Randall Diavlo RD100 vs EVH 5150 III 50w

[wickedout2014]

Hi there! This is my 2nd post at this site. I'm long time reader though. So since I'm in the market for a new amp head and cabinet. I thought I'd pop in and get some input.

As my title reads I'm needing some good feedback on both amps. I love high gain monsters and I love rock n roll. I love metal as well. I'm searching for my tone. I'm a tone chaser. Please chime of why I should buy the Randall RD100H or the EVH 5150 III 50w head? Please convince me on which one I should pull the trigger on. Let the thread begin! Thanks everyone.

 

[matt]

I can't speak for the Randall but I've owned the 5150 III mini and it's definitely a killer amp! I only got rid of it because I went digital. If I were to go back to tubes, no question, the 5150 III 50w is the amp I would purchase. What cab are you looking at getting? I used my 5153 with a recto 2x12 and it sounded awesome.

 

[wickedout2014]

I'll most likely go 2x12 speakers. Not sure which one's though. Looking at the EVH ones or the Randall RD212. Right now I'm up in the air of what I want.

 

[Red_Label]

I think that the Randall is one of the best values out there in rockin tube amps right now. But it's pretty dark. If you want an amp that will cover more ground, from "spank-to-crank" (LOL... I just coined that term as I was typing, it means clean to metal)... I think that the EVH is superior.

 

[wickedout2014]

I think that the Randall is one of the best values out there in rockin tube amps right now. But it's pretty dark. If you want an amp that will cover more ground, from "spank-to-crank" (LOL... I just coined that term as I was typing, it means clean to metal)... I think that the EVH is superior.

Great advice! They both have their advantages. Spank to crank! Good one! I have clean amps. Just need one for everything. Man I love Randall stuff. But EVH has the upper hand for the most part. Randall kicks EVH in mouth for price and value.

 

[C1-ocaster]

I think that the Randall is one of the best values out there in rockin tube amps right now. But it's pretty dark. If you want an amp that will cover more ground, from "spank-to-crank" (LOL... I just coined that term as I was typing, it means clean to metal)... I think that the EVH is superior.

Great advice! They both have their advantages. Spank to crank! Good one! I have clean amps. Just need one for everything. Man I love Randall stuff. But EVH has the upper hand for the most part. Randall kicks EVH in mouth for price and value.

I don't what the gain structure of the RD100 is exactly, but I think it's very similar to the RD45 Diavolo I just bought.
The pre tubes were bad and at first it sounded like a low gain amp.
I swapped in known good Tung Sol's and JJ's pre's and it came to life.

It's marketed as a very high gain "Metal" able amp, and it can do that.
But, my Egnater Vengeance has more gain and a growlier and smoother gain tone.

The RD45 uses 3 pre tubes for it's gain and tone, the Vengeance has 4 gain tubes.

I've played the 5150 III 50 watt, and I'm actually going to pick one up then compare it to my Vengeance, RD45, and Laney Ironheart 60.
You should check out the Laney Ironheart. There is a 100 and 60 watt version.
Using the same pre tubes in the Ironheart, I felt it had a bit more high gain, and it's tonally more versatile than the RD45.
The RD100 has 2 eq sections, the RD45 has only 1, but the eq set up looks the same.

I found a great price on a new 5150 III, much lower than MSRP.
If you're interested email and I'll give you the details cause I don't think it's proper to post that here.

 

[Racerxrated]

Maybe I got a lemon but the 5153 blew away the RD100. I rolled tubes, checked bias and I still had to run an eq through the loop to like it. And it sounded good that way but I feel if you have to do that...the 5153 needed nothing to sound really good.

 

[Chubtone]

I think the 5150 III 50w has way more gain than the RD100H. The 5150 III has so much gain on Ch3 it is barely useable for what I like. I set the gain at 9 o'clock on the 3rd channel and even then it is a bit too much. However the Randall sound KILLER recording with it. I put all the eq knobs at noon adjusted the gain, hit the boost button on channel 3 and I don't think I have ever used an amp that was as easy to record.

 

[wickedout2014]

The EVH 5150 III is a pretty sweet amp head and cabinet. I'm thinking I'll get it. Just have to find a good place to purchase it and get a smoking deal on it. I'm only willing to pay up to $1500 both amp head and cabinet. I'd prefer a 2x12 for gigs and jam sessions. The Randall is nice but the EVH just seems to be a better unit all around.

 

[Racerxrated]

I will say that I've heard the RD45 is killer though..it might be just a better platform than the 100? Lots love their 45, so if you get a chance to try that one I would. But between the RD 100 that I had and the 5153 I would pick the EVH.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Agreed that the diavlo sounds great & clear recorded...but the feel was unforgiving & lacked ooomf
5150s tend to have a squishyness to their feel that I love

 

[prsplayer86]

I used the RD 40 combo yesterday and every thing but the clean blew. I had to dime the presence and kill the highs to get a usable tone out of the overdrive. I would assume the 100 watt heads gain section would be similar.
I've also been put in a pickle (3 times) with the EVH. We had the first 5153 blow right out of the box, the second fizzled 4 shows into its life, and the 3rd died a month into it. Possibly a bad batch, but not something I could play without worrying about it blowing up. Sucks too.. they sound awesome.

Tone wise I'd say the 5153 has got it beat.

 

[ke2]

https://youtu.be/6mCBzaddlHs

This is my RD 50.
To each his own, but I think they sound pretty nice.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I used the RD 40 combo yesterday and every thing but the clean blew. I had to dime the presence and kill the highs to get a usable tone out of the overdrive. I would assume the 100 watt heads gain section would be similar.
.

This is strange, I had an rd50 (old stock that Fortin first released prior to the rd45).
I had to keep the treble on that thing at like 10 clock as it was so pronounced. I have a buddy who loved his diavlo but the way he described his rd50 was way different than my experience (?) I'm thinking all these diavlos are not created equally
The cleans were impressive, agreed there

 

[wickedout2014]

Hey mates! Today I headed to GC in my area and ended up ordering the EVH 5153 with the 2x12 cabinet. They gave me a killer deal so I had to go for it. Can't wait for it to arrive. Should be here next week! Wish me luck! Have a rocking Wednesday metal heads!

 

[Racerxrated]

Good for you and let us know how you like it! I will also say that my drummer misses the tone of that amp the most...as I have (like most of us) a merry go round of gear lol....

 

[sixty-niner]

EVH 5150 III all the way!!

 

[wickedout2014]

Here is it's close friend that'll we be riffing with EVH 5153! It's my PSR Tremonti SE. What a killer axe it is to. Can't go wrong with a PRS. Oh that's my Randall Diavlo 1 watt beast!

 

[napalmdeath]

I think that the Randall is one of the best values out there in rockin tube amps right now. But it's pretty dark. If you want an amp that will cover more ground, from "spank-to-crank" (LOL... I just coined that term as I was typing, it means clean to metal)... I think that the EVH is superior.

+1. Best amp on the planet for the price. I'm thinking of getting of getting a third. Kills the EVH in tone & value.

 

[gibsonash]

Got the two amp at the same time , EVH gone and The Randall stayed (but modded EL34)