Need help with 5150 iii 50 watt blue channel... way flubby

[GuitarGuyLP]

I have been following the blue channel flub issues quite close, and reading all over the place. I have developed a theory. Has anyone with flub issues tried lowering the height of their pickups? I wonder if that could be part of the cause.

 

[Lord Toneking]

I have been following the blue channel flub issues quite close, and reading all over the place. I have developed a theory. Has anyone with flub issues tried lowering the height of their pickups? I wonder if that could be part of the cause.

I absolutely did this. I left no stone unturned. Tubes, cables, cabinets, guitars. After checking all what I listed I was certain it was pickup height

My flub was exactly like the op's in the vid. Only on blue channel with gain above 11:00-12:00...and only on lower strings/chords

 

[just42dave]

You got to watch that reso knob in back. I live on CH 2 maxed. With no prob ever

 

[Kevin11]

I absolutely did this. I left no stone unturned. Tubes, cables, cabinets, guitars. After checking all what I listed I was certain it was pickup height

My flub was exactly like the op's in the vid. Only on blue channel with gain above 11:00-12:00...and only on lower strings/chords

My issue is the same as LT's. We posted in another thread about this. I must have missed this one. I was really surprised to hear others experiencing this same issue. I've tried everything except swap tubes and mess with the bias. I can't use it the way it is, so I'm hoping I can fix it. For now, I'm keeping the gain around 9 o'clock and hitting it with a slight od boost. It's a little better, but still not good. I've heard some killer clips of the 50w blue and I've played the 100w many times. My blue channel sounds NOTHING like that.

Mine is a Vietnam version FWIW. Been a gigging player for over 30 years just so y'all don't think I'm some kid that doesn't know what he's talking about. This issue is a real problem.

The red channel is a completely different story. Huge, punchy, molten lava. That's the only reason I haven't sold it yet.

 

[Kevin11]

You got to watch that reso knob in back. I live on CH 2 maxed. With no prob ever

That's a good point. I've messed with it, but not much lately. I run 2 of the EVH 2x12 cabs and I kind of like it where it's set, but I'm open to anything about now. I have it hovering around noon, which seems to just be enough to bring out the bark of those cabs. Any lower than about 11 o'clock though, and it starts to feel a little anemic.

 

[mystixboi]

Quick update... I took the amp to a tech provided by EVH tech support. After a few hours, he had it up and running again. He told me the tubes were fine and the amp was fine. He took all of the tubes out and then put them back in. Channel 3 was back!!!

Also, the flubiness is totally gone. I am loving the blue channel. Sounds sick with an EP Boost

So what exactly was the problem? I absolutely loved the amp when I had it...until the flub started

That flub was the most annoying nasty tone I've ever heard. Drove me CRAZY!!

That's the weird thing. We don't know what the problem is and the flubiness is totally gone. Weird

 

[FondledDuck]

Im having the same issues with a 100 watt Mexican made. It flubs when the gain is dimed on the clean channel and when the gain is past 3 oclock on channel 2. Only happens with heavy attack and on the low strings. Oddly, channel 3 never has a problem...

Did lowering your pickup height resolve this? Im playing a Les Paul with stock pickups.

I have been following the blue channel flub issues quite close, and reading all over the place. I have developed a theory. Has anyone with flub issues tried lowering the height of their pickups? I wonder if that could be part of the cause.

I absolutely did this. I left no stone unturned. Tubes, cables, cabinets, guitars. After checking all what I listed I was certain it was pickup height My flub was exactly like the op's in the vid. Only on blue channel with gain above 11:00-12:00...and only on lower strings/chords

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I still have my channel 2 flub issue. Thinking of sending it to EVH for review and repair, but it's my only amp and not sure how long it will take.

 

[mystixboi]

I still have my channel 2 flub issue. Thinking of sending it to EVH for review and repair, but it's my only amp and not sure how long it will take.

Did you buy it new? If so, maybe you could take it to an authorized repair center by that's what I did!!! Couldn't be happier

 

[FondledDuck]

Just got done with that debacle...techs had no clue...

Im almost convinced that these 2 channels don't like to be pushed as we would expect. I played a 5150 iii with 3 different Les Pauls....each with a different result. One had no flub, one had minor flub and another was almost as flubby as my Les Paul. I think its a pickup issue, which is really weirding me out. You'd think these amps would be designed for anything!

Ive never had to adjust the pickup height on any guitars through any amps ever.

I still have my channel 2 flub issue. Thinking of sending it to EVH for review and repair, but it's my only amp and not sure how long it will take.

Did you buy it new? If so, maybe you could take it to an authorized repair center by that's what I did!!! Couldn't be happier

 

[mystixboi]

Yeah. I think pickups have a lot to do with it too. My jem and Prs get the flub a lot easier Han the other guitars I have

 

[FondledDuck]

Strongly considering sending this baby back...this is really bugging me. I have never heard an amp react this way...Marshall, Mesa, Engl - even with high output pickups, such as EMG's.

Yeah. I think pickups have a lot to do with it too. My jem and Prs get the flub a lot easier Han the other guitars I have

 

[mystixboi]

Did you contact the guys at Fender? I forget if you did or not

 

[thiswaythatway]

Well what do you expect when you don't spend $4149 for a fine handcrafted amp!

 

[mystixboi]

Well done sir

 

[FondledDuck]

Yup...have been in contact with them for about a week. Supposedly they were going to forward the info to Howard (master builder) for feedback, but nothing yet. I guess he's in Mexico QA'ing the 5150 III combo production.

Thinking this might be a lost cause...

1. More than likely this is an inherent charactersitic of the amp.
2. I would never EQ the amp in these extreme settings (diming the clean and 2nd channel).

My concern initially was perhaps there may be some component level failures that may yeild future issues.

My money is on the idea that this is an inherent charactersitic of the amp

Did you contact the guys at Fender? I forget if you did or not

 

[nevusofota]

Post in the TGP 5150III 50w thread. Howard frequents there daily (at least he used to)

 

[mniel8195]

I am having the same issue now did you ever resolve this?

 

[mystixboi]

I am having the same issue now did you ever resolve this?

I got a new 5150 50 watt. One made in Mexico. Problem solved