EVH 5150 III 50 6L6 vs Mesa TC50 vs Dual Rec 3 Channel?

[Charvel1975]

Hi guys!! So I've been reading different reviews online and watching YouTube videos on these tube heads and other ones too as I'm looking to retire my beloved Mesa Tremoverb to home use, might use live again here and there. Looking at the revised 5150 III 50 Watt 6L6 Head that have the concentric volume and gain knobs and others in subject line and I'm wondering how well one of these would work out?

We're a cover band that plays rock/classic rock/hair metal covers tuned to standard E. For some time know I've been using my Mesa Tremoverb head into my Marshall 4x12 cab, both that you can see in my Sig, and then on my pedalboard, I'm running a ModTone MT-CB Clean Boost pedal (for Solo Boost) and an MXR M234 Analog Chorus both powered by a Visual Sound one spot power supply and the ModTone and MXR both run into the Effects Loop of my Mesa.

 

[misterspockyall]

I don't have experience with the Dual Rec.

The TC50 is a bad dude, but sounds scooped to me so it wouldn't be my first choice for live.

EVH 50w just cuts through the mix. No boosts, no EQ, just ready to sit atop the bass and under vocals/snare/cymbals. If I were gigging and needed a decent amp to cover bases, this would be on the list.

 

[Mikeyboyeee]

5150 is hard to beat for reasonably priced plug and play metal.

Not in same league as my Butterslax, but it's badass.

 

[sleewell2]

haven't played the tc50 but i would love to try one. i'd pick the evh since that is the one i have currently. hard to go wrong with a dual rec though, they are killer.

 

[Emg77]

I picked up a TC50 a few weeks ago. I'm really digging it. So, that would be my choice. For me, it has plenty of mids and cuts just fine in the mix. For reference, Ive been using it in a cover band playing all ranges of music from Toto to System of a Down. Channel two is nice and crunchy and the gain taper is much more usable as opposed to the EVH from my experience. I run the gain at one o clock and it gets a nice classic rock rhythm tone. I run a HXFX in 4CM and a have a couple boost that put it into heavier territory. Channel 1 is outstanding. I'm really impressed with it. I use channel 3 for my drop tuned stuff and it just sounds killer!

 

[japetus]

5150 would work well, but how about check out the Peavey XXX? You can find them for cheap and for rock/classic rock covers...they might actually work better than a 5150. Don't let it's cheesy look fool you (I did for a long time), it's a good sounding amp.

 

[misterspockyall]

I picked up a TC50 a few weeks ago. I'm really digging it. So, that would be my choice. For me, it has plenty of mids and cuts just fine in the mix. For reference, Ive been using it in a cover band playing all ranges of music from Toto to System of a Down. Channel two is nice and crunchy and the gain taper is much more usable as opposed to the EVH from my experience. I run the gain at one o clock and it gets a nice classic rock rhythm tone. I run a HXFX in 4CM and a have a couple boost that put it into heavier territory. Channel 1 is outstanding. I'm really impressed with it. I use channel 3 for my drop tuned stuff and it just sounds killer!

That's great to hear, I didn't have the hours in on the TC so take his word over mine. It's an amp that wasn't really on my radar but definitely caught my attention when I heard it.

 

[LCW]

Versatility - TC50 all day long
Pure modern metal (tight) - 5150 III
Recto sound - Recto

 

[Speeddemon]

We're a cover band that plays rock/classic rock/hair metal covers tuned to standard E. For some time know I've been using my Mesa Tremoverb head into my Marshall 4x12 cab, both that you can see in my Sig, and then on my pedalboard, I'm running a ModTone MT-CB Clean Boost pedal (for Solo Boost) and an MXR M234 Analog Chorus both powered by a Visual Sound one spot power supply and the ModTone and MXR both run into the Effects Loop of my Mesa.

As someone who plays roughly similar stuff as you, using a 5150III 50W and having owned the M234 Chorus, I can recommend to swap it for something less tone-sucky. As the EVH's fx-loop is footswitch bypassable, you will notice instantly if you engage the loop, with the M234 turned OFF. Still a noticeable loss of highs.
I've tried many chorusses, trying to reach my benchmark vintage Boss CE-2 sound (which handles high gain wonderfully), but with less boosted mids, and I settled on the Mooer Ensemble King. It's analog, true bypass, small, CE-2 based, but with less mid-hump and a level control.

What I've tried:
Ammoon Chorus (cheap, tiny Chinese pedal, more midhump than CE-2)
Boss CH-1 (yuck. sterile to a T. Only sounds nice in stereo, IMHO)
Boss CE-5 (analog version...not much better than the CH-1)
Deltalab SC-1 (very hard to get ahold of in Europe...sound was so-so)
DOD FX-60; quite good; more subtle than CE-2, but construction so-so.
DOD 690 Chorus (the big vintage one. Great sound, with ramping up/down between two settings, but impractically big)
Donner Metric Bender (ewww! On paper it would be ideal...to have an MXR Phase 90, Micro Flanger and a chorus in one...not so much in reality)
EHX NeoClone (sounded o.k. with clean tones, but sounds phase-inversed almost with high gain)
Ibanez CS9 (vintage) Nice, but quite metallic sounding.
Ibanez BC9 (vintage) Very thick, but hard to get subtle.
Ibanez CF7. Meh. Digital sounding and it shows.
MXR Micro Chorus (vintage)...quite nice though
MXR M234 Analog Chorus (twice even)
MXR Bass Chorus (hoping it would be better/more versatile. It was a tad too sterile for guitar)
Providence Anadime 2 knob Analog Chorus
Providence Anadime 3 knob Analog Chorus
Valeton Aquaflow Chorus (yellow Chinese pedal, wimpy tone...lots of low-end loss)

No interest in other boutique stuff. See attached images of the extensive A/B ing I've done, including the real thing.

 

[skullfxr]

Look at the Cmattmods chorus. They can be had easily under $100 and sound really good. Tremendous range on the controls, notonesuckage, and I have not bought a chorus since, but I do have a handful of others.

 

[Snave]

I think a 3 channel Recto would edge the others out in versatility for a cover band. Good cleans and two crunch/lead channels you can dial in very differently.

 

[JerEvil]

I think a 3 channel Recto would edge the others out in versatility for a cover band. Good cleans and two crunch/lead channels you can dial in very differently.

Yeah plus it takes boosts like a champ. I'd lean on the Recto.

 

[Metalmann13]

Something similar to the EVH 5150 III is the Peavey 6505+, I just got it and it is a beast for distortion. The 5150 III might be a better all around amp, but if you are only interested in distortion then 6505+ is a little bit better for a lower cost. Lots of people say that the 6505+ has a flat clean channel which is true, but it can be fixed with a 6 band eq in the loop. The EVH will have a better clean tone, but in my opinion has a little bit weaker distortion. Overall, both amps are very similar, it just depends on price and preference. Good luck on the hunt!

 

[skullfxr]

Throw a 5751 in a 6505 on the socket that the cleans feed off of. Big difference. I can't remember which it is.

Don't overlook JSX's either. I snagged one for $300 and love it. I would take that overya 6505.

I also feel the to say is that t75's are not the best match for the tremoverb. I put E34L's in the tremoverb, and that was a fresh taste on life.

 

[jeff5]

The 3 channel recto, especially if it is a newer/reborn model is extraordinarily versatile. My choice though would be the newer 6L6 5150 III. Dedicated clean, two great gain channels, can't go wrong.

 

[some dude]

As a long time Recto user that owns a TC-50... the TC is more versatile.

IMO, the Recto could never really do convincing old school sounds. It could get close, but was usually a bit too stiff/sterile when the gain was turned down.

This is where the TC has the advantage. In normal mode distortion it’s a bit looser and less chainsaw, so the lower gain, more old school sounds have a better texture to them and sound more natural. Or, you can kick it into tight mode and it’s kind of Recto-meets-Mark in terms of character... a bit more raw than a Mark, more compressed than a Recto.

It also takes pedals well, so you can hit it with a Tube Screamer, Fuzz Face or a Rat if you’re looking for more old school sounds.

Channel 3 has a lot of gain and compression available, so if you like shredding.

 

[311boogieman]

As a long time Recto user that owns a TC-50... the TC is more versatile.

IMO, the Recto could never really do convincing old school sounds. It could get close, but was usually a bit too stiff/sterile when the gain was turned down.

This is where the TC has the advantage. In normal mode distortion it’s a bit looser and less chainsaw, so the lower gain, more old school sounds have a better texture to them and sound more natural. Or, you can kick it into tight mode and it’s kind of Recto-meets-Mark in terms of character... a bit more raw than a Mark, more compressed than a Recto.

It also takes pedals well, so you can hit it with a Tube Screamer, Fuzz Face or a Rat if you’re looking for more old school sounds.

Channel 3 has a lot of gain and compression available, so if you like shredding.

Shit. You just ignited my TC50 gas.

Walked in thinking Recto.

Leaving while also throwing out a Splawn Quickrod.

 

[Charvel1975]

Something similar to the EVH 5150 III is the Peavey 6505+, I just got it and it is a beast for distortion. The 5150 III might be a better all around amp, but if you are only interested in distortion then 6505+ is a little bit better for a lower cost. Lots of people say that the 6505+ has a flat clean channel which is true, but it can be fixed with a 6 band eq in the loop. The EVH will have a better clean tone, but in my opinion has a little bit weaker distortion. Overall, both amps are very similar, it just depends on price and preference. Good luck on the hunt!

I have a 6505+ head already but for the stuff that our covers band does, I don't think would work out well.