Splawn Quickrod vs EVH 5150iii 50 watt

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ledvedder

ledvedder

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Tell me about the differences, pros and cons of these 2 amps. I've had my 5150 for about 2 months now, and I'm just not getting along with it. I don't play anything super heavy, mostly 80s/90s style hard rock, and I can't seem to find that sweet spot for it with my 5150. First, I thought tubes, then I thought speakers. I don't know what to do now. Plus, I'm not that crazy about the clean channel and the volume drop. I'm not saying I don't want the 5150. It does what it does great! I'm just looking for some help/suggestions from those who have experienced both amps.
 
Ok, before you change amps, try the following:
Get two JJ 5751 tubes and possibly one ECC82/12AU7.
Experiment with those. Heck, a 5751 in V1 would bring the gain down for ALL the channels. You only need 1 ECC82 somewhere for the red channel (V2, V3, V4) to totally change its character; more mellow, mild, complex mids, less compressed/saturated. My impression was Thin Lizzy live tone meets late 70's Priest.

Secondly, try to play the amp on a pair of well broken-in Greenbacks (either G12M-25 or G12H-30's. Not the 70th Anniv.!) or a G12-65 (or WGS ET-65). These speakers 'bloom' better and can help reduce the rather forward top-end.

Finally, run your Presence below 5! This amp is bright as fvck.
 
donho":5ig8c9gv said:
there is a mod for the vol jump also.
Click to expand...

Yes, but I've read the mod increases the gain on the clean channel.
 
Speeddemon":1rwp0f64 said:
Ok, before you change amps, try the following:
Get two JJ 5751 tubes and possibly one ECC82/12AU7.
Experiment with those. Heck, a 5751 in V1 would bring the gain down for ALL the channels. You only need 1 ECC82 somewhere for the red channel (V2, V3, V4) to totally change its character; more mellow, mild, complex mids, less compressed/saturated. My impression was Thin Lizzy live tone meets late 70's Priest.

Secondly, try to play the amp on a pair of well broken-in Greenbacks (either G12M-25 or G12H-30's. Not the 70th Anniv.!) or a G12-65 (or WGS ET-65). These speakers 'bloom' better and can help reduce the rather forward top-end.

Finally, run your Presence below 5! This amp is bright as fvck.
Click to expand...

I have a 212 with a greenback and an et-65.

What positions do you place the 2 5751's in and the ecc82? I wonder if I should go all JJ tubes in it? I've never liked them in my Marshalls, but I've read that people seem to like them in the 5150iii.
 
Like the guys said, try to work with what you have.

Having said that, the Quickrod is killer. I love mine. Can't see wanting any other Marshall style amp. Quality build and professional tones. GREAT loop, solo boost.
 
I sold my 5153 50w for a Splawn Pro Stock. ...When listening back to live recordings, the Splawn was better for me. I loved the 5153, but the Splawn was more organic. YMMV.
 
ledvedder":215wdt0q said:
Speeddemon":215wdt0q said:
Ok, before you change amps, try the following:
Get two JJ 5751 tubes and possibly one ECC82/12AU7.
Experiment with those. Heck, a 5751 in V1 would bring the gain down for ALL the channels. You only need 1 ECC82 somewhere for the red channel (V2, V3, V4) to totally change its character; more mellow, mild, complex mids, less compressed/saturated. My impression was Thin Lizzy live tone meets late 70's Priest.

Secondly, try to play the amp on a pair of well broken-in Greenbacks (either G12M-25 or G12H-30's. Not the 70th Anniv.!) or a G12-65 (or WGS ET-65). These speakers 'bloom' better and can help reduce the rather forward top-end.

Finally, run your Presence below 5! This amp is bright as fvck.
Click to expand...

I have a 212 with a greenback and an et-65.

What positions do you place the 2 5751's in and the ecc82? I wonder if I should go all JJ tubes in it? I've never liked them in my Marshalls, but I've read that people seem to like them in the 5150iii.
Click to expand...
My 5150III came stock with JJ's.

First try 1 5751 in V1, and another in V2. If that doesn't give you the mellowing for the red channel, restart (with all original 12AX7/ECC83's) and replace V3 with an ECC82/12AU7. This should tremendously impact (=lower) the gain on the red channel.
I put a nice NOS RFT ECC83/12AX7 in V1 to add thickness to all channels.
A JJ 802S or 803S might also be an option to experiment with.
 
I've had two EVH 50 watt heads and a 100 watt head. I REALLY wanted to like the 50w because it was so easy to gig with, I just couldn't get along with that synthetic toyish gain sound. Mind you, my main amp has been a Splawn QR since 05-06 so I use that amp as the standard. I sold all the EVH stuff and still use the trusty old 3 pre QR. It's just a better made, more touch dynamic and better sounding amp imo :yes:
 
Can a QR sound good at moderate volumes? I've read they're extremely loud! I've also read they're different based on the year. The particular one I'm looking at is from 2005.
 
OK, I went on a tube buying spree at lunch. I got an RFT ecc83, a Sovtek 12ax7lps, and 2 JJ 5751's.
 
ledvedder":2rb6b3a9 said:
OK, I went on a tube buying spree at lunch. I got an RFT ecc83, a Sovtek 12ax7lps, and 2 JJ 5751's.
Click to expand...
Nice going. :thumbsup:
I believe most folks like the Sovtek LPS as a Phase Inverter. I may have one or two in there, but I forgot exactly...
 
Speeddemon":2q5fh0bb said:
ledvedder":2q5fh0bb said:
OK, I went on a tube buying spree at lunch. I got an RFT ecc83, a Sovtek 12ax7lps, and 2 JJ 5751's.
Click to expand...
Nice going. :thumbsup:
I believe most folks like the Sovtek LPS as a Phase Inverter. I may have one or two in there, but I forgot exactly...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I already have one in the phase inverter. I actually have this tube setup, http://www.dougstubes.com/guitar-amp-tu ... ax7-7.html. But, I did read a few owners had good results with the LPS in other spots.
 
ledvedder":g3yuru1z said:
Can a QR sound good at moderate volumes? I've read they're extremely loud! I've also read they're different based on the year. The particular one I'm looking at is from 2005.
Click to expand...

I think they sound great at low volumes but really shine when you get them cranked up. I have been playing a 3 pre 2005/2006 Quickrod for years and love it. Built like a tank and great tone. It is very unforgiving so it's actually made me a better player. I have nothing bad to say about Splawn. I'd love to get Steve K's QR in the classifieds. I've tried the 5150iii 100w and thought it was good but not good enough to make me change up. Can't say about the 50w, I have yet to play one.
 
The 2012's and later have the loop volume so you can play at a whisper volume and it sounds great. If you get an earlier one without the loop volume just put one of those little volume boxes in the loop. Works just as good. I had an 06 and had the Omnisonic volume box with to patch cables and just let it hang out the back.
 
BrokenFusion":3a2nc3zm said:
The 2012's and later have the loop volume so you can play at a whisper volume and it sounds great. If you get an earlier one without the loop volume just put one of those little volume boxes in the loop. Works just as good. I had an 06 and had the Omnisonic volume box with to patch cables and just let it hang out the back.
Click to expand...
I've never heard of the Omnisonic... Attenuators are pretty big, I'm a little weary using something small like that and it damaging the amp, can it really be that small and work well?

Anyway depends what "80's/90's hard rock you're going for" I have both a QR, which I've had for a couple years now, and a 5153 the last few months. If you want Marshall anything then get a Splawn... Hell if you ever think you'd ever need anything resembling a Marshall sound, get a Splawn. The 5153 was picked up the day after seeing VH and honestly was the sound my band needed, more over the top, slightly gainy-er compressed, etc. I still think the QR sounds better, but I needed something a little different that didn't require me to carry around the bass player's Mesa and run it alongside the Splawn to make him happy
 
Its not an attenuater.A volume box is nothing more than a volume pot and a resistor in a little box. No different than having a volume pedal in the loop,just smaller. It lets you turn up the master and then control the level from the box. Its great for amps where the volume comes on real quick or is real touchy, basically a master volume for your master volume.A lot of 100 watt amps have that thin raspy sound if you have the master down way low, with htis you can turn it up and get past that, then dial it back down with the loop volume and the sound stays nice and fat. Don't know why it works but it does. Splawn has integrated it into the back of the amp on the 2012 and later models, just a volume knob on the back called Loop Volume.
 
ledvedder":37r2qw8s said:
Damn, this thing sounds good. I can't get my 5150 to sound this open.

https://youtu.be/S_ilB_UT0OY
Click to expand...
Hey Man, That's me and my 2012 QR....Splawn amps are totally killer...Scott is great guy and awesome to work with...I am getting my new 2015 QR built now and should have it next week...It's Going to have some new very cool never seen before features on it :yes: I played the EVH 50 and it is a very cool amp...But if i had to choose between that and a Splawn.....Splawn would be the winner for sure....
 
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