EVH 5150 III Problem Already

[BigfnMonster]

MY new 5150 III is 3 weeks old and having footswitch problem already. Specifically with the effects loop switch. One time the light for the loop is on as if its engaged and nothing from the effects. Then I switch the light to off and the effects go on.
It's intermittent. I have to power down and then it's back to normal for awhile, then it does it again.
I called Sweetwater back and am waiting for a reply.
That sounds like a relay problem in the switch itself right?
I hope not the amp. I only have 3 days to return it but I'm likin the amp.
Any thoughts?

 

[7 Stringer]

MY new 5150 III is 3 weeks old and having footswitch problem already. Specifically with the effects loop switch. One time the light for the loop is on as if its engaged and nothing from the effects. Then I switch the light to off and the effects go on.
It's intermittent. I have to power down and then it's back to normal for awhile, then it does it again.
I called Sweetwater back and am waiting for a reply.
That sounds like a relay problem in the switch itself right?
I hope not the amp. I only have 3 days to return it but I'm likin the amp.
Any thoughts?

Mine did that also, light on = effects loop on and sometimes light off = loop on also.


Now i`m running it with an RG-16 and it`s not an issue, so it is a footswitch problem.

Chris

 

[232cap]

When I had mine and I'm sure you know this but the footswitch cable has to be plugged into the amp and footswitch before the amp is powered up or it act crazy or doesn't work at all.

 

[BigfnMonster]

MY new 5150 III is 3 weeks old and having footswitch problem already. Specifically with the effects loop switch. One time the light for the loop is on as if its engaged and nothing from the effects. Then I switch the light to off and the effects go on.
It's intermittent. I have to power down and then it's back to normal for awhile, then it does it again.
I called Sweetwater back and am waiting for a reply.
That sounds like a relay problem in the switch itself right?
I hope not the amp. I only have 3 days to return it but I'm likin the amp.
Any thoughts?

Mine did that also, light on = effects loop on and sometimes light off = loop on also.


Now i`m running it with an RG-16 and it`s not an issue, so it is a footswitch problem.

Chris

Hmmm, that makes me feel better.

 

[bravedude2]

operator error.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I've had 2 brand-new 5150 III amps in the past month ... both had issues. They had some sort of weird ringing high pitched feedback sort of sound... you only could hear it at mid-gain levels on both amps. I put in brand-new complete sets of both preamp and power tubes (yep... all of 'em)... noise still persisted. If you only have 3 days left... I'd send it back. I also liked the overall sound and layout of the 5150 III as well.

 

[SBlue]

Have a 5150 III for almost a year now. Second hand. Mine is taking a beating that is not even funny. I tend to bring it to rehearsals, recordings, and even loaned it for a couple of local bands. Not to mention it traveled from LA-CA to Brazil in a container.
Still with all the factory tubes.
Never had a single problem with it.

 

[BigfnMonster]

I've had 2 brand-new 5150 III amps in the past month ... both had issues. They had some sort of weird ringing high pitched feedback sort of sound... you only could hear it at mid-gain levels on both amps. I put in brand-new complete sets of both preamp and power tubes (yep... all of 'em)... noise still persisted. If you only have 3 days left... I'd send it back. I also liked the overall sound and layout of the 5150 III as well.

I'm not even kiddin, I have heard the same type of sound a couple times. Thought it might be from my effects. I was out of town for 2 weeks and real busy at work and didn't have much time with it. You know how it is, you don't want to admit anything is wrong with it cause it sounds great. I will spend all day tomorrow with it and see if I can reproduce it at midgain levels. F#$%. Thanks

 

[nevusofota]

Most of the problems like the one you're having (efx loop on/off) seem to be assoicated with the footswitch cable. I had a similar issue 4 years ago and it wound up being a bad cable. I have been running a midi set up for 3 years and haven't had one problem. It's been through numerous gigs/practices and have taken it half way across the country.

It's good to see that Fender changed the footswitch cable to a standard 1/4" on the new 50 watter.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I've had 2 brand-new 5150 III amps in the past month ... both had issues. They had some sort of weird ringing high pitched feedback sort of sound... you only could hear it at mid-gain levels on both amps. I put in brand-new complete sets of both preamp and power tubes (yep... all of 'em)... noise still persisted. If you only have 3 days left... I'd send it back. I also liked the overall sound and layout of the 5150 III as well.

I'm not even kiddin, I have heard the same type of sound a couple times. Thought it might be from my effects. I was out of town for 2 weeks and real busy at work and didn't have much time with it. You know how it is, you don't want to admit anything is wrong with it cause it sounds great. I will spend all day tomorrow with it and see if I can reproduce it at midgain levels. F#$%. Thanks

I completely feel your pain. I really liked the amp too. I'm a big VH fan, but especially if I buy something brand-new, it should be perfect out of the box. I know some of the early amp issues had to do with bad tubes... and I've seen the footswitch cable video on YT and heard other people complain about footswitch and/or footswitch cable issues... my footswitch worked perfectly and I had zero noise and/or popping when switching channels, but that mid-gain buzzy/feedback killed it for me. It was most notcieable on channel 2 (blue channel).

 

[bsp01]

Knock on wood, but mine is seemingly made like a tank. Zero issues, sounds phenomenal and I think it might be indestructible.

 

[BigfnMonster]

OK, decided to get a replacement sent cause I really like the amp with the cab. So far so good, 2 days no problems. No weird squeal or switch problem. I have them side by side and they do sound a little bit different. Both great though, but or course I like the original better. I'm never happy.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

OK, decided to get a replacement sent cause I really like the amp with the cab. So far so good, 2 days no problems. No weird squeal or switch problem. I have them side by side and they do sound a little bit different. Both great though, but or course I like the original better. I'm never happy.

I know how that goes. My first one did also sound better. I spent a bunch of cash on new tubes for nothing, cause the second one had the same (non-tube related) issue. The only thing that was a big negative for me was the compression on the red channel. It has a ton of gain, which I think most people aren't aware of, and compresses super fast. I'd like a little less gain on channel 3, and a bit more on channel 2. The loop and clean channel were great though.

 

[steve_k]

Is this the one we were discussing the other day that is made in Vietnam?

 

[strungup]

Is this the one we were discussing the other day that is made in Vietnam?

No the Vietnam made 50 watt amp hasn't even been released yet. They bumped it back to 1/2/12

 

[nevusofota]

OK, decided to get a replacement sent cause I really like the amp with the cab. So far so good, 2 days no problems. No weird squeal or switch problem. I have them side by side and they do sound a little bit different. Both great though, but or course I like the original better. I'm never happy.

I know how that goes. My first one did also sound better. I spent a bunch of cash on new tubes for nothing, cause the second one had the same (non-tube related) issue. The only thing that was a big negative for me was the compression on the red channel. It has a ton of gain, which I think most people aren't aware of, and compresses super fast. I'd like a little less gain on channel 3, and a bit more on channel 2. The loop and clean channel were great though.

I agree, thats why I boost channel 2. Very clear cutting tight distortion is the result.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Is this the one we were discussing the other day that is made in Vietnam?

Nope this one is made in old-May-He-Co. Possibly by the person in your avatar pic there.

 

[supersonic]

When I had mine and I'm sure you know this but the footswitch cable has to be plugged into the amp and footswitch before the amp is powered up or it act crazy or doesn't work at all.

Never had this problem when I had mine. I could plug the footswitch in at any time, no popping either.

 

[blessedadversary777]

I had the exact same problem with my footswitch. No problems with the amp. Just the switch. Viva lam Mexico!!!

 

[Kevin11]

...the footswitch cable has to be plugged into the amp and footswitch before the amp is powered up or it act crazy or doesn't work at all.

This.

I have a couple of friends who had the same problems with theirs until they made sure the switch was plugged in before powering up the amp. They never had any issues after they started doing that.

Been thinking about picking up a 5150 III myself, but not if the switching problems y'all are reporting go beyond making sure it's plugged in first.