Every Amp Should Be This Fun! | EVH 5150 Iconic Series

[@BenJ2827]

I bought one from Peach on the strength of this review and I'm very impressed with the actual versatility of this amp. Does everything from classic rock to face melting metal. Don't believe some of the bad reviews out there because they are basically not dialling in the tones right!

[@michaelv2495]

Bought one too. The 40w combo. I’m just using an old strat with twin EMG 81’s in it…still…I tried a Marshall and a Orange and came way with the 5150 Iconic. I saw an excellent comment from James Brown in another review stating the ‘burn’ switch is supposed to give it the more robustness of the original block letter and without the ‘burn’ channel 2 is a bit tighter with less distortion than the original block letter. In a sense it has 3 channels…4 if you really consider. 1 clean, 1 overdrive, 2 distorted. I sometimes get a bunch of “fuzz” but I believe my presence was too high and when I dial back the presence and gain on channel 2 the distortion cleans up great. You can get every tone out of it for rock. Classic. Metal. Crushing distortion for detuned stuff like Crowbar. Be careful with the presence dial…even James Brown talks about it and how it differs from the original block letter presence. Is it perfect, no…but it has the best on-board distortion I ever tried and the clean channel comes out great if you up the volume…lower the gain and then use the gain as a volume. I did find that whatever fuzzy sound that might have annoyed me was easily taken care of with some tweaking to the eq. The other night I dialled it in for early thrash…heavy crush like Crowbar…then some heavy blues ‘John Christ’ type early Danzig. It did it all great. The Orange amp I tried was hundreds more (something like 1500 CAD new)….on sale for 1/2 and would have saved me about 3-400 over a brand new 5150 but it sounded TERRIBLE at lower volumes and this thing sounds great low & high volume. I have to watch my hearing at higher volumes, it reminds me of my Klipsch speakers that will wreck your hearing without you noticing. The ‘quality of the sound’ over multiple volume levels was a huge factor for my apartment playing…I plan to use it for a traditional garage setting in the future “maybe” with a 1x12 mini-cab hooked to it. I HEAVILY debated getting the 60w 2x12 version BUT it’s 66lbs, I have a narrow stairway and just the weight & size differences would have been MUCH more cumbersome to move it…I priced out used 1x12 cabs and it works out to almost the exact same. I’ll just invest in one later & a quality speaker cable IF I need it. On 1/4 power I’ve MAYBE put it to 3 at most….on full-power “2” was blistering inside a 500sq foot apartment. I heard there can be some electrical issues with them so I’m watching it but I haven’t experienced anything within the last month of playing. It’s the best bang-for-buck brand new purchase I’ve done.

[@YonkyKADAVER]

The Bugera 6262 is cheaper and sounds much more brutal than this one. The clean channel of the buguera saturates easily, but the clean channels of the amps are really only useful for tuning the guitar.

[@sublyme2157]

14:05 That "I love you" did not go unnoticed, and I think you speak for all of us.

[@dalenicholas1984]

One of the best gear demos I've watched in years, well done boys. Just hanging and having fun, don't need blokes reading the specs, just let's hear what it does. I'm in, perfect for my 80s cover band. This amp, a guitar and a couple of pedals in a gig bag and your done 👍

[@jamesbrown7468]

Great demo guys….glad you had fun with it!

[@TVoltG]

Tried one yesterday.. wow. I gotta get one now.

[@GonJilman]

Just ordered the ivory white combo and should be at my door tomorrow pending the snow storm we got in New York. Gotta say…I am so so so so excited to unbox this monster. This demo has just heightened my excitement for it. Love how the clean channel is already so massive and chunky sounding. Thank you guys for giving such a thorough look at this beauty.

[@AuntAlnico4]

James Brown EVH amp game is on point !

[@fredb.8383]

I just ordered one too

[@joeygentile7829]

You two have great chemistry on screen. You’re both informative, articulate and excellent guitar players. If I lived in the UK, I would be broke because I would be blowing all my hard earned cash at Peach Guitars. Cheers.

[@johnniepage3844]

I had one of the very first 5150 head and cabinets that came out and it was great!! I had it for a few years. And yes,like an idiot,I sold it for something else. And yes,still kick myself to this day! I’ll be buying one of these for sure! Love this channel!!

[@briandietrich1373]

I had a 5150II with the 4x12 matching bottom. Did the same thing. Like a dummy,,, I sold it and regret that to this day... :)

[@brucesguitardemos8197]

It’s a dimmed Marshall sounds like the original Eddie brown sound ! 🤩

[@EclipseAtDusk]

Tried the stack at Guitar Center recently - the sheer power & attitude this thing has cannot be understated. It delivers that raw 5150 sound, so so well

[@andrewcrawley285]

Really nicely recorded. Get a feel of what it's like in the room rather than sounding processed

[@carlhungus2521]

YES!!! that always drives me crazy with almost every single person doing youtube demos and they make it completely useless by over processing everything when a simple room mic would be perfect. They make 20 minute videos with like 5 different amps and everything sounds exactly the same. So nice to watch a video like this where you can actually get a sense of how it actually sounds in that room. I am rambling but have been so frustrated because it seemed like I was the only person who realized this

[@joedubuc2697]

This is the first amp that’s peaked my interest in over a year, very cool.

[@subjectt.change6599]

*Fun* really is the word. Owning this amp is like having a little sports car, like a Lotus or an old Roadrunner. It does everything the big amps do, but it’s still got that small box charm. Best combo for the money, besides maybe the JC40.

[@paulburton5150]

If I hadn’t just picked up an EVH LBX-S for a bargain I would have gone for one of these. Sounded amazing

[@rosskrause3926]

I have the LBX Stealth and the 50 watt Stealth and Iconic head and still going to get one of these !

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

Great video! Love it when Peach makes these kind of hang out and talk at the gear type videos. The amp is a beast, sounds fantastic!

[@ViciousMaximus]

I was expecting something way more modern. Plenty of sagg, like some modified plexi. Sounds killer

[@JohnnyBeane]

Love these amps and guitars! EVH Gear is the best!

[@ln8300]

Just tried for the first time now with an humbucker and with single coil...Jesús christ It fucking rocks . All channels are great

[@markslist1542]

This amp exceeded my expectations.

[@emreemre369]

The clean channel sounds pretty damn good clean and boosted, wish we could hear more of that. That is the most surprising part to me. Also, different guitars and pickups maybe, but great job anyways guys, hope to hear more.

[@13thdukeofwybourne]

Wow. I’m also speechless. What a sound. What epic playing. Fender ought to send you one each after that great advert!

[@kasimirokaz3775]

Agreed 100% Even the clean channel sounds freaking mind blowing

[@donovanweber6059]

Peach Guitars does impress. Very professional always keeping your thumb on the pulse of every production making sure the rhythm is in time and stays tight giving every video a great feeling of relevance the whole way through . In a crowded market place you've easily made your own Mark and it's obvious Peach Guitars is here to stay.

[@carlhungus2521]

thankyou so much for this video, you just saved me so much stress. I had wanted this amp for a while but was so close to getting the 65 deluxe but just felt a twinge in my nuts so I decided to hold off one more night before ordering. I am so happy I did because this iconic sounds so much better for what I will be doing with it than the deluxe reverb would. Thanks so much

[@dw5150dw]

Bought the ivory combo from watching this thanks guys it's phenomenal

[@jonasirw1]

Great demo vid, guys.. Played one these last week and am super impressed by it.. The clean channel is spectacular ..easily at the same level of a classic fender twin. IMO - Cleans on EVH’s haven’t been anywhere near this good before

[@scottbabb4485]

For all the negative comments when this first premiered a month or two ago... that sounds pretty damn good. I'm contemplating selling my Peavey 5150 ii head for one of these. The Peavey is fantastic but it's too big and too loud for most applications. Great video guys.

[@donkasner2396]

I could listen to you both play all day long through this amp… tasty as hell.

[@mangstrum]

This is the amp of amps incredible cleans to blues to rock to metal

[@jeffbeck6501]

I wished I had an amp like that. Thank for demo'ing it with the original style of Van Halen guitar. The REAL Van Halen guitar. It is nice to have the Wolfgang style too, as Eddie slowly removed all the problems with the Fender Stratocaster, but he killed all the rumble excitement in the process. I saw Eddie in 78 at the Texas Jam 1, and then a year later at Texas Jam 2. He sounded way better at Texas Jam 1 in 78, than in 1979. In 79 he had changed to the Floyd Rose Tone Killing system, and he changed to wireless. The put on a big show using the wireless, and so... there is that, but it sounded like a grainy wireless unit, with a noise gate, and a Floyd Rose. He still had tuning issues at the end. But in 78, the guitar sound was ON FIRE. And for everyone to see the guitar go out of tune slowly on the first 7 songs, ...and to see him fight that, and to see his face fighting that and struggling to hold the guitar together, and to play what it can still play, and to compensate in real time and transcend the tuning, ...just make it to where it is not a problem when soloing That was such a dramatic thing. To see him go out of tune. It was like "oh no". Everyone was at the edge of their seats. It was an epic battle. They will not show us that film. Maybe to keep the magic in our minds. It probably would not look as cool as it was in real time, live. The sound was amazing. Eddie's guitar sound was amazing. He used a cable, not wireless.

[@mattduffy8402]

Oh no he went out of tune, shit happens. That's probably before Floyd's had fine tuners.

[@jeffbeck6501]

@@mattduffy8402 yeah, Floyd Rose killed all of his tone, along with the wireless system.

[@jacobarmstrong5308]

lmao you must've had 5150 beers during the show man. no way was "everyone on the edge of their seats" because Eddie's guitar went out of tune 😂 😂 😂

[@jeffbeck6501]

@@jacobarmstrong5308 I was there. You could hear a pin drop in the middle of Eruption in between the parts. Not one person was even breathing. They were all holding their breath. You were not there. I was there. You have never seen anything like what happened and I only saw that once. You have to understand the magnitude of the moment. In 1978, Eddie was so far ahead of everyone else. And Eruption sounded like the album. You don't seem to understand a word I am saying.

[@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 12 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 12 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 Morley Mark Tremonti 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

[@Neridog]

Just bought this amp and love it. I kinda miss the 3 channel/dual concentric volume and gain knobs set up that the 5150IIIs have, but the clean and overdrive on one channel thing works too. Awesome amp!

[@TahmidRahman]

Cant imagine Amps sounding any better

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

Man, this made me want one so bad...!

[@MattGregoryGuitar]

Damn that guy can play! What an awesome demo - GAS!!! EDIT - sorry - BOTH guys can really play

[@markslist1542]

That is one of the best lead tones I've ever heard.

[@rocksteady6448]

Anything evh is the real deal

[@AuntAlnico4]

The stealth 50 watt is the best amp I've ever had but this icon 5150 looks like the best modern amp today.

[@michaelgarcia2050]

That thing sounds amazing. Who's designing these now?

[@zabvza7457]

13:25 sold me, that was honest to god one of the dirtiest dive bombs I’ve ever heard and the amp blasted it out the front just as you wanted it to

[@miquelmarti6537]

The 15w combo version is super sweet also. Best valve practice amp i,v met, at bedroom volumes it still sounds like a mini 4x12. .... and at full blast it can compete against a loud drummer.

[@reoquinn]

I purchased this amp because of this great review. Great job!

[@jonballen1550]

Sounds like a boosted Marshall for sure.

[@My.Guitar.Journey]

I went there on weds and brought the last one and I'm not disappointed 🤘🤘

[@PeachGuitars]

Great shout! Glad you digging it!

[@Deaner78]

Awesome video guys, this amp sounds amazing!!!!

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

I got a block letter 5150 I'm 2008, it had a blown fuse but person thought it needed a new transformer so I got it for £150. Took a guess on the fuse and had a perfect 5150 for £150

[@PeachGuitars]

Steal of the century, well played man!

[@giancarlopaolini7529]

In a nutshell ....yeah, I like it ....I'm gonna get one 🙂 Thank you guys ....

[@SpinandThrowDiscGolf]

James Brown is the most underrated designer in amp history

[@asianaxeman]

Who's the most rated then?

[@philfrank5601]

What? He's like the only well known amp designer from the early 5510s until now.

[@TheRealKirkHammett]

James brown is a singer. You HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOURE TALKING ABOUT!!!!! BluH BLaH BeA BeH bAw BeE BoO Bawwwww

[@andrewcrawley285]

ORDERED JUST BECAUSE OF THIS VIDEO!!!!!!

[@PeachGuitars]

Thanks Andrew, enjoy your awesome amp!

[@andrewcrawley285]

AND JACKS PLAYING!!

[@RodRanDusted]

Great review. Convinced me to immediately purchase the Black combo. Thank you!

[@pizzalord6890]

how is it?

[@Nikoo033]

Not my type of amp, but damn, sounds beasty! 🤩

[@kimblez]

'sufficient trouser flap '..... so English I love it

[@jmartini8875]

Have not played one. However, his overdrive pedal is eddie in a box. Love mine.

[@SC-wu2dn]

Great post! Fantastic demo!! Both of you guys play like demons 🔥🔥

[@TIGER6505]

Well done you guys at Peach Guitars! You clearly know how to dial this amp right way! You made it sound so good! Super! Actually after this video..I will serious consider it!

[@carlhungus2521]

some knobs on reddit were bashing this kid for wanting one of these amps and one ballbag was saying how he had one but got rid of it after a week cuz he absolutely could not get one good tone out of it. I basically told him he might want to think about taking up another instrument because the guys at Peach guitars got the sickest tone in about 34 seconds

[@gtrraider84]

U can get rid of the feedback on the gate on ch2… by facing away and taking 2 steps from the amp. The transformer / magnets are too close

[@rushindragin361]

Big dude has a good touch

[@zfatbcvxbthsbcv]

“Sufficient trouser flap” all we need

[@thexnewyorker7284]

Thanks for a great review . Just bought one

[@ericskinner7355]

Now we need a 20/5w lunch box with the 6L6 power.

[@kostisk8914]

I guess I thot block logo 5150 was the EVH block letter at the front vs the his signature. Did realize it was referring to the Peavey logo per se. Cool vid.

[@KyleSwaters]

You’re correct! The block logo is the “EVH” not the peavey logo

[@drunyon08]

The original Peavey EVH, block letter amplifier were no different than the signature ones that came out later. The reason for the change was EV speakers thought it was too close to their logo so I believe they threaten a lawsuit etc.. The Peavey corporation logo was changed from the original pointy stuff to what it was for Ed because he didn’t like the original Peavey logo I can’t blame him really.

[@KTzovanis]

For a home use only im between the 5150 15w and marshall dhl 1 head and a marshall 1x12 cab. I don't know yet.

[@petergraham9267]

Fun is the right word! What a sound!! (btw, could you NOT point a spotlight directly at the camera from behind the amp, pretty please?? Some of us have sight issues, and that light is blinding.......I enjoyed listening to this video, but would have loved watching it as well ;) :-))

[@rickcrotts6673]

Sounds like a dimed and boosted plexi without all the hiss and mud

[@southwestshooters]

Hello Peach Team! This is a wonderful video. Both of you are excellent players and the tone is fantastic. Please can you let me know how it was recorded? The tone is really quite amazing and I'd really like to know how you recorded the audio on this video before I purchase it.

[@timbushong4387]

"...sufficient trouser-flap..." Brilliant!

[@thomashalley7258]

Only thing it really needs is a third button on the foot switch so you can turn on the overdrive/burn circuit with the foot switch.

[@OrangeMicMusic]

Everything fine, but how the amp was recorded? Line out? I don't see any microphone in front of it :)

[@MarshallAmpMan]

Luv you guys, Great Show!

[@michaelmanchesi391]

Wow! This is by far the best review of this amp. I went and bought one today. Love the amp to death! I also have to say that the run starting at 12 minutes and 55 seconds it’s so killer I am trying to mimic it now lol is there anyway you can tab that for me? I would be incredibly grateful. I know it’s blues and pentatonic runs in the E but there’s just a couple parts I can’t figure out. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks again for the killer review.

[@mikenaykki2173]

Great Amp. 👍👍😎

[@nj1255]

Even though James Brown designed the Iconic, I have to say that the Peavey 6505 1992 is much closer to the block letter than the Iconic. Even a regular 6505 is closer. The Iconic is a great sounding amp though, considering the price. Doesn't beat beat any of its predecessors or cousins, but if you can't find a used 5150/6505 for a good price and you can't afford a 5153 50w, it's a good alternative.

[@jasonadkins3626]

played 1 today at g.c..and it sounded fantastic. it was beside a marshall dsl 40 (about same price) so i played em both and the dsl sounded pitiful next to this beast. clean tone is pretty good but lets face it, you not gettin this to play it clean. lol... sounds fantastic..

[@PeachGuitars]

It's a great amp isn't it! Glad you enjoyed it, you know where to come if you wanna add one to your collection!

[@johnjacobs5690]

God I need this amp I got the Frankie I got the 5150 now I need this amp and I'll be sounding good but I have to work hard

[@monkeyfinger7949]

What a couple of salesmen huh? This amp can do no wrong. Just buy it!

[@josephresch6302]

Outstanding. This doesn’t seem to be mic’d up, were you using the xlr out to an interface for the amp audio?

[@zevik84]

This or the Orange Rocker 32 all tube stereo amp? What do you think?

[@chrisstafford2497]

That is my next purchase

[@AndyK.23]

I guess the "burn" switch is really a "III / BLOCK" gain type switch.Not a "more gain" switch.

[@greg_online]

Entertaining and informative, love your chemistry, great video!!

[@fmarburger]

Is channel 2 with boost on sound like the EVH Overdrive pedal. (Is pedal needed if I get amp?)

[@Firesign85]

Can it get some ac dc like crunch??

[@antilaw9911]

I like the black

[@mazklassa9338]

Jared Taylor, anybody ? 5:40 "h'white" lol

[@synhet84]

Where should i put the LOAD impedance 4, 8 or 16 ohms? i'm playing at bedroom level. i have the 40W combo.

[@jsr-uz3oj]

What pedals are you using.

[@lancelowery4027]

Mine blew up after about an hour took it back got another one it lasted about a day and blew up too. Bought a Marshall DSLCR 20 and never looked back. The Marshall is by far a better amp

[@Ian_Coast]

It hit me!

[@KennethGurholt]

Great job guys!!😎

[@edhaxel9583]

I own this but its cream. I also own Marshall and boogie. A boy can't have enough toys

[@godzillasimpson8357]

They’re literally 2 British George lynch’s

[@carlhungus2521]

somebody below mentioned a headphone jack so thought I'd mention the 10" combo has headphone jack the 12" combo does not

[@kostisk8914]

Hey I must of missed it, but this is DI with like a cab sim?

[@brandon_945]

What about this amp for Yngwie-inspired tone?

[@papachee323]

Do you know if it takes pedals well?

[@tjnugent62]

James designed this amp when he returned to EVH.

[@bobilly]

That's some damn good guitar sound

[@johnhunter3881]

does it have a power down switch?

[@CFChristian]

Jesus Christ I need one.

[@dreamcaptureweddingfilms]

great to hear two amazing players make a rock amp sound different as in there styles come through..