Played the EDDIE VAN HALEN III HEAD today

[King Crimson]

I must say I am pleasantly surprised. It's sort of a poor-man's Herbert.

Three channels, clean, crunch and lead. All three very nicely laid out. The lead channel is nice and punchy. Only 100 of them were produced with white tolex as a re-issue and there are no plans of anymore for now.

GC has one of the white tolex re-issue out the door for $1700. Tempting for a backup.

But it is no Herbert WOAD!

Came right home from GC, fired up my Herbert (for the 4th time today ) and the feel and tone are as usual - impeccably brilliant.

 

[spguitar]

I plan on getting the new 50 watt mini 5150III to back my new Herbert up.
$999 new too. I think they'll be out later this month.

 

[nevusofota]

When did they stop making white tolex 5150III's?

How is the "re-issue" any different than what has been out for the past 4 years?

 

[King Crimson]

When did they stop making white tolex 5150III's?

How is the "re-issue" any different than what has been out for the past 4 years?

The 100W white tolex from what I'm told, maybe wrong.

Anyhow nice amp, but what struck me too was that the speaker outs were labled 4Ohm, only.

 

[hunter]

I think the amp is good, but the EVH5153 Cab is REALLY good, especially for the $$

 

[King Crimson]

I think the amp is good, but the EVH5153 Cab is REALLY good, especially for the $$

Do you know if the cab is loaded with Heritage Greenbacks?

 

[nevusofota]

When did they stop making white tolex 5150III's?

How is the "re-issue" any different than what has been out for the past 4 years?

The 100W white tolex from what I'm told, maybe wrong.

Anyhow nice amp, but what struck me too was that the speaker outs were labled 4Ohm, only.

Is it possible that you played the 50 watt version?

 

[King Crimson]

Is it possible that you played the 50 watt version?

It is definitely a 100W head just like the one in the first post here.

 

[TCRS]

I had one. It was okay, but didn't track well without A LOT and I stress A LOT of mic placement and post eq, comp, and wave form correction. Out of a Randall RM100, Splawn Quickrod, Splawn Nitro, EVHIII, 6505+, Diamond Phantom, Diezel Herbert, and the newest addition a 6534+ you are not going to believe what amp has the easiest to set up, smoothest, tightest, most aggressive, clear, and most importantly level wave form while tracking.


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Yep the cheapest amp I own. Go figure. I never would have thought since I was never a fan of Peavey. They have got it right with the 6534+. They didn't get the bias right, but after I biased it at 32MA on the hottest tube it absolutely roars. Get one of these for a backup. You wont be sorry. Got mine for $850.00 brand new shipped. I was going to send it off to get it modded. I'm now kinda torn.

 

[King Crimson]

That's just a 5150II with a 6534 logo on it.

 

[guitarnoize]

That's just a 5150II with a 6534 logo on it.

Did the 5150II have EL34's?

 

[King Crimson]

Did the 5150II have EL34's?

Yes mine did. I had three 5150IIs over the years. Each one I installed JJEL34 and JJ6L6GC. Two I had what is now known as having a mixed quad installed; 2-EL34s and 2-6L6GCs in my 5150II.

 

[guitarnoize]

Did the 5150II have EL34's?

Yes mine did. I had three 5150IIs over the years. Each one I installed JJEL34 and JJ6L6GC. Two I had what is now known as having a mixed quad installed; 2-EL34s and 2-6L6GCs in my 5150II.

Cool so yeah this basically your old amp then haha

 

[Laura]

Good to read this. I have a 5150 III. I would love to check out a Herbert but I am completely happy with the 5150 III. I bought the matching cab and I love it even more. It has the G12EVH's which are listed on Celestions site as the Heritage Series G12M. I love that cab!

 

[King Crimson]

Hello Laura.

Sounds like you are very pleased with your amp setup. I used to be heavily into the Peavey 5150-II series for several years - loved the amp and its low price-point.

Yah, the matching cab I found is loaded with the Heritage series 12M greenbacks. The 5150-III I played at GC was matched with that very cab. Very nice, punchy and surprisingly clear at high volume. The clean CH1 and crunch CH2 are nothing to complain about either - nice reasonable package.

I mean it’s no DH by any stretch, but for the coin (GC has it currently at $1800 OTD) it’s very attractive. I’m planning on picking it up to keep at my bands rehearsal studio. I’ll keep Herbert at home and break it out for gigs and recordings. I’ve got two Diezel 4x12RL with installed x-pattern of V30 and Diezel custom – for me the perfect blend of vintage/modern.

Laura, I’m curious as to how much experience you have using your 5050-III rig in a band and/or live performance situation. How do you feel it cuts through the environment articulately? My DH is phenomenal at standing out and extremely lucid with very little effort at all venues.

 

[Laura]

Laura, I’m curious as to how much experience you have using your 5050-III rig in a band and/or live performance situation. How do you feel it cuts through the environment articulately? My DH is phenomenal at standing out and extremely lucid with very little effort at all venues.

I have used that rig quite a bit in the last few months in practice and at our last 2 shows. Although I do not feel that it cuts well, I do like the overall tone (very, very thick and mean). I have been playing my Fortin modded Uberschall (Natasha) a lot recently and that amp definitely crushed the 5150 III in all aspects (it cuts well in the mix and it sounds big and mean). My Uber is not as compressed which I did not like at first but, that is probably why is sits so well in the mix.

 

[nevusofota]

I agree, Channel 3 of the EVH doesn't cut well in the mix due to the saturation. However, if you boost channel 2 the amp becomes a beast in a band setting. I use only use channel 3 for leads with the mids cranked.

 

[King Crimson]

Thank you Laura and nevusofoto for the info.

However I do not completely agree with both of you on the 'saturation' being the overall culprit to not cutting through. Different high gain amps behave differently. My DH’s CH3 can be set to be very saturated/compressed but it has a very unique quality to it such that it stays very focused and tends to be out of the spectrum or bandwidth (or however you may describe it) from other frequencies that it may collide with. And thus ultimately get buried or lost in the mix. I don’t have that experience with my DH.

Either way, I think the 5150 III will be a great addition to stay in my studio and travel along as a backup. I'm looking forward to it as it will remind me of my fond 5150-II days.

 

[TCRS]

That's just a 5150II with a 6534 logo on it.

Nope. It doesn't sound anything like the 6505+ I had. They did something to it where there is way more clarity. My thoughts were the same as yours until I plugged into it.
I'm glad you like the EVHIII. I had too many headaches trying to get a good track with it. It is a very nice well built amp, but just couldn't get the clarity I was looking for.
They should put EL34s in it. Maybe that would help.

 

[King Crimson]

I had too many headaches trying to get a good track with it. It is a very nice well built amp, but just couldn't get the clarity I was looking for.
They should put EL34s in it. Maybe that would help.

BTW the reference was a joke.
I'll be using the EVHIII in rehearsal, no recording. My DH is the king for tracking.