EVH 5150 III 50W EL34 Review & Demo! (Tight Metal BEAST but also versatile??)

Рет қаралды 31,598

Күн бұрын

Timecodes:
00:00 Review Part 1
03:49 Clean Tone (Green channel, w/Laney BCC Secret Path reverb in FX loop)
05:05 Review Part 2
06:17 Crunch Tone (Blue channel)
07:26 Review Part 3
07:51 Heavy Rock Tone (Blue channel)
09:15 Review Part 4
09:52 6-String Metal Tone (Red channel)
10:54 Review Part 5
11:30 7-String Metal Tone (Red channel)
12:47 Review Part 6
13:23 9-String Metal Tone (Red channel)
14:40 Review Part 7 / Conclusion
Thanks for watching my review and demo of the legendary EVH 5150 III 50W EL34! This is an awesome amp with a wide range of tones! The blue channel is somewhat controversial but is it really that bad, or just different? Let's find out!
Guitars used in this video:
-ESP LTD SC-20 Stephen Carpenter (Deftones) 6-String
-ESP LTD Phoenix Deluxe 1000
-ESP LTD-Elite Eclipse I
-ESP LTD NW-44 Neil Westfall (A Day To Remember)
-ESP LTD SC-607B1H Stephen Carpenter 7-String Baritone
-Ibanez RGIB9FME 9-String
York Audio Impulse Responses: www.yorkaudio.co/
Let me know in the comments what your thoughts are on this amp!
Thanks for watching! Please subscribe along with the bell and follow SDS at:
Follow SDS at:
/ sonicdrivestudio
/ sonicdrivestudio_official
/ jon_symons
#evh5150iii #50wel34 #review #demo #tubeamp #amplifier #guitar #metal #rock #9string #baritone #espltd #settings #5150

Пікірлер: 132

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

What do you guys think? What do you think of the blue channel?

@frnkytherockstar7760 2 жыл бұрын

I would use it for rythm parts and the red channel for lead/solo parts

@xyema-mpa-ma-ma 2 жыл бұрын

The blue channel is pretty good, though I'd take a JCM800 over the 5150 any day of the week.

@madmikemike 2 жыл бұрын

I think the blue channel rocks! I’ve been playing this amp at gc for the last couple months, and I definitely want to add it to my collection. You can get almost any sound you want from it, even without a drive. I think all the channels have there own place and I can’t wait to have my own

@jesperbc 2 жыл бұрын

Blue channel sounded great in this demo. Other demos I've watched showcased it at wooly, muddy and over the top bass heavy, but yours sounded great.

@kevinp_25 2 жыл бұрын

I have all 3 EVH 50w versions and love them all. If I HAD to get rid of one it would be the EL34 because that blue channel, although cool in its way, is more limited than the 6L6 and Stealth blue channels in the contexts I use it for. With that said, I’m keeping all three. :) Bonus: their FX loops are phenomenal; I love running my Fractals through them.

@ringchamp6543 2 жыл бұрын

Something needs to be said, not just for your amazing gear, or for your quality of production of audio & video, or even for the clear explanations of the gear… but actually for each & every video having killer riffs that could be on any famous metal band album. I’ve followed you from the start and I know you are just a riff machine & great song writing ability . Love your stuff - keep it up dude! Much respect from Australia

@majesticpbjcat7707 2 жыл бұрын

I second that 100%! 👌👍🤘

@BrandonBames 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, I’ll watch anything you put up. Always a great way to start the day with some chugs and riffage on great amps, love your channel!!!

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

Big hug bro!

@braypdx 10 ай бұрын

This video made me seek out the EVH EL34 50 head. I bought it and I love it so much. It's got every tone I could want in one amp. Excellent content as always, Jon. Cheers!

@federicoetchelecu3629 2 ай бұрын

Great review, very well put together and, most importantly, super helpful! Thank you for sharing!

@martinguerrero6377 2 жыл бұрын

That was awesome! I really love this amp. I have the first PV 5150. I bought the 5150 Iconic but it died after a few tries so I sent it back. I can’t afford the 5150 lll 100 watt head and after seeing you try out a few heads in the $1000+ range I’ve decided to go with this amazing 5150 lll 50 watt head. Thanks for everything you do!

@Alterwill 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video as always! The riffs are sooo tasty! This amp is my dream amp, so yeah please keep them demos coming🤘

@WholeLottaBulldog 2 жыл бұрын

Your ability to write amazing, catchy riffs ALL THE TIME is incredible. Like a Dutch Hetfield.

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Josh! :)

@majesticpbjcat7707 2 жыл бұрын

I'd say even more Dynamic than Papa Het really.

@_mysilentblue2227 2 жыл бұрын

You really do put a lot of time into your review/demos, thanks for the quality content.

@surjer69 2 жыл бұрын

Just finding this channel the past couple days, loving the tunes!!!!

@Dennisbluschke 2 жыл бұрын

Let me say something: Thank you so much for all the things you do for us. All the Amps - all the HUGE Tones. Everytime I search for Amp Vids and see, you did a video, I quickly click it and press like. NEVER get disappointed. Exactly the Sounds I like.

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

@CharlesWillisBonsai 2 жыл бұрын

I thought the blue channel sounded excellent. I don't get the obsession with having an uber tight low end on high gain amps now. So many of these new bands guitar sounds are so generic in part of because of how they're all EQ'd to hell and back, starting with the low end. It's really nice having a little different flavor between the blue and red flavor instead of the blue just being a lower gain version of the red channel.

@deepghetto8968 2 жыл бұрын

Your 9 string riffage has gotten immensely more creative. Glad to hear it. That 6 string metal riff reminded me of Threat Signal which is a good thing.

@Asyouwere 2 жыл бұрын

Great review again, and I love your riffs too, they seem to get better and better. I would think you’d make some Gojira like riffs too, since they use that amp for their latest records (the 100W version) but you steered clear from that and played your own awesome riffs! That nine string sounds obscenely low….

@skoorb1 3 ай бұрын

The blue channel is my fave on this amp. If it's to loose as some think it is, just stick an overdrive/boost in front and it tightens right up. There's no need to mod it like a lot of dudes seemed to be doing when this amp came out.

@Gizmo-st1ky 2 жыл бұрын

What a great sounding amp!! I must get one! Great video man!!

@randymccoy2527 Жыл бұрын

Your recordings and your arrangement are just my absolute favourite. It's always perfect. Your melodies, voicings, tone choices, arrangements. Superhuman. How do you do it? Every riff is like exactly what I hope to write and capture. Always impressed. Fantastic.

@SonicDriveStudio Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words!

@jesperbc 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds great as always! I plan on purchasing a 5153 50w Stealth next year, since I already have the fuzzy distortion tones covered by my Rockerverb 103. Would love to see you demo a Victory Super Kraken.

@derRaff Жыл бұрын

Very nice Riffing and cool demo thanx👍

@jaredkemp1379 2 жыл бұрын

🤘🏽😈🤘🏽 Awesome!!! Great riffage and gear!! Always a good time!!! Cheers!!!

@bigpiper2103 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Jon! I have had mine modded (C138 i C137 clipped) and what it mainly did is add some sparkle/detail to the clean channel, which sounds much more alive and chimey now, and also kind of de-mudded the blue. It hasn't made it much tighter, but it opened up the top frequencies, making the overal sound more detailed, "open" and clearer. I used to use the red channel with my ESP EII EC 7 for my doomy riffs, but now boosted blue is my preference. It's a bit less tight then red (which is good in my books - great for doom), but now has similar clarity. I'm waiting for the amp to star in the TO BOOST OR NOT TO BOOST series - please would you try BOSS SD1, Maxon 808 and the Laney pedal for me? I am currently using Archer Ikon (a varaition on the cult Klon Centaur with its own personality) and love it, but I am considering getting another pedal to get a diferent flavour. Cheers

@rydiz86 2 жыл бұрын

I just used my 5150 el34 live for the first time Friday and every other bands guitar player was in love with my tone. Red the whole time though with an o.d. For boost. All passive pickups. I’ve only used actives once on this amp and it seemed like red was too much gain for rhythm, liked the blue better using fishman moderns. need to try it more, our current set im not using a guitar with actives

@Bash_Man 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice. definitly an amazing amp. Been thinking about getting one as a backup amp to my Splawn nitro. Speaking of Splawn, any chance of doing a demo of any splawn amps like the pro mod or Nitro? cheers

@loudheavyandstoned9059 2 жыл бұрын

Any chance to see a test on the 100watt version ? Great work as always !

@charlieschueneman7363 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, you are a riff machine. Love this channel.

@laz288 2 жыл бұрын

I have the 100 Watt. Such nice amps. I was a kid in the 80's and we had to mod our amps, variacs and all sort of witchcraft to get the sound we wanted. Only a few guys in the entire country did mods and those same Jose (EVH) and others were available to us no bodies. I had the amp guy for SRV do mine. Such a cool time. Now there is modeling and dozens of awesome amps. Kind of miss those exploratory years.

@mikeshredguitar 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve demoed guitars I have bought at my local guitar shop for months on this amp and each time it is convincing me I need to get the amp. Excellent demo, your channel has helped me with amp purchases and getting into the Ownhammer products. Thanks man! I own an invective 120, do you notice a big difference between the two and with 7 and 8 string guitars?

@harmonicseries6582 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome demo how does it compare with 6l6 version?

@misterkenova6695 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds so good. Desert island, this or the 50w stealth? Cheers man great video

@RPMlegacy513 2 жыл бұрын

sounds KILLER as always, great playing! BTW what drum program do you use? Sounds amazing!

@MarbsMusic 10 ай бұрын

I pickup mine today, stoked so I had to watch this video again! To me the blue channel is great for a more 80s sound, combined with the red and green you have multiple options!

@monstruonegro05 2 жыл бұрын

Love it, niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice job!

@WholeLottaBulldog 2 жыл бұрын

Whats there to say, awesome as always. Youre looking super healthy too mate, that keto has done you wonders.

@majesticpbjcat7707 2 жыл бұрын

Would you say that you'd be better off with this amp, overall, more so than the 6L6 version if you're mainly using extended range guitars and/or lower tunings? I know you already kind of alluded to that in the video, but given the choice between the two, what would you do in the end?

@lasv155 2 жыл бұрын

Hello I have the 50 W Stealth EL34. I like the green, Love the blue and LOVE LOVE the red. I wish I could get a bit of a MESA rectifier low end/ wall of sound sound in there...just a bit but noticable.. please do some pedals examples and comparisons that match well with this amp in front and FX loop . like noise gates, boosts, eq, overdrives, distortions etc..... I dont know what to try and what to buy. no one else has done this please!!! Thank you

@vanalhalen 2 жыл бұрын

I modded mine (C137 mod but with a toggle switch to keep the original sound possibility) and it's less muddy, a little bit less gain too, slight difference noticable on 6 strings but big noticable difference with 7 and 8 strings. I love mine and it could not be better in this price range with fx loop, midi switching, and only 15kg weight

@shawns9316 2 жыл бұрын

I've been trying to figure out which 5153 version to pick up and this video was super helpful. Do you have a 6L6 around for a shootout? Your demos keep getting better and better! Cheers!

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I only have this one and the LBX. The 6L6 will be very similar except the blue channel of that one is just similarly voiced to the red channel, just less gainy

@rendyandrian7149 2 жыл бұрын

Jon, I notice there is sound volume different in all your recent videos. The guitar tone, drum, and bass are loud while the talking part is quieter. I have to adjust youtube volume lower when guitar plays and vice versa when you talk. Fyi, my audio setup is fine and this doesn't happen in other youtube videos. Can you readjust your volume setting in your next video to be more even for all segment ?

@xanderjones6239 2 жыл бұрын

Man, that thing sounds awesome!

@nizzamp 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great stuff, Mister Sir. When it comes to LTD guitars vs. ESP, clearly you can afford any of them. Do you feel that the LTD's are excellent enough to not justify the $3,000USD+ for an ESP version?

@KeepTheGates 2 жыл бұрын

You should try this amp with a Mesa Grid Slammer in front. That pedal in particular gets along very, very well with 5150 style amps pushed by el34s

@kevinmattie1121 2 жыл бұрын

Have the 2x12 combo 50 watt. . It’s the balls ….thanks for the settings and demo. The blue channel doesn’t suck in fact it’s incredible an the red is insane. For the clean I use a waza craft super overdrive set low an crank the gain. Works for me. Don’t really need it on the red but it’s an option for blue depending on your taste. But honestly doesn’t need it either. 🤟subscribed

@voodootattoo9057 8 ай бұрын

You really nailed it with this video. I chose this amp specifically because of the blue channel's more diverse and complex sound compared to the 6L6. I did do the C137 mod just to see if I'd like it and I do. I dont think it overly tightened things up. I feel like it opened it up some and made it more airy and less boxy. Not that it was bad to begin with but the mod did improve the blue channel.

@picksalot1 2 жыл бұрын

I thought all the tones sounded great. I was surprised how good the clean tone sounded as well. 😎 A video suggestion: Maybe you could demonstrate why you usually have material to mute the strings behind the nut and beyond the bridge. I have an archtop guitar that I have a leather strap woven between the strings beyond the bridge to mute sympathetic vibrations. But, I've never found the need to mute the strings behind the nut. I'm probably missing something, so it would be cool to hear a before and after of what you do, what materials you think work best, etc. Thanks

@YsAbTones 2 жыл бұрын

Hey john sounds great ! how do you find the red seven ? is it better than the fractal X load ?

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

I love it! I prefer it over the Fractal, yes

@Mumumumykul 2 жыл бұрын

those JB's on the blue channel. oh my god, the dirt is so perfect and indulgent and theres so much dynamics

@nathanhogsed7475 2 жыл бұрын

So this is crazy, your blue channel gain set at 11 o' clock during the crunch tone section is equivalent to the blue channel dimed on my 6l6 50w head?!? And I even run an overdrive with it and its still not really that high gain on my blue channel.

@rk28984 2 жыл бұрын

it's an awesome amp. I used one pushed with a EQD Plumes OD pedal for my bands latest album for the solo tones, sounded pretty good. by the way the heavy rock riff reminds me of cancer bats.

@joemaxdenty783 2 жыл бұрын

Blue channel was great as I tend to always love that "Orange" style tone. Still think I prefer the Peavey 6505/5150 high gain to the EVH. Have you ever played the Peavey 6534(+)? EL34s instead of 6L6. Maybe an amp shootout between the Peavey 6534 and EVH 5150 III EL34????

@FURAPANZA 2 жыл бұрын

Just an idea: in the future "to boost or not to boost" episode, you could also try to make the clean channel sound more of your liking by using an overdrive/boost pedal. Cheers! p.s. maybe a little bit off-topic but, how about a bass tone tutorial? I enjoy the one I hear in your demos :)

@singleproppilot 2 жыл бұрын

I've been wondering about one of these for awhile. I own the 50 watt 6L6 combo and love the tight and bright sound of the blue channel. I don't think this is for me. With this demo, it just has a certain weirdness, almost a quacky sound, in the midrange when you're playing single note lines that's just annoying. And I noticed you had all the EQ dials at noon, so I don't think it's a matter of the way you set it up.

@jetvanderkrogt679 2 жыл бұрын

Rockin'!

@Blaze_1221 Жыл бұрын

Can this head run two el34 2x12 cabs???

@jesterraj 2 жыл бұрын

Whats your signal chain here?

@Tanax13 2 жыл бұрын

Damn it sounds amazing! Now just trying to decide between EL34 or 6L6 version :'D Btw, York Audio? I thought you were with Ownhammer, did something change? :)

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not with OH anymore

@Tanax13 2 жыл бұрын

@@SonicDriveStudio That explains it. York makes some great IR though so I'm not disappointed with these sounds. Always great to have new videos from you :D Keep it up!

@bigpiper2103 2 жыл бұрын

@@Tanax13 I have recently bought both OH and YA impulses and can honestly say I still prefer OH. At least the two packs I got from YA (Orange and D77) both seem to have a frequency in the mids that I don't like, at least with my EVH 5150 EL34 head. For me, OH for the win!

@guitarstand 2 жыл бұрын

Hey John, very funny intro !! I am also active on youtube and every time I record a video, I have the same "dropouts when speaking" as you do. Trying 100 times until you say a sentence without errors :) thx!!

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

Haha yeah man, it's unavoidable for me. As long as we get the job done, right?

@guitarstand 2 жыл бұрын

@@SonicDriveStudio exactly! I have evh 5150III 50W Stealth with 6L6 tubes. I love your videos! Thank you! It always sounds really amazig good!

@thomaschilds8781 Жыл бұрын

How does the green channel sound with gain maxed out? Still no compression, hints of bloom?

@SonicDriveStudio Жыл бұрын

Some saturation

@lodougherty 2 жыл бұрын

Jesus these demos are so pristine.

@leeroden7900 2 жыл бұрын

People complaining about the blue channel seem to have missed the fact that this amp is specifically made and marketed (hence the el34s) to have tones closer to Ed's classic sound while still enabling the more modern sound on the other channel

@thiagonogueira9363 2 жыл бұрын

How this amp compare to engl fireball/ironball? Too different?! Tks u rock dude

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

This one has a bit more saturation and oomph in the high end. The ENGL has a different midrange. Hard to explain with words

@xanderjones6239 2 жыл бұрын

So, ignorant question. Can you use an axe fx as a load box? I have the 6L6 evh 5150 iii 50 watt and want to try and run it into different cab IR's. What do I need to get to do that? Cuz I wanna try a bunch of cabs, but money lol

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

The Axe fx is no loadbox but it loads IRs and effects etc. You'd need a separate loadbox like the RedSeven Amp Central

@xanderjones6239 2 жыл бұрын

@@SonicDriveStudio thanks! I'll look into that!

@DocDisco241 2 жыл бұрын

Well the blue channel on the 6l6 version with a boost sounds fantastic. Better than the red for rhythm I reckon.

@jachinharder5958 2 жыл бұрын

Wish Line 6 would put a model of this amp in the Helix line

@MangoMeoww 2 жыл бұрын

This is my dream amp!

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

It's a good (and relatively affordable) dream amp to have!

@MangoMeoww 2 жыл бұрын

@@SonicDriveStudio One day, one day. :) I love your videos btw!

@ostinfree5399 2 жыл бұрын

It is a pity that you do not write what tracks you play. I would love to play them too.

@kinglord5163 2 жыл бұрын

Classic beauty. @Sonic Drive Studio. My Blackstar Ht metal sound sucks with my mesa 212 box. You have a different solution for this? Should I sell the box and buy a different one? Sell both and buy different gear or just sell the amp?

@bigpiper2103 2 жыл бұрын

Borrow some gear from a friend and try replacing one element at a time. Try other guitars, then other cabs, then another amp. Sometimes all the elements are good quality, buy may not match each other. Having said that, Mesa cabs are the best of the best (almost), so my guess is it's your amp you don't like. Or your guitar.

@neighbourhoodmusician 2 жыл бұрын

The blue channel on these is a little... chewy or saggy compared to the 6L6. If I could craft the prefect 50 watter it would be 6L6 clean, 6L6 blue and the EL34 red. The red channel on the EL34 just tames the spikiness of the 6L6 nicely.

@BoBo-xg6ip Жыл бұрын

I want one

@kilsoo 2 жыл бұрын

Man that 9 string, tip toeing near just plain old low frequency vibration lol good job

@KeepAnOpenMind Жыл бұрын

I want a studio track of the track starting 7:51(Heavy Rocky Tone).

@squicker 2 жыл бұрын

I exclusively use the blue channel but I have to put a boost in front of it.

@bigpiper2103 2 жыл бұрын

Pretty much same here. I like playing the red unboosted live, but for recording it's boosted blue for me only.

@borhksalduero9259 2 жыл бұрын

you ok buddy?? pahahahaaha .I love the intro mate.... very natural!!! awesome review!!!!

@borhksalduero9259 2 жыл бұрын

blue channel is ok, but you alway make these stuff shine....it sounds very nice tbh

@jspartacus Жыл бұрын

Absolutely zero wrong with that blue channel. Hate coming from whiny noobs who have never played a genuine, real cranked Marshall. It's doing exactly what it's designed to do, great way to get those classic tones.

@mrgore9732 2 жыл бұрын

I like to wiew a compere with another el34, likes h&k Deluxe 40 or Orange th30! Great!!

@jhonpasquez6145 2 жыл бұрын

How much this beast goes for??? It sounds killer for sure.🤟🤟

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

Not sure? 1200 euros or so

@bigpiper2103 2 жыл бұрын

@@SonicDriveStudio I got mine second hand for about 750 Euro.

@jonmemolo8482 Жыл бұрын

The notion that the Blue channel "SUCKS" is simply incorrect. If you do not understand the purpose of the voicing of this amplifiers three distinct channels its your misinformed opinion that "SUCKS". This is directed at the naysayers not you John.. Great job as always! Cheers..

@rangerdoc1029 2 жыл бұрын

Damn, you're a riff machine!

@Shred_Rocket 2 жыл бұрын

Well if the blue channel sucks with the EVH EL34, then why did it sound so good? But for real, you always seem to make everything sound very good!

@musicformentalhealth6726 2 жыл бұрын

I use the blue channel live all the time I find if you crank the gain to 10 and crank the mid and treble almost all the way it tightens up like a frogs butt

@majesticpbjcat7707 2 жыл бұрын

Wait, how do you know how tigh- ya know what...nevermind

@musicformentalhealth6726 2 жыл бұрын

@@majesticpbjcat7707 LOL

@jfrog1979 2 жыл бұрын

@@majesticpbjcat7707 🤣🐸🔅👀

@mathiasjapri 2 жыл бұрын

It is tight ,tested on a marshall 4 x 12.

@brutalmorality5885 11 ай бұрын

i think the blue channel is great!!!

@newrockorder 2 жыл бұрын

it‘s light - 15 kilos, 3 channels, that‘s a good choice for shows, blue channel is 👍🏻

@verruckterwissenschaftler 2 жыл бұрын

LOL, try HI Girls and Guys!

@SonicDriveStudio 2 жыл бұрын

Ha! Good idea ;)

@danomnihility2453 2 жыл бұрын

Had every incarnation of the 5150 leading up to the Victory kraken. Take any Peavey or EVH and VS the KRAKEN then see..

@user-Max1980 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, love your videos, but what are you doing with color correction?))) skin looks just ridiculous. Reply to me if it makes sense for you, will help.

@Hadouken5150 3 ай бұрын

IMO anything more than 7 strings is stupid. There really isn’t much you can do with more than 7 strings. You can djent and that’s it. Not a fan of those styles.