Splawn Nitro VS EVH 5150 III 100 Watt

[311boogieman]

I hear 'dry and unforgiving' and think of 'articulate and tight low end'

 

[Baritonesludge]

The new Classic Tone transformers are fantastic. Compared to my 2010 QR with Heyboers I love the new feel and tone of the updated version. I've only played the new Pro Stock with the new transformers. I feel that the newer Splawn amps have a slight tilt towards that classic Marshall sound than the previous offerings. They have much more of a perceived gain as well. Not sure how much more gain is on tap but the saturation/perceived gain is enhanced for that smoother dynamic response. Plus, the amps are not as sensitive to different speakers and guitars. Everything you throw at it sounds great!

Sweet! cheers for this dude. Well the amp is due this week so cannot wait!

 

[Baritonesludge]

Since you have the Nitro coming, go to your local GC and pick up a 5150III 100w. Take it home and compare it side by side with the Nitro using your gear. Return within 30 days with no penalties if its inferior to your ears.

That would be awesome! but here in London UK, if you buy the amp you cannot return it unless its faulty d'oh! and they spect you to try it out in the store....yeah cool can I bring our drummer n bassist down too and try at giggin volumes? and my Splawn to a/b em? NOT!

 

[Baritonesludge]

I'll play. I had a 2008 Nitro and sold it after my 2012 Nitro arrived. I also own the 5153 50 watt and the 5153 Stealth. I also had the 5153 100 watt but sold it last week as the Stealth was superior for me over the 100 watt standard.

These amps are polar opposite in feel in my opinion. The Splawn is a well documented as dry, unforgiving, massive and loud. The 2012 has a bit more grease than the 2008 did. The 5153 is a gain monster and about as forgiving as an amp can get. I use the 5153 mostly these days bc Im doing 80's hair metal. The Nitro also does it well but the Stealth is perfect for my current gig. The 5153 lacks the bottom end you will get from a Nitro. I loved the idea of Dual Recs but was always fighting the flabby bottom end. The Nitro is more mid voiced than a Dual Rec but in my lowly opinion covers some of the same sonic territory.

I love both amps, If my modern rock cover band does a show doing Foo Fighters, Disturbed,Godsmack etc than its the Nitro hands down. For the 80's its the 5153 for me all day long.

Cheers dude, this makes me think I've have bought the right rig. I want every not to be crystal clear n heard, unforgiving may be just what I need!

 

[Baritonesludge]

I hear 'dry and unforgiving' and think of 'articulate and tight low end'

THIS is what I'm hopin for bro, and I read the same into the statement as you do!

 

[Baritonesludge]

I agree with stompbox.....They are very different amps. Ive owned 3 Nitros and several EVH amps. I like both amps for different reasons.

Compared to the EVH amps the Nitro is Dry, clear and less saturated. Bigger low end, more low mids. Overall a stiff amp compared to the EVH

EVH has less lowend, more saturation , more high mids.... Smoother, looser more compressed. This part is opinion but I think the Evh is a more forgiving, more rewarding and has a better feel overall. I would choose the EVH in most situations. With that being said the Nitro is crushing with the right setup, it can be a killer knock you on your ass metal monster.

Appreciate the comparison, am defo wantin the smoother response...maybe it could be a change from the EL34's to KT88's that would get that with the Nitro!

 

[Lord Toneking]

I hear 'dry and unforgiving' and think of 'articulate and tight low end'

THIS is what I'm hopin for bro, and I read the same into the statement as you do!

This IS what they are They are GAIN monsters without all the saturation. Dry, tight and very articulate. Low end thump and palm mutes that will pound your legs.

I have both and much prefer my Splawn. Not only does it sound clearer and less fizzy...or saturated, it has a lot better dynamics when rolling back your volume knob. I hate that about the 5153's. To me they just don't clean up like a Splawn. Mind you, I have a very old 3 pre Quickrod that is probably alot more 'angrier' than the newewr models. The newer ones I played were a lot more forgiving and I guess 'softer' feeling. I like mine, its punchy, gainy and has lots of sizzle

 

[chobley]

I gigged with a Blackstar 200 for a while, then went back to my Super Comp..
After a 3 set show with the SC and the next day my hands were sore !! The splawn really made me work . I liked the splawn much more, but they are unforgiving as said.
Keeps me on my game !
After a while I bought a 5150III 50 watt..Real nice amp, but the SC had more punch and harmonic content in the disrotion.I kept the splawn.

 

[psche378]

Splawn Nitro all the way you gotta be on your game with that amp but totally worth it if you have the chops plus Scott is a really cool dude to work with

 

[Baritonesludge]

Well I got my Nitro this week, and I have to say its just absofreakinlutely motherfreakin killer. It has so much balls and chunk to the sound with the EL34's I'm not even sure 'll need the 88's! specially coz as mentioned my stuff is played on baritone tuned to B or drop A, so the Nitro needs no extra help to go big and heavy. Its just such a superior made amp, the build quality and component quality are insane compared to a mass produced factory big brand / big name amp. The tone can only be described like honey drippin outta the speakers (I'm using my Mesa Stilletto / Traditional 4 x 12 sounds the best ever with this head, even though it has always sounded amazing, its never sounded quite this good). In all fairness I only got to try the EVH at a store, and have had time with the Splawn at giggin volumes, I suspect the EVH may be a touch tighter on the red channel vs OD2 for rhythm without any boost pedal. Just a touch tho, which the Splawn can do equally as well if not better with a Maxon boost in front on OD1, but I doubt it would have anywhere close to the amount of harmonic complexity or pristine reproduction of whatever you put into it from a pedal to a different pre-amp tube, to using a different pick. I am loving the OD2 with the gain at noon spot for metal rhythm and it sounds massive, really tight clear, articulate, responsive, thick. Plus the Splawn just has so much overall balls, girth, chunk the sound is just massive, I think the EVH is a much more sharper cutting tone (may change when you crank it but I suspect it will get brighter and thinner when you really crank, whilst the Splawn is much bigger and meatier especially when you crank it. YMMV with different guitar, tuning, pickups and even picks and tubes! What do you all like to run pre amp wise, right now I have the stock Sino 12AX7B in V1, TAD 7025 High Grade in V2, Ruby HG+ (rebranded JJ) in V3 and Sino 12AX7B in V4. But was thinking a long plate would be better for the Phase Inverter V4 either a Mullard 12AX7 re-issue or a Sovtek 12 AX7LPS. For V3 was thinkin a Gold Lion Short plate Chinese 12AX7 Standard pins (not the more expensive Longplate gold pin version which would be noisy in a High gain spot but great for PI or V2), or a Golden Dragon ECC83T which are both very similar some say the same tube really.

 

[Erock]

Congrats man, glad you're digging it. Nothing quite like the mule kick in the chest this amp will deliver.

Pics!

 

[Baritonesludge]

Cheers dude! I'll get some pics up next week, I bought my Nitro from Uberschall EL34 in Texas, its the white plexi style headshell, I think you've seen pics of her already tho!...anyways gonna go a bit off topic now, wanted to PM ya, but don't think I can coz I'm a newbie on the forum or something! so I wanna go ahead and mod for the KT88's! And really appreciate your info re the bias resisitor....

Some say additional changes need to be made to the Tube Sockets and this is where the information gets conflicting:

Some people say you have to install a wire from pin 1 to earth on the socket and some people say you have to install a ceramic resistor on pin 1 of the power tube socket. I understand that KT88's have a different pin-out to EL34's and that Pin 1 doesn't actually get used for anything other than earthing hence the question. So when you did the mod: did you just piggyback the resistor and drop in the tubes + bias no worries, or did you also change something with regards to Pin 1 on the tube socket?

Also I read somewhere on the forum that some folk ordered a really "cold" set of KT88's that were rated at about 42ma per tube and were able to get the bias set correctly without swapping out or piggybacking a resistor? anyone else have this experience? The Sino EL34B's which are currently in there are rated at 36 on each tube, so if ordered a set as close to that value as pos, maybe it could work? (would this have a negative effect on the tone though?) and finally where do you recommend the bias to be set for the Nitro with 88's so many folk say everything from 42ma per tube all the way up to 60 ma per tube! thanks again for all your wonderful advice!