Soooo... Will the EVH 5150-III Stealth Blow My Skirt Up?

[ElMuchoDingo]

i had a 101b and now have the stealth. I personally feel that the 101b and the stealth are pretty different. the 101 b i had had winged c el 34 in it at the time and i found it to be really heavy in the mid to lower end. the stealth mid range is voiced higher than the 101b. it is hard to compare though since the 101 has so many adjustments. i will say the evh is a different beast imho compared to a 101 and if you have a 20th i'd let the 101 go personally. call me crazy but the evh may go up in value, my reasoning is as follows.... in talking to howard kaplan evh head amp guy, the changes are handwired in the usa, since their production is all over the world i dont think that they have an unlimited number of guys to wire up these heads. he also told me that retooling the line for any changes ( i suggested they move the power switches to the front ) would be alot of work and probably wouldnt happen. who knows they may make these circuits the new production model but these are handwired changes by the evh company. its a great amp for me personally, probably the best ive had, is it going to be all that and a bag of chips for someone else? who knows then again my singer says to me there is no music that has been made after 1991

 

[RG955TT]

Thanks, appreciate the opinions

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Anyone pop open the chassis yet to have a look at the hand wired changes? Would be cool if someone posted them.

 

[mojotone]

As far as boosting channel 2 goes, let me chime in. Does channel 2 need a boost for more gain? HELL NO! With that being said, I like to keep the gain lower for more note definition while playing rhythm. Then use a a mild boost, in my case the Exotic EP booster, for lead work. The EP when set around the 9-10 o'clock position, will give a slight volume increase, as well as rounding off the high end just a bit to smooth out the single notes. It works the same for a MESA Mark series amp as well.

 

[stompboxfreak72]

As far as boosting channel 2 goes, let me chime in. Does channel 2 need a boost for more gain? HELL NO! With that being said, I like to keep the gain lower for more note definition while playing rhythm. Then use a a mild boost, in my case the Exotic EP booster, for lead work. The EP when set around the 9-10 o'clock position, will give a slight volume increase, as well as rounding off the high end just a bit to smooth out the single notes. It works the same for a MESA Mark series amp as well.

Excellent ! I like to lower the gain and boost as a matter of versatility but my experience with the 100 watt blue channel is that I have to boost just to get the channel cooking enough to use. If the Stealth does not require boosting like that then I will have spent my money well.

 

[nevusofota]

boosting is not always about getting more gain
it's about feel, clean boost vs overdrive/distortion is an exact science

+1
it's also about adding sustain

 

[311splawndude]

 

[Moshaholic]

Just got the Stealth last night and jammed all the guitars and cabs through it...

"My Skirt is still touching the floor"

Sending it back to MF later today.

Great amp but I honestly like amps I have been using more and was I really disappointed on how early the clean channel breaks up.

 

[DAMIAN The MAN]

You're joking, right??

 

[Moshaholic]

You're joking, right??

Nope... I threw it up in the spam section in the event someone wants before I ship it back.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

You've been showing quite a bit of new (and older) gear the door lately Giles.

I have to give props for going against the tide of Stealth love, after trying it personally. Many just won't understand.

 

[Moshaholic]

You've been showing quite a bit of new (and older) gear the door lately Giles.

I have to give props for going against the tide of Stealth love, after trying it personally. Many just won't understand.

It is not a bad amp at all or anything like that, but there are some things I really don't like about it... Like the clean channel breaks up way too early for my personal tastes and different guitars yield marginal results on this channel for clean tones.

It is kind of a brighter sounding amp that the previous version to my ears too. The amp does not seem like my VHT cabs or my front loaded uber cab very much at all, sounds kinda of harsh on those. Sounds the best on the one rear loaded uber kab I have. Its all a matter of personal taste I guess. This a huge sounding amp cranked up and I bet the matching cab makes a world of difference, I just don't have one. Also a lot of people around here have cabs with scumback or some other boutique speakers in them that probably sound killer make a big difference to.

My EVH 50 watt just seems to have a nicer clean channel and seems much smoother (or possibly less brighter) of an amp compared to this amp and I have other amps that I really like more than this amp as well.

I really don't want to start going on a cab hunt right now and all things said, I am/was really enjoying the amps I already have... I should have never gone down the "lets buy another amp" road as I have really been perfectly happy with the crap I already have for quite some time now...

The "fiending" started with the SLO and then now this amp... FWIW The SLO with depth mod was a really great amp, the loop left me a little underwhelmed though...

The bottom line is "If you like your TONE, you can keep it"....

On another note...

The brand new Suhr Modern guitar I just got and wanted to dump is really amazing...
I am honestly leaning towards keeping it now. Holy crap does that thing play like a dream...!

 

[mr. moon]

Thanks for the detailed review! I think you saved me time and energy, not to mention money, as it sounds like this amp is not what I'm looking for (I'm not a lover of bright sounding amps, especially at volume).

You've been showing quite a bit of new (and older) gear the door lately Giles.

I have to give props for going against the tide of Stealth love, after trying it personally. Many just won't understand.

It is not a bad amp at all or anything like that, but there are some things I really don't like about it... Like the clean channel breaks up way too early for my personal tastes and different guitars yield marginal results on this channel for clean tones.

It is kind of a brighter sounding amp that the previous version to my ears too. The amp does not seem like my VHT cabs or my front loaded uber cab very much at all, sounds kinda of harsh on those. Sounds the best on the one rear loaded uber kab I have. Its all a matter of personal taste I guess. This a huge sounding amp cranked up and I bet the matching cab makes a world of difference, I just don't have one. Also a lot of people around here have cabs with scumback or some other boutique speakers in them that probably sound killer make a big difference to.

My EVH 50 watt just seems to have a nicer clean channel and seems much smoother (or possibly less brighter) of an amp compared to this amp and I have other amps that I really like more than this amp as well.

I really don't want to start going on a cab hunt right now and all things said, I am/was really enjoying the amps I already have... I should have never gone down the "lets buy another amp" road as I have really been perfectly happy with the crap I already have for quite some time now...

The "fiending" started with the SLO and then now this amp... FWIW The SLO with depth mod was a really great amp, the loop left me a little underwhelmed though...

The bottom line is "If you like your TONE, you can keep it"....

On another note...

The brand new Suhr Modern guitar I just got and wanted to dump is really amazing...
I am honestly leaning towards keeping it now. Holy crap does that thing play like a dream...!

 

[DAMIAN The MAN]

My EVH 50 watt just seems to have a nicer clean channel and seems much smoother (or possibly less brighter) of an amp compared to this amp and I have other amps that I really like more than this amp as well.

Hmm....

That's interesting. I was frustrated that I saved money for the little 50W and now appears a big monster like Stealth... after reading your impressions I just start to feel better

 

[7 Stringer]

Does the clean get clean? Or not at all, compared to the older 5153?

I didn`t think they tinkered with the clean channel too

On my old 5153 i know i had the gain on the clean at around nine to get a clean clean channel, worked great with chorus and delay, i hope this one is the same at least, i need my clean headroom.

I shall see this coming tuesday

Chris

 

[Moshaholic]

My EVH 50 watt just seems to have a nicer clean channel and seems much smoother (or possibly less brighter) of an amp compared to this amp and I have other amps that I really like more than this amp as well.

Hmm....

That's interesting. I was frustrated that I saved money for the little 50W and now appears a big monster like Stealth... after reading your impressions I just start to feel better

To be honest as a software systems architect different stakeholders will see the exact same solution and yet the encounter will yield different results.

In the same sense peoples perceptions on guitars amps can be very differing as well. I spent some time with the amp trying out different cabs and guitars and that was with I came away with. Some people might like the early breakup on the clean channel. It was mentioned in the other stealth thread but I did not think it was going be so severe. You need to like have the gain on 1 and crank up the post volume a bit to get it really loud.

People did also mention in the other thread about it being bright or plexish in some ways. I found some definite truth to this.

I think depending on what cabs you have might not notice the brightness thing or you might love it.

Based upon my findings, I would not recommend a front loaded cab for this amp and I have 3 of them... lol.

Again these are just my opinions from trying it out...YMMV

 

[Moshaholic]

Does the clean get clean? Or not at all, compared to the older 5153?

I didn`t think they tinkered with the clean channel too

On my old 5153 i know i had the gain on the clean at around nine to get a clean clean channel, worked great with chorus and delay, i hope this one is the same at least, i need my clean headroom.

I shall see this coming tuesday

Chris

With a humbucker guitar the clean breaks up pretty darn early on the preamp level IMO.

While I was able to dial in clean tones with the gain on like '1', to me it really does not feel like a clean channel at all, at least not like my JVM, Triple Rec or the even 50 watt EVH.

If you use a split coil humbucker or a single coil you can achieve clean tones on this channel if you keep the preamp level low compared to the original version or my EVH 50 watt.

I plugged into the my 50watt and the difference was huge on the clean level breakup with a humbucker guitar...

You can get some screaming plexi tones on this channel because of modification I'm thinking but the clean tones took a hit because of this IMO.

I not so sure you will get the same effect as you got on the original 5150III clean to be honest.

I don't know what kind of guitars you will be using but I'm really interested on how your thoughts compare to mine on this subject when you get your amp next week.

I got my RMA to ship it back after work today.

 

[Bishop5150]

I have noticed the clean breaks up really early too. I have an early model 100 watt and a newer model 100 and the 50 watt and the new stealth. The stealth clean channel definitely breaks up early. I have it on 1 whereas on my other 2 100 watters and 50 watt I keep it about 9-10 oclock. It's still clean but I'm having to back the gain way down compared to the other amps.

 

[7 Stringer]

Does the clean get clean? Or not at all, compared to the older 5153?

I didn`t think they tinkered with the clean channel too

On my old 5153 i know i had the gain on the clean at around nine to get a clean clean channel, worked great with chorus and delay, i hope this one is the same at least, i need my clean headroom.

I shall see this coming tuesday

Chris

With a humbucker guitar the clean breaks up pretty darn early on the preamp level IMO.

While I was able to dial in clean tones with the gain on like '1', to me it really does not feel like a clean channel at all, at least not like my JVM, Triple Rec or the even 50 watt EVH.

If you use a split coil humbucker or a single coil you can achieve clean tones on this channel if you keep the preamp level low compared to the original version or my EVH 50 watt.

I plugged into the my 50watt and the difference was huge on the clean level breakup with a humbucker guitar...

You can get some screaming plexi tones on this channel because of modification I'm thinking but the clean tones took a hit because of this IMO.

I not so sure you will get the same effect as you got on the original 5150III clean to be honest.

I don't know what kind of guitars you will be using but I'm really interested on how your thoughts compare to mine on this subject when you get your amp next week.

I got my RMA to ship it back after work today.

I don`t mind having to have the preamp control real low, as long as i get a great clean. My Peters is this way, but it`s a damn great clean and at least i have room to get great breakup tones too. If the Stealth is like that, i`m all good.

I`m usually using my RG565`s witch have a single coil in the neck, so it should do the trick.

In sold my 5153 to my fellow guitarist and we jam in my basement so i will have both amps side by side, i got a Radial switchbone pedal that i use to really A/B amps so i will get a very detailed result.

I might do a little vid for it and post it up here.

I know i read that the 50 was designed like that to compensate for the lack of gain and volume controls, so id imagine this is why the preamp[ goes that high before breaking up.

Thanks for the info

Chris

 

[7 Stringer]

I have noticed the clean breaks up really early too. I have an early model 100 watt and a newer model 100 and the 50 watt and the new stealth. The stealth clean channel definitely breaks up early. I have it on 1 whereas on my other 2 100 watters and 50 watt I keep it about 9-10 oclock. It's still clean but I'm having to back the gain way down compared to the other amps.

Yep, exactly where i have my gain knob dialed at too.

Does it still have the same clean sound but just that the gain knob needs to be lower?

As long as it`s a clean clean, i`m OK with that.

Maybe a pre tube swap might be in effect

Chris