Help me replace my EVH 5150 III

[dougiefresh]

IMO, if channel 2 sounds a bad as you say, the tubes and/or bias need to be checked.
Chances are it was biased extremely cold from the factory.

 

[simbasa]

Sounds to me like something wasn't quite right if using a fuzz pedal on channel 1 sounded better than channel 2's gain. I loved channel 3 and really liked channel 2 with a boost or some extra hair from a distortion pedal.

 

[blackba]

I would just get channel 2 modded. I mean you like 2 of your 3 channels.

Another amp I thought of is a Laney Vh100R. Its one of the few amps I regret selling. Great clean channel. May not be enough gain for you. Also its really 2 channels with 2 boosts.

My last idea is a 2 amp rig, where the 2nd amp covers what you want from channel 2, then just use an AB box to switch between the two. You would want a couple of cabinets for this option though, since each amp would need a speaker load. There are probably options to get away with just one cab if you look (come cab switcher).

 

[vchizzle]

I've seen Sig X's go in the $1500ish range used, Splawns too. Modding the 2nd channel seems the better option, unless you're just jonesin' for a new amp cause you've never really bonded with the 5153.

 

[Motorpud]

I've seen Sig X's go in the $1500ish range used, Splawns too. Modding the 2nd channel seems the better option, unless you're just jonesin' for a new amp cause you've never really bonded with the 5153.

I just saw a sig:x here o the classifieds for $1350 shipped probably 5-7 days ago, could still be there I'd just use a boost or something for channel 2, makes a lot more sense to me on selling an amp where you love 2 of the 3 channels and taking a chance on new amp where you could possibly hate 2 out of three channels. Ts-9s can be had for pretty cheap used, maybe even a cheap ds-1 will do the job for a decent crunch. You will be hard pressed to get that much amp in the $1500 range.

 

[the rossness]

I contacted two modders today- Mike Fortin, and FJA. I asked if they could revoice channel 2 to sound like an overdriven Orange and a SLO. I also tried the suggestion of cranking th mids and gain, which helped. Here's my idea, I don't know if it would work or how much modding would be needed. 1- add more mids the the regular crunch channel. 2- Uses push pull switches to change to an SLO voicing. 3- add a button to the front of the head to switch to an orange voicing/ If the button idea doesn't work, maybe Channel 1 could be modded via apush pull system and have the orange channel put on channel 1 when the knobs are pulled out.

I'm also thinking of getting a footswitch so I can adjust the gain on the fly. It would make channel 1 a lot more versatile.

These are my initial ideas. I've never modded an amp before, so i don't know if this could be done are what it would cost me.

 

[Cornfordcrunch]

Once you've explored all the options with your 5153, you may want to look at a Soldano Hot Rod 50 plus. It has a pretty good clean channel that takes pedals well, so you could hit the amp with a pedal for your dirty rhythm tone and the lead channel is similar to an SLO( same circuit actually, but the trannies in the hot rod make it sound different) If you like mids, you'd probably dig it.

I dont think you're going to find an amp in your price range that gives you EVERYthing you listed in your wish list...but with some creative ways of using pedals and or your guitars volume knob, you'd probably get two out of three.

 

[Lance-a-not]

Well I can add to the few here that think the second channel is GOLD, every lead on my Cd coming out is the blue channel and half the rhythms... The crap on my myspace are the roughs.

I do goose it slightly with a BB Preamp, but the second channel to me is VERY sensitive to the preamp tubes. It just sounds anemic (and like rubbish) unless it has V1-V4 right. I also don't like the amp biased hot (like everyone else does?) it looses tightness and just becomes a blurry mess.

I think getting it modded isn't a bad idea, but the right modules in a RM is a good option too... Staying within your budget would make it tough to go elsewhere

Have you tube swapped and had someone bias the 5153 to your liking? It seems like the cheapest option

 

[the rossness]

Once you've explored all the options with your 5153, you may want to look at a Soldano Hot Rod 50 plus. It has a pretty good clean channel that takes pedals well, so you could hit the amp with a pedal for your dirty rhythm tone and the lead channel is similar to an SLO( same circuit actually, but the trannies in the hot rod make it sound different) If you like mids, you'd probably dig it.

I dont think you're going to find an amp in your price range that gives you EVERYthing you listed in your wish list...but with some creative ways of using pedals and or your guitars volume knob, you'd probably get two out of three.

The SLO 100 is one of my favorite amps. I'd need to give the hotrod a test run before I get any amp and need to find a soldano dealer in the CT area. I'm also going to check out a bogner Uberschall and an Engl Fireball.

 

[MississippiMetal]

Check this one out, Rossness.

https://cgi.ebay.com/Mesa-Boogie-Mark-II ... 1c0fc07f6b

Tone for days and plenty of Cash left over!

 

[tonmazz]

These are tricky amps for sure. When I had mine, I would be in heaven for 10 minutes and then the thing would grate on my nerves. Channel 2 had such potential but just needed a little more something! Channel 3 was over the top but once again just not perfect. One was also just OK. I had one and 2 of my buddies got them as well, as a matter of fact one buddy sold one and got another and we all dumped them for that reason. I will say the best it ever sounded was when it was returned to the original tube configuration that Eddie intended. For some reason Fender changed the configuration from what the original layout was. In our case it was still on the diagram that came with the amp. One of us changed it to the original and then that amp killed! You might just need to take it back to what it was intended to have.

 

[D-Rock]

I also don't like the amp biased hot (like everyone else does?) it looses tightness and just becomes a blurry mess.

I feel the exact same way.

 

[the rossness]

I got to play 4 different amps today. a Marshall VM, Fryette Sig X, Bogner Ecstasy classic, and an Engl Powerball. I never thought I'd say this, but I finally played an amp with too much gain. That would be the Powerball. It had a nice clean/ clean crunch channel, but the rest was overkill. The Bogner was a great hi-fi amp, but I can get a lot of the same sounds out of my EVH. The Sig X blew me away. I could get alt. rock/ 80's sleaze/ liquid distortion/ jazz and country chicken pickin' tones out of it. I tried it out in a studio and blasted the ting and it rips! I really want it!

But I'm in a deliema. The suggestion about cranking the mids and gain on channel 2 of the 5153 DOES help. Maybe hooking up MXR 10 band EQ into the fx loop would help more. Or maybe I just have to have it mdoded for more mids.

So I'm thinking about selling the MTS system and getting the Sig x, not the 5153 anymore. I do like the Randall, so it will be a hard decision.

 

[glpg80]

i have always loved the powerball's clean channel.

i like the frenzel stuff better though for cleans.

powerballs have stupid amounts of gain. if i got one, i would never use it past channel 3, because channel/setting 4 is just too much even on zero.

5150 III's have great effects loops, i would try an EQ in the effects loop like you mentioned and not worry about getting it modified, because the resell value would be harder to discrete.

the 2nd channel on a 5150 III is very personal stock, some hate it, some love it. i wouldnt touch the amplifier as you will just lose money on resell value, the mod itself, and also make it harder to flip if you ever had to in the future.

did you try the 50 watt or 100 watt vintage modern? boost the shit out of the front end of that amplifier and it wakes up dude, i played one and it was nothing like some of the clips i have heard, the trick with that amplifier is to boost the front end with an overdrive pedal - it makes a night and day difference.

i would rather still build a marshall from the metroamps forum, using a ceriatone (sp?) chassis for about the same price.

the Sig X is a popular amplifier, there are a few people that can chime in with owning one and experiences they have had here on the board.

 

[gtr31]

Another one you may want to look at is the Blackstar stage 100. It meets pretty much all your criteria.
Clean channel with voicing switch ClassA/Fender.
2 od channels both with voicing switches Classic/modern on OD1 .
Classic or Fat in OD2 .In addition od channels also have a contour knob that take you from US to brish tone stack by use of a sweep control
4 el34's .
Reverb
Speaker emulated out.
the kicker
Street price ..$800 -849

 

[keano]

Interesting thread I have the 5153 and love blue channel that what most ppl buy it for. Sounds like something maybe up with it. Get it checked.

No amp is perfect unfortunately. I wish chn 1 cleans were softer, chn 3 was less compressed. but overall its a great fkn amp. I am now looking at 6505. Do you think they sound too similar? Not 100% familiar with 6505?

Is it different then Rectos?

 

[the rossness]

Interesting thread I have the 5153 and love blue channel that what most ppl buy it for. Sounds like something maybe up with it. Get it checked.

No amp is perfect unfortunately. I wish chn 1 cleans were softer, chn 3 was less compressed. but overall its a great fkn amp. I am now looking at 6505. Do you think they sound too similar? Not 100% familiar with 6505?

Is it different then Rectos?

I always thought the peavey's sounded much buzzier by comparison. I mean, I can crank the presence on channel 3 and can get the whole death metal tone thing. Than again, I'm not a death metal player. I don't think they sound like dual recs. They have a tone characteristic all their own.