EVH 5150 III

[aftec]

The 3 separate presences are the most powerful tone shapers on this box. With low volume levels it can sound kinda dark and the with the mids turned up, it's getting honky, set all tone controls to noon, try to raise the presence until it's getting annoying and tad back a little, then start to play with the tonestack. As soon as you start adding volume the dark tonality disappears and the presence needs to be dialed back. For brute sounds Channel red with some middle removed, presence up, and you have the good old 5150 sound with the signature fizz.
I usually use the blue channel and using the volume on the guitar to shape the tone.

aftec, care to comment more on what those jj ecc832 pre tubes do for channel 3? How do they respond with respect to the compression on ch 3? Do they help lessen it at all?

Sure. I have to state that I don't do metal (in it's current form. no Drop A tunings and djent) so if you are into modern metal or probably you would like to stay with the original. Currently I have 1 ECC832 in V5. In the original setup, there is no reason to turn the gain above noon, because nothing audible happens after that. I always felt, that ch3 is over compressed and kinda stiff. This is by design, due ch3 tubes are almost acting like a multi stage compressor. Boosting the signal then dropping most of it to ground, cascade to next stage.
Started playing around with ECC82s but it killed the overall response and took too much gain away. Then I found the 832. It's a different thing, it does tames the gain in a moderate way, and lets the amp breathe a little more. Basically there is a reason now to turn the gain above 12, if you want the original gainzilla sound you can get it at full tilt.
If you put in more of these you can lower the gain and compression even further. I usually use Ch3 for leads, so a bit of compression and a healthy amount of gain is good, but I wanted a little more dynamics and less stiff feel. Now I'm happy.

 

[Guitar G]

OK.

So what's the consensus on tubes for the 5150-3? Stick with the stock tubes or roll away?

 

[Lution]

The 3 separate presences are the most powerful tone shapers on this box. With low volume levels it can sound kinda dark and the with the mids turned up, it's getting honky, set all tone controls to noon, try to raise the presence until it's getting annoying and tad back a little, then start to play with the tonestack. As soon as you start adding volume the dark tonality disappears and the presence needs to be dialed back. For brute sounds Channel red with some middle removed, presence up, and you have the good old 5150 sound with the signature fizz.
I usually use the blue channel and using the volume on the guitar to shape the tone.

aftec, care to comment more on what those jj ecc832 pre tubes do for channel 3? How do they respond with respect to the compression on ch 3? Do they help lessen it at all?

Sure. I have to state that I don't do metal (in it's current form. no Drop A tunings and djent) so if you are into modern metal or probably you would like to stay with the original. Currently I have 1 ECC832 in V5. In the original setup, there is no reason to turn the gain above noon, because nothing audible happens after that. I always felt, that ch3 is over compressed and kinda stiff. This is by design, due ch3 tubes are almost acting like a multi stage compressor. Boosting the signal then dropping most of it to ground, cascade to next stage.
Started playing around with ECC82s but it killed the overall response and took too much gain away. Then I found the 832. It's a different thing, it does tames the gain in a moderate way, and lets the amp breathe a little more. Basically there is a reason now to turn the gain above 12, if you want the original gainzilla sound you can get it at full tilt.
If you put in more of these you can lower the gain and compression even further. I usually use Ch3 for leads, so a bit of compression and a healthy amount of gain is good, but I wanted a little more dynamics and less stiff feel. Now I'm happy.

cool. Thanks very much for the info. I think I'll give this a try.

 

[155]

I just ordered the mini 5153...lets see what century it ships in...there is almost no info on this amp...has anyone seen the back panel of it?// I have a jvm210 and it really rips...on all levels

 

[Audioholic]

I just ordered the mini 5153...lets see what century it ships in...there is almost no info on this amp...has anyone seen the back panel of it?// I have a jvm210 and it really rips...on all levels

You and me both! I was told it would be here in around 2 weeks but u know how that can go. Musicians friend site they will ship by the first of the year

 

[Lution]

I just ordered the mini 5153...lets see what century it ships in...there is almost no info on this amp...has anyone seen the back panel of it?// I have a jvm210 and it really rips...on all levels

There was a picture of the backside of the 5153 Mini in one of the guitar magazines last month. I didn't see it and I don't recall which mag it was. There is a thread on here about it. Do a search 5150 III Made in Vietnam.

 

[155]

I just ordered the mini 5153...lets see what century it ships in...there is almost no info on this amp...has anyone seen the back panel of it?// I have a jvm210 and it really rips...on all levels

There was a picture of the backside of the 5153 Mini in one of the guitar magazines last month. I didn't see it and I don't recall which mag it was. There is a thread on here about it. Do a search 5150 III Made in Vietnam.

I cant find shit! if anyone has the pic I d love to see it! thx

 

[nevusofota]

I just ordered the mini 5153...lets see what century it ships in...there is almost no info on this amp...has anyone seen the back panel of it?// I have a jvm210 and it really rips...on all levels

There was a picture of the backside of the 5153 Mini in one of the guitar magazines last month. I didn't see it and I don't recall which mag it was. There is a thread on here about it. Do a search 5150 III Made in Vietnam.

I cant find shit! if anyone has the pic I d love to see it! thx

I've tried to find it online but it isn't there. It was in the November Holiday issue of Guitar Player. I'll try to scan a picture but I don't think it will come out too clear.

 

[nevusofota]

 

[155]

nice bro! thx

 

[nevusofota]

nice bro! thx

No problem.

It looks like the biggest changes from the big brother is the 1/4" footswitch, the midi input, headphone jack, and the resonance control.

 

[Lution]

I'm still not certain how they got 4 commands (ch 1, ch 2, ch 3, fx loop) out of the 1/4" footswitch jack (ring/tip/sleeve only allows 3 commands). My guess is the footswitch will only have 3 switches on it (ch 1/2, ch 3, fx loop).

 

[emperor_black]

Wow, it has a headphone out? That's simply awesome.

 

[Lution]

The 3 separate presences are the most powerful tone shapers on this box. With low volume levels it can sound kinda dark and the with the mids turned up, it's getting honky, set all tone controls to noon, try to raise the presence until it's getting annoying and tad back a little, then start to play with the tonestack. As soon as you start adding volume the dark tonality disappears and the presence needs to be dialed back. For brute sounds Channel red with some middle removed, presence up, and you have the good old 5150 sound with the signature fizz.
I usually use the blue channel and using the volume on the guitar to shape the tone.

aftec, care to comment more on what those jj ecc832 pre tubes do for channel 3? How do they respond with respect to the compression on ch 3? Do they help lessen it at all?

Sure. I have to state that I don't do metal (in it's current form. no Drop A tunings and djent) so if you are into modern metal or probably you would like to stay with the original. Currently I have 1 ECC832 in V5. In the original setup, there is no reason to turn the gain above noon, because nothing audible happens after that. I always felt, that ch3 is over compressed and kinda stiff. This is by design, due ch3 tubes are almost acting like a multi stage compressor. Boosting the signal then dropping most of it to ground, cascade to next stage.
Started playing around with ECC82s but it killed the overall response and took too much gain away. Then I found the 832. It's a different thing, it does tames the gain in a moderate way, and lets the amp breathe a little more. Basically there is a reason now to turn the gain above 12, if you want the original gainzilla sound you can get it at full tilt.
If you put in more of these you can lower the gain and compression even further. I usually use Ch3 for leads, so a bit of compression and a healthy amount of gain is good, but I wanted a little more dynamics and less stiff feel. Now I'm happy.

cool. Thanks very much for the info. I think I'll give this a try.

Well, I received an ECC832 this afternoon, so I dropped it into V5. I'm quite impressed. It does open up Ch 3 a bit more and makes it more articulate and still smooth. It drops the gain down some, but also makes it less congested. This is very noticeable after about 3 and above on the channel volume. Where I had the gain before at about noon (5), now I have it at about 2 oclock (7). I haven't tried this tube in V4 or V6 yet.

aftec, I'm wondering what your results were from placing your ECC832 in the other preamp tube positions for Ch 3 and what made you decide/settle on keeping it in V5.

I'll try the other slots tomorrow, but I very impressed. The congestion is still a bit there, but much less and this channel is starting to sound more like a slightly different voiced Ch2 with more gain on tap. I really like it.

 

[aftec]

The 3 separate presences are the most powerful tone shapers on this box. With low volume levels it can sound kinda dark and the with the mids turned up, it's getting honky, set all tone controls to noon, try to raise the presence until it's getting annoying and tad back a little, then start to play with the tonestack. As soon as you start adding volume the dark tonality disappears and the presence needs to be dialed back. For brute sounds Channel red with some middle removed, presence up, and you have the good old 5150 sound with the signature fizz.
I usually use the blue channel and using the volume on the guitar to shape the tone.

aftec, care to comment more on what those jj ecc832 pre tubes do for channel 3? How do they respond with respect to the compression on ch 3? Do they help lessen it at all?

Sure. I have to state that I don't do metal (in it's current form. no Drop A tunings and djent) so if you are into modern metal or probably you would like to stay with the original. Currently I have 1 ECC832 in V5. In the original setup, there is no reason to turn the gain above noon, because nothing audible happens after that. I always felt, that ch3 is over compressed and kinda stiff. This is by design, due ch3 tubes are almost acting like a multi stage compressor. Boosting the signal then dropping most of it to ground, cascade to next stage.
Started playing around with ECC82s but it killed the overall response and took too much gain away. Then I found the 832. It's a different thing, it does tames the gain in a moderate way, and lets the amp breathe a little more. Basically there is a reason now to turn the gain above 12, if you want the original gainzilla sound you can get it at full tilt.
If you put in more of these you can lower the gain and compression even further. I usually use Ch3 for leads, so a bit of compression and a healthy amount of gain is good, but I wanted a little more dynamics and less stiff feel. Now I'm happy.

cool. Thanks very much for the info. I think I'll give this a try.

Well, I received an ECC832 this afternoon, so I dropped it into V5. I'm quite impressed. It does open up Ch 3 a bit more and makes it more articulate and still smooth. It drops the gain down some, but also makes it less congested. This is very noticeable after about 3 and above on the channel volume. Where I had the gain before at about noon (5), now I have it at about 2 oclock (7). I haven't tried this tube in V4 or V6 yet.

aftec, I'm wondering what your results were from placing your ECC832 in the other preamp tube positions for Ch 3 and what made you decide/settle on keeping it in V5.

I'll try the other slots tomorrow, but I very impressed. The congestion is still a bit there, but much less and this channel is starting to sound more like a slightly different voiced Ch2 with more gain on tap. I really like it.

Well, I started to move the 832 around and V5 was the position where it sounded the best. Tried multiple 832s, mixed in a ECC82, but 1 832 and the rest is stock was the solution for me.

 

[Lution]

After trying it out in V5 for a while and in V4 and V6, I decided to take it out. For my tastes, it just alters Channel 3 too much. I've settled on an EQ setting that works very with the original tubes.