NAD: EVH 5150IIIS LIMITED EDITION STEALTH

[eddyrox]

seems like the thread participants are 100% unanimous (for the most part) that the 100S is FU*KING stellar/amazing.
...can't wait til friday (when mine arrives)

 

[souldigger]

I have been putting the 100s thru its paces the last few days and it is everything I was hoping it would be. I had a regular 100 and it was cool but there were just a few things I didn't like about it. I was either gonna sell it or mod it, but when the 100s got announced I took the plunge and so glad I did.
This is all from memory but I will lay it out how I remember.
Evh 100:
1. It had a mid voicing that was a little to dominate to my ears, turning the mids down made it too scooped. I couldn't find the right balance.
2. The blue channel was way to bland. It was like too much gain for low gain and not enough gain for high gain.
3. As far as tightness on the gain channels , it was in the middle of tight and loose. Just was not too my liking.
4. The gain was way too smooth for my taste.
I was a little disappointed with the amp. Did I hate it? NO. It just wasn't quite what I wanted it to be, it fell just a little short of my expectations.
BUT, when I thru an MXR 10 band eq in the loop, I got an awesome metal tone out of the red channel. I am all about high gain and it sounded great. When I seen the description of the 100s, I took the risk cause it seemed like they changed all the things I didn't Like about it.
To sum up the 100s, They hit it out the ball park. Its as plain and simple as that. The four things I listed that I didn't like about the regular version got tweaked to exactly the way I wanted it, Yet it still retains a lot of core tone of the original. Although the stealth seems to be a lot more versatile, the resonance controls really add a new level to it.
My favorite things about the 100s:
1. The blue channel has more gain now, but it also takes a boost really well. I am not very much into using pedals, but it take the maxon 808 like a champ.
2. The red channel is a little bit more aggressive now, not full on aggressive but just a little more angst.
3. I love how tight the red channel is, It can be deep and low, but still be tight.
I wish I could compare the two side by side, but I did my best trying to compare using my memory.

Thanks for the report. This is sounding like everything I wished my XTC was.........hmmmmm

-JD

 

[Superunknown]

Damnit I hate to see/hear such great things about the 100S...I really don't need a another amp!

 

[the4thlast1]

I just up boxed mine and after playing 20 minutes it seems to be a different amp from the original ( which I have had a couple 100 w and one 50w). The green and blue seem to have a lot more gain. The amp seems to have much more upper mid focus and is a brighter amp. Not as polished at the original So far I'm kinda impressed

I like my 100s a lot... Not to start a shit storm but I would suggest swapping tubes around. JJ preamp tubes are great in the EVH however sometimes you get ones that do not sound as good as others. The JJ that was in v1 in my 100s was meh believe it or not I swapped it out for another JJ (same tube) and the amp sounded and felt even better.

I have my 100s sitting next to the original 100 watter.... I would also say the 100s is a little brighter, yup more gain all around, maybe a little more bite. I have a feeling this amp might cut a bit better in a live situation than the original but I have not used it out. I was giging my original EVH last year and as much as I love it , it can be a bit dark on the red channel. I used red channel for rhythm because blue lacked gain for me. The blue channel on the 100s could be my new go to rhythm channel for hard rock and metal.

 

[JeffHenneman]

I really don't need a another amp!

yes you do

I second that, You for sure need another amp.

 

[JeffHenneman]

My EVH 100s showed up a few days ago. I also have the original 100 watter sitting next to it. I will probably post an in depth review and comparison but so far I will say I like channel 2 on the Stealth version a lot. Channel 2 on the original is cool but not enough gain and low end for me. I play mostly Metal. Channel two on the stealth is something like a mix of ch 2 and 3 of the original.

Overall the amp is a bit clearer, a bit more upfront sounding. I'm still getting used to it but it's def cool.

Mine came with the same manual the original version does. Did you guys get the same manual ? I would assume they didnt bother to make a new manual for this version since its essentially the same amp.

I so agree about the blue channel being a mix of channel 2 & 3 on the Stealth. The original version did seem to be a little behind a blanket until you really opened her up.

I just up boxed mine and after playing 20 minutes it seems to be a different amp from the original ( which I have had a couple 100 w and one 50w). The green and blue seem to have a lot more gain. The amp seems to have much more upper mid focus and is a brighter amp. Not as polished at the original So far I'm kinda impressed

I like my 100s a lot... Not to start a shit storm but I would suggest swapping tubes around. JJ preamp tubes are great in the EVH however sometimes you get ones that do not sound as good as others. The JJ that was in v1 in my 100s was meh believe it or not I swapped it out for another JJ (same tube) and the amp sounded and felt even better.

I have my 100s sitting next to the original 100 watter.... I would also say the 100s is a little brighter, yup more gain all around, maybe a little more bite. I have a feeling this amp might cut a bit better in a live situation than the original but I have not used it out. I was giging my original EVH last year and as much as I love it , it can be a bit dark on the red channel. I used red channel for rhythm because blue lacked gain for me. The blue channel on the 100s could be my new go to rhythm channel for hard rock and metal.

I so wish I could compare the two side by side. The stealth does have a touch more bite.
It seems that me and you have the exact same opinion of the amp

 

[ElMuchoDingo]

after playing it for a couple hours last night ( i meant unboxed rather than boxed on my first post) it really is like a 4 channel amp. on my original the gain on the green channel had to be 75% of max before it got some bite, this amp at 30 % has good breakup on a bridge pickup, switch to the neck and it cleans up nicely. the amp to me is much more aggressive than the original head. I always had a problem on the blue channel with the bass being flubby with high gain settings, the resonance knob and circuit changes really seemed to change this. dare i say the amp is a bit more vintage plexi than modern, the green channel gain at 3 o clock with a pitch shift seems pretty 1984 ish

 

[the4thlast1]

I so wish I could compare the two side by side. The stealth does have a touch more bite.
It seems that me and you have the exact same opinion of the amp

Yeah I agree with what you said about the original. However I was pretty happy with the red channel on my original. My main issue with it was that as much as it made a great solo tone it was a bit dark and can be compressed for rhythm. Which does make sense because the blue channel was meant to be the rhythm channel I would think.

The issue for me with the blue was not enough gain, bite and lowend for heavy rock and metal. What I like about the blue channel on both amps is that it is a little brighter and a little less compressed than the red channel. With the stealth version I could use blue for rhythm and red for lead. With the original I used red for everything... I would only use blue if I needed a solo with a different volume setting on the fly.

Keep in mind that with everything I say , I use a boost almost all of the time (Maxon 808) and play mostly metal. Other guys who play more Blues, Funk, Rock, Classic Rock etc might be perfectly happy with the original EVH and might not appreciate having more gain on all the channels. Personally I think the changes are cool , I cant say that its a "better" amp its just a twist on the original while still keeping the core sound.

 

[JeffHenneman]

I so wish I could compare the two side by side. The stealth does have a touch more bite.
It seems that me and you have the exact same opinion of the amp

Yeah I agree with what you said about the original. However I was pretty happy with the red channel on my original. My main issue with it was that as much as it made a great solo tone it was a bit dark and can be compressed for rhythm. Which does make sense because the blue channel was meant to be the rhythm channel I would think.

The issue for me with the blue was not enough gain, bite and lowend for heavy rock and metal. What I like about the blue channel on both amps is that it is a little brighter and a little less compressed than the red channel. With the stealth version I could use blue for rhythm and red for lead. With the original I used red for everything... I would only use blue if I needed a solo with a different volume setting on the fly.

Keep in mind that with everything I say , I use a boost almost all of the time (Maxon 808) and play mostly metal. Other guys who play more Blues, Funk, Rock, Classic Rock etc might be perfectly happy with the original EVH and might not appreciate having more gain on all the channels. Personally I think the changes are cool , I cant say that its a "better" amp its just a twist on the original while still keeping the core sound.

Very well put. I really don't see EVH updating the 100 to stealth mode anytime soon. It is not a night and day difference, but more of a "twist" like you put it.
I do think that these tweaks and addition of the resonance controls have made it way more versatile. It seems as the presence is a little different also, no sure if it is actually tweaked or just seems different because of what they tweaked.

 

[the4thlast1]

There is a guy selling a EVH in the classified. Its a original EVH 100 watt. He mentions in the post that its a 2011 and it has the updated blue channel. He mentioned thats what the guy at Fender told him over the phone.

So.... Its possible the blue channel on the original versions that they are shipping now has added gain. Or someone is misinformed and nothing has changed. I had a chance to ask that dude Kaplan from Fender , I believe that was his name. Anyway he posts on The Gear Page and is the main designer of the 50w version. I asked him a couple years ago if anything has changed in the production of the 100w . He said that there has been some minor production changes but nothing that would effect tone.

I'm curious as well....Its possible they will make tweaks or already have to the circuit of the regular 100 watters and not advertise it. Or they will come out with a 5153+ HaHa or....the mighty 5154 four channel.

 

[JeffHenneman]

There is a guy selling a EVH in the classified. Its a original EVH 100 watt. He mentions in the post that its a 2011 and it has the updated blue channel. He mentioned thats what the guy at Fender told him over the phone.

So.... Its possible the blue channel on the original versions that they are shipping now has added gain. Or someone is misinformed and nothing has changed. I had a chance to ask that dude Kaplan from Fender , I believe that was his name. Anyway he posts on The Gear Page and is the main designer of the 50w version. I asked him a couple years ago if anything has changed in the production of the 100w . He said that there has been some minor production changes but nothing that would effect tone.

I'm curious as well....Its possible they will make tweaks or already have to the circuit of the regular 100 watters and not advertise it. Or they will come out with a 5153+ HaHa or....the mighty 5154 four channel.

if they do make a new version, first priority is to put the power switch on the front, or atleast the standby. I keep turning the amp off by accident haha!

 

[bmf5150]

I think EVH has something new coming out at namm

 

[leerocker]

me too as in the uk nearly all the uk stockists of 5150iii 100 watters are out of stock or dissapeared from the websites, still waiting for the 100s to hit our shores as well.
Were getting a bum deal over here with the 100s though , For some reason they only come as a head and cab sale in the uk and you can't just buy the head on its own, I already have an evh 412 so its a bit of a waste of money for the head and cab when i already have one and i asked the guys i buy from about just getting the head and they said they cant but i should wait till after namm for something? maybe nothing but he reckons theres something new coming.

 

[JeffHenneman]

I know the evh is coming it with a combo, they put a press release out in December about it.

 

[the4thlast1]

Didnt they come out with a combo already ? It would be funny as hell if they come out with a new version of the 100w and it has even more features such as midi that the stealth doesnt....I would be kicking myself

 

[nevusofota]

Didnt they come out with a combo already ? It would be funny as hell if they come out with a new version of the 100w and it has even more features such as midi that the stealth doesnt....I would be kicking myself

That will happen. Just a matter if time.

 

[nevusofota]

I know the evh is coming it with a combo, they put a press release out in December about it.

Old news. The combo has been out for many months.

 

[napalmdeath]

That set up is god-awful expensive! CRAZY EXPENSIVE! I just cant justify it. I'm sure it kills, and looks cool, but DAMN!

 

[eddyrox]

well here's my TOWER of FU*KKING death

my thoughts are exactly as everyone has represented herein.
Channel 2 fu*king ROXX. It's everything the original 100W was not - brigher, more hi-mids, more gain, with still the "openess" that the original 100W was known for. Of course you can't increase the gain without being a "bit" more compressed but man do those pinch harmonics JUMP outta the cabinet.

as has been noted the overall gain of Ch2 and 3 of the 100S is higher - but IMHO the Ch1 (green) also breaks up a bit quicker than the original.
I'll have to experiment more, as I'm playing a Anderson DT7 and the H1- (even split) tends to be HOT.

Anyway, pix or it didn't happen!

 

[Mailman1971]

Nice man!!
I really want to check one of these out in the worst way...