5150 III One Day Review-GOT IT-UPDATED FIRST POST

[Steinmetzify]

Yeah a 1x12 certainly is not helping. There's just not that much speaker surface and weight to it IMO. A 4x12 shouldn't necessarily be any louder than a 1x12 afaik. Why not just get another Single Rec and be done with it? Can't those things be had on the cheap?? $800-1000?

That's what I meant, about the speaker surface....would there be more low end at the same volume with a 4x12? Thinking about another SR right about now, I can tell ya.

+1
My Ironball/savage sounded like ass through a jectcity 1x12, but through the splawn sounds massive.

What cab/speakers was your Mesa running through?
Try a different EQ and try boosting the lows/low mids?

The Ironball I have has plenty of balls even @ 1 watt w/ EL84s (running throught a splawn 2x12 loaded w/ only one governor), so that might be worth a try if you have a dealer around you if all else fails w/ the EVH. It also has a great headphone out since volume seems to be an issue at your place.

Cab for the Mesa was an Orange 2x12 w/V30s. Fuckin THUMPED. Will try as you suggested, thanks man.

With the eq in the loop drop the levels so that you can turn the amp volume up with it still being quiet. The 1x12 shouldn't be the problem. I have ran a few different 1x12s, and you can get good bass, but the g12h30s in the 1x12, and 2x12 evh cabs are very bright until they break in a bit which at apartment volumes is pretty much never. Try the eq as an attenuator in he loop, and if that doesn't do it I would think about trying a different cab if you are able to exchange it.

Thinking I'm going to have to....messed around with it some more, but I'll give this a shot too. Thanks!

I haven't owned this amp but how about checking and adjusting the bias? I read that these come biased on the cold side from the factory. If it has room to go higher that will warm it up.

Also haven't tried that 1x12 but from past experience going from a 1x12 to even a 2x12 was a pretty big difference in tone and fullness.

Yeah....thinking the same....I just can't believe the difference in low end between this and my last cab. Pretty disappointing. Thanks.

What kind of volume are we talking? Has one of the best MV out there IMHO. I have 0 problem with low end thru a 4 x12 with greenbacks at late night someone sleeping in the next room volume. G12h30 in the 1x12 cab might not be helping. Can't stand that speaker. Never had a prob with a 2x12 stiletto cab v 30s or avatar 2x12 with greenbacks.
Don't be afraid to dial way back the prescence and treble. Like 8-9:00 o'clock. Will thicken it up. It can be a bright amp.
Got friends with other cabs you can try? Crank the resonance on the back.
Sometimes takes a while to figure out an amp. Give it a week or so for a fair shake.

Dude next to zero. .5-1 maybe for volume. I might just have to kick the cab. Lack of low end is making it really thin; other than that I really dig the settings I'm running. If I could sound exactly like this but with some thump I'd be gold. I'll try the treble/presence trick and see if that helps in the morning...thanks for taking time out from drinking to kick in thoughts.

a 4x12 cab with dual inputs can give you a split 2x12
I liked the Fortinrd50, but sold it because the low end was tight but lacked punch/power IMO
You'll likely need to look at another modded Recto...but a KPA would totally kick ass in apartment settings

Hmm...that sucks....was thinking of that one next. Damn. Dude, would LOVE to try a Kemper, but it's just not in the budget. I can't afford it right now. I've heard great things and you put up some kickass stuff with it, but this time of year it's too tight.

EDIT: HOLY LONGASS POST BATMAN!

 

[TX6Strings]

Where are you running the resonance knob on the back? I picked one up yesterday and am running it 3/4 of the way up. Turning it up might help, otherwise volume is the only way. Even at 9 o'clock on the volume channel 3 thumps with the bass at 1 o'clock.

 

[ejecta]

I think it could be that you are using a 1x12 and playing it a super low volume too but it could be that when you put the head in your environment and rig it's just not your thing. I've had that happen to me on several occasions. Trying a 2x12 or a 4x12 might be worth it. Honesty though even when I played modelers like the AxeFX and the Kemper through FRFR I liked them more when they were up loud and they are probably one if the better things to use for low volume.

Just my worthless .02

 

[nevusofota]

1. since you're comparing it to a Mesa through an Orange 2x12, I would try the EVH through the same cab.

2. Crank the resonance on the back

3. Many scoff at it, but try a Sonic Maximizer in the loop. It will add low end at low volume.

4. Try the EVH 100w. I own both. It sounds great at low volume, in fact, I like it more than the 50w at low volume. I never really understood the reason for coming out with the 50w other than it being smaller, and no volume drop with the green channel.

4. If the previous doesn't do it, go back to the Mesa. The tone may just be working better for you at these low of volumes.

 

[ChadVanHalen]

You just give it to me, be a pretty star to put on top of my 5150 tree... But you dimed it at the Taylorsville GC on a 4x12 or 2x12 when you liked it so much? I'd say go back and try that cab again and see if you're still experiencing that, cause it could be that... If not there are a few 1k single recs on eBay you can snag

 

[sgill72]

It's the EVH 1x12. Try the EVH 2x12...you'll be surprised how much better it sounds. The low end is there...it's just the enimic cab you're running through.

 

[Stramm8]

I know it was probably stupid as fuck to buy a 50w amp if I can't turn it up but this is RT and I know I'll prob be forgiven. Out.

It was and I will never forgive you . If your not jiving with it or it's not working for your application, return it. Throwing money at the problem with different speakers and boosts and gizmos will only compound the problem. FWIW, I use mine for rehearsal and gigs and rarely play it at home. I use a Roland cube for dicking around.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Where are you running the resonance knob on the back? I picked one up yesterday and am running it 3/4 of the way up. Turning it up might help, otherwise volume is the only way. Even at 9 o'clock on the volume channel 3 thumps with the bass at 1 o'clock.

Resonance is all the way up man....problem is I can't get close to 9 o'clock where I am.

I wouldn't give up on it dude.. there are alternatives like maybe a 11rack... just for home use... I have been there as well.. many amps sold.. I wish I would've held on to them. It doesn't have to be so torturous...

I hear you.....I've been using JamUp for a few months and I really dig it; just missed that thump in the room and my woman missed listening to me play, you know? If anything, I'd just go back to that and be out the shipping for this amp.

I think it could be that you are using a 1x12 and playing it a super low volume too but it could be that when you put the head in your environment and rig it's just not your thing. I've had that happen to me on several occasions. Trying a 2x12 or a 4x12 might be worth it. Honesty though even when I played modelers like the AxeFX and the Kemper through FRFR I liked them more when they were up loud and they are probably one if the better things to use for low volume.

Just my worthless .02

Not worthless at all mang; I appreciate everyone's input....said above, I really like JamUp for practice. I think it sounds awesome and at these levels it sounds better than this amp, even. I'm gonna see if I can get it to where I think a bigger cab might make a difference. Thanks.

1. since you're comparing it to a Mesa through an Orange 2x12, I would try the EVH through the same cab.

2. Crank the resonance on the back

3. Many scoff at it, but try a Sonic Maximizer in the loop. It will add low end at low volume.

4. Try the EVH 100w. I own both. It sounds great at low volume, in fact, I like it more than the 50w at low volume. I never really understood the reason for coming out with the 50w other than it being smaller, and no volume drop with the green channel.

4. If the previous doesn't do it, go back to the Mesa. The tone may just be working better for you at these low of volumes.

Going to, resonance is all the way up, Maximizer is a good idea, 100w is way out of the budget, but thanks. The dude I sold that Mesa to is never gonna let go of it, lol. Thanks man.

You just give it to me, be a pretty star to put on top of my 5150 tree... But you dimed it at the Taylorsville GC on a 4x12 or 2x12 when you liked it so much? I'd say go back and try that cab again and see if you're still experiencing that, cause it could be that... If not there are a few 1k single recs on eBay you can snag

On it.....probably be there at 12-1...meet up if you got time, Chad.

It's the EVH 1x12. Try the EVH 2x12...you'll be surprised how much better it sounds. The low end is there...it's just the enimic cab you're running through.

This is a weird conundrum...it's gotta be enough low end to satisfy the tone chase, but not enough to annoy my neighbors, ya know? Hope you're right man....I'll know today.

I know it was probably stupid as fuck to buy a 50w amp if I can't turn it up but this is RT and I know I'll prob be forgiven. Out.

It was and I will never forgive you . If your not jiving with it or it's not working for your application, return it. Throwing money at the problem with different speakers and boosts and gizmos will only compound the problem. FWIW, I use mine for rehearsal and gigs and rarely play it at home. I use a Roland cube for dicking around.

Think I should just be done? I could spend another week chasing the fuck out of this thing, different cabs, etc....it's almost there....with a 10 band in the loop and a boost on the front end it's killing tone-wise, except for the lows. I usually know within a few minutes if I dig it or not, but this one is different.......it's ALMOST there. If you had this issue, you'd just bag it and throw it back?

 

[ChadVanHalen]

You just give it to me, be a pretty star to put on top of my 5150 tree... But you dimed it at the Taylorsville GC on a 4x12 or 2x12 when you liked it so much? I'd say go back and try that cab again and see if you're still experiencing that, cause it could be that... If not there are a few 1k single recs on eBay you can snag

On it.....probably be there at 12-1...meet up if you got time, Chad.

I'm at work until 3, go up to the Capitol and dime it there, I'm sure the rotunda has some great reverb ... I'll make sure the troopers don't confiscate your gear

Maybe

 

[junkerde]

Tell me about it, i cant play my 1x12 at good volumes where the amp is actually working because ive gotten complaint from 6 neighbors spanning 2 floors the first time, sad life

 

[Stramm8]

Where are you running the resonance knob on the back? I picked one up yesterday and am running it 3/4 of the way up. Turning it up might help, otherwise volume is the only way. Even at 9 o'clock on the volume channel 3 thumps with the bass at 1 o'clock.

Resonance is all the way up man....problem is I can't get close to 9 o'clock where I am.

I wouldn't give up on it dude.. there are alternatives like maybe a 11rack... just for home use... I have been there as well.. many amps sold.. I wish I would've held on to them. It doesn't have to be so torturous...

I hear you.....I've been using JamUp for a few months and I really dig it; just missed that thump in the room and my woman missed listening to me play, you know? If anything, I'd just go back to that and be out the shipping for this amp.

I think it could be that you are using a 1x12 and playing it a super low volume too but it could be that when you put the head in your environment and rig it's just not your thing. I've had that happen to me on several occasions. Trying a 2x12 or a 4x12 might be worth it. Honesty though even when I played modelers like the AxeFX and the Kemper through FRFR I liked them more when they were up loud and they are probably one if the better things to use for low volume.

Just my worthless .02

Not worthless at all mang; I appreciate everyone's input....said above, I really like JamUp for practice. I think it sounds awesome and at these levels it sounds better than this amp, even. I'm gonna see if I can get it to where I think a bigger cab might make a difference. Thanks.

1. since you're comparing it to a Mesa through an Orange 2x12, I would try the EVH through the same cab.

2. Crank the resonance on the back

3. Many scoff at it, but try a Sonic Maximizer in the loop. It will add low end at low volume.

4. Try the EVH 100w. I own both. It sounds great at low volume, in fact, I like it more than the 50w at low volume. I never really understood the reason for coming out with the 50w other than it being smaller, and no volume drop with the green channel.

4. If the previous doesn't do it, go back to the Mesa. The tone may just be working better for you at these low of volumes.

Going to, resonance is all the way up, Maximizer is a good idea, 100w is way out of the budget, but thanks. The dude I sold that Mesa to is never gonna let go of it, lol. Thanks man.

You just give it to me, be a pretty star to put on top of my 5150 tree... But you dimed it at the Taylorsville GC on a 4x12 or 2x12 when you liked it so much? I'd say go back and try that cab again and see if you're still experiencing that, cause it could be that... If not there are a few 1k single recs on eBay you can snag

On it.....probably be there at 12-1...meet up if you got time, Chad.

It's the EVH 1x12. Try the EVH 2x12...you'll be surprised how much better it sounds. The low end is there...it's just the enimic cab you're running through.

This is a weird conundrum...it's gotta be enough low end to satisfy the tone chase, but not enough to annoy my neighbors, ya know? Hope you're right man....I'll know today.

I know it was probably stupid as fuck to buy a 50w amp if I can't turn it up but this is RT and I know I'll prob be forgiven. Out.

It was and I will never forgive you . If your not jiving with it or it's not working for your application, return it. Throwing money at the problem with different speakers and boosts and gizmos will only compound the problem. FWIW, I use mine for rehearsal and gigs and rarely play it at home. I use a Roland cube for dicking around.

Think I should just be done? I could spend another week chasing the fuck out of this thing, different cabs, etc....it's almost there....with a 10 band in the loop and a boost on the front end it's killing tone-wise, except for the lows. I usually know within a few minutes if I dig it or not, but this one is different.......it's ALMOST there. If you had this issue, you'd just bag it and throw it back?

Without hesitation. You said it yourself; one knows within 15 minutes if it's going to work. I am of the opinion that you get the right tool for the job. If it ain't working for you, it ain't working for you.

In my opinion, this amp does not need a boost and I barely have the resonance knob turned up. For me it's got plenty of low end but I play with a bassist and another guitar player so I'm more concerned about finding my place in the mix. I think this amp does that quite well...

 

[Steinmetzify]

Without hesitation. You said it yourself; one knows within 15 minutes if it's going to work. I am of the opinion that you get the right tool for the job. If it ain't working for you, it ain't working for you.

In my opinion, this amp does not need a boost and I barely have the resonance knob turned up. For me it's got plenty of low end but I play with a bassist and another guitar player so I'm more concerned about finding my place in the mix. I think this amp does that quite well...

I fuckin knew it.....I know that's what it was designed for and I'm sure it excels in this regard.

As of right now, what I KNOW doesn't work is the 1x12. I've had numerous amps run thru here and the least I've used with them was a 2x12. None of them had this problem. I can send the cab back and find something else that might work, though. OR I can dump the whole thing and try and find something more suited to the limitations I have, but I'm afraid I'd run into the same problem....lower watts might be better for here, but it might lack the low end too.

I dig the amp; it sounds good on it's own, but I've never been entirely happy with ANY amp without an EQ in the loop and a boost out front for metal. Only thing lacking is the low end bullshit. Deciding today.

 

[SFW]

I should have mentioned earlier that I own the 100 watt model. Before I had the EVH, I was playing though a Hughes & Kettner TriAmp. THe TA had a huge bottom end- like your Mesa. At first, I thought the 5153 was extremely bright. However, after about a week of letting my ears get used to the amp I stopped thinking that. After reading a few of the other posts, I would have to agree that your problem is more than likely the cab and speaker. You are pushing your amp through a low wattage speaker- which aren't know to have a huge bottom end response. I would definitely recommend a 212 and some high wattage speakers. The clips below was with that amp at a seriously low volume. Hell, you can hear the string noise form the guitar in it.

 

[acalaf]

one day is not enough time to decide on an amp. your ears and expectations of sound frequencies need time to adjust.

 

[EVHpickdust]

I run my 50 watt EVH head thru a ported Bogner 1x12 with a 65 watt Scumback BM75 in it, plenty of low end for me even with resonance at 50%.

 

[mctallica1]

Dang man.

I am sorry to hear you aren't digging the low end.

If it is almost there, except for that, my bet is that the 1x12 cab is the culprit. I hate 1x12's for exactly that reason.

As you know, I am considering picking one of these up too, with the matching 2x12 cab, and even that has me a bit concerned. I always seem to prefer a 4x12. Hell even the little Blackstar 5 watt amp I owned went through a 4x12!

There is just something about the thump of 4 speakers, no matter what volume you are playing that makes it feel right.

Most of my jamming is at pretty low volume, but not whisper volume....I typically jam in Madison Square Basement

If low end is the only real concern, I would definitely try out another cab before ditching the thing.

 

[155]

heres the thing with that review..volume too low...mxr 10 band..one day... all of those make for a misguided impression..also the 1x12 may be a factor..that said just keep the mesa, from my experience with both ,the evh wins on all accounts..and it has shittloads of bottom end if you need it.

 

[moronmountain]

Yeah a 1x12 certainly is not helping. There's just not that much speaker surface and weight to it IMO. A 4x12 shouldn't necessarily be any louder than a 1x12 afaik. Why not just get another Single Rec and be done with it? Can't those things be had on the cheap?? $800-1000?

That's what I meant, about the speaker surface....would there be more low end at the same volume with a 4x12? Thinking about another SR right about now, I can tell ya.

Cab for the Mesa was an Orange 2x12 w/V30s. Fuckin THUMPED. Will try as you suggested, thanks man.

Thinking I'm going to have to....messed around with it some more, but I'll give this a shot too. Thanks!

Dude I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that your Recto sounded like it did to you due to the Orange cab! Orange makes one of, if not THE meanest and heaviest V30 cabs on the planet. If I wanted a cab for anything other than my Ultra Lead, it would likely be an Orange. I hope to get one possibly for my Twin Jet someday in fact. The reason I'm saying this about the Orange cab is that I found it funny you liked the low end so much on your old SingleRec. I don't find Mesas to have a very good low end in general, and if that's your "standard" for low end, I'll bet it was more because of the cab. I like Mesas, so don't get me wrong, but they have more of a good low/mid sound, and to me their very low frequencies are on the mushy side. The 5153 has 6L6 output tubes yes? If so, I would think the low end tightness should be in the general ballpark of a Mesa so long as you eq the front end correctly. At any rate......................... I would look at the cab first, but don't take too long, or you won't be able to return the 5153 if that's not the case. Good luck!

 

[moronmountain]

Without hesitation. You said it yourself; one knows within 15 minutes if it's going to work. I am of the opinion that you get the right tool for the job. If it ain't working for you, it ain't working for you.

In my opinion, this amp does not need a boost and I barely have the resonance knob turned up. For me it's got plenty of low end but I play with a bassist and another guitar player so I'm more concerned about finding my place in the mix. I think this amp does that quite well...

I fuckin knew it.....I know that's what it was designed for and I'm sure it excels in this regard.

As of right now, what I KNOW doesn't work is the 1x12. I've had numerous amps run thru here and the least I've used with them was a 2x12. None of them had this problem. I can send the cab back and find something else that might work, though. OR I can dump the whole thing and try and find something more suited to the limitations I have, but I'm afraid I'd run into the same problem....lower watts might be better for here, but it might lack the low end too.

I dig the amp; it sounds good on it's own, but I've never been entirely happy with ANY amp without an EQ in the loop and a boost out front for metal. Only thing lacking is the low end bullshit. Deciding today.

One more thing to remember about getting an even lower wattage amp is that most of them use 6V6 or EL84 output tubes. Neither of which are known for their massive amount of low end. My Ultra Lead is 105 watts with 4 KT88's, and even just barely cracked open it makes a ton of low end. I know it's a VHT/Fryette, and they're know for that, but it's just something else to think about. My point is that I think that at the volume you're talking, the wattage doesn't matter much IMO. No matter what wattage amp you'll end up with will be barely cracked open at all. Even 5 tube watts can be pretty stinkin' loud.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I hear ya on the amp. I had mine for about a year. Funny you mentioned the single rec. I have a little recto verb combo, 1x12. Little beast. Red vinyl. Rectifiers are just cool.

I traded my 5153 to someone here on RT. no issue with the amp at all. It just likes power. Blue channel cranked is glorious. Just had 4 other 100W heads and didn't need it.

For a low volume application, or lower volume... The single rec covered it a bit better. But.... I like the meaner voiced amps. That may be why the Rhodes Gemini is the number 1.

If you just love it and don't want to return it, the Wampler Triple Wreck pedal will get you thick mean tone when you can't crank it and let your pant legs vibrate.

At the end of the day, to me, nothing replicates air moving. A fairly loud 4x12 is just the shit. If anything could replace that, it would stay sold out. Every forum talks about this issue. Hell, my stereo doesn't sound good unless it's cranked....