EVH 5150 ICONIC EL34 vs MARSHALL JCM800 2203 | METAL

[@JTHarrisHF]

I've played EL34 2203s and Marshall MonoBlocs for over 20 years. To REALLY appreciate them, you have to hear them LOUD as they are super clean, warm and so friendly on the ears! Regardless, hats off to EVH for making a near 100 watt head and 4x12 cabinet for the same price I paid in 1989 for my first JCM800 and 4x12. I great alternative for people who can't afford a JCM800.

[@davidgerlach1132]

Euge Valovirta, excellent video as always, amigo. Also, thank you for inserting the image of the pedal you are using in the frame of the video, this helps minimize confusion, the name of my metal band. JCM800.

[@jcmmnx]

Had to give a thumbs up for playing Blackened as I've never played the end of that riff right lol. Nothing beats the 800, but for the $ that 5150 is a great buy.

[@ChrisHariis]

Both sound great, there is richness and slicing tone the 800 has. They rip through a mix and shine in a live situation. Love the MP-1 in your rack, have one and love it. Great playing and killer demonstration

[@Punk_Unkle_Guitars]

All your tones are always fire

[@rickycompton2610]

Killer video Euge, Being an old school kinda dude it’s the Marshall for me all day!!!

[@figdestroyer]

I have one of those 5150’s! Fucking love it🤘

[@ryemill7787]

The winner is sd 1

[@bradkillingsworth4137]

Exactly! Can’t go wrong with it

[@Van020280]

More like those amps are nothing without one in front...​@@bradkillingsworth4137

[@dalejacksonmo]

AWESOME DEMO....LOVE THEM BOTH...4 SURE...LOVE TO HEAR YOU JAM TOO...IM A FAN BROTHER

[@JTHarrisHF]

Sorry, I almost forgot....great video as always Euge!! Cheers my Heavy Metal brother!!

[@ellesartelcontar153]

Now I can fully understand why they used JCM800 in pair with Mark IIC+ to recored MOP. It adds crunchiness and certain special undertone, some fullness to it. I think modern amps can compensate for that, but I have to say that Marshal sounds really good!

[@tj1486]

I've been a player now for quite a number of years and always defaulted to leaving the tone maxed on my SD1 until just recently I bought a dsl100h and also a Splawn nitro (an amp maker I think Euge would love for the rodded Marshall tone) and It took playing those 2 amps with the sd1 with the tone maxed to realize how much "quackiness" that pedal can really add to something like a Marshall circuit. I started dialing the sd1 a lot more like Euge has it set for the 800 in this vid and the results are so much more pleasant for certain amps; some very tubby amps still benefit from the tone being maxed but it's fun to play around with. I also have a 6505+ and I've found I kind of like the sd1 dialed that way as well, even with a little drive on the pedal and the gain backed off on the amp; gives it an interesting character. Same with a Mesa rectifier.

[@221b-l3t]

DSL is very fizzy, I have everthing as bright as possible before the preamp and then cut 6.4k afterwards in the loop.

[@riangarianga]

Nice test! 🤘They are closer than I expected, at least in this situation. How they work in a mix, that would be the definitive comparison.

[@ginopanteristabootpim7346]

KILLER TONE I LOVE JCM800 BUT 5150 IS AWESOME TOO

[@peterhenderson2193]

It would be cool to see how the flagship 100 watt 5150 iii compares.

[@JackStolz]

Great riff selection from AJFA. Both heads sound great. You already knew that though😂

[@PaulLembo]

Agree! Love hearing a little Blackened!

[@gilbertostefan]

Sophie's choice! A hell one though choice! Both 4 me, thanks 😅

[@milsamilsa-is8uv]

As a owner of EVH 50w, the answer is simple, winner is jcm800. 😂

[@zikkicharade]

The “ cheaper” models suck, boss katana is way better than the 800€ evh head

[@countzero5150]

​@zikkicharade my buddy had all of the 50w 5150-3's at one point. We both agreed that the white panel 6l6 sounded the best. I had the lbx-s lunchbox head, I thought it sounded terrible. Of course with the tolerances of electrical components, your experience may vary. He has since sold all of them and has a jvm410.

[@Slamthulhu]

​@@zikkicharade lay off the crack and learn how to dial in a proper tone

[@frederikocarroll3335]

Would love to see a test of the preamp out for recording on the iconics.

[@alfordashley794]

5150 is running neck n neck with marshall especially for metal.

[@msi1985]

Just based on listening to the shortest straw intro... I kind of like the Marshall sound more but that could also be the way the EQ is dialed between both. Also I should mention both sound good but if I had to choose the 800.

[@kez850]

They both sound good but how about we settle with a 6l6 5150 on the left and a boosted 800 on the right

[@kanehicks9321]

Nice man! Thanks for this!! 🎸👋🎸👋🇨🇦🇨🇦wicked Metallica riffing too brother 🤘🤘🤘🤷‍♂️🔥🎸🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@lightinme217]

5150 is smoother to me. I have the 6L6 Iconic! Love the amp. thanks for Sharing!

[@EM-km8em]

How are you getting so much distortion from the 800 ? Last time i tried it i had a hard time getting from clean to hi gain at medium level

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Hitting it with BOSS SD-1 and a heavy right hand 👌😎💪.

[@michaelpeacestewart]

its the midrange from the 800 that breaks thru the mix i actuay was gonna have my 5150 have the mid and high from an 800 modded in

[@ztevie.j]

If you get the chance, please review the new Friedman IR-J. I've been interested in the JEL-20 Head, but since I play only at home a tube amp is not very convenient...

[@nerbuhc]

5150 definitely more modern which i love personally, even with the different gains in front i still preferred the the high end of the 5150. Would also of course be happy with either XD

[@Badlander1994]

Great video, Euge! Did you compare boosting the overdrive mode of the clean/green channel against the boosted 800? A lot of people are saying the green channel is more “marshall” than the red channel.

[@satarello]

Both of them are very good I love both..this is indyvidual taste of view..with jcm 800 and for example god distortion we can achive also good higain tone.,,.

[@antonstefanov2146]

Both do the job perfectly, the 2203 is more musical and the 5150 is that percussive focused tight tone.

[@MESADIMA]

Marshall звучит мягче по звуку чем 5150 и это приятнее на слух. Однозначно, Marshall лучше на мой взгляд. Но 5150 более собранный по звуку и ни такой широкий по звуку. Спасибо за такое сравнение.

[@dennisdaniel1146]

JCM800 for me.

[@markosaarela3537]

Mahtavia videoita. Näistä saa niin paljon tietoa mitä kannattaa tehä ja mitä ei. Oispa ollu youtube jonnena kun alotteli soittamaan 😅 Pitää kokeilla amplitubella, että onko tube parempi 5150 kuin OD:lla myös virtuaalisena. Joutuu tyytymään virtuaaliversioon kun ei oo varaa ostella tonnin nuppeja 😅

[@darylhicks7008]

I bought both the EL34 and the 6L6 last Saturday. I set them both up next to my JCM 800 and I have to say, the EL34 gets pretty close to the JCM 800 tone on the green channel with overdrive on and drive set about 2. With a TS9 Tube Screamer in front of it with level dimed, tone at 6 o'clock and drive at 0. Eq Settings were Low at 8, mid 4, trebbile 8, resonance 2, Prescence 6. Kick in that TS9 and closed my eyes, and A-B back and fourth to my 2203 JCM 800 and sounds incredibly close On red channel, same eq settings and red channel drive at 2 with a Boss SD1 overdrive in front, drive at 0, tone at 6 o'clock and level dimed it has a killer tone for the heavvier stuff. I don't like the burn button, it is just way to much. I also running a CE5 Stero chorus, HOF Reverb, FlahBack2 delay and a EH 720 Looper in the effects loop and do not use the amp reverb. In front I am running Les Paul Custom Shop into a TU2 tunner, into Boss 200EQ to better shape the tone, into Cry Baby Wah, then to TS9, SD1 and OC5 Octave. Last in Chain is NS2 Noise gate. The EQ pedal allows you to refine the tone really well. After 5 days of having both, I settled on the EL34 and returned the 6L6. The El34 is just a little more reminiscent of the classic Marshall tone. A bit warmer, and not as harsh as the 6L6. If I was a hardcore metal player, then the 6L6 would have been my choice. For me, the EL34 is a winner. And I forgot to mention the clean channel. Same EQ settings, but I do have a dedicated eq channel on the boss EQ 200 just for clean that gives probably the best clean tone I have ever heard from any amp. I have a fender twin reverb, and a 1977 Roland Jazz Chorus 120 I usually A-B with my JCM 800 for cleans, and the tone I got out of the EL34 with the eq pedal, is surprisingly better. No need for me to lug multiple amps to the gig now. Being a diehard vintage amp snob, I was very reluctant to give this a try. But wow!! I am glad I did. The vintage stuff can stay at home now where it is safe, and this will now be my gigging amp. Less to haul around to achieve great tones all in one head versuses A-B ing 2 amps, two mics in front and two channels to dial in on front of house board. This is a win for me. Never thought I would say this, and immediatley hated it until I gave it a try. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. PS: I spent about 6 hours total, tone shapping with EQ 200 to each specific channel to achieve the tones I finally dig. TS9 on Green Channel with Overdrvive engaged, and SD1 for Red Channel no burn button. The burn will never be used. And one final tweak, I removed the front grill and took off the 5150 and EVH logo and put behind the grill. Looks a lot better estetically. Now it's a custom lol

[@AndyK.23]

Great demo Euge! I think a good question is will the 5150 Iconic still be working 40 years from now? The 800's were built like tanks, and have better quality components. Of course, you can buy 3 Iconics for the $$ 800's are selling for these days!

[@Holdsworthy]

Blackend riff is bad ass... And quite hard to nail 😅

[@SB-mb8fx]

Euge, can you please make a Vid about your right hand technique, your Picks, strap height and so on. This would be awesome. Thanks in Advance!

[@KaddysJamKave]

I think the Iconic has the JCM beat man... I know I shouldn't say that! Then again, cheaply made... might fry within 5 - 10 years where as UK / US made amps etc will probably last a LIFE TIME. (Thinking out loud since I had several cheap pieces of gear that did NOT stand the test of time. ) :D You're in a Metallica mood! Love it!

[@brandonjackson5865]

I don’t know that the build quality, well maybe not build quality, but the durability and reliability is that much different from a UK or US built PCB board amp , the import amps have better boards than they used to, of course Euge’s 800 is point to point turret based I believe right, but the reissues use pcb right ? So those older ones are going to be way easier to maintain and repair. The hand wired boutique modern builds can be a work of art just pulling the chassis and looking at the build, but I’ll never be able to afford one. I can remember seeing 50 watt 800s for less than 500 bucks back in the early days of eBay. Should’ve hoarded some back then lol The older pcb stuff was pretty suspect thin boards components way to close to heat sources, so you got heat and vibrations working constantly on thin boards with thinner traces. They have improved to the point where for the money most people will get great service out of the newer import pcb amps, of course theirs some that still have poor designs or stuff crammed in so tight it’s not worth to pay a tech to fix it for what they would have to charge to make it worth while. Mesa Boogie’s are US built, you ever popped the chassis out of one of those ? I’m sure a JVM is similar. I’m not trying to be contrary I just think the import amps like the last DSL range are pretty close to US and UK built if you pulled the chassis and compared side by side. The US and UK head shells are definitely made better than the import stuff, but chassis to chassis they both use plastic jack sockets at least the Marshalls do and the UK amps are using Vietnamese output transformers now too and all the pots, caps , resistors ect are made in china. People are getting good service out of the import amps now unlike when they first started building amps in the far east. Speaking of 800s and import amps Wangs makes a pretty affordable 800 I think they even offer a hand wired version for a little more money.

[@billyc6678]

I have to go with the JCM800. I may be biased for using nothing but since 1986. Although, I do have a Peavey 6505+ that I absolutely love. 🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽

[@Manley156]

Yet to like any of the iconic tones

[@mbgmail5911]

Agree, not a good amp in my book.

[@vazdaqui8513]

5150 iconic vs 5150II, what your thoughts?

[@brandonjackson5865]

Wow you got them dialed in so close who’d have thought, then I remembered who’s playing and dialing them in, even the gear Euge isn’t crazy about he can dial in his tone no problem. They might sound different in the room but I honestly thought the 800 was going to blow it away but the el34 Iconic held its own, it’s kinda in between a JCM and a DSL? Maybe ? Of course it’s got way more gain than the JCM .

[@chuckrock1987]

Marshall 🔥

[@emartinezr]

Both sound very similar. I really like the 5150 for it sounds a little more modern... you can get more modern extreme tones out of it and still get vintage stuff. The JCM is sort of like a JB pickup. It's amazing, and it does its thing.

[@JoelCSabo]

I'm playing on my phone while you do your thing and i keep looking up during the JCM800 + SD-1 sections because they sound so good. I love my 6L6 EVH Stealth head, and Metallica, so I was hoping things would be less one-sided, but the Marshall has some magic that keeps drawing me to it. That 2203 circuit, with it's variants and offspring, just rules.

[@needsLITHIUM]

TBF, I think the 5150 Iconic EL34 paired with an Orange Pedal Baby, both ruinning at 80 Watts, 16 Ohms, would be a perfect parallel chainsaw/distortion pedal platform rig, or else the 5150 Iconic 40 Watt Combo paired with an Orange Crush Pro 60 combo.

[@milsamilsa-is8uv]

Euge I have question about your „office chair”. I’m looking for something like that. Is it comfortable?

[@jeremymiller6933]

Interesing video. That 2203 is probably still the best at the one thing it does and the SD1 is simply made for it. I have a question for you. Were you trying to make the 5150 sound like the Marshall? I ask because it seems to be able to come pretty close with the settings you were able to dial in. However, it seems the 5150 has more to offer than just coming really close to the 2203/SD1 combo. It's only 40 years newer. Haha! What other sounds can you get out of that thing? I imagine it has a wide spectrum of tone. I like how you showed that the Tube Screamer was better for the 5150. It's not always just one way to do something. I've really learned a lot from your channel. Thanks!

[@CGFun82]

Both are good but the jcm800 is the sound you hear on many 80s recordings. Marshall is all about the lively highs and attacking mids. Perfect for fast metal like Running Wild or 80s Judas Priest.

[@MichaelSorensen-bl3ec]

Have to say the 800 eats the 5150 for breakfast. I was looking at buying a 5150 with EL34s about a year ago, but when I tried it out I was underwhelmed. Your use of the overdrive pedals, in my opinion, is exactly how they should be used. I never understood people trying to use them through a totally clean amp. Most tube amps tend to sound a little loose and woofy without an OD in front.

[@adamwatson6916]

OD pedals into clean Amos sound horrendous.

[@zikkicharade]

I don’t know a lot about amps and engineering. My question is why all marshalls as i see in videos aren’t suitable for metal right out of the box and they need a ton of pedals to not sound like acdc? But at the same time 80s metal bands like Ratt and wasp used marshall without any effects? No one does marshall videos without boss pedals etc. So whats the point to get a super expensive amp if it’s not ready out of the box to do a proper distortion sound?

[@Arnold-vc7es]

"My question is why all marshalls as i see in videos aren’t suitable for metal right out of the box and they need a ton of pedals to not sound like acdc?" The JVM and DSL series Marshalls have enough gain on tap out of the box to do just that. The JCM and Plexi series are just trying to stay as true to the original Marshalls as possible. "But at the same time 80s metal bands like Ratt and wasp used marshall without any effects?" 1. Many of those bands were actually using effects 2. The bands that didn't use effects instead used Marshalls modified to add gain stages. 3. In certain circumstances, it's possible to achieve higher gain sounds with super hot pickups (Distortions, EMGs), cranking up the pickup height, removing the tone pot of the guitar, cranking the preamp gain and master volume, turning down the bass, using aggressive sounding speakers. Even doing all this won't give you a sound as tight as a modern high gain amp (which becomes noticeable on riffs played on the low E string, like Master of Puppets), but it gets fairly close. EDIT: 4. Some people overestimate the amount of gain they truly need for recording. Double or quad-tracking guitar lines + sufficient post EQ can also work magic. "No one does marshall videos without boss pedals etc. So whats the point to get a super expensive amp if it’s not ready out of the box to do a proper distortion sound?" 1. Some people's favorite sounds were achieved with a Marshall + a pedal (Rat, DS1, SD1, Tubescreamer), so they're trying to recreate the sounds they love by buying the most "authentic" gear possible, even if those sounds could be achieved with modern, high gain amplifiers. 2. Some people just like the Marshall logo.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks man! This was a really good and comprehensive answer. Nothing more to add 💪👌.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Please see Arnold’s answer. Nothing more to add.

[@audionine6616]

@@Arnold-vc7esperfectly said!

[@221b-l3t]

One pedal an overdrive or distortion which is 30 bucks if youre fine with a clone rather than brand name... overdrive plus Marshall is the sound on all the records. 80s add Chorus and done. 2 pedals, 50-100 bucks.

[@Matthew_Scan]

I like the 5150 iconic better than the more expensive 5150 sound wise

[@darrenc8776]

Awesome, Euge. To be fair though its not a real comparison. The 5150 has a tone bunny on it. The marshall doesn't. 😂

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks! Ah the good ol’ tone bunny 😆.

[@DROPTUNED]

JCM900 4100 + SD1 = WINNER😂🎉

[@a-nus]

woa

[@flashy5150]

I swear by Marshall. Even their re-issue Plexi amps sound better with an SD-1 at Van Halen than “anything” that EVH or Peavey put out. The original Peavey 5150 sucks the worst. I sold mine as soon as I played my friend’s 50watt re-issue PLEXI. Marshall has always sounded more powerful and natural than anything. If I did buy an EVH amp, it would be the “5150 Iconic Series : EL-34” over the 5150 III any day. I don’t like brittle 6L6 tubes. If I was a kid, getting my parents to buy me an amp for playing metal/ rock or the cleanest of clean, it would be the “5150 Iconic Series”. By far, the best bang for your buck.

[@brandonbryson3317]

Jcm800

[@BlueTitan7]

Euge mate from the first seconds.....Marshall all the way!

[@markdickerson39]

Euge Great video as always. Quick question should I trade my 1987 Hamer Steve Stevens for a 1987 ESP The Mirage Custom? I’m very much enjoying the sound of yours. Thanks for your time and keep up the great work!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks! I have no idea. Whatever feels the best to you. The sound is mostly in the hands anyways so…😉

[@kevinhassid8928]

5150 50w el34 all day everyday

[@mrcoatsworth429]

The tone isn’t in the tubes. It clearly is in the bunny.

[@darrenc8776]

Euge needs to put a link to were we can purchase one of those Tone bunny's

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Yes 😎.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Bunny?!

[@Des-de-Nova]

2203 sounds better to me.. but the question is does it sound $1200 USD more better?

[@221b-l3t]

DSL gets you great Marshall tone, 700 bucks for a DSL100 new... of course in the US they cost a lot more but you get cheaper guitars so dont complain,

[@AmericanNationalist852]

Buy once, cry once It's really "is $1200 worth me always wondering in the back of my mind if I made a mistake not just getting the clearly better amp?"

[@vintagetone22]

Ive used all the amps in the world.new and vintage.i only use the evh 5150 head.and thats all you need .end of story.enless you are a blues player than fender amp.

[@Alexooo447]

Well as you can buy 5150 much cheaper than the JCM800 the tone difference isn't that big, but I definetly prefer JCM800 for it's warmer sound, the 5150 is way more modern sounding for me

[@jarkkosaari6347]

Iconic or dsl 100hr … same price

[@ashwanthjerry2210]

Killer tones as always man !! 800 rules as always .. say if we buy today a JCM 800 2203x the re issue currently in production off the shelf and maybe upgrade the transformers maybe mercury magnetics, and add legendary tones hot mod and then change the tubes to 6550 .. how close will it bring to the bad boy ??

[@EugeValovirta230V]

The stock one is pretty damn close: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnrRZoyrediorassi=OpXT7VqnO8mcKRP5

[@ashwanthjerry2210]

@@EugeValovirta230V yes yes sure it is ..but still the bad boy has something really special ..that’s why 😂 just a fun idea ..perhaps

[@ashwanthjerry2210]

Also man ! Have you ever tried the victory sheriff .. it’s based on Marshall .. it would be so cool to get know your thoughts about it . Thanks

[@TheDistortionPrinciple]

Strange i prefer the evh

[@szneka12]

Hey Euge, do you think I could get similar Metallica tones from a Marshall Origin 20 as well? (assuming I have an SD-1 and an DS-1)

[@kookoogearkook]

800 wins !

[@goranrepek9865]

Bro, JCM 800 Rules.

[@metalshred1569]

The real conclusion : The Bad boy kill the Iconic

[@howardgillingham4763]

Can't compare 40yrs old technology to 5150

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Both are tube amps and the technology is a bit older 😉.

[@dgcdgc856]

Guess it depends what you’re looking for. Me…….Marshall + overdrive all day long. Not a fan of that high end fizzy stuff going on from the 5150.

[@metropolisamp]

5150

[@afterstars]

Both in stereo would be sweet. They would compliment each other in the upper and lower mids.

[@iiroillman]

Would love to see video of this!

[@afterstars]

@@iiroillmanme too! Maybe he will hook us up with a quick video of both amps in stereo panned hard and then mixed in the middle. That would be SICK.

[@darylhicks7008]

Lol😂funny you say that. I just did just that. A 5150 with 4X12 cab and JCM 800 2203 in stereo just a couple weeks ago. It sounds amazing together. But separate the 800 sounds like it is right in your face and the 5150 alone sounded like it was more in the back of the room. Alone I prefer the 800 but together in stereo they really compliment eacother and the sound was killer.

[@afterstars]

@@darylhicks7008duuuuuuuuuuude. Got a video coming by any chance? Sounds like a heavenly set up.

[@joelsmith4816]

Marshall is more open. More natural mids.

[@sergsmirnov8891]

Marshall is much better, more thoroughbred, Iconic sounds cheap - without fat, with unpleasant sharpness. But with the tubescreamer, the 5150 is not bad.

[@TheMasonator777]

The 800 is great. The 5150 wins though, for me. It’s a little more versatile I think. Has some Fender DNA in there.

[@4142Wilb]

Lipstick on a pig is still a pig…the Marshall hands down is much better, no to the el iconic

[@waynemasters8673]

Don't listen to the lyrics or guitars in music

[@chipchiperson679]

The non china cheap parts in the jcm800 sounds more rich and authentic

[@JohnWiku]

Sure, sure, it's the "china" parts that you are distinguishing here, of all things 😂😂😂 A cap is a cap, and as long as it's working, in spec and has THE SAME VALUE, you will NOT hear a difference of where it's made, let alone a resistor 😂😂😂😂

[@AmericanNationalist852]

@@JohnWiku yeah, but non-chinese parts are less likely to be made using slave labor. China is assho.

[@MachenSS666]

Hi...... your Euge Valovirta