James Brown stated that after they started with the VTM mashed up with the Resonance/Presence from the Peavey power amp line, I believe it was Hartley (Peavey) that recommended they tweak from there by using the amps they knew EVH had used around that time, like the SLO and Super Lead. He noted that he got an SLO and checked it over, they copped some gain staging from it, hated the loop (who doesn’t), etc.
What I was getting at was based on his story, all of the internet conjecture around EVH and SLOs and EVH wanting to copy it or base the 5150 on it and etc...seems way off base. What EVH actually wanted was a Jose modded amp of his put into production, but it was never provided to Peavey. He gave them nothing to work with, which is why they started with the VTM and worked from there. They started with the VTM because it was the Peavey that EVH tried and liked best.
I was noting the interesting aspect of EVH wanting to produce a Jose modded amp, never providing the original to work from, and then subsequently having the 5150 start life as a VTM, which is - funny enough - based on a Jose Marshall
It came full circle.
James Brown acknowledged that he bought an SLO and they copped a few things from it, but stated that was of their own accord trying to figure out what EVH would like without guidance, not because it’s what EVH said he wanted, as what he wanted and approached all the companies about was something different.
James Brown seems like a solid guy, and his story could be easily refuted by any number of amp companies that EVH approached at that time with his request. Don’t see what he would stand to gain by making up false stories 30 years later that could easily be disputed about a product and company he’s long since walked away from. Possible? Sure, but wouldn’t make much sense to me.
