Is the 5150 a SECRET CLEAN MACHINE? -

[@wrayven]

As an aside, one of Van Halen's secret weapons was the Fender Bandmaster 6G7A Blonde Tolex heads. I bet the clean channel has some similarities. Here is a quote: "I used that amp for years in two ways. I already had the Marshall, but I had not stumbled onto the Variac thing yet, so I would use the Bandmaster through the Marshall cabinet when we gigged at smaller clubs like Gazzarri’s. I wrote all of the early Van Halen songs for the first three albums with that amp, playing quietly in my room. It was really quiet, so my mom couldn’t hear me, but it sounded amazing."

[@BenJ2827]

I have this amp and believe it to be the best bang for buck valve amp on the market. The cleans are amazing and it takes pedals so well.

[@TigerPalmer]

This is like the 40W Fender 68 Pro Reverb reissue if it smoked Marlboro reds and rode a motorcycle.

[@danielbell4007]

This is almost a year old, and I cannot believe I missed it! That’s an AMAZING clean channel!!! This really could be a do it all type amp.

[@sleepless4604]

Pleasantly surprised to see Perfecto here! But I just discovered this channel. Very nice!

[@michaelorourke7032]

I was SHOCKED at the cleans you were getting out of this amp. WOW!! Now I want one....

[@godsinbox]

he was using a STRAT, so YEAH nah

[@emartinezr]

@godsinbox what do you mean? That's exactly what most people who want to play clean cleans use.... Telecaster, Strat, etc. You can also use a Les Paul with split coils or low output vintage style pickups....

[@godsinbox]

@@emartinezr each amp generation had slightly different components and a series humbucker isnt going to clean up unless you cut some signal. Arguably MOST people who WANT good cleans are using humbucker into marshall are AINT happy with it.

[@Kathayne636]

@@godsinbox What??

[@Neridog]

"I'm not tripping, am I?" haha I had the same reaction. :) That clean is genuinely amazing. I just got this amp thanks in part to this video, so thank you. This is an awesome, awesome amp.

[@The2ndProtectsTheRest]

Bro! Ryan! You have the makings of a pretty good thrash guitarist! I’m honestly very impressed when you reach out into different directions with your playing!

[@alnaastora6175]

5150 is the best amp ever. Can literally do it all!!!! I love watching demos of gear I already own and watching people enjoy how good it is

[@Crunchifyable2]

If you understood what a original 5150 really is, you'd understand it's a goldmine of clean and edge of breakup tones. The 5150 is a copy of a SLO which is basically two Marshall amps in one, with some added gain stages on the lead. So the reason the clean sounds so good is that it's basically a Marshall with 6L6s aka a 59 bassman! I have a 6262, copy of a 5150 II, love the clean & crunch, can't really use the lead unless I play lead. The mids are just insanely quacky.

[@jonasirw1]

The clean channel really does sound like a top tier Fender twin.. This amp is a blast to play. I want one

[@shauncurtis4398]

The clean channel was a big factor in why I bought this amp, along with the good performance/bass response at 1/4 power as I just use it at home. I'd initially dismissed it as another rock/metal amp but the salesman at the store encouraged me to try it - he's a blues player and said he had been quite surprised by the amp when he tried it. Being made by Fender perhaps there's some of their influence/expertise in there?

[@chrisknoblock]

So many of these features are so good for the price, and it's such a good all around amp. An amp I can play anything from country to djent metal on. It has a power cut switch so I don't have to have an attenuator at home and a noise gate to tame the feedback in high gain situations. If you're like me and play just about everything, this amp is a good fit.

[@nootnoot7396]

I die for good clean tones, excited for this one

[@erickgalvanized]

I’ve had this amp for almost a year now, and it is AMAZING. This video helped so much. I do a lot of different genres, rock, some metal, but my main band is rock reggae. I can’t imagine a better amp for this genre. Crisp cleans for the skank and heavy chugs for leads. For songs from pepper or sublime? Expendables? Holy cannoli it’s like it was made for that dynamic. LOVE this amp.

[@BrentAdams]

Nice! I didn't expect that kind of clean sound.

[@frankgrosso453]

The versatility you made the amp show helped me pick this over a blues jr. . Thank you sir

[@AuntAlnico4]

😂 Good choice Man, that could have been bad for you since fart jr. Just aren't good sounding amps.

[@chrisrainey3588]

I have this amp. I love it! One thing about it? The noise gate. Great feature, If it worked the way a noise gate should! I use a MXR smart gate anyway so no biggie to me. This amp has SOOOOO much gain. I don't think you showed the burn channel! I may have missed it. People use Distortion boxes on previous 5150 amps. you shouldn't need to do that with this amp! I love crunch!! But there is almost too much on this amp! I have to back the gain down a little for what I do. Metal players, Anyone should check this line of amp out! VERY versatile!

[@jasonesty3880]

Resonance is the size of the "bell curve" you are boosting. If the bell is wide, it will be more full range sounding. If the bell is small, it will be thin and boost only the frequency that the presence is centered on. It is basically, one band of a parametric EQ.

[@Sneaky-Snek]

my 5150 50w 1x12 combo does cleans really really nicely with the gain rolled down to 2 and the treble almost off and presence under noon, with great breakup on the bridge if you push it

[@MarcCarriage121]

Beautiful sounding amp. The sound in the beginning you got out of it, reminds me of stevie ray Vaughn's sound a little . I think he would have been comfortable with that amp . Didn't make me feel as though the amp was mimicking Eddie Van halen . Just a gorgeous sounding amp. I love surf music and it was perfect. My only regret is i can't afford the 5150 amp. 7:54

[@gokhanersan8561]

This amp is too good to be true. It has been living a happy life in the living room for a while:)

[@oleksiykachynskyy4828]

Thanks for the review! Is this a 15W 1X10 or a 40W 1x12?

[@jayteesgear]

When it camw out I threw it under the bus. Ive played it a few times at GC to demo guitars and liked it better each time. Many people are swapping the cruddy speaker out for a Creamback. I bet that helps tone down the high end.

[@Kathayne636]

Great powerful cleans on this amp. I just bought one and you could just use it for big Fender cleans in a head form or combo.

[@romantrix]

That humbucker bridge pickup sounds great!!

[@emartinezr]

I agree with what you said. The dirty sound is kind of one-directional. It goes from clean, to a dirty tone and that same voice just gets louder or dirtier with gain, but it doesn't change the voicing much. Except with the Burn channel... that's a different voice. Even with pedals... it goes very quickly from a clean tone to that hard distinct crunch tone. BUT I don't think it's because the amp can't do it. It's more because that crunch is so addictive that you go straight to it, and don't purposefully dial a medium gain-ish crunch. I'm going to spend some more time and effort into getting a good medium crunch. I'm thinking clean channel, medium gain and a mild overdrive... single coils or split coils. Hide the Les Pauls.

[@iceman10129]

Thats awesome. As a 5150iii owner, the clean channel is a stretch calling it that. Anything over gain 2 is just crunch central.

[@carlhungus2521]

Love this demo..sounds like a tarantino movie! I'm ordering this amp today!

[@elliotmorley9075]

The tone is in the awesome living situation I wish I had

[@elblouses128]

I didn't like my 5150 after my tastes changed but I will have to admit that there were a handful of great musicians in my scene that made it work well by dialing everything back (using channel 1 - clean platform), investing in good speakers/cabs and in high quality guitars. You can get more milage out of it than it appears.

[@tonyonecanoby]

I got one a week ago and can not stop playing on it. I love my Mesa Mark V but this thing is pretty awesome sounding. perfect for taking to band practice.

[@joebodynobody764]

Really didn't expect much from the clean channel. Glad you showed me just how wrong I was.

[@Betonschlong]

Holy buhjeebus! I did not expect the clean channel to be THAT good!

[@emartinezr]

Me neither... and I have one of these amps hahahah

[@AuntAlnico4]

Same😂 but I don't ever play strat single coils like that, that's the way to get super clean.​@@emartinezr

[@MarbsMusic]

I had a chance to trade for one of these, I already have a 5150 III 50w EL34 and cab so I wasn't sure until I saw this video. Got the amp today and you can almost get Deluxe Reverb type tones from it with a Strat or Tele... then the second channel is very rock oriented to me. Yes it sill CHUGs but it also gets a great rock tone as well, less high gain metal and more rock if that makes sense. Very happy and so very glad I found this video!!!

[@markgarner2725]

I've had mine for a few weeks now, and the clean channel immediately reminded me of my brother's old 70s silverface Deluxe Reverb.

[@davidvonjohnston]

Ive been saying this for a very long time too. I love this amp

[@1rwjwith]

Wiggle stick abuse, a misdemeanor In several states! Great sounding amp….actually it’s good to have you demonstrate it because if it was a hard rock player they would just be doing the EVH thing on it. You showed the versatility.

[@ronb7481]

Maybe not the best idea sitting right in front of the amp with it on high gain.

[@emartinezr]

Yep, he has to move a bit away from it. It's an untamed beast. Something Randy Rhoads would love.

[@eckhardt76]

Man I’m digging the clean channel and how versatile this amp is. I may end up trading my Vox AC10 for this.

[@marcgallant5270]

Don't, save up and have both :) ... AC10 is an excellent amp that you'll regret you didn't keep.

[@eckhardt76]

@@marcgallant5270 I think you're right lol.. I do love my Vox:)

[@marcgallant5270]

@eckhardt76 I've learned that the hard way, so many great amps I've sold in past that I regret.

[@The2ndProtectsTheRest]

I bet if you put a spring tank in front of that thing, it would surf with the best of them!

[@thesurfjunkies]

We were thinking the same thing!

[@melexdy]

Hi, why not in the loop?

[@The2ndProtectsTheRest]

@@melexdy because effects loops change the sound of pedals and they didn’t have effects loops back in the days of surf and everything was run in front of the amps

[@melexdy]

@@The2ndProtectsTheRest oh ok, I thought it had something to do about the fender spring tanks having a tube on them for the amplification, which ups the gain a bit

[@The2ndProtectsTheRest]

@@melexdy in my mind, for that vintage surf sound, it’s just got hit the face of that amp with full force! lol

[@jyfairlie3379]

it sounds very muffled on your down stroke picking running up from low E to -----> high E (6 string to 1) is that just your style?

[@Thebarbariantruckershow]

Was going to get a 5150 combo and didn't like it as much as the Harmony H650.

[@Maxwellmcawesome]

I gotta see if I can squeeze some jazzy tones out of one of these

[@BillyE5150]

Sounds great to me!

[@danielmargot7886]

Dude what a good review. I've been eyeing this amp for a while. I had no idea about the clean tones. This was the most thorough, scientific review of an amp I've ever seen. Awesome playing too! Currently doing the ironing for the Mrs and hoping it makes up for the fact that I'm going to order this amp.

[@theorganicshadow]

I can't seem to rid my clean channel on this amp of the dirt/gain. I have to put the gain knob down to like 0.2, where if I'm a millimeter to the left there's no sound, and a millimeter to the right and it sounds distorted. Could it be my fishman moderns in my guitar? I tried every push-pull + neck/bridge combination and it doesn't make a difference. This video sounds night and day different than mine.

[@emartinezr]

There's an OD button. You gotta click that off if you want a fully clean channel. The clean channel will only start breaking up lightly with the OD off once you turn up the gain, play with more attack and use high output pickups. That same channel with the OD on with get heavy and crunchy pretty quickly, especially with high output humbuckers.

[@kingstondread7064]

Ryan, you sound so much better WITHOUT pedals. Just saying. I know pedals are your thing but wow! Finding an awesome tone without pedals engaged, does nothing but strengthen your sound. I'm impressed.

[@johnbull117]

Content starts at 2:22?

[@nicholasberndt6224]

Nice demo. Too few people know about that amp’s clean tones. Wish I could swing one now.

[@billylongley9580]

What model is this amp? The 15watt?

[@SisterRose]

I'm not someone who listens to a ton of Van Halen so I didn't pay it much mind, but the more I hear of these amps they're really solid and versatile. Sophie Burnell did a good comparison to a 6505 too.

[@emartinezr]

Me too. I've never been a Van Halen fan. l recognize Eddie's value, influence and extreme virtuosity... he was a special talent. But still I never got into VH. However, this amp is amazing. For any rock, hard rock and metal person, this amp is brutal. Great price and great features.

[@OfficialPerfectoDeCastro]

CLEAN MACHINE. CLEAN MACHINE (The Longest Yard)

[@rjwontheloose9037]

Yes why yes it is.. After all fender made... It would be cool if you got a peavey classic 50... Love that amp...

[@60CycleHumcast]

I gigged with a classic 50 for years, amazing amp, I only sold it because my back couldn't handle moving it around anymore lol.

[@rjwontheloose9037]

@@60CycleHumcast ya if you had the 4x12 it was a beast the 2x12 is no joke either.

[@60CycleHumcast]

@@rjwontheloose9037 I had the 4x10. I ran it hard for a really long time. Ended up blowing a transformer on it got it fixed so I could a few more years out of it.

[@rjwontheloose9037]

@@60CycleHumcast ahh ok the combo. My first was a 2x12. then i got the 410 cab and the 115 E, with the 50 watt head. When it came out. Then switched to the 212 i still have today.

[@KoaCharvel]

Did not expect that clean tone.

[@ajlsrv5490]

I tried one. Cleans were surprisingly good. Also surprising, the highest gain tones were the worst tones in the amp IMO. The choice of a spring (digital) reverb is curious. Nice for cleans, but basically useless for gainier stuff.

[@BorostateBlues]

Keep up the good work

[@Blackbirddc]

That intro killed me!!! 🤣

[@DTension]

Ed loved cleans, it's just not what you think of when you think Ed. James Brown knows what he's doing.

[@JaniceLalla]

I like it

[@DTension]

@@JaniceLalla Me too. This clean is mega bonus.

[@howardmaryon]

So in your home office we see guitars that never get played in the show, like that nice silver/white Gretsch?

[@djay6651]

No gear with any surf settings other than some spring reverb and Ryan still gets a surf adjacent sound. 🤔

[@kerbyfab]

I’ve seen several of these 5150 amp’s front panel get pushed in & damaged. I think they have a design issue. Don’t get me wrong, it sounds amazing, but I’d be worried about that panel.

[@60CycleHumcast]

That's interesting.

[@jasujokelainen5073]

That green fender is so nice, can i have it, Please? 🙄🎸🙂

[@rubenaarens7917]

Is the clean/crunch setting footswitchable? I want to combine the 2 Durling songs

[@GaugedFreak10]

Disappointed that the SurfyBear didn't get thrown into this amp for more surf tones. lol

[@jyfairlie3379]

oh....open string doesn't sound muffled so must be your picking style

[@patricktoth-meyers5044]

Wow great demo, thanks. Perfect example of how much difference a guitar can make. All the other demos I've heard, the cleans sounded so sterile and thing, this seems like a much better representation.

[@maxpeck4154]

That amp sounds fantastic. AND it has reverb? And it's $900 brand new? AND it looks pretty cool? It has a few too many knobs for my taste, but if it's reliable that's a pretty versatile option for a combo.

[@shining5695]

believe it or not i bought this amp to do surf rock

[@finishin.my.coffee8780]

I'm wondering if people born in or after 1991 will get the reference. Anyway, nice rig! The finish on that Strat is really nice too.

[@Rahahahaha_bon]

do a video about the aria dm-206 "pleeeeeese" (:

[@60CycleHumcast]

I dont have one of those.

[@Rahahahaha_bon]

@@60CycleHumcast ok

[@MojoJojoMojo]

What ist that wood-coloured guitar behind you? That one looks really fun!

[@ertugrulkaraduman5008]

It's some kind of starfield!

[@MojoJojoMojo]

@@ertugrulkaraduman5008 thanks! Found Ryan's video for it - easy to find if you know to search for starfield.

[@user-xj4fz4bw4c]

That light switch. What. How. Why. This needs a whole video to explain.

[@60CycleHumcast]

The previous owner of the house made some interesting decisions.

[@alecmullaney7957]

I did not notice until you pointed it out. I can not unsee it

[@vince3804]

yo first time i saw this guitar house thing - that was hillllarious

[@DrunkenRhinoceros]

I'd like to see you review the New Supro Royale 2x12

[@subjectt.change6599]

I’ll admit, the lead channel took some getting used to. It’s the most gain I’ve ever used. But once I did, I swear I played better.

[@PaulJonesy]

Nice Surfrajettes shirt!

[@chrissinclair3136]

based on all the reviews I went and tried one. I dont get it. It sounded cheap. I run pedals into a Supro Black Magick so my setup ia sbit more expensive. But and MXR EVH OD into the spur absolutely kills the tone of the EVH Iconic. On the cleans, for my taste the supro just made me smile with its big gorgeous bloom. Maybe the EVH Iconic represent good value for some but I was utterly underwhelmed. I played with the more expensive EVH combo and it markedly better - yes for about 50% more. My rule in life has been to buy right or buy twice....or buy less but get the best you possibly can

[@emartinezr]

Yeah the 5150 iii are better. But it's not 50% more... it's like double the price. But they're awesome.

[@discocrisco]

Kind of sad it is not Peavey made, but 5150 Iconic owners and their amp techs are probably glad it is not.

[@tradbowseven]

The reverb sounds like a cheap digital circuit and not an actual tank.

[@AlexSzokolyai]

It’s funny everyone’s preferences for tone because I have an Invective (same thing as a 5150) and I really dislike that the clean channel has no headroom before it gets gritty and is super compressed and woody. Now, that being said, I love the amp, love what the clean channel does with overdrive and distortion pedals and the lead channel is sick…. And let’s be honest: you bought a 5150 to play metal, and I did too. It’s definitely not the worst clean channel ever though, and not even bad, just not as versatile as some other “metal amps” (or any amp) like a Rectifier’s clean channel. Maybe I’m being too critical, but I also have a tube preamp that is a 5150 clone and it has a much more versatile clean channel with much more headroom and you can get all the same tones, just more. To be clear, I’m not hating on the 5150 or it’s family of circuits (original block letter, 6505, 6505+ etc). I love em. For some reason I want to own them all. Nice demo as always, Ryan.

[@jerryhatrick5860]

Very fender clean for sure. This amp kills the Marshall, cough, choke dsl 40. I hate that amp.

[@emartinezr]

The Marshall clean tone is pretty good. BUT i find it waaaay too bright and brittle, especially once you get into higher gain. I'm sure you can dial a heavy crunch on them, but this amp has a much chunkier tone that can also get pretty bright and textured if you dial it. I think... the 5150 lands right between a Mesa Rectifier and a Marshall. Not as bright and mid-fwd as a Marshall... not as fat and scooped as a Mesa.

[@youtubeopinion]

You did not cover it, which 5150 is it????????????????????

[@rob.carrillo]

I would be very curious to see you do this with a mesa Recto-Verb 25

[@greggpbowlz]

(insert troll comment here)

[@DrunkenRhinoceros]

This economy is Putin's fault. There's a chip shortage, no new fx pedals for you.

[@wbm3085]

Just play a mixture of open chords and bar chords fast and slow. Hard to fully hear just playing scales over and over...

[@knivesarequiet3706]

The Iconic is awesome if you hate midrange frequencies

[@keenedgedesigns]

The clean sounds are a bit shocking.

[@byrdmanalb88]

I want my two dollars

[@bondalero0074]

Just wondering, does anyone really want “clean” if they are buying a “5150” EVH 🔥🔊⚡️✨amp combo? If I wanted clean would buy an American Standard Fender Telecaster and a Fender Bluesman 40 watt 1 x 12” but that’s is just me! I’m looking for that 👑Edward Van Halen jaw crunching “brown sound” like everybody since Pantera’s Dimebag (R.I.P.) to both of my Guitar God’s!#5150#😈#JustmeIguess🎸❤️🔥⚡️✨🔊

[@monmixer]

No like the springy sound.

[@joelshollenberger7457]

wow !!!! RYAN VAN HALEN!!!

[@edryba4867]

EEEEEEK!!! Ryan Van Halen! YOU, my friend, made this video IMPOSSIBLE!

[@what1864]

stop abusing your wiggle stick ...

[@AchillesWrath1]

I don't think it does cleans very well tbh straight out of the amp no effects or pedals. It's too flat and bassy sounding for my taste

[@ZenTheMusician]

2 year old. Sigh. I'd have loved to see some of your settings. Mine sounds like crap on the clean channel. Never warm like what you've achieved.

[@fredzungri5835]

Definitely not a good review

[@larryzink8978]

love ya but total add.