Trading a PRS Archon 25w combo for an EVH 5150 50w 6l6 head?

[Dannyz]

Have a guy who wants to trade me a 5153 50watt head for my MKI USA Archon 25w combo (1x12 V30).

What is your guys thoughts? Is the EVH tighter, brighter and meaner sounding than the Archon? How is the Master Volume on the EVH?

I only play 00' metal at home so i need a good MV, pristine clean channel to use with phase/flanger, verb, etc and a grindy high gain channel like the Red. Think Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Sevendust, Creed, etc.

I like the head + cab format more than a semi open back combo. Right now im running the 1x12 Archon cabinet in conjunction with a Marshall 1966a 2x12 loaded with V30s.

Not a fair comparison, Archon 100w vs EVH 5150 50w 6l6. The EVH sounds a bit scooped and more generic. The Archon sounds meatier and a bit more complex. Also flubbier.

 

[Ricky Rockhardo]

Not obvious to me TBH. The EVH is definitely more versatile, but the Archon is like an idealized recto, so seems to me it would cover a lot of the bands you just mentioned.

If you were doing more metalcore, then it’s a slam dunk.

 

[nightlight]

I'd stick with the Archon. The high gain is aggressive, and the clean tone is brilliant. Can't make that out with the Phil McKnight video.

 

[The~Kid]

Do it

 

[CJ7]

Another vote to stick with the Archon.

 

[Geo]

I would do it immediately.

 

[DanTravis62]

I like both of them

Honestly they don't sound different enough to really care, especially just for home 0-0-0 metal

 

[inyarak74]

Evh

 

[PiggySmallz]

I like both of them

Honestly they don't sound different enough to really care, especially just for home 0-0-0 metal

This is the right answer. Theyre pretty similar and can be dialed in almost identical. The gen 1 archons are built really well. Not sure why people bash them so aggressively

 

[DanTravis62]

This is the right answer. Theyre pretty similar and can be dialed in almost identical. The gen 1 archons are built really well. Not sure why people bash them so aggressively

I like the gen 1 archons alot TBH

For a lower priced channel switcher they have a ton of utility. Great clean channel, great modern gain sounds (if that's what you're after) and great build quality for the price point. I could very easily rock an archon head as a gigging amp and be totally fine.

I definitely like them better than most of the evh series amps. The stealth and other 100w excepted.

As far as the lbx, and most of the 50 watt evhs? Meh I think the archons just as good if not better. They are pretty comparable.

 

[Promit]

Easy yes to the EVH for me. Archon is fine, kinda dark and dry. Combos are always kinda poor value retention. EVH is a fantastic amp showing up on stages everywhere because it does so much so well. It's not far off from the sound of the best boosted Rectos. I have one big caveat: the very first version of the 5150 50W did not have concentric volume and gain pots. You do not want this version. It is not usable as a 3 channel amp without the concentric pots.

 

[PiggySmallz]

I like the gen 1 archons alot TBH

For a lower priced channel switcher they have a ton of utility. Great clean channel, great modern gain sounds (if that's what you're after) and great build quality for the price point. I could very easily rock an archon head as a gigging amp and be totally fine.

I definitely like them better than most of the evh series amps. The stealth and other 100w excepted.

As far as the lbx, and most of the 50 watt evhs? Meh I think the archons just as good if not better. They are pretty comparable.

Agreed 100%. Didnt mean you specifically, the internet just has always bashed them. They were a bit more expensive than the current offerings from peavey at the time and even used rectos. Hard to beat the build quality and the fact that both channels are fantastic. Typical PRS though, the loops on the gen 1s were awful.

I've got a USA 6505+ and a Gen 1 Archon 100 and honestly if you blind folded me and asked me to pick them out, it would be a coin flip. The archon may be a hair darker but the clean channel is pristine. They are LOUD too.

 

[DanTravis62]

Agreed 100%. Didnt mean you specifically, the internet just has always bashed them. They were a bit more expensive than the current offerings from peavey at the time and even used rectos. Hard to beat the build quality and the fact that both channels are fantastic. Typical PRS though, the loops on the gen 1s were awful.

I've got a USA 6505+ and a Gen 1 Archon 100 and honestly if you blind folded me and asked me to pick them out, it would be a coin flip. The archon may be a hair darker but the clean channel is pristine. They are LOUD too.

I could easily tell which one was which by the clean channel. It's a lot better than any EVH amp's clean channel.

As far as the gain sounds, its very comparable. They are both really good. I've owned and played both at various points, and even used both as backline before, and honestly the only difference between the two is the EVH is a bit more trebly, and the archon is a bit darker. That's about it, and it can easily be "overcome" by messing with the EQ.

Those shitty loops were the reason I don't have one anymore. I have to have a functioning loop for live, because I play lead guitar in a band and have to have my delay in the loop or else i'll have a stroke. That loop was so noisy and awful, it was embarrassing.

 

[Techdeth]

Get the 5150

 

[Speeddemon]

As someone who owns the 50W EVH and has played the Archon, given the bands you mentioned in the OP, I'd vote Archon as well. Better cleans help too.
I'd probably just add some sort of tightening boost (TS9, SD1, OD808) if you want to reduce the flubbiness of the Archon. That's something the EVH won't need.
By the way, nice to see another forumite use the 1966A cab!

 

[DanTravis62]

As someone who owns the 50W EVH and has played the Archon, given the bands you mentioned in the OP, I'd vote Archon as well. Better cleans help too.
I'd probably just add some sort of tightening boost (TS9, SD1, OD808) if you want to reduce the flubbiness of the Archon. That's something the EVH won't need.
By the way, nice to see another forumite use the 1966A cab!

Yeah I converted my 1965B to a 2x12 for this precise reason, I love those 1966 cabs

I debated putting v30s in mine but did scumback bm75lds and couldn't be happier, got a different flavor to use when I need it

They are so light and easy to lug around, its very convenient for when the full artillery isn't needed

 

[Speeddemon]

I debated putting v30s in mine but did scumback bm75lds and couldn't be happier, got a different flavor to use when I need it

I'm running a '85 vented T75 + Mesa V30 in my 1966B; it's just magic with my Engl Savage 60. I left the original '86 non-vented T75's in my 1966A. I did add 2" thick dampening fabric with good density; this helped with adding more punchy low-end and less loosey-goosey-ness.

 

[cobrahead1030]

They’re both really good.

Personally I prefer the 5153, I have the 50w version myself. The red & blue channels cover a nice range if high gain sounds. The green mode is usable as a clean, but I wouldn’t say it’s particularly great.

It’s better when cranked at least a little, but it’s very usable & enjoyable at lower volume.

 

[Dannyz]

I have one big caveat: the very first version of the 5150 50W did not have concentric volume and gain pots. You do not want this version. It is not usable as a 3 channel amp without the concentric pots.

Damn! the one that i was offered is the non-concentric pot version. I really dont mind because ill be using only the Green channel set super clean and Red channel for djenty mayhem. Like a Rectifier.

 

[Dannyz]

As someone who owns the 50W EVH and has played the Archon, given the bands you mentioned in the OP, I'd vote Archon as well. Better cleans help too.
I'd probably just add some sort of tightening boost (TS9, SD1, OD808) if you want to reduce the flubbiness of the Archon. That's something the EVH won't need.
By the way, nice to see another forumite use the 1966A cab!

Im using a Way Huge Green Rhino MKII to boost the Archon. The amp by itself is too dark and mushy. The cleans are to die for btw.

The 1966a cab went through a lot of configurations:

* Original G12T75s (16 ohm each)
* V Types (8 ohm each)
* GB + G12H30 70th (8 ohm each)
* 2x V30 (8 ohm each)
* GB + V30 (8 ohm each)
* CB 65 + V30 (8 ohm each)
* 2x GB (16 ohm each)

Currently im running 2x V30 (16 ohm each), chinese ones. The cab for some reason favours 16 ohm speakers. They cut better and sound more open and brighter. 8 ohm ones were congested sounding.