Seriously considering dumping a Splawn and getting a 5150III

[Junk Yard Dog]

I sold my 5153 50w once I got my Splawn Pro Stock B+.

I played my buddies 5153 50w yesterday and my Splawn. The 5153 sounded a little hifi compared to the Spalwn which was more organic to my ears. Same cab with a V30/CB H75 mix. I mostly play classic and hard rock with some metal.

That said, I really enjoyed my 5153; it is a great amp.

 

[Tone Zone]

in my opinion the 5153 pisses all over the MarkV

Mark V isn't exactly an amp I'd compare to a 5153. Totally different amps with totally different timbres of tone.

I've owned both and both are awesome amps, but the only thing the 5153 does better than the Mark V IMO is metal rhythm tone. The Mark V cleans are far better than the 5153, and the edge of breakup tones and low to mid gain tones are superior. Lead tones on the Mark V are also better IMO.

My need for a great metal rhythm tone is why the 5153 stayed and the Mark V didn't though. What the 5153 does do well, it does better than most other amps out there.

I'm sorry I've just grown to hate Marks lol so wording is a tad harsh but I stand by it

You can stand by it all you want....only makes you look that much more foolish. As jc986 said, two totally different amps. The MKV is far more versatile at getting an array of tones. "Pisses all over the MKV"? What an idiotic statement. Look sport, we get it: you don't like the tones you get out of the MKV, even though you liked them enough at one time to buy one. Fine. But, with the way you go on and on, it's as if the MKV fucked your mom or something?

 

[BrentSSL]

in my opinion the 5153 pisses all over the MarkV

Mark V isn't exactly an amp I'd compare to a 5153. Totally different amps with totally different timbres of tone.

I've owned both and both are awesome amps, but the only thing the 5153 does better than the Mark V IMO is metal rhythm tone. The Mark V cleans are far better than the 5153, and the edge of breakup tones and low to mid gain tones are superior. Lead tones on the Mark V are also better IMO.

My need for a great metal rhythm tone is why the 5153 stayed and the Mark V didn't though. What the 5153 does do well, it does better than most other amps out there.

I'm sorry I've just grown to hate Marks lol so wording is a tad harsh but I stand by it

You can stand by it all you want....only makes you look that much more foolish. As jc986 said, two totally different amps. The MKV is far more versatile at getting an array of tones. "Pisses all over the MKV"? What an idiotic statement. Look sport, we get it: you don't like the tones you get out of the MKV, even though you liked them enough at one time to buy one. Fine. But, with the way you go on and on, it's as if the MKV fucked your mom or something?

So sorry I'm all out of butt hurt forms I can email one.... But I don't think it'll get there in time so I'm filing this with my I.D.G.R.A box and I'll get back to you .

 

[Lord Toneking]

Arguing over one amp pissing on another amp is ridiculous...and quite childish.

Who really gives a flying fuuuu?? Reminds me of 'well, my dad can beat up your dad' back when I was in 2nd grade

Gentlemen, please..

 

[AndyK]

The Splawn is half the price, and twice the amp (quality wise)! If you want more mid honk get a TS to put in front of your Nitro and save a ton of $$!

Then get some Gas-X!

 

[some dude]

Arguing over one amp pissing on another amp is ridiculous...and quite childish.

+1. For a minute I thought I was on HCAF...

 

[petejt]

Arguing over one amp pissing on another amp is ridiculous...and quite childish.

+1. For a minute I thought I was on HCAF...

This.

 

[petejt]

Why not just use both amps?


I didn't buy a Mesa/Boogie amp for it to sound like a Marshall. When I wanted a Marshall sound, I bought...a Marshall.
So I use both.

 

[Tone Zone]

Why not just use both amps?

I do, in regards to the MKV + EVH 5153

 

[Heritage Softail]

Arguing over one amp pissing on another amp is ridiculous...and quite childish.

+1. For a minute I thought I was on HCAF...

This.

All the good amp dick swinging aside...

That ass on that chic in Pete's sig is fan fucking tastic. Please say that is your girlfriend so I know who to be jealous of.



I had a 5153 for about a year. Had the chance to play it along with a few of my other amps, Twin Jet, MKIIC, Rhodes Gemini, and trusty old DSL 100 UK model.

The thing has a great chug as advertised. And the blue channel with the gain way down and a slight boost will make a Tele sound great. It is a very versatile amp. The Blue channel is awesome as advertised. It is a great platform to do a wide variety of things.

I did have an SLO but another board member owns it now. I would not say the 5153 is close to the SLO. But just my two cents... When cranked to pant shaking loud, like 5 on the Master, for that magic tone, the SLO adds that 10% magic. Kind of like how the MKV has a small slice of something similar to a MKIIC+ but isn't one. I bought a MKV when they first came out. Then found a MKIIC. MKV is gone.

If you like that very useful tone in the 5153 go for it. The Stealth sounds interesting as well. I used a Jetter Red II with the Blue channel and liked it. The pedal is voiced for a JTM and JCM type dirt. It played well with the 5153.

Good luck on the tone quest

 

[petejt]

Arguing over one amp pissing on another amp is ridiculous...and quite childish.

+1. For a minute I thought I was on HCAF...

This.

All the good amp dick swinging aside...

That ass on that chic in Pete's sig is fan fucking tastic. Please say that is your girlfriend so I know who to be jealous of.

Hehehe! Would be awesome if she was mate, but she's an American model named Evita Sanchez, so feel free to search her pics. I was chatting to her on some forum a few years back, but have since lost touch. She was modelling in England as well as America I think.


Sorry to the original poster if I went off-topic with my amp pic. I just reckon if that you like the sound of one amp, and the different sound of another- why not use both? To me it's the chemistry of two amps that makes a great guitar tone. I admit though I'm currently gigging with my dual amp rig.

 

[greatmutah]

I'm really curious about the 5150III. I played one years ago when it first came out and that was it. All the clips I hear of it though, especially the blue channel, make it seem like an amp I need. But at the same time, I'm trying to save for a Metropoulos Metroplex (I played one at George's shop) and that amp floored me. GAS is a cruel mistress.

 

[wizardy]

I did sell my KT88 Nitro and kept my 5153 100 watts
I exclusively play modern metal / trash metal
I prefer a 3 channels amp and also the cleans on the 5153 are very good
I'm a 5150 guy and the 5153 is the perfect evolution
channel 2 is great for rock noodling and it can get heavy with the right boost

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

They sounds damn similar to me on this vid. just a bit different in compression and fullness. I'd play either...and do.

 

[stompboxfreak72]

I own a Splawn Nitro and a Stealth. I am lucky that I can have them both. I love the Splawn and will alwats have one in the arsenal. If I could only have one.......cant say. I love them both and they are very different animals.

Fwiw Im running my Nitro in 50 watt mode and I love it. It breaks up earlier and suits me just fine.

 

[BrentSSL]

Hmmm need to try a nitro

 

[Stone Heavy Sound]

First off, Splawn has 2 heads that sound very different, the Quickrod and the Nitro. The Quickrod is very modern Marshall sounding, and the Nitro is sort of unique. I absolutely love the Nitro, I have a version with 4 el34's and it is "bigger" sounding than anything in my arsenal past and present. It's super thick, super tight, the harmonics are "sharp" and cutting. It has enough low end that you could fire your bass player. I play a lot of rhythm (drop c) and also leads, individual strings can be picked out with high gain chord, you really have to play it with confidence. I also love it because nothing sounds like it, and at shows other guitar players go "what amp are you using?" I play through a marshall 1960 Vintage cab, I didn't know v30's could have so much low.

The Quickrod, which I think is what you said you have, to me is like a hot-rodded Marshall, or like hitting a jcm800 with a good pedal in front. Cutting, glassy, crisp, lots of mids, a lot bigger than most Marshalls though, especially in the lows.

The 5153 is awesome, it's a lot more like a Soldano tone. It's tight, and the harmonics are more hairy or fuzzy with a bit of sponginess to the feel. Pairs really well with 25 watt greenbacks for that extra juiciness or that "honk" you describe since those will break up a tad when you push them. This is more of a rock amp, sounds killer in E or E-flat tunings for that quintessential 80's tone.

 

[Racerxrated]

5150III has more in common with a Soldano than it does a traditional Fender.

I was afraid of using the Soldano comparison, but I agree completely.

I'd be afraid too lol suprised the Slo crowd hasn't jumped on this yet

I've had 2 5153s, 1 recto and 2 SLOs. You can sit there and talk about 'preamp this' and 'circuit similarities' that, but the SLO is in a class all by itself. SLO sounds nothing like the other 2. Other than the fact that they all are high gain, similarities end there. IMO....