5153??

[BrentSSL]

Been checking them out falling in love with these but I have some concerns like build quality and how they sound after being broken in for a year. Is the tone still solid full and focused after its been used extensively? I have also heard of transformers going bad, footswitch controller issues, and tubes randomly dying. I know they are made outside the U.S not sure where but this is my favorite head on the market. I have also heard its a poor mans ecstasy but with a Bogner being 2500 used and the 5153 2000 new I feel thats a wrong comparison. Not a huge peavey 5150/6505 fan, but have tons of love for that tone and these EVHs are just awesome sounding. So as always thoughts and opinions please.

 

[Deleted member 21375]

I had two 50 watt heads for a year and never had one single issue. Now I have a 100 watt as well and it sounds killer. Issues like the ones you mentioned I believe have been ironed out for the most part now. Many failures in amps these days are due to the cheap tin solder they use these days. There's just no strength to it due to the lack of lead that has been taken out of the equation because of the ROHS standard. I have been teching for a local studio for a while now and come across these issues plenty of times. Reflowing sockets,connectors pots etc with good old fashioned lead based solder has worked many times without an issue popping up again.

 

[BrentSSL]

Thats promising because the tone is great how is it loud and unmicd with a drummer you know cheap rehearsal situation?

 

[meanstreet]

I've had my 100 watt head since 2008 and never had a problem, and that's after probably about 250 gigs with it.

 

[Deleted member 21375]

Thats promising because the tone is great how is it loud and unmicd with a drummer you know cheap rehearsal situation?

If you're talking the 50 watt version,it is more than loud enough.I use it in my thrash/punk band with a second guitarist and loud rhythm section and I never have a problem cutting through.

 

[Anonymous]

I love my 50 watt. Honestly, just a great amp. I like my classic rock tones and it really delivers, for metal its a no brainer.
Quality wise, not a single issue at all.

 

[BrentSSL]

Thats promising because the tone is great how is it loud and unmicd with a drummer you know cheap rehearsal situation?

If you're talking the 50 watt version,it is more than loud enough.I use it in my thrash/punk band with a second guitarist and loud rhythm section and I never have a problem cutting through.

I'm talking 100 watter and I am used to the flooding sound of dual rectifiers so thats what i'd be comparing it to.

 

[jd267]

Thats promising because the tone is great how is it loud and unmicd with a drummer you know cheap rehearsal situation?

If you're talking the 50 watt version,it is more than loud enough.I use it in my thrash/punk band with a second guitarist and loud rhythm section and I never have a problem cutting through.

I'm talking 100 watter and I am used to the flooding sound of dual rectifiers so thats what i'd be comparing it to.

If you like your duel rec you won't like the EVH at all . Mesa has twice the low end and more sizzle. The mesa boosted is brootal and keeps it low end thump. The 5153 is super thin sounding to me and every person that I have talked to about it that has owned some amps with thump. Mesa,diezel,framus to name a few. Go try one next to your mesa and see for your self if you like it.

 

[nevusofota]

Had mine since 2007, 1 of the first 500 made. Never had an issue. I don't know where you heard about the transformer thing but I don't hear to many issues with them. I guess an OT can always go up in any amp but the 100w has the well known Schumacher output transformers so quality shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Deleted member 21375]

Thats promising because the tone is great how is it loud and unmicd with a drummer you know cheap rehearsal situation?

If you're talking the 50 watt version,it is more than loud enough.I use it in my thrash/punk band with a second guitarist and loud rhythm section and I never have a problem cutting through.

I'm talking 100 watter and I am used to the flooding sound of dual rectifiers so thats what i'd be comparing it to.

If you like your duel rec you won't like the EVH at all . Mesa has twice the low end and more sizzle. The mesa boosted is brootal and keeps it low end thump. The 5153 is super thin sounding to me and every person that I have talked to about it that has owned some amps with thump. Mesa,diezel,framus to name a few. Go try one next to your mesa and see for your self if you like it.

my 100 watt is anything but thin.

 

[jc986]

I've had a Mesa Dual Rectifier, a 6505+, and the other guitarist in my band plays through a Triple Rectifier. My 50w has no problem with being thin either...perhaps user error?

 

[jd267]

User error lol. No. I figured the owners would be the first to reply. I just could not get any tone I liked from that amp . I know a bunch of people that say the same . Just giving my true opinion that amp sucks

 

[jc986]

To each his own...I have no experience with the 100 watt version of the EVH, but the depth knob of the 50w has plenty of thump to keep up with just about anything as long as it is played through the right cab.

 

[jc986]

User error lol. No. I figured the owners would be the first to reply. I just could not get any tone I liked from that amp . I know a bunch of people that say the same . Just giving my true opinion that amp sucks

lol @ "my true opinion"

 

[Deleted member 21375]

User error lol. No. I figured the owners would be the first to reply. I just could not get any tone I liked from that amp . I know a bunch of people that say the same . Just giving my true opinion that amp sucks

lol @ "my true opinion"

Yeah LOL

 

[Mailman1971]

User error lol. No. I figured the owners would be the first to reply. I just could not get any tone I liked from that amp . I know a bunch of people that say the same . Just giving my true opinion that amp sucks

lol @ "my true opinion"

Well then it must be true. Its his opinion right?

 

[SFW]

I've owned a 100 for three years now. The only issues I've had with the amp were tube related. I would hardly call the amp thin. It has a definite upper mid voicing, but it will flat out thump when asked to.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

The 100w sounds way more bognerish...it's a little rounder and smooth over it's 50w little brother.

I have the combo and it rocks. Was having channel switching issues , but for 2 weeks now been fine using a nice speaker cable for the footswitch.

Every model is plenty loud. Plenty.

 

[aftec]

It definitely does not have that signature flubbiness of the Rectos, although you do not need a tubescreamer to properly use it.
You can get the old 5150 sound with it, channel red, and crank the presence up.
The presence knobs are the most important 3 knobs on the 5153. for tonality.

 

[d1469d]

This may help. I have owned three Mesa dual recto's and one Mesa triple recto and one Mesa mark IV and a EVH 100 watt head. I traded off my EVH 100 watt head for the following reasons : Lack of resonance on the EVH 100 watt head. The amp still gets plenty of low end however.The gain on channel two was weak. I know,I know, you can boost channel two. I have the 5150III 2 x 12 combo for the last few years and that amp is very good. It has the resonance control on it plus the variable power scaling on it is very useful. I have never had an amp that I can turn down so low and have it sound so good. The volume you get out of it is very loud. I love loud amps and it has some balls. I took the back panels off to check the inside of the amp out and it is solid and well put together. Channel two has more gain then the 100 watt version. The clean channel is just okay for me. As far as comparing the 5150 amps to a Mesa ? My opinion would be this. Don't compare them. They all have there own pro's and con's. If you are thinking about selling your Mesa for the EVH , I wouldn't. You will probably regret it some time down the road. I stopped selling my gear about five years ago and just started collecting it like some kind of mad gear hoarder.
The 5150 III amp series seem to hold resale value and the 5150III 50 watt head is about the best bang for the buck going on right now. Channel 3 on 5150 III is where all the mojo is. I am a gain freak and it is very good on this amp. It can get a little buzzy. If you dial back the gain a bit and don't go crazy on your presence then you will be good. There are several amp mods for the EVH amps also.
If you can keep the Recto and still get the EVH I would say go for it. For me it is a toss up because I like both amps. If you played through both at the same time through Two 4 x 12 cabs the sound would be HUGE!!!!!!!!!! Get busy living!!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck.