EVH 5150 III 50S Preamp Tube Swop | EVH 5150 III Preamp Tubes

[@joshgurneyLFK]

Now this is the amp content I've been looking for. This is so helpful and insightful. Now, obviously we buy the 5150 Stealth for the gain options and the killer metal and rock tones but the Red channel will melt your face, and not necessarily in a good way. So recommending a preamp tube swap for that channel is a great option for those who want to tame the amp a little. This info can also be applied to any tube amp. It's opened up another door for me to go back and revisit a couple of my other amps that I feel are good but could be way better and try to swap tubes on those amps.

[@Rummy73]

Thank you for the well-paced and clear explanation of this process.

[@deadheadsg]

Could you give me a tip, which preamp tube should I replace to what model in order to get rid of feedback on channel 3? Thanks!

[@walkerwilliamson7828]

Thanks for posting these EVH videos! It's hard to find reliable info about the external bias points, etc... I had a question for you (and/or Howard) about setting the bias. Is there any calculation that needs to be done using the plate voltage? Or is that only needed when you are biasing from within the amp? Thanks again!

[@cbphotovideotips]

I am interviewing Howard Monday. I will ask him.

[@walkerwilliamson7828]

@@cbphotovideotips Awesome, thank you!

[@asherplatts6253]

I don't think tubes make that much difference, but this was potentially helpful for diagnosing a tube problem I am having on my 5150 6L6. My Green Channel is fizzing out, but not my blue or red channel, which is weird. And I am hoping I can get away with just replacing the problem tube. Knowing the layout of the channels is very helpful. I am going to try replacing the preamp tubes associated channel 1 first, and then I am going to replace the power amp tubes if that does not work. Since all channels run through position V1 and I am not having fizzing out issues on blue or red channels, that eliminates that slit, it is more likely to be one of the other rear positions associated with channel 1.

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

it's not the power tubes, it's probably v2 or v3 if it's a tube problem. btw tubes makes a huge difference try a vintage mullard at v1 thank me later.

[@meagainokay7673]

​@yaniv-nos-tubes No they don't. Very little difference. Buy no name tubes as they are virtually the same tonal output.

[@Searchin4tone]

Wow, great presentation. I just purchased the 50 watt version and it's a monster amp. I love the gain, but I find that when the gain ( on both blue and red channels) is dialed past 3 or 4, it sounds the same in regard to distortion. I'd really like to make these channels more versatile, what do you suggest?

[@cbphotovideotips]

You can use a lower gain tube like the 5751 in V1 , V2 and V4.

[@Searchin4tone]

@@cbphotovideotips Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try

[@Buica-4]

hi , thanks for the video appreciated. do you know which is last from V2,V3 and V4 ????

[@dramius]

Try a long plate Mullard in V1, & tung sols in some of the other gain spots. The WXT+ are excellent in this amp.

[@cbphotovideotips]

Thanks for the tip. I have two gold pin 12AX7 Tungsols.

[@cbphotovideotips]

I just ordered a Mullard 12AX7 reissue. Still looking for a new old stock Mullard as well.

[@dramius]

@@cbphotovideotips I know those NOS Mullards are sought after, but Ive only been using the reissues, myself. The reason I like them is they have larger dynamics, & excellent tone for guitar. The big dynamic range tends to push the downrange tubes very nicely & give more picking dynamics. Your mileage may vary, but Im pretty sure youll notice the difference, and its hard not to like it. 👍

[@cbphotovideotips]

Thanks for the tips.

[@Jarrodpimental]

The mullard reissues are great in v1

[@sirzap7542]

Hello Sir, Hello Sir, Can I switch out tubes without biasing them? I noticed on my EVH 5150 3 6l6 the bias setting has never been touched, because it has that red transparent glue on there as a seal, and that seal has never been broken. I found 1 ax7 tube that glows extra bright. It's for channels 1-3, and I noticed that channel 1 has dropped significantly in volume. I'd like to just change that tube, without biasing the amp BUT I don't want to harm the amp in doing so, so is it safe?

[@craigharrison5406]

Hi there I was playing my EVH 50 watt stealth when the crunch and clean channel went super quiet all of a sudden. The lead (red) channel still works fine. Do you think this is a bad power tube or a preamp tube?

[@SuperGuitar38]

EVH come with non labeled JJ's. Some had GT's for a bit in Stealths.

[@piotrtom1]

GT's are relabelled JJ's - same for preamp

[@sirzap7542]

Can I switch out tubes without biasing them? I noticed on my EVH 5150 3 6l6 the bias setting has never been touched, because it has that red transparent glue on there as a seal, and that seal has never been broken. I found 1 ax7 tube that glows extra bright. It's for channels 1-3, and I noticed that channel 1 has dropped significantly in volume. I'd like to just change that tube, without biasing the amp BUT I don't want to harm the amp in doing so, so is it safe?

[@cbphotovideotips]

Preamp tubes don’t require biasing. Only power tubes.

[@sirzap7542]

@@cbphotovideotips Thank You Sir

[@donadams1505]

It sounds like you enjoyed playing with tubes but there is a Mesa Boogie tube with a black foam wrap on it and it is just as clean and beautiful as tubes get.. But I have to say I understand that people like to change tubes but dude you went off the chain . I have to admit I refused to buy a EVH 3 but I did go with the Iconic to get all of the tones both heavy and soft without going thru all of that.. I spent years playing with tubes in my Car in Legacy and ended up going back to stock with that one Mesa tube I described to you, My Crate Blue Voodoo had a board problem but once it got fixed I stayed stock and my Hughes and ketner I stayed stock . To have to change that many tubes to get rid of sound maybe you should have gone after another amp.. I am not trying to be harsh but I see it all the time.. I bought one Marshall in my life and it was a modified amp and it reminded me too much of my Mesa MK 2 so I got rid of it and bought a MK 4 and never had problems again with tubes so that is why I am so happy even with my 80w Iconic... No changes needed and if so it would be that one Mesa Tube that is expensive but worth it really brings the amp to a less noisy place on any amp...

[@kopan14]

Are those tubes plug-and-play ?

[@cbphotovideotips]

Only preamp tubes.

[@kopan14]

@@cbphotovideotips thanks Craig, so preamp tubes can be swapped/ plugged-and-played

[@foggyblues13]

great video!

[@cbphotovideotips]

Thanks.

[@anthonysilva5312]

What speakers are you using?

[@cbphotovideotips]

I have a 4x12 with 2 EVH Celestions and 2 vintage 30”s. I also have a 2x12 with one Celestion Greenback and a Vintage 30.

[@anthonysilva5312]

@@cbphotovideotips thx! How are the 12EVH for clean?

[@cbphotovideotips]

Sound great.

[@tanvarma4169]

Tubes are not equalizers.

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

that is 100% true. tubes are amplification devices in other words tubes are amplifiers and as such they change the tone dramatically. try a vintage mullard on v1 on your blues jr once in your life and face reality. enjoy.

[@davidfaustino4476]

Neither are speakers. But they all sound different.

[@tanvarma4169]

​@@davidfaustino4476Speakers are an overall filter on the tone. So yes, they are in fact an overall EQ on the tone. Tubes are not. Some tubes will have a different gain output but volume matching nullifies the difference. There are many null tests on KZbin done to prove this phenomena.

[@m.hughes2521]

So glad I'm a bass player w an SVT, you tweakers have lost me.

[@davidfaustino4476]

Get a different amp. The whole point of these things is thart ridiculous amount of gain.