Does This Amp Have TOO MUCH Gain? | EVH 5150 III EL34

[@LeonTodd]

What's your favourite version of the 5150?

[@zoll96]

EL34 :)

[@willchug]

It’s the 100w version of this. I believe it to be superior to the 6L6 stealth. 👍

[@blasher4]

I don't own one but I think the Stealths sound so brutal.

[@willchug]

@@blasher4For sure it’s a mega amp, the blue channel is nuts, the red is insane.

[@joshbarnes6759]

50w Stealth. Red channel is my home.

[@HauntedGuitarMan]

Ive had this version for about 6 years now. Its perfect. My all time favorite amp. Great cleans, and all the gain you could want.

[@michaelmarchei8539]

Unless it has more gain then a line 6 spider set to INSANE it’s never too much 🥴

[@LeonTodd]

🤣

[@madguruJ]

I think the problem is the Spider there bud 😂

[@picklerick589]

The OGs know

[@jjones8817]

Absolutely! I own the 100w and 15w heads. The red channel on either head is too much for my style. I use a Maxon 808 in front of the blue channel for flavor. Great video as always!! Stay safe down under! 🤘🤓

[@shreder75]

I do the same! Od 808 kills. I've also been using a fortin blade for something different. I do use red, but i gravitate toward boosted blue

[@cliffords2315]

Yep

[@John_2Much_Coffee]

Great video as always. Killer playing. You make any Amp sound great. Just went down the "Ragdoll Rabbit hole" and landed on your song "SHINE" Incredible song, the riffs, the vocals, writing, top notch!! How is this not one of the worlds biggest Rock songs. If ever another Terminator movie, this needs to be theme song. Cheers from Canada!

[@martincockburn6821]

Killer drums on that track too 🤘

[@John_2Much_Coffee]

Very true, every one sounds amazing!@@martincockburn6821

[@LeonTodd]

That's probably the song that showcases what we do best IMO. I massively appreciate that mate!

[@mooferoo]

Eddie himself used to have the gain on these amps set incredibly high (like getting up to 3/4 full on the dial). His actual settings are printed in the paper manual that comes with the amps, and there are photos of his live rig corroborating the settings.

[@LeonTodd]

That's wild

[@loganpirie4387]

What’s crazy to me is that EVH used a lot less gain in the days when everyone was chasing his classic tone. He always sounded great though, regardless. Great video Leon!

[@TVoltG]

​@@LeonTodd the trick of Eddie's was a lot of gain, then dropping the volume on the guitar to back the gain for rhythm and crank for leads. I use a volume pedal to pull it back myself. Works great.

[@Dan_Ranger]

I gig the EVH amps every week. Green and Red channel only with red gain at 10 o clock. It covers everything with the guitar volume rolled back. Presence control is a powerful tool and room dependent as is the resonance control. Amp really opens up at volume with a v30 Creamback mix. Best amps I’ve owned in 40 years of playing. Cured my internal modeller debate 😂

[@hobertmarshall5801]

I use it with a boss ms 3 with an acoustic sim for channel one,then a cleaner fender type tone ,then ch 2 for rythym amd 3 for solos.I do use it with midi from the boss ms 3

[@Dan_Ranger]

@@hobertmarshall5801 Boss ms3 user here as well. Great little unit that covers everything 👍🏻👌

[@kingfisher7960]

I heard when i was a kid in the 80s that same question was asked by myself. A guitar player with more experience told me that since lots of guitars used single coils, amp makers let the gain fly so to speak so that a single coil can reach the same levels of saturation as a humbucker. This was a big deal years ago when pickups were not as available and guitar models with diffent ones.

[@loydthabartender5794]

I don't own one of these (yet) but when I am demoing guitars I always plug into one. I love how easy they are to dial in and how good they sound at low volumes.

[@stevenlawrence2232]

Everything we love about Ed's tone. Pure Raunch!

[@80s_kid]

0:10 I've never seen the Lay It Down riff with such left-hand fingering. It sounds good after all. :) The amp is a beast.🤘

[@papabarooski2566]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTYoJZof5Kipbs You don't have to do the "Stretch from hell" in his version... lol

[@gwhiz3708]

I have a 5150 iii lbx-s and it sounds great. The tone it gets from playing lead just blows me away.

[@tonyvermeer7409]

This version sounds amazing! Ten years ago, I played live with an early 6L6 Vietnam version of this head. My tubes were changed to Sovtek and it was a HUGE sounding amp. I also removed it from the shell and rack mounted it. Guys that saw and heard my rig thought it was some custom shop version I ordered. One day it smoked and died :( I got it fixed, and to keep cost down I went back to stock JJ tubes. It was never the same feel so I sold it. I never used the RED channel. I preferred the BLUE and would hit an OD pedal if I wanted a little more.

[@JRP3music]

I have one, love it. I put a 5751 tube in V4. I use TC Electronic Sentry in the loop. I use a Two Notes Torpedo Captor 8 to drive my stereo fx of my board. The stereo outs go to stereo Two Notes Torpedo Cab M plus IR DI and my MosValve stereo power amp driving 1x12 cabs.

[@cunjoz]

on the topic of concentric gain and volume pots, in terms of functionality, intuitiveness and ease of use, i think mesa hit the nail on the head with 3ch rectos and mark Vs (and all that succeeded it). none of the channel controls are shared, and yet the layout is so readable despite being so compact.

[@shawkes6775]

I’ve had this amp for about 2 years and this is probably the best tutorial I’ve seen on it. I learned some things today, for sure. Thanks man.

[@LeonTodd]

Great to hear!

[@itsjohnnymillion]

The gain all the way down tone made me LOL 😂 That amp is NASTY! 🤘

[@BobGuido]

Personally, I prefer the red channel for lead/solo guitar lines because of the way the EQ sits in a mix perfectly without needing any extra outboard EQ to dial it in to sit in the mix. I use the red channel with the drive control turned up just barely past zero but probably less than 1, to where the amp just opens up dynamically. Master volume around 3-4. I also use low output pickups which helps to get more out of the red channel. I much prefer this amp over the Soldano SLO, or the Marshall JCM800. The Marshall JCM2000 is my other favorite high gain amp, but I use it's green channel only, which on low drive settings is very much like a Fender Twin Reverb with a slightly more mid scooped tone.

[@guitardave]

Yes. I had the el34 1x12 combo, and gain on anything above about 10 o’clock was pretty pointless. Now I have a Soldano SLO-30 which is much more useable all round (albeit 3 x more expensive….)

[@MarbsMusic]

I searched for so many years.. like 39 then bought this and I love it! Blue on this one will give a good ACDC Marshall tone but the red is just a monster! You can use red though with lower output pickup and go to maybe 12:05 but not much more… lol sustain for days though!

[@cliffords2315]

With that much Gain, you got to watch your picking hand style or you create a bunch of White Noise inbetween notes LOL

[@Darth.Shredder]

I very much prefer the blue channel with a boost than the red channel for heavy tones. The SD-1 (I use the Waza version) or a Maxon OD808 make it brutal even with lower output pickups. Red is good for leads but IMO most of the gain is unusable for rhythm playing.

[@TheMirrorify]

Great vid. Sounds quite similar to my 6L6 variant everywhere except the blue channel. Personally I think the 6L6 or 6L6s have nicer blue channels especially when boosted. Also - you have great muting man. I know exactly how unruly these red channels get and you kept it clean even with ungodly amounts of gain.

[@cmd_f5]

GREAT stuff! More gain than most people ever need, even with low output pups. :D

[@garyroberts1552]

I have in my arsenal (mostly a Marshall guy I am) a Fender produced EVH 5150 III 6L6 100w.. on the footswitch #3 for the hi gain solo channel my son put a sticker.. "Do you really NEED THAT MUCH GAIN??".. well, sick-ass freak I am, I say "Why YES.. YES I DO!"... A certain bunch of Nordic metalheads sell a package of 3 "One Knob" models as plug ins, all based on the different versions of this monster amp, and frankly they get me sweaty and tingly in all the right places, inspiring all manner of late night Cubase misbehavior.. anyway Leon, the intention is exactly to use Ch. Blue as your rhythm/chord tone, and Ch. Red as your "Take Cover!" solo tone.. live it's just perfect, really no different than tapping on the Tube Screamer into my JMP 2204..just MORE. MUCH MORE.

[@jeremyshirah8293]

I set my gain on 4. Then hit the front with a tube screamer. The tube screamer drive is barely up but the level is pretty cranked. With this setting its plenty heavy and no hiss or annoying sounds, no noise gate needed. Some people try to hate on the clean tones of these amps but i found that they sound great. I have a vypr amp on the 6505 setting but i use the green channel on that one for heavy tones, also with tube screamer. Its kinda better. I haven't tried it on my big amp yet.

[@GourdToDeath]

Excellent! Just got one of these and have the iconic el34 coming too! Got two tc electronic g systems and two nova drives. Should be midi tone heaven and endless fun 🎃🔥

[@artsal]

I saw an interview with Warren di martini and he was playing this exact amp. Also Jake lee playing the 6l6 version,I’m sure there is a razón why, fantastic amp Eddie was a genius.and your guitar playing is superb. Have an awesome weekend

[@LeonTodd]

Great players!

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Good morning my friend. Or whatever time it is there. 😂 Man, that amp is a Gain monster❤.. I love it... I think I would probably live in the middle channel and kick in the red channel just for leads . It almost sounded like a fuzz when you had the gain on the red channel past 11. I HATE the EQ for the clean and mid gain channel. That drives me crazy. 😂. Rarely do I play clean, but when I want to do so, I like to eq each channel differently though. 😂 Very cool demo as always sir. You're playing was great as usual. Makes me want to play. I'm going to have to break out the Charvel after a while.. Thanks brother. ❤...

[@tel5690]

This is why I have this head. 🔥🔥 It has balls and gain for days Mr Todd thanks for the demo..

[@MKRISING75]

Awesome demo I’m so glad I got to hear the Legend play an EVH EL34 sounds amazing! The green channel has beautiful cleans at least the demo on the 100 watt did. Rock on 🤟🏻

[@scottpeters4401]

I have the Stealth version of this amp,and it’s been my favorite amp for awhile now…it’s funny,I NEVER use the red channel..it’s just too compressed..I use the blue channel,with a TS for everything,then the green channel for cleans..the green on the Stealth is cleaner than the 34…

[@michaelgallegos8811]

Awesome video bro ,I hope to get the 100watt Stealth someday,the EL34 sounds great as well great playing as always.🎵🎶🎸👏

[@cliffords2315]

Ive had almost every kind of Rock Amp, the EL34s Overtones are the best

[@brandonbryson3317]

I’ve owned most of the evh line and thought I loved them…and then I picked up a 6505+ after many years of not owning one…and I thought the Peavey just sounded so much more alive and raw. Both the stealth 100 watt amps are just a little to compressed and hollow in the mids. It really shows its weakness in a full band setting with two guitars. Got rid of all my evh amps and much happier with the Peavey and pocketed a bunch of cash.

[@skoorb1]

I use this as my main gig amp, and I love it. The only glitch that I'm still ironing out is that I use it as you suggested, Blue mode for main sound, Red channel, boosted solo. I won't get into the weeds of everything that goes before the amp, but I have found that the Red channel can sound and feel a tad thin compared to the Blue when switching over. Other than that, It's a great little amp!

[@Lesspaw41]

I have the Stealth and run an MXR 10 band EQ in the loop. And then an MXR Modified Custom Badass OD through the front with the level full and gain at 0. Shapes the tone in so many different possible ways. Blue on noon to 3 o'clock. Red channel between 9 and 10 depending on which guitar and there pickups. 🤘

[@heavybrett-al4082]

Whoooooo ! Ok so is this the gain-est-y amp in production? I might be in love 💕 so this monster can cover all metal genre's ...also loved that dark tone you got from the presence control.

[@Whizzinby777]

I used to think these were too gained up, particularly the red channel, until I saw the photo where Eddie had his dialed in (Gain knob cranked!) then I realized it’s just too much gain for a normal human. 😂 Blue channel is ace though.

[@alguitarchristie]

It's a great sounding amp and I think with a Strat the extra gain would come in handy. But, honestly it's awesome!

[@cliffords2315]

Yea if you had 50s style Strat Pickups you could use it.

[@alguitarchristie]

@@cliffords2315 I do

[@peterschaefer1665]

My favorite version is the 5150 II which has the Bassman style clean channel and the other two channels have just the right amount of gain.

[@willchug]

Yep it’s a killer amp, I have one also.

[@Thrashsquatch]

Haha, boosting an EVH is ridiculous... I love my 6L6 50 watter! I slam the Blue channel, PLENTY of gain. Saber Tooth Gary! Another great vid, mate... cheers!!

[@peterharvin2775]

They say too much of anything is bad for you. But there's also such a thing as glorious excess, and that amp amply provides.

[@LeonTodd]

😁

[@rosskrause3926]

It's always better to have more than needed.

[@JRP3music]

I love the clean channel. I mostly use the blue channel with my Maxon OD808 or my Cusack ScreamerFuzz. I use the Red channel for some songs. The 5751 V4 tube makes the Red channel more usable. On clean my Cusack Screamer Fuzz and Maxon OD 808 sound killer together. I tried the 6L6 version. I felt the EL34 version had more mid bark to it.

[@thomasfokas]

I owned this amp and tried everything to get channel 3 to get controllable gain, like gaining the ch3 gain tube to a 12AU7 (1/5th the gain factor)and it was still way too much gain. I’m now loving my Ceriatone King Kong, thanks to your YT channel. Also, I hated green channel. The blue channel sounded great with a tube screamer in front of it, but was really flabby without one. This amp is great at hiding mistakes because it’s so saturated and compressed. Great for solos but really shitty for rhythms if you like more of a plexi or JCM800 tone with lots of dynamics.

[@blasher4]

I always enjoy the content during a nice warm cup of coffee. Keep it up!! PS: 'Too much gain' ?! Blasphemy! lol

[@eduardwilliams1245]

Savage. Geez Louise you're loving that DGT lately. For good reason too. I think Paul and Dave finally achieved PRS"s original quest. To build a Swiss army knife guitar that's great for almost every style but still has some mojo.

[@shreder75]

EvH makes great gear. I've had the 6L6 version of this amp with the matching 2x12 for years and have always enjoyed it. I have taken to boosting it (and everything else lol) for a couple years, though. Because why not?

[@LeonTodd]

Exactly!

[@Timconnorsis]

as an owner of this amp I can surely say the presence knob is one of the worst I've ever experienced. it is so shrill and unusable past 1.5 (9:30) to me, ironically the amp it self is my favorite one of the Fender EVH line. boost the blue channel and you're golden.

[@Stretchwreckedem469]

You can also have a mod done on the blue channel called the C-137 mod that gives the amp more bite. It’s apparently so easy that with the right knowledge you can do it yourself. Really cool sounding mod and it makes it sound a lot more like a Marshall in a way.

[@jamesnorton7601]

I heard the amp was a bit fizzy, almost bought one. Demo from EVH(blonde hair dude) was incredible. Clean channel is useable too. Good amp for sure.

[@geezberry8889]

had one of these. ideally what i wanted was somewhere between the blue and red channel. Red channel overkill and blue not quite there. sold it

[@fasteddievh2072]

💯🎯 I couldn’t have said it better. I’ve owned this amp for 2years. Just can’t bond with it. Everything is so “sterile”. Can’t get a classic rock crunch tone to save my life.

[@bradhill935]

great demo as always, would've been great to hear the green channel clean...so we get the typical clean (green)/rythm(blue)/lead(red) setup rather than trying to crunch it up. I tend to dislike shared eq's but I have played this amp & if I remember correctly, the green & blue did play nicely together when used as clean & heavy rythm

[@R3dbudd]

I had the 6L6 50w. Cool trick add a 12at7 in v4 to tame the red channel. Then you can open it up a little more and sounds fuller. Blue channel boosted is valhalla! Clipping C137 makes it sound like 6L6 version.

[@rosskrause3926]

I was just playing my 15 watt Stealth head and it sounds awesome!

[@Brennosguitarsandgear]

I’ve owned a couple of these 50w heads , I’ve even put a 12AT7 in the first gain stage , and it still had more than enough gain 😅

[@AndyK.23]

Cool demo, serious gain! I had one of these, the blue channel (stock) was muffled and lame. I am guessing your buddy snipped whatever capacitor to make it like the blue channel on the 6L6 III.

[@NobotyBoi]

I got the white evh 50 watt head and play extreme metal and keep most the knobs between 4 and 6. The taper on gain is all ar the beginning of the sweep

[@skullfacemorte]

I love this amp and prefer the El34 version over the 6l6.

[@sonofman4590]

You can definitely hear this amp on the John Sykes song that came out “Dawning of a brand new day”

[@Milton_Andrew]

I have the 50w 6L6 version, and a tube screamer gain nil level max on the blue channel is where it’s at for rhythm. Red channel for liquid leads.

[@socalwill9876]

The amp that sounds good with any cab made even better, legendary stuff 🤘 What's that Yngwie-flavored lick at 6:05? Eddie would have appreciated that one.. 🎸

[@LeonTodd]

Marigold by Periphery

[@80s_kid]

16:40 Nice! Do you remember how you set up Microshift? (mix, focus, detune)

[@johnstitt2615]

I have the Kemper, amp sims, etc. I went back to having an amp and cabinet in the collection. You turn up the mids and volume and........the glory pushing air. Don’t get rid of what you have. We need options but we all deserve to push air and smile with Glee. 😎🎸😎✌️ok....pushing air meaning farts as well. Lolol.

[@jonnybreckless]

I had one of these for a while. To me it sounded a bit like a caricature of a tube amp. I sold it and bought a Marshall JVM which I am much happier with. I did like the blue channel for classic rock and heavy blues. The red channel is too nasal, too saturated with very little definition or dynamics when you roll off.

[@rosskrause3926]

My 50 watt Stealth head...it sounds amazing !

[@lucasrodriguez8383]

My new go-to amp. It’s amazing

[@Wyldwulf]

I have a 6l6 50w combo...mostly stays on the blue channel. The only thing I don't like about the amp is pretty much finding it impossible to get a truly sparkling clean out of the green channel, even with the gain at 1.

[@ampspedalspickups]

MOAR GAIN!!!!! Sounds awesome, cant go wrong with any of the EVH 5150iii style amps

[@LeonTodd]

exactly!

[@LevRage]

I'll take my first year Peavey 5150 block letter with a good overdrive.

[@jasonbates2687]

I have a 6505, and the red channel is way to much past 3 for me. I use the green channel mostly and just use an overdrive up front.

[@TavaresProject]

I had one of the first 6L6 versions. The Blue and Red channel were voiced differently. Not only does the Red have way too much but it always sounded sterile... Never used it. Channel 2 was excellent.

[@thieveryguitars6206]

Love this amp. Way more gain than is needed but it’s fun as hell to crank the gain every now and then.

[@damianval4626]

Ive been waiting for you to demo this amp( I own one)🤣 I personally find the red unusable for my taste,way to compressed!!! As for the blue channel it doesn't quite have enough 😅 And then there's the weird chewy mid-range thing 🤔 Hard to explain but I reckon they could of a little bit better

[@SPLENDORVALLETTA]

A BBE sonic maximizer works very nicely with this amp!

[@JavierPwns]

Holy moly what was that riff at 6:06

[@LeonTodd]

Marigold by Periphery

[@ratt669]

Great and deep review, quality vid as usual. Definitely convinced me not to buy, not for me. Thanks!

[@JRP3music]

Even with my 5751 V4 mod, I use the gain about where you have it on the Red. But, mine has more usable gain range.

[@joeydunno]

I remember switching to the red channel for the first time with my se Holcomb it cleaved my hearing in half 😭 it absolutely has too much gain after a certain point for me it gets way to fizzy

[@coalfacechris1336]

At the preamp's gain levels, not so sure the 6L6 and EL34 versions are gonna sound a lot different. Had a PV 5150ii, great amp but had too much gain then.

[@Mossy5150]

Am I an insane person that I can hear a really big difference from the 6L6 version? Something about the 84s just doesnt sound right to me for EVH sounds...

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

It does sound different.

[@martincockburn6821]

They're very different... I have the 6l6 212 combo and it's way different to the el34 head. This one is kind of a super Marshall... Sort of.

[@zarkarta]

Can someone please tell me the song name on 2:53? That riff has been stuck in my head for years now. Awesome video as always!

[@KoolKatDave]

Sounds like “Them Bones” by Alice in Chains.

[@zarkarta]

@@KoolKatDave thanks!

[@vhemi426]

Damn that is hot! Would love to hear a peavey 5150 on here!

[@nickx1754]

6:05 what was that riff?! Pretty sweet.

[@tiagoramalhais5493]

I'm a high gain lover and like extreme metal, I usually don't go past 5 gain on a 5150 lead channel, so yes, too much gain.

[@LoreAccurateHusky]

6:05 DID MANS JUST MARIGOLD LIKE THAT????

[@calamityjohnny1646]

Didn't hear you mention what Noise Gate you had on, cause the EVH 5150 III head is so noisy. I own one.

[@PainterDans]

I wish the green channel gain knob brought it up to edge of breakup.

[@fasteddievh2072]

Exactly! 💯🎯

[@Robstafarian]

Were it not for Synergy, I would have the LBXII (15W lunchbox which lacks the red channel); the blue channel is plenty of gain. I do miss the Orange OR15H I had to sell, though.

[@LeonTodd]

I need to fire up the Syn 5150 module again!

[@CACA-fn4qx]

What’s the intro riff? So cool

[@KoolKatDave]

“Lay It Down” by Ratt.

[@CACA-fn4qx]

@@KoolKatDave Thanks😂😂

[@robjohnson5829]

What cab / IR was this demo played through? Thanks!

[@MetalKillsRap2]

This amp doesn’t have the “S” on it like the 100 watt and combo el34 amps. So it doesn’t have the stealth mod on the blue channel which is why that channel needs a boost. The 100 and combos don’t need a boost on the blue.

[@JuddOakes]

These amps have more than enough gain and that's just it you don't need to turn it all the,way up right I got the 6l6 version with matching cab and the blue channel is where I live😊 with midi and the cost of these they can't be beat

[@martincockburn6821]

Green has quite a good clean with the gain at 9 o'clock and a bit of reverb 👍 blue could use a little more gain.. like the 6l6 combo and i believe the stealth has too. Soooo much need for a stealth 😅. Red is just a beast... So much fun to play. Playing the el34 in stereo with the SV is pretty mega too 🤘

[@LeonTodd]

Stealth GAS intensifies

[@martincockburn6821]

@@LeonTodd very much so ! 😅

[@peterschaefer1665]

I find the 100 watt EL34 version easier to dial in. Sounds alot better to me.

[@peterschaefer1665]

Yes! Too much gain!

[@Allan-ts1ux]

Whoa now that will turn lupins green eyes red.. this amp will make you a red eyed wild man .. better than Eddie at the end Leon.. sold me on this 5150 ..kudos to your buddy Martin for letting you go wild with it as I know a certain cat isn't giving this amp back now that he heard it, he likes red eyes .lol 😅😺 🌏🦘 ✌️ n ❤.

[@aguitarhero007]

Do you notice any differences on the red channel compared to the model n the Fractal?

[@mikedawg2CDR]

love to see your take on the mesa roadster.

[@LeonTodd]

Love that amp, I used one for a some Ragdoll tracking before I got my Rev G

[@mikedawg2CDR]

@@LeonToddim using one now(Roadster) in my band. really enjoy it over my rev G.

[@chronicnarnia]

Where did you set the resonance at?

[@andreknippschild1105]

I think most of the modern metal amps offer way to much gain...that my seduce not so experienced guitarists to dial in more gain than needed....and that may kill your tone....In my opinion...

[@zikkicharade]

What is the riff right after lay it down?

[@mangstrum]

Best amps out their