I got to open her up today! OMG...EVH!

[LanierP]

I have a 5153 100watt striped with matching 4x12 cab. It was a limited release thing about 3 years ago but purely cosmetic. The amp is really cool, but I personally thought that the clean channel was a bit of a dud. Blue and red channel are cool, but just didn't dig the clean. I got a friedman JJ and a Steve Stevens head, and the distortion channel on both of those are fantastic, although quite different, but more importantly, the clean channel is amazingly cool. Pure blackface fender tone with the Stevens, and Ac30 with the JJ. I get lost in they clean tones from both of these amps, and then get a total toner boner when switching to their gain. This for me is why at the moment, the 5153 has been shelved for a while. But don't get me wrong, the 53 is a great amp and gives you and extra grand in comparison to invest in more shit!! Haha

 

[anomaly]

Best sounding amp FOR THE MONEY on the market

There. Fixed for you.

For you that might be true but for some of us like myself.... there is no other amp out there that Id much rather have at any price.

Really!? Even if price wasn't an issue?? Bogner? Diezel?

There's a hell of a lot of better quality, better sounding amps out there.

 

[andross182]

It seems there are quite a few people in this thread that are stuck in the "if it costs more it must sound better" mentality....

 

[Racerxrated]

No. If you've seriously played top shelf amps (Friedmans, Bogners, SLO, Diezel, certain modded Marshalls) and would take a stock 5153 over those than more power to you. I've had 2 50 watters and would buy another ...as a backup. But its not in the same league as some other amps, IMO. The Stealth may be a different story though. The articulation just isn't comparable to some of the more expensive builders out there. 5153s are great values, and I might buy another in a month or so. But not as my number 1. All my opinion....

 

[Mailman1971]

I have owned/played pretty much every top name out there at some time.
Never played the regular 5153 but the Stealth hangs easily and beats out many from that pack.
Has it all I am wanting. Tight...tons of balls...very articulate....great low end punch with zero flub...its a contender for sure.
My opinion of course.

 

[Racerxrated]

I have owned/played pretty much every top name out there at some time.
Never played the regular 5153 but the Stealth hangs easily and beats out many from that pack.
Has it all I am wanting. Tight...tons of balls...very articulate....great low end punch with zero flub...its a contender for sure.
My opinion of course.

My comments are for the stock 5153 crowd, not the Stealth owners. I've had 2 5153s, and although nice, no chance I would take one over some of the others I've played /owned. If money was no object of course. The Stealth may be a different story however....BTW when is your VH4 for sale???

 

[Bishop5150]

No. If you've seriously played top shelf amps (Friedmans, Bogners, SLO, Diezel, certain modded Marshalls) and would take a stock 5153 over those than more power to you. I've had 2 50 watters and would buy another ...as a backup. But its not in the same league as some other amps, IMO. The Stealth may be a different story though. The articulation just isn't comparable to some of the more expensive builders out there. 5153s are great values, and I might buy another in a month or so. But not as my number 1. All my opinion....

To me the 50 watt amp is not even in the same ballpark as the standard 100 watt or Stealth. I have all 3 or 4 if you count both my standard 100 watt heads. The 50 watt just doesn't have the bottom end, power and oomph of the 100 watt. But how could it? It's a 50 watt amp. I use it for my practice rig and as a backup to bring to gigs. It's great for that. But for my needs it doesn't cut it for gigging. I gotta have the 100 watt. Just my opinion of course. And don't get me wrong I do love the 50 watt. It's a great amp. I'm referring to the head and 2x12 cab.

 

[Mailman1971]

I have owned/played pretty much every top name out there at some time.
Never played the regular 5153 but the Stealth hangs easily and beats out many from that pack.
Has it all I am wanting. Tight...tons of balls...very articulate....great low end punch with zero flub...its a contender for sure.
My opinion of course.

My comments are for the stock 5153 crowd, not the Stealth owners. I've had 2 5153s, and although nice, no chance I would take one over some of the others I've played /owned. If money was no object of course. The Stealth may be a different story however....BTW when is your VH4 for sale???

Ok....yeah I hear ya. I have a good buddy on here that owned the standard.
He has had I believe EVERY AMP ever made..and he said the standard was good but liked others better.
He is begging me to let him try out the stealth.