5150III 4x12 w/ EVH Celestions. Tell me your thoughts

[Lord Toneking]

I just picked one up yesterday and was surprised how bright it is. I didn't have much time to play around with it but I was feeling a bit underwhelmed. I wasn't in the best of moods to begin with, had a baby to take care of and was rushing around so my mind wasn't all the way there. I bought it to match up with my 5150III 100s stealth head

Please tell me this cab is good

Oh, and I did remove the back panel and it does indeed have the EVH Celestions in it. All are working fine to my ear

Thoughts??

 

[charvelstrat81]

the EVH cabs stock are very bright, that's why i went with a splawn loaded with celestion creamback 65m's
for my 5153 head.
at this point you have two options, take it back and get something else or try to trade someone
12"s and replace them in that cab.
The cab itself is really good but those celestions are too bright.
there are some that really like them and may swap you?
you can even just trade 2 of those 12's for warmer celestions and mix them(do a X pattern in the cab)
just some thoughts

 

[hatrick00]

I actually started a thread awhile back on the best cab to pair with the EVH stealth... i put it through 5 of my cabs, here are my thoughts...

Splawn 4x12 with all V30s- really awesome, thumped like Reza said but maybe too "in your face for me" borderline harsh but still badass and completely workable. I usually use this cab with my 20th Shiva or Nitro.

Splawn 4x12 with V30s/Cream65s in X pattern- The best combo of the cabs for the stealth I have tried. It had many of the qualities of the 4 v30s but that 5150 treble/fizz was tamed down and sounded much more balanced to me. Still had great thump.

Friedman 4x12 (stock)- Sounded amazing. Rivaled the v30/cream65 combo but maybe a touch brighter... to be honest i only use that cab with my JJ, the lack of wheels make me lazy haha.

Bogner Uberkab (stock FL)- 2nd best combo i have tried. When i am in a "metal mood" this is my go to cab for the Stealth. The cab us actually less bright than what you would expect with the 75s being in there. Awesome cab, highly recommend.

Marshall 4x12 1960a- Sounded alright, I'm just not the biggest fan of these cabs anymore (just too loose for me and I have tried different speaker combos in there).

Hopefully this is helpful. And of course, all very subjective info. I have really considered getting the matching EVH cab, but haven't heard that many consistent opinions of those speakers. Afraid i may push them too hard, but who knows.

 

[HilltopExplosion]

I just picked one up yesterday and was surprised how bright it is. I didn't have much time to play around with it but I was feeling a bit underwhelmed. I wasn't in the best of moods to begin with, had a baby to take care of and was rushing around so my mind wasn't all the way there. I bought it to match up with my 5150III 100s stealth head

Please tell me this cab is good

Oh, and I did remove the back panel and it does indeed have the EVH Celestions in it. All are working fine to my ear

Thoughts??

I think it rocks. Have 2 of 'em. The presence on that amp can make the speakers sound fizzy, if you have it up too high. I never turn my treble past noon and the presence around 3, 3:30 o'clock. This is with the regular 100 watter, not the 100s. I bought one then traded for a BE100, so in one cab I swapped 2 of the EVH's for 2 v30s. The tone was similar between the 2 EVH amps. I also run a 6505+ through one and it sounds fine. Volume is a factor also, the louder the better.. but that's my preference.

 

[Kevin11]

I was surprised how bright the cab was when I first got it too. My speakers are just now starting to break in after 6 months or so of gigs and rehearsals and the brightness has mellowed considerably, and in a good way. Not sure if those speakers normally require such a long break-in period, but I love the way the cab sounds with my Stealth now. Not sure if you want to spend that much time breaking it in, but good things come to those who wait.

And good luck on the family side of things man. I know how it is. That usually mellows out with time too.

 

[mixn4him]

Needs breaking in , I always put new cabinets on the bed face down and play dance music at a reasonable level couple days a week when I am at work. Week or so of this and they will be right...

 

[Lord Toneking]

Needs breaking in , I always put new cabinets on the bed face down and play dance music at a reasonable level couple days a week when I am at work. Week or so of this and they will be right...

I bought this used. Not sure how old it is or how hard it was played. It's in decent shape

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

Needs breaking in , I always put new cabinets on the bed face down and play dance music at a reasonable level couple days a week when I am at work. Week or so of this and they will be right...

Good to know! This or some good 70's porn movie music. Really lets the speakers breath.

 

[HilltopExplosion]

Needs breaking in , I always put new cabinets on the bed face down and play dance music at a reasonable level couple days a week when I am at work. Week or so of this and they will be right...

Good to know! This or some good 70's porn movie music. Really lets the speakers breath.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I have been researching speakers for my STEALTH too, as you know.

I brought my stealth home and plugged into my EVH2x12combo and the greenbacks. Sounded good. I currently use the Stealth through Splawn 4x12 with Governors. It does sound good. Just bought another pair of G12m reissues to try in the Splawn 4x12. Hell, wanted to go 4 G12m's so bought a third speaker from GC two days ago for $75 cuz I had a $50 gift card. Gonna hold off though putting it in cuz I might actually like the Greenback/Top Governor/bottom configuration i am gonna try. Maybe return the 1 speaker to GC, cuz I'm not gonna open it.

I was all gung ho on 4 G12m reissues, but Got cold feet a little bit for the style I play the Stealth with, which is Prog Metal like Evergrey stuff. The governors can be a little woofy on the lows...most eminence speakers have more lows...but figure they might be great in bottom and the greenbacks in top. Kinda like the friedman cab but instead of V30s(which i don;t like in person). I do like Mesa V30 impulses though when i record, a little ironic, but I know V30's are good speakers, but clean channel with V30's always leaves me feeling sick. hahaha I like a scooped clean.

As far as the EVH/Heritage. I don;t know? Never played through them. I hear they are bright by someone, then hear the EVH is a dark cab? Kinda mixed. I know to my ear, they sound a little like the notes stop on a dime. Listen to the Metropolis clips on youtube comparing greenbacks with his 1967 originals...It's like a 12minute vid and it really is a good representation.

Plus Tom, your ear has grown accustomed to the Splawn cab....been listening to it for years. All the sudden you get ear shock cuz there are new frequencies blasting your way.
Also, you told me you like your STEALTH through your splawn 2x12 more than your Splawn 4x12/small blocks in both. This might be cuz of Ohm setting. The Stealth to me sounds way better in stereo 8 ohm through my 4x12 rather than 16ohm mono. Sounds fuller and less congested. I know the EVH cab is 16ohm mono, and I am guessing your splawn 2x12 is 8ohm cab. Have you tried stereo 8 ohm into your 4x12, or doesn't your 4x12 Splawn have multiple options? Try it and let me know....

Rian

 

[charvelstrat81]

Needs breaking in , I always put new cabinets on the bed face down and play dance music at a reasonable level couple days a week when I am at work. Week or so of this and they will be right...

Good to know! This or some good 70's porn movie music. Really lets the speakers breath.

Yep these always worked for my speakers

 

[rp108]

I personally think the 5150 III only sounds good through an EVH 4x12.

 

[Lord Toneking]

I have been researching speakers for my STEALTH too, as you know.

I brought my stealth home and plugged into my EVH2x12combo and the greenbacks. Sounded good. I currently use the Stealth through Splawn 4x12 with Governors. It does sound good. Just bought another pair of G12m reissues to try in the Splawn 4x12. Hell, wanted to go 4 G12m's so bought a third speaker from GC two days ago for $75 cuz I had a $50 gift card. Gonna hold off though putting it in cuz I might actually like the Greenback/Top Governor/bottom configuration i am gonna try. Maybe return the 1 speaker to GC, cuz I'm not gonna open it.

I was all gung ho on 4 G12m reissues, but Got cold feet a little bit for the style I play the Stealth with, which is Prog Metal like Evergrey stuff. The governors can be a little woofy on the lows...most eminence speakers have more lows...but figure they might be great in bottom and the greenbacks in top. Kinda like the friedman cab but instead of V30s(which i don;t like in person). I do like Mesa V30 impulses though when i record, a little ironic, but I know V30's are good speakers, but clean channel with V30's always leaves me feeling sick. hahaha I like a scooped clean.

As far as the EVH/Heritage. I don;t know? Never played through them. I hear they are bright by someone, then hear the EVH is a dark cab? Kinda mixed. I know to my ear, they sound a little like the notes stop on a dime. Listen to the Metropolis clips on youtube comparing greenbacks with his 1967 originals...It's like a 12minute vid and it really is a good representation.

Plus Tom, your ear has grown accustomed to the Splawn cab....been listening to it for years. All the sudden you get ear shock cuz there are new frequencies blasting your way.
Also, you told me you like your STEALTH through your splawn 2x12 more than your Splawn 4x12/small blocks in both. This might be cuz of Ohm setting. The Stealth to me sounds way better in stereo 8 ohm through my 4x12 rather than 16ohm mono. Sounds fuller and less congested. I know the EVH cab is 16ohm mono, and I am guessing your splawn 2x12 is 8ohm cab. Have you tried stereo 8 ohm into your 4x12, or doesn't your 4x12 Splawn have multiple options? Try it and let me know....

Rian

you may be on to something there. But to answer your question, no...my cabs are all mono. The 8ohm 212 with smallblocks sound best and is a tad louder that either 4x12. The Splawn 4x12 with smallblocks is 'soft' in the mids while the EVH is brittle and spikey. Not that with some eq'ing I can't get it sounding 'ok'...but not the holy grail I was hoping for

 

[HilltopExplosion]

I just picked one up yesterday and was surprised how bright it is. I didn't have much time to play around with it but I was feeling a bit underwhelmed. I wasn't in the best of moods to begin with, had a baby to take care of and was rushing around so my mind wasn't all the way there. I bought it to match up with my 5150III 100s stealth head

Please tell me this cab is good

Oh, and I did remove the back panel and it does indeed have the EVH Celestions in it. All are working fine to my ear

Thoughts??

I tried the porno music, broke the bed.. I made a quick clip for ya.. no EQ, post nothin, just guitar, EVH 5150III to 5150III cab. is this to bright?

https://soundcloud.com/user-437728583/evh-speaker-test

 

[charvelstrat81]

I just picked one up yesterday and was surprised how bright it is. I didn't have much time to play around with it but I was feeling a bit underwhelmed. I wasn't in the best of moods to begin with, had a baby to take care of and was rushing around so my mind wasn't all the way there. I bought it to match up with my 5150III 100s stealth head

Please tell me this cab is good

Oh, and I did remove the back panel and it does indeed have the EVH Celestions in it. All are working fine to my ear

Thoughts??

I tried the porno music, broke the bed.. I made a quick clip for ya.. no EQ, post nothin, just guitar, EVH 5150III to 5150III cab. is this to bright?

https://soundcloud.com/user-437728583/evh-speaker-test

that first riff
As for being "too bright" that is subjective, i did not think it was.

 

[HilltopExplosion]

I just picked one up yesterday and was surprised how bright it is. I didn't have much time to play around with it but I was feeling a bit underwhelmed. I wasn't in the best of moods to begin with, had a baby to take care of and was rushing around so my mind wasn't all the way there. I bought it to match up with my 5150III 100s stealth head

Please tell me this cab is good

Oh, and I did remove the back panel and it does indeed have the EVH Celestions in it. All are working fine to my ear

Thoughts??

I tried the porno music, broke the bed.. I made a quick clip for ya.. no EQ, post nothin, just guitar, EVH 5150III to 5150III cab. is this to bright?

https://soundcloud.com/user-437728583/evh-speaker-test

that first riff
As for being "too bright" that is subjective, i did not think it was.

Cool! I was just trying to give him something to guage by.. I don't think so either, hope this helps!

 

[MichaelG]

I tried the stealth head and matching cab in one of the local music stores and it sounded so good with the guitar that I brought in with me that I bought the set on the spot. They sounded just right together IMHO... the break-in of the speakers should sweeten it up even further. The head also sounds really damn good with scumback bm75s that I have in a bogner os2x12.

I agree with the above that it is a matter of your ears get used to.

 

[Kemper-VS-Fractal]

I don't think the cab is bright at all. I used my 100W 5150iii with a cab loaded with "regular" V30's and that thing was bright, horribly so. The EVH cab is much darker.

Also been in a recording session all day, we AB'd the EVH cab and a Mesa Recto cab. Surprisingly under the mic they weren't majorly different. Mesa had a bit more upper mids, EVH had more lower mids and some extra top end sizzle but not in a bright way, if that makes sense.

Ended up tracking with the EVH cab.

 

[charvelstrat81]

I tried the stealth head and matching cab in one of the local music stores and it sounded so good with the guitar that I brought in with me that I bought the set on the spot. They sounded just right together IMHO... the break-in of the speakers should sweeten it up even further. The head also sounds really damn good with scumback bm75s that I have in a bogner os2x12.

I agree with the above that it is a matter of your ears get used to.

Yes it really is a matter of what you like and what sounds too bright to your own ears.
A lot of guys rag on the V-30's but i love them,same for the lynchbacks.
One speaker i hate is the celestion seventy 80
you wanna talk "BRIGHT" get a earful of this! you will LOVE those EVH celestions after!

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I wish the lynchbacks were fuckin 16ohms. To my ear they sound like a cross breed of the heritage and the v30, leaning more towards vintage 30. I think celestion kinda failed not offering the option.