5150 III mini - Is it living up to the hype??

[spaced_ghost]

Here's a demo I did of the amp, using all 3 channels, clean was the green channel, blue for rhythm, and red was lead, never had any problems with flub on channel 2 at ALL either... hope this helps a bit, I don't play EVH stuff though, so it was set up more for clean and high gain... it's much easier setting the green and blue channel up for slightly lower gain styles...

no offense, but will never understand why folks put tone-coloring pedals like delay and chorus in the signal when making demo videos.

 

[Mizati20]

Here's a demo I did of the amp, using all 3 channels, clean was the green channel, blue for rhythm, and red was lead, never had any problems with flub on channel 2 at ALL either... hope this helps a bit, I don't play EVH stuff though, so it was set up more for clean and high gain... it's much easier setting the green and blue channel up for slightly lower gain styles...

no offense, but will never understand why folks put tone-coloring pedals like delay and chorus in the signal when making demo videos.

Because at the time it was strictly to demo how all the channels were useable...

 

[madrigal77]

Yep...that flub drove me freakin nuts! Thing is I LOVED the amp. I loved channel 2 but I just wanted a little more gain and it wasnt happening without the flub. Almost sounded 'octave-ish' it had so much flub. Channel 1 and 3 were perfect though

Wierd since I sent it back and Howard Kaplan hand picked and tested another head and sent it to me and I experieced the same problem. I thought it was my guitar after that haoppened

That's exactly it! With all the comments I've heard here and on other boards, I'm thinking it's more the player and what each of us likes. I prefer a clean, punchy overdrive. Back in Black, High 'N Dry, Bogner XTC blue channel if that makes sense. You can crank the gain on the XTC AND kick in the boost and still not even be close to fizz/flub territory.

I was hoping the mini's blue would get me something like that at with a little more "mean". The few 100s I've tried do. Instead, it's kind of haze that gets worse as you kick up the gain. No punch, no definition, no clarity. Just hoping I can remedy it with a tube swap or simple mod. If not, I'll keep it for the red channel and grab a Friedman BE to gig with!

I get these tones all day long on mine That said, it won't do it in your bedroom or office that well. I have found that this amp comes to life when you have the master past 9 o'clock. So turn it up If it still sounds bad, there has to be something going on, maybe a bad tube or cord??

I am not a bedroom player. Mine sounded great at low volumes...and I tried swapping ALL the tubes. Not exactly sure what the deal was. The first night at rehearsal the whole band loved it...but then the flub came.

Long story but after many conversations with Howard Kaplan and getting a new amp sent to me that did the same thing I sold it and moved on. I wasn't gonna bother him anymore. Great customer service I will say though!

You must have been doing something weird. You're the only person I've heard complain about it. I've never heard any "flub" on my buddies 50w. Then there's the fact that sandman had your very amp and didn't experience any flub.

 

[Drewdm]

Got mine coming Tuesday. Gearhounds has it for 15% off. Wound up calling sweetwater to price match and got the 212 with it for $1248. Black head with white cab. Can't wait!!

 

[nevusofota]

Got mine coming Tuesday. Gearhounds has it for 15% off. Wound up calling sweetwater to price match and got the 212 with it for $1248. Black head with white cab. Can't wait!!

Congrats!! and welcome to the forum!

 

[lettmusic]

Got mine coming Tuesday. Gearhounds has it for 15% off. Wound up calling sweetwater to price match and got the 212 with it for $1248. Black head with white cab. Can't wait!!

congrats and welcome to the 5150 III club.

 

[Drewdm]

Thanks guys!!! Better late then never

 

[screamindemon]

I love my 100 watter ! But then again it is modded by Mike Fortin and everything he touches just kills !

 

[Lord Toneking]

Yep...that flub drove me freakin nuts! Thing is I LOVED the amp. I loved channel 2 but I just wanted a little more gain and it wasnt happening without the flub. Almost sounded 'octave-ish' it had so much flub. Channel 1 and 3 were perfect though

Wierd since I sent it back and Howard Kaplan hand picked and tested another head and sent it to me and I experieced the same problem. I thought it was my guitar after that haoppened

That's exactly it! With all the comments I've heard here and on other boards, I'm thinking it's more the player and what each of us likes. I prefer a clean, punchy overdrive. Back in Black, High 'N Dry, Bogner XTC blue channel if that makes sense. You can crank the gain on the XTC AND kick in the boost and still not even be close to fizz/flub territory.

I was hoping the mini's blue would get me something like that at with a little more "mean". The few 100s I've tried do. Instead, it's kind of haze that gets worse as you kick up the gain. No punch, no definition, no clarity. Just hoping I can remedy it with a tube swap or simple mod. If not, I'll keep it for the red channel and grab a Friedman BE to gig with!

I get these tones all day long on mine That said, it won't do it in your bedroom or office that well. I have found that this amp comes to life when you have the master past 9 o'clock. So turn it up If it still sounds bad, there has to be something going on, maybe a bad tube or cord??

I am not a bedroom player. Mine sounded great at low volumes...and I tried swapping ALL the tubes. Not exactly sure what the deal was. The first night at rehearsal the whole band loved it...but then the flub came.

Long story but after many conversations with Howard Kaplan and getting a new amp sent to me that did the same thing I sold it and moved on. I wasn't gonna bother him anymore. Great customer service I will say though!

You must have been doing something weird. You're the only person I've heard complain about it. I've never heard any "flub" on my buddies 50w. Then there's the fact that sandman had your very amp and didn't experience any flub.

Yep, got me! Im making it all up in my evil attempt to see all EVH products fail

Seriously though, I think I know what I was was dealing with...I didnt just start playing last year. I mean you plug guitar in and play right? Ok...mine flubbed out like a big fat flubby mess of flub. What's weird is that Howard sent another amp that did the same thing! I see guys running their gain maxed on ch2 and I couldnt get mine past 11-12 without flubbing....and I tune to standard!

Makes no sense...but it happened

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Funny the talk about the lynchback a since I was thinking about picking one of those up for my cab to go with the 5150 iii. I have heard a lot of great things about 5150 amps, and greenback style speakers. Man I can't wait to try that amp this week. As a plus I just sold my wife's 5 string bass that she never plays (she suggested it) so there is now some cash in the fund.

 

[eruption]

I love it. Great variety of tones. A+ amp.

 

[madrigal77]

Yep...that flub drove me freakin nuts! Thing is I LOVED the amp. I loved channel 2 but I just wanted a little more gain and it wasnt happening without the flub. Almost sounded 'octave-ish' it had so much flub. Channel 1 and 3 were perfect though

Wierd since I sent it back and Howard Kaplan hand picked and tested another head and sent it to me and I experieced the same problem. I thought it was my guitar after that haoppened

That's exactly it! With all the comments I've heard here and on other boards, I'm thinking it's more the player and what each of us likes. I prefer a clean, punchy overdrive. Back in Black, High 'N Dry, Bogner XTC blue channel if that makes sense. You can crank the gain on the XTC AND kick in the boost and still not even be close to fizz/flub territory.

I was hoping the mini's blue would get me something like that at with a little more "mean". The few 100s I've tried do. Instead, it's kind of haze that gets worse as you kick up the gain. No punch, no definition, no clarity. Just hoping I can remedy it with a tube swap or simple mod. If not, I'll keep it for the red channel and grab a Friedman BE to gig with!

I get these tones all day long on mine That said, it won't do it in your bedroom or office that well. I have found that this amp comes to life when you have the master past 9 o'clock. So turn it up If it still sounds bad, there has to be something going on, maybe a bad tube or cord??

I am not a bedroom player. Mine sounded great at low volumes...and I tried swapping ALL the tubes. Not exactly sure what the deal was. The first night at rehearsal the whole band loved it...but then the flub came.

Long story but after many conversations with Howard Kaplan and getting a new amp sent to me that did the same thing I sold it and moved on. I wasn't gonna bother him anymore. Great customer service I will say though!

You must have been doing something weird. You're the only person I've heard complain about it. I've never heard any "flub" on my buddies 50w. Then there's the fact that sandman had your very amp and didn't experience any flub.

Yep, got me! Im making it all up in my evil attempt to see all EVH products fail

Seriously though, I think I know what I was was dealing with...I didnt just start playing last year. I mean you plug guitar in and play right? Ok...mine flubbed out like a big fat flubby mess of flub. What's weird is that Howard sent another amp that did the same thing! I see guys running their gain maxed on ch2 and I couldnt get mine past 11-12 without flubbing....and I tune to standard!

Makes no sense...but it happened

Where did I accuse you of making it up? I just said something strange must have been going on as no one else is experiencing this and sandman had no problems with your very amp.

 

[Lord Toneking]

Yep...that flub drove me freakin nuts! Thing is I LOVED the amp. I loved channel 2 but I just wanted a little more gain and it wasnt happening without the flub. Almost sounded 'octave-ish' it had so much flub. Channel 1 and 3 were perfect though

Wierd since I sent it back and Howard Kaplan hand picked and tested another head and sent it to me and I experieced the same problem. I thought it was my guitar after that haoppened

That's exactly it! With all the comments I've heard here and on other boards, I'm thinking it's more the player and what each of us likes. I prefer a clean, punchy overdrive. Back in Black, High 'N Dry, Bogner XTC blue channel if that makes sense. You can crank the gain on the XTC AND kick in the boost and still not even be close to fizz/flub territory.

I was hoping the mini's blue would get me something like that at with a little more "mean". The few 100s I've tried do. Instead, it's kind of haze that gets worse as you kick up the gain. No punch, no definition, no clarity. Just hoping I can remedy it with a tube swap or simple mod. If not, I'll keep it for the red channel and grab a Friedman BE to gig with!

I get these tones all day long on mine That said, it won't do it in your bedroom or office that well. I have found that this amp comes to life when you have the master past 9 o'clock. So turn it up If it still sounds bad, there has to be something going on, maybe a bad tube or cord??

I am not a bedroom player. Mine sounded great at low volumes...and I tried swapping ALL the tubes. Not exactly sure what the deal was. The first night at rehearsal the whole band loved it...but then the flub came.

Long story but after many conversations with Howard Kaplan and getting a new amp sent to me that did the same thing I sold it and moved on. I wasn't gonna bother him anymore. Great customer service I will say though!

You must have been doing something weird. You're the only person I've heard complain about it. I've never heard any "flub" on my buddies 50w. Then there's the fact that sandman had your very amp and didn't experience any flub.

Yep, got me! Im making it all up in my evil attempt to see all EVH products fail

Seriously though, I think I know what I was was dealing with...I didnt just start playing last year. I mean you plug guitar in and play right? Ok...mine flubbed out like a big fat flubby mess of flub. What's weird is that Howard sent another amp that did the same thing! I see guys running their gain maxed on ch2 and I couldnt get mine past 11-12 without flubbing....and I tune to standard!

Makes no sense...but it happened

Where did I accuse you of making it up? I just said something strange must have been going on as no one else is experiencing this and sandman had no problems with your very amp.

look, my amp flubbed like a big flubby piece of shit...period. I don't know why I don't know how. Jason (sandman) is probably my best friend I never met. We are on contact on a daily basis via text, emails or whatever. He is a confused as me believe me. I was so frustrated with the whole thing and now I'm frustrated again because I am not a bedroom wanker and pride myself on having a good set of ears.

So maybe I was a little taken back or offended by your "you must have been doing something weird" comment. But now it seems like you're instigating an argument here. I only mentioned what happened to me in hopes to see if anyone else experienced the same issues.

On that note...I'm outta here

 

[sandman]

Yep...that flub drove me freakin nuts! Thing is I LOVED the amp. I loved channel 2 but I just wanted a little more gain and it wasnt happening without the flub. Almost sounded 'octave-ish' it had so much flub. Channel 1 and 3 were perfect though

Wierd since I sent it back and Howard Kaplan hand picked and tested another head and sent it to me and I experieced the same problem. I thought it was my guitar after that haoppened

That's exactly it! With all the comments I've heard here and on other boards, I'm thinking it's more the player and what each of us likes. I prefer a clean, punchy overdrive. Back in Black, High 'N Dry, Bogner XTC blue channel if that makes sense. You can crank the gain on the XTC AND kick in the boost and still not even be close to fizz/flub territory.

I was hoping the mini's blue would get me something like that at with a little more "mean". The few 100s I've tried do. Instead, it's kind of haze that gets worse as you kick up the gain. No punch, no definition, no clarity. Just hoping I can remedy it with a tube swap or simple mod. If not, I'll keep it for the red channel and grab a Friedman BE to gig with!

I get these tones all day long on mine That said, it won't do it in your bedroom or office that well. I have found that this amp comes to life when you have the master past 9 o'clock. So turn it up If it still sounds bad, there has to be something going on, maybe a bad tube or cord??

I am not a bedroom player. Mine sounded great at low volumes...and I tried swapping ALL the tubes. Not exactly sure what the deal was. The first night at rehearsal the whole band loved it...but then the flub came.

Long story but after many conversations with Howard Kaplan and getting a new amp sent to me that did the same thing I sold it and moved on. I wasn't gonna bother him anymore. Great customer service I will say though!

You must have been doing something weird. You're the only person I've heard complain about it. I've never heard any "flub" on my buddies 50w. Then there's the fact that sandman had your very amp and didn't experience any flub.

Yep, got me! Im making it all up in my evil attempt to see all EVH products fail

Seriously though, I think I know what I was was dealing with...I didnt just start playing last year. I mean you plug guitar in and play right? Ok...mine flubbed out like a big fat flubby mess of flub. What's weird is that Howard sent another amp that did the same thing! I see guys running their gain maxed on ch2 and I couldnt get mine past 11-12 without flubbing....and I tune to standard!

Makes no sense...but it happened

Where did I accuse you of making it up? I just said something strange must have been going on as no one else is experiencing this and sandman had no problems with your very amp.

look, my amp flubbed like a big flubby piece of shit...period. I don't know why I don't know how. Jason (sandman) is probably my best friend I never met. We are on contact on a daily basis via text, emails or whatever. He is a confused as me believe me. I was so frustrated with the whole thing and now I'm frustrated again because I am not a bedroom wanker and pride myself on having a good set of ears.

So maybe I was a little taken back or offended by your "you must have been doing something weird" comment. But now it seems like you're instigating an argument here. I only mentioned what happened to me in hopes to see if anyone else experienced the same issues.

On that note...I'm outta here

Lord Toneking does have a good set of ears no doubt. I bought the amp from OrbisMortis here on the forum...the amp worked great for him and me....but amps are man made...maybe something happened internally...I just don't know..all I know is it went from Lord Toneking to Lord Flubking on him. It worked great for Toneking in teh beginning..then the flub came...so who knows?

 

[madrigal77]

Yep...that flub drove me freakin nuts! Thing is I LOVED the amp. I loved channel 2 but I just wanted a little more gain and it wasnt happening without the flub. Almost sounded 'octave-ish' it had so much flub. Channel 1 and 3 were perfect though

Wierd since I sent it back and Howard Kaplan hand picked and tested another head and sent it to me and I experieced the same problem. I thought it was my guitar after that haoppened

That's exactly it! With all the comments I've heard here and on other boards, I'm thinking it's more the player and what each of us likes. I prefer a clean, punchy overdrive. Back in Black, High 'N Dry, Bogner XTC blue channel if that makes sense. You can crank the gain on the XTC AND kick in the boost and still not even be close to fizz/flub territory.

I was hoping the mini's blue would get me something like that at with a little more "mean". The few 100s I've tried do. Instead, it's kind of haze that gets worse as you kick up the gain. No punch, no definition, no clarity. Just hoping I can remedy it with a tube swap or simple mod. If not, I'll keep it for the red channel and grab a Friedman BE to gig with!

I get these tones all day long on mine That said, it won't do it in your bedroom or office that well. I have found that this amp comes to life when you have the master past 9 o'clock. So turn it up If it still sounds bad, there has to be something going on, maybe a bad tube or cord??

I am not a bedroom player. Mine sounded great at low volumes...and I tried swapping ALL the tubes. Not exactly sure what the deal was. The first night at rehearsal the whole band loved it...but then the flub came.

Long story but after many conversations with Howard Kaplan and getting a new amp sent to me that did the same thing I sold it and moved on. I wasn't gonna bother him anymore. Great customer service I will say though!

You must have been doing something weird. You're the only person I've heard complain about it. I've never heard any "flub" on my buddies 50w. Then there's the fact that sandman had your very amp and didn't experience any flub.

Yep, got me! Im making it all up in my evil attempt to see all EVH products fail

Seriously though, I think I know what I was was dealing with...I didnt just start playing last year. I mean you plug guitar in and play right? Ok...mine flubbed out like a big fat flubby mess of flub. What's weird is that Howard sent another amp that did the same thing! I see guys running their gain maxed on ch2 and I couldnt get mine past 11-12 without flubbing....and I tune to standard!

Makes no sense...but it happened

Where did I accuse you of making it up? I just said something strange must have been going on as no one else is experiencing this and sandman had no problems with your very amp.

look, my amp flubbed like a big flubby piece of shit...period. I don't know why I don't know how. Jason (sandman) is probably my best friend I never met. We are on contact on a daily basis via text, emails or whatever. He is a confused as me believe me. I was so frustrated with the whole thing and now I'm frustrated again because I am not a bedroom wanker and pride myself on having a good set of ears.

So maybe I was a little taken back or offended by your "you must have been doing something weird" comment. But now it seems like you're instigating an argument here. I only mentioned what happened to me in hopes to see if anyone else experienced the same issues.

On that note...I'm outta here

I'm not trying to start an argument and I apologize if I offended you. I didn't mean it that way. I was just trying to set the record straight that this isn't a common issue with these amps.

I've heard they can be really picky about pickups, speakers, ect... so who knows? Maybe there was just something about your particular setup that it didn't like. And don't take that the wrong way. I don't mean to insinuate that you did anything wrong

 

[Kevin11]

...no one else is experiencing this...

LT isn't the only one experiencing this. His situation was a mirror image of the one I'm currently having. There are other threads here and on other boards complaining about the issue as well.

People are talking about cranking the resonance and cranking the gain on the blue channel and getting killer results. I've heard some amazing clips. I've played the 100w many times. Mine sounds nothing like that. I have my gain at 9 o'clock and it's "a flubby mess" to borrow a quote, no matter what the EQ settings are. I'm not a bedroom volume player, so that's not the issue in my particular case.

I took it to a buddy of mine who happens to build amps for a living. HUGE EVH fan. Couldn't wait to try my amp out. He messed with the blue for a bit and said, "What's wrong with this?", then offered to look at it for me. He hated it too.

I ordered the EVH rig to replace an older gigging rig that needs some TLC, so I'm trying to stay committed to it and hoping to find a solution.

 

[blackba]

...no one else is experiencing this...

LT isn't the only one experiencing this. His situation was a mirror image of the one I'm currently having. There are other threads here and on other boards complaining about the issue as well.

People are talking about cranking the resonance and cranking the gain on the blue channel and getting killer results. I've heard some amazing clips. I've played the 100w many times. Mine sounds nothing like that. I have my gain at 9 o'clock and it's "a flubby mess" to borrow a quote, no matter what the EQ settings are. I'm not a bedroom volume player, so that's not the issue in my particular case.

I took it to a buddy of mine who happens to build amps for a living. HUGE EVH fan. Couldn't wait to try my amp out. He messed with the blue for a bit and said, "What's wrong with this?", then offered to look at it for me. He hated it too.

I ordered the EVH rig to replace an older gigging rig that needs some TLC, so I'm trying to stay committed to it and hoping to find a solution.

Interesting, please let us know what your friend finds after going through the amp.

 

[Lucius]

I miss my 5150 III. Cheers, Lucius

You should never have sold that thing . What are you using now? Did get a snax yet!??!

No Snax yet, I'm lazy lol. Just using my Krank which is perfect for my metal stuff. Cheers, Lucisu

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

So I just got back from trying out a 5150 III mini, and wow does that amp have clarity like there is no tomorrow!!! Even goofing around for a minute with the resonance cranked, and bass up single notes still just jumped out. Set reasonably it is just a killer tone, and the blue channel is amazing, no flub on the one I tried...anyone want to buy a Randall RM50 lol.

I am going to go back tomorrow and try it with my guitar, and my cab.

 

[philb]

I still use mine once in a while. It still kicks ass. However, I keep the resonance pretty low using the evh cab as I find the low to overpowering.