Great interview Howard and thanks so much for the callouts! To clarify the discussion on the 2 preamp tubes in the Iconic….first I got rid of any redundancy where similar stages were duplicated in the two channels, and used relays to redirect the signal accordingly. Then I swapped out the input tube with a high voltage transistor circuit, since that tube causes the most microphonic issues….it also had about 8dB of extra gain left over that we kick on when you step on the Footswitch Boost(in addition to the footswitch adjustable volume boost the knob provides). Then we used a similar high voltage transistor phase inverter and low voltage solid state effects loop and boost system. The 4 stages in the remaining 2 tubes are used for the all important preamp stages where all the preamp distortion happens, so it sounds very close to the amps with more preamp tubes. On the comments regarding Ed always wanting more gain, my experience was he liked to have extra gain above his knob setting….just in case. He recognized that other folks might have wimpier pickups or want a little more, and brought that up all the time. I think that’s why so many people of other genres like the gear so much.

I would like to give a big thanks to Mr. Howard Kaplan for leaving himself available and contactable to all of us EVH Amp lovers who are a bit less tech savvy and helping us with our issues. It is GREATLY appreciated, not many, if any professionals out there other than Howard that would do that.

Howard promptly responded to my 5150III question! Very helpful. Respect.

This was great. Gotta get James Brown back on the show! That might be my favorite episode along with the ones with John Suhr.

Howard is the real deal!

Great guy! Howard helped me with a parts issue some time ago. He messaged me in a forum and we figured out a solution. Thanks Howard

Dave's 'dimmer-sound impression' was perfect !

Howard Kaplan, fabulous guest! Thanks Tone Talk! 🙋🏻‍♂️

Howard is such a great guy! I have never met someone who actually took the time to speak with clients who had issues, or questions! I've dealt with him many times when I purchased my EVH amps... I say "amps", because I had one of each model that came out... the 100w reg, the Special ed striped front, the red 50w, updated 50w, the 100w Stealth (when the still used Winged C's), the 50w stealth etc... lol Great guy! Lots of good info shared!

Fantastic Episode! Regarding the places to get started for amp build/repair: Dave and Howard stated some great techniques and resources. To add to that, I've found that Rob Robinette's site is a pretty good resource in terms of a nice summary when it comes to first understanding how the amps work, modifications (most classic tweed and BF Fenders), and troubleshooting. He pulled most of his info, and gives credit to the referred resources: Merlin, London Power, RCA handbooks, etc. Also, the Uncle Doug and Blueglow videos are a good KZfaq resource. For instance, Blueglow has a series showing how to use a scope, and then go along the circuit to find the problems. These are still no substitute for what Dave has constantly mentioned: experience.

Dave was very right about dealing with EVH. I know someone who was at some the initial EVH/Fender meetings, and she said her job was to function as Ed's interpreter. "What Ed really wants is......."

I like the el34 blue channel darkness, and now I’m proud to share that like with Ed himself.

Really great episode, gents!! 😎

I had a VTM that was modded heavily at metropoulos amps. Was super cool.

Great show. A couple months back I got the EVH 5150III LBX-S. Awesome little amp. Exactly what I had been looking for.

Great episode! Thanks guys!

Excellent show you guys are the best 👌

Great show!!

Great show guys. Keep up the great work and all the cool guests that come on your show (looking forward to Jake E Lee part 2 lol)! I like Dave's honesty regarding hand-wired amps. Had a couple of issues with my Twin Sister and he took care of it (both times). And yes, he really does his own customer service which is very cool. I've purchased a couple of other Friedman products since then because of his hands-on approach to his company and knowing that he stands behind his products. Thanks Dave!

Excellent show guys!!!🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

I just bought an EVH EL34 top and I love it, delayed thanks to Howard

Ed’s dad, Jan played the clarinet on Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now) from the album Diver Down, What is really cool is that there are 3 generations of Van Halens on their albums, as Ed’s son, Wolfgang played bass on their last album, A Different Kind of Truth . Great interview, thanks! I love my 5150 III 50W!

Great stuff as usual!! Ok, let's cut to the chase....what kinda SUPER CHAT $$$$ will it take to get WARREN DeMARTINI on the show??!!?!

Thanks guys, Howard is great.Waiting for your pedalboard build Marc

Very nice!

Is that a mini Jake E Lee in the back? Looks great. I hope it's two channels.

Great show. Still love the Peavey 5150II best. Made in USA, James Brown, better quality all around.

By using a little bit more heater voltage. It can make old or weak tubes sound a little better. 6.5 to 6.7v

When you use a variac it lowers the voltage to all the elements in the tube. That means the “pull” (voltage) on the elections on the cathode is less too. So this would help avoid as much stress (cathode stripping) on the cathode.

Funnily enough, my grandpa was the exact opposite with hearing until he was forced to get hearing aid. He would just keep quiet and not ask what you said.

Great show guys! Mark have you ever considered having KARL SANDOVAL on the show? Pretty sure if asked he would be all for it.

Agree. Circuit boards done right are the best. If point to point was so great, our computers would still be point to point!

Great episode guys! Love to hear your thoughts on the new Peavey 6505 1992 head.

Mark you gotta do something about the blue glare shining off your glasses from the computer screen. Its tripping me out lol

You guys should get Gary Sunda on - Creator of the Randall RG-100 amps used by Lynch, Def Leppard, Dimebag Darrell and many others.

What happened to his website? I'd like to know more about that articulation mod he mentioned.

Talking of oddball amplifiers, Ive see schematics (and heard samples) of amp, that had 6sj7 as preamp tube, 7025 as phase inverter and quartet of 6V6s power tubes. Only volume and tone cut. But cant find it anymore. Does it ring a bell for someone? And then Marshall 1930 popular

What does he mean @ 42:50 when he's talking about channel 1 being cleaner? Only on the el34 series? The pre amp tube layouts all appear the same across the 50w range. And then slightly different, but the same across the range of the 100w heads

MGL 50 is a neat modern Marshall style amp. Handwired in USA 2204. I think he’s affiliated with Germino.

Funny how Dave says the Celestion G12T-75s won't sound good with most amps. I ended up pulling them all out of my 90s era Marshall 1960A cab and putting in 2 Greenbacks on top and 2 Vintage 30s on the bottom just like the Friedman 4x12 cabs. Definitely sounds a bit better but the amp you use makes a bigger difference in sound regardless of speakers being used.

We need to make usa tubes

My supplier told that the EVH branded sets of tubes are no longer made.

Howard use a mic when you do a podcast, I want to hear all your wisdom clearly and without having to strain

Unfortunately I didn’t make it for the live chat, but my question towards Howard would be about the Presence pots of the 5150III Stealth. Why was the presence circuit designed in such a way, that you only can hear a difference in sound when the pot was moving the last quarter of it‘s range? Three quarters of it’s range didn’t do anything to the sound.

The low filament trick was originally done by Macintosh to lower their amps noise floor. Guytron amps regulates their filaments to 5.1 vdc too.

My Friedman is handwired AND pcb! Hah!

Please bring back James Brown (when legally possible) We need similar insights on the Iconic series. Thank you Marc and PS. You're looking great (healthwise) 👍

I was curious. I’ve seen a supposed Howard Kaplan modded older 100 6l6 Evh with black knobs for every volume knob and a few extra dials on the back. The non-stealth version. Would you by chance know the mod Howard could have done to this amp?

JESSEY DAVEY from Kingtone pedals

I'm here

All this talk about eddie van halen, my personal opinion is edd has the ultimate tone on the 1st and 2nd album... done! No need to tone chase, he had it. Didnt need anything else what so ever!

When you talk about lower down to 90v we are talking about 90v not lower your Auto transformer to 90. 0-100 is a % of the total voltage. So 100 would be 120v or whatever the line voltage is at your house or where you are playing.

@52:30 True variable power, not attenuation in the combo amps.

I want to put a fan on the back of my EVH 100 watt EL should I point the fan flow towards the tubes or should the flow of air be pointed away from tubes so the fan doesn’t blow air on the tubes but suck the heat out ??

Howard's web site is gone. Anyone know if his EVH 5150 CH1/CH2 PCBs are still available anywhere?

Try to get JP Henry from Henry Amplification!

I used to work in a machine shoppe for 3 years in the 90's then came back for a couple years in 2013 and the difference in just the quality of the metals had decreased significantly in the area where it was used for mass production, the manufacturing processes and tools and dies were still the same except for the mass produced steel and aluminum, and newer sets of tools and dies that were more prone to breaking and shattering a lot more

I just looked at what tubes cost, and gagged. Maybe it’s time for me to look at pedals or modelers.

I haven’t seen anyone gig/perform with any EVH products yet. I’m a fan though .

where are my previous comments?

FOR WILL THE REAL // THE TUBE AMP BOOK BY ASPEN PITTMAN VOL 3 ///P.268 TO P. 277//

If you wan’t to know how to troubleshoot amps take electronics.

EVH IS A COPY OF THE SLO 💯 : CORRECT

people do make mistakes. so friedman has to fall into that catagory. yes, no ?

Cathode stripping is not a real thing.... Sorry...