gem in that department. You can use your volume control to really shape the edge of your dynamics with this channel. This feature makes it worthy of a boutique label to me.
The second channel is my favorite. I was 13 when I heard Eruption for the first time. But it was VHII and Women and Children First that really got me loving Eddie's tone. Channel two IS that tone. I'll buy the amp just for that sound, that chocolate brown beautiful sound!
Channel three is more like the out of control gain I've used to from earlier 5150 amps. When it's time to "sing for days," this is the channel.
I'm normally an EL34 guy. But to my ear, the 6L6s in this amp sound better than any amp in GC at this time.
I liked the user interface of the back panel. But, even though the footswitch is as seemless as advertised, I wish it had a way to be switched via a midi controller. Maybe it does and I'm not aware of it??? Using a JMP-1 at the moment for my tones, I'd like to switch this head with the same controller.
Finally, I think the price could be argued as justifiable. It is Eddie's amp after all. But, I still think anything that isn't fully point to point wired using the absolute best of components is not worth $2000.
Still, it's the tone that counts. And this amp just freakin' has TONE. So, thanks Ed, Bruce, and the R&D folks at Fender... now I gotta get in trouble with the wife again!!!!
Reviewed by KStrings on 7/13/2007 who plays popular rock.
39 people found this review helpful.
6 people found this review unhelpful.
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Tonal Perfection
I was the proud and satisfied owner of an early 90's Mesa Boogie Mark IV for over fifteen years. Purely out of curiosity, however, one day I went to a Guitar Center and plugged into one of the half-stacks they had in an isolation room (so I was able to crank it). Now, I have written several rave reviews on Harmony Central praising the sonic virtues of the Mark IV. In fact, with the Mark IV, having owned it for over fifteen years, I truly thought I was DONE! When I plugged into the EVH iii, however, I had a serious life-changing reality-shift in my sonic perspectives. In every respect, this amp was superior to my Mark IV. The clean channel of the EVH was every bit as clear, clean, and "chimey" as the Mark IV (one of the Mark IV's most compelling features). The second channel is where the amp really begins to rise above all competition (and one of the Mark IV's least compelling features). It had the crunch (but not over the top), definition, clarity, and smoothness that the Mark IV lacked (Channel 2 on the Mark IV can be a bit harsh). The high-gain channel is where the EVH iii leaves all others in the dust! It has a smooth, singing, yet aggressive and untamed quality about it that I have not heard anywhere, through any amp. The gain is thick and has incredible definition and clarity even when playing in the lower register. Where most amps become blubbery and indistinct, this badboy thumps and and rattles the China.
This amp is not a good amp for those who are sloppy players, you can truly hear every note, every nuance of your picking and it is very responsive to picking dynamics. I basically plug my 1992 PRS Custom 24 or my PRS CE 24 straight into the amp and use a TC Electronics Nova System for the effects. I use no overdrive stompboxes so I primarily depend upon the inherent tonal qualities/characteristics of the amp to define my sound. I play it through a Marshall 1936, 2x12 cabinet and it sounds, to me, every bit as good as the EVH iii 4x12 cabinet without the bulk and weight.
I have been playing for over forty years, have played through every trendy musical style that has occurred during that time, can and do play just about every style (except for theory-heavy jazz) and am generally a very accomplished player. Although I have primarily owned Mesa Boogies for the past thirty years, I have made an occasional foray into the "exotic" territory (Rivera, Hughes and Kettner, Soldano). Although to me it was worth what I paid, others may choke at the prospect of shelling out so much cash. For those of you who, like me, are involved in a lifelong pursuit of tonal perfection, you have to give this amp a road test.
My experience demonstrates the fact that sometimes we don't know where we are going until we get there. I truly believed that I would never buy another guitar amp. I now realize that I was mistaking satisfaction for complacency!! I have rediscovered sonic bliss, and true tonal perfection with this amp! Now, I am truly satisfied; now I am truly done!!
Reviewed by Garry Klein on 7/28/2009 who plays rock, blues, soul, pop, etc.
5 people found this review helpful.
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Right out of the box
I've had 30th anniversary 3 channel amps for years and when the new EVH came out I read the Guitar world article and thought, This has been done before, it's called the 30th anniversary Marshall head. Last month I had an opportunity to test drive this EVH half stack ( at low volume ) and it blew my mind and made me sad because it meant that I would have to sell all my gear; and I did. I just sold 3 Marshall heads and 4 Marshall cabinets. Your wasting your time with any other amp. If you play any kind of rock to Metal stop wasting your time and get this Head and Cabinet. The specs are the same as what I used to have, but they are not the same at all. This is what Marshall should have done; I know that Eddie took everything he ever used and heard to put this together, but this is a new product. The gain doesn't get oversaturated and the Tone just gets better and better. The clean channel can be a gain channel as well. It's not overpriced, cause you'll never need anything else. The biggest decision I had to make was the Color; I chose an Ivory full stack. I won't get it for 3 weeks and I can't wait. It'll be Christmas no matter what day it gets here. Thanks Eddie and EVH, Fender and Whomever else.
Dr. Tone
Reviewed by Anthony Robichaud on 11/15/2007 who plays Hard rock to Metal.
0 people found this review helpful.
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Another case of Edison Envy
Of course it's a great amp after Peavey worked so hard and long with Eddie to develop the 5150 series and let him in to experience there developments. Like Edison rippin Nikola Tesla off Eddie just combined the 5150 and XXX and took it to fender to put his name on it.Eddie is great we all know this and one of the most influential players of all time
but really it's so appearent what happened.Great amp buy it if you want just my oppinion.I played it and liked it but I still use my XXX.
Reviewed by Randy on 11/15/2007 who plays Rock & Metal.
0 people found this review helpful.
1 person found this review unhelpful.
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BAD ASS!!
well metal mark is an ass....
this is an amp built to how EVH likes to play not how he gave every guitar player in the world a survey asking what they like.....
well enough about tards, this amp is the best!
i played one and that thing is golden! the sustain on the clean channel is the best! one of the channels was too fuzzy but it was good overall and the 3rd channel it had soooooo much gain i can do so many techniques and be on FIRE! etc.
this amp is the best for gigs because the handles all around and swapping tubes is simplifed with the build slide-out feature!
that's sweet!
i'd get a wall stack if i had the money!
=D
good shit EVH AND FENDER!
+D
Reviewed by killahound22 on 7/9/2007 who plays van halen, zeppelin, etc.
11 people found this review helpful.
16 people found this review unhelpful.
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Take This Peavey!!!
I have been a fan of Eddie Van Halen for along time. Afew days ago, I was at a music store and someone was trying out the new EVH 5150 III amp. I was impressed on how this amp is very versatile and how the sounds on the amp were acheived without the use of stomp boxes.
Reviewed by SaseboIndy on 7/6/2007 who plays Van Halen.
14 people found this review helpful.
20 people found this review unhelpful.
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