The Truth About The 5150 Iconic..

[@TaylorDanley]

JOIN US 😈patreon.com/taylordanley

[@jamesbrown7468]

I’ve discussed this before but it bears repeating: when I designed the first 5150 combo I ended up tweaking it tighter than the block letter….Ed liked the change so much he had me mod a block letter the same and that was the basis of the 5150 II….all 5150’s after that had the same tighter attack. So the original (and its signature and 6505 children) have a thicker attack and the everything else including all EVH branded 5150’s are tighter and chunkier. I purposely made the Burn switch on the Iconic Red channel lean back to that thicker attack, although the gate helps keep it tighter feeling. Hopefully that helps explain things. ✌️

[@TaylorDanley]

Thank you so much for all this information. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this for people. Yes it absolutely makes sense! I think you made a killer amplifier, and even though I bought this specifically for the video, I enjoyed it so much that I’m keeping it. Besides my block letter is pretty beat up and needs a break 🤣 Thanks for everything you do! 💪

[@jamesbrown7468]

@@TaylorDanley awesome, I’m glad you like it ✌️

[@escalator9734]

@@jamesbrown7468 Thank you for making such an important series of amps. You and evh revolutionized the sound of an entire genre of music

[@jamesbrown7468]

@@escalator9734 thanks and YW✌️

[@MrJimlen]

i sold my el34 5153- directly after i bought this., this amp is the only one i will ever need ever again., its fantastic- thank you for making this amp sir :)

[@davu9027]

If the amp sounded bad, it wasn't the amp. It was the fucking cabinet and speakers, some people don't understand that the sound is mostly affected by the speaker and cab.

[@emartinezr]

Nah. It's not even that. It's the settings. Presence and Resonance. They are not setup the same as the original 5150 so if you go with the same on the iconic, it will sound weird. Just dial it for the tone you like, without thinking of what the og 5150 would have been and... enjoy. It's an awesome amp with a lot of tone variety and options available.

[@aaroncarr3413]

@@davu9027 no for real, I love using a cheap cabinet on my 5150 tribute. It takes tremolo so well, and the volume drop is insane. While still having that mid scooped tone

[@theblessing33]

Yeah something sounds really rough about this video. I’m going to give some honest feedback, but both sound bad here

[@Blaze_1221]

I love how you can see the tubes glow as you play 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻 I want one

[@scdre1974]

I bought a new Peavey 5150 head when they first came out and the retail price was $1200 . The straight cab was $599 and the angled cab was $499.

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks for letting us know! I wonder when they dropped in price so dramatically?

[@Donnie_Thornberry]

@@TaylorDanley late 90's.

[@barryprovost4597]

About $2400 for the head in 2022 with inflation. Wow.

[@daved2352]

I'm pretty sure when I first saw them in 2003 the retail price was £1100, surprised the price didn't change much over those years.

[@gregwinter8503]

You are correct. I was in my first year of college and wanted one so bad but couldn’t afford one.

[@grippysocksftw]

I love that his guitar face is "did the dog crap in the hallway?"

[@coffinshaker]

Not sure about 1992 but in '95 I wanted a block letter like yours and they were selling for $950 new at two higher end music stores in Seattle. I eventually bought a used block letter OG 2 in 1996 for $500 and still use it to this day. I also have the EVH 5150 III and surprisingly for being 25 years apart they sound very similar. Didn't know much about the Iconics, this is a great video - thanks.

[@solomonicdemons680]

Great Review man like always lml. You really made it chug and I also like to play more with the Green Channel.

[@TaylorDanley]

GREEN CHANNEL FOR LYFE!!! 😈

[@TobyKBTY]

Another comment for the SICK demo. Finally a great demonstration of this amp used in extreme metal applications, and that track was nasty.

[@countdowntoforever]

Agreed

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks dude 💪 🤘

[@nashmanzl]

Most of the hate came from one KZbinr who doesn't believe in "bad publicity". If it weren't for that one guy, there may have been zero hate around this amp.

[@brandonjackson5865]

I enjoy some of his content, but when he went to the store and demoed it, it actually sounded pretty good through just a cell phone video he took. I have an opinion that amps are like beers . I used to drink a ton of beer and I’d say I liked it all from Keystone and, Old Milwaukee , through Coors and Budweiser, on to Sam Adam’s, my favorites were the micro brewery from the locality I was currently drinking in , I’ve even bought a few bottles of Chimay and enjoyed them. My point being every beer had a place and purpose. I sorta feel the same way about gear especially amplifiers. Everything has a place from entry level Vyper amps up to Bogner , Diesel , and Mezzabarba . I don’t like the doom and fuzz amps ( not talking about Orange I love those especially the OR15) personally, but it doesn’t bother me if you do . I just didn’t see the point in aggressively campaigning against the Iconic. If you don’t like something just say, it’s not my thing. I think there are better amps for the money ( standing in front of 50 or so of the most “ Iconic “ rock and metal heads of the last 35 years . I didn’t dig the animosity of the channel, but he has some interesting content and I kind of like the single camera in a room casual thing . I also love the other guitar channels that go all out. Sometimes back in my drinking days I just wanted a couple or three stove pipe ice beers to get buzzed quickly, then sometimes I wanted a single 15 dollar bottle of high end craft brew . Everything has a place .

[@pat1012]

Who was it that gave it hate?

[@TaylorDanley]

In the KZbin community, it's been mostly positive. In the forums online, it's been pretty mixed although I think most of that is speculation more so than actual experience.

[@brandonjackson5865]

@@pat1012 he ain’t hard to find he decided it wasn’t for him based on the EVH demo, and it sounded fizzy on that demo but everyone who’s tested it have been able to get their tone out of it I don’t know why EVH didn’t dial it in better in the official demo even with the matching cab I think it could’ve sounded better cabs and speakers aren’t sexy but account to probably 75 percent of your tone but you can get an acceptable out of nearly anything that EVH demo tone may have sounded killer in a mix ever heard the rhythm guitar stems from master of puppets ? It sounds kinda dull and fizzy the bass guitar is the mojo that actually defines and makes that rhythm tone godlike check out Rick Beato’s video on Master of Puppets

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@brandonjackson5865 Yeah, I did not like the official demo video for the Iconic. It sounded like crap. I also didn't like that Louis Torres guys demo either, it also sounded like crap. But I watched other demo's of the Iconic where it sounded pretty good! But that doesn't mean I want to buy one. Tube amps are just not worth it anymore. Way overpriced for what you get. Most of the time, you are paying extra for the "name" that is on it. Even the high-end amps that sell for $3,000 have about $900 worth of parts in/on them. The cheaper one's like the Iconic are probably $400 worth of parts. Maybe less. I like some of the features of the Iconic, but some of those features don't even work that good. The reverb sucks, and so does the noise-gate. The 1/4-power feature is nice. The bad things about the Iconic are: the pre-amp circuit is not all-tube, and these things are "made in China". They are also only getting 80-watts out of those four power tubes, probably because that is the limitation of the transformers. Or maybe they are running them at lower power to extend the life, which is okay if that's why they are doing it. 80-watts is plenty loud for most situations anyway. I think the amp to compare the Iconic to would be the EVH 50-watt Stealth. If the Iconic can get close to the Stealth in terms of tone and headroom, then it would be a decent value for the money. Iconic is made in China, Stealth is made in Mexico. Stealth is around $500 more, but it is all-tube circuits. I have not seen inside the Iconic yet, nobody has posted any gut-shots. I have seen inside the Stealth, and I am NOT impressed. Too much PCB going on inside there. Digital modeling, and solid-state has come a long way since the 90's. We don't need tube amps anymore. The more expensive they keep getting... the easier it will be for people to move away from them. I got away from tube amps a long time ago... I am glad I did. Zero regrets.

[@AllMetalReview]

Cant wait to see your collab with thisheavyearth. Got the flesh rot coming soon. Love your videos man. The iconic sounded so full and aggressive. Great demo

[@TaylorDanley]

Awesome! The fleshrot is a sweet pedal! Hopefully Boomstick lives up to it.

[@BunchyMutt]

@@TaylorDanley Yoo yoosed it with the Crate BlooVoodoo too? If soo it soonds frookin broodtal unt soo approoprioot to yoor stooyle.

[@jorgea.9988]

15:27 This Is Absol... Oops, almost caught on copyright 😆😂

[@jeremydeats9406]

Back in 92' the head was selling for $950 new and they were VERY sought after and during the "block letter" release VERY hard to find. This was long before the days of on-line shopping, Guitar Centers were few and far between and wouldn't really deal their blow to mom & pop stores for another 4-6 years. So if you could find a store that actually had a 5150 for sale they were locked in on that MSRP price, some even selling a little above it or requiring the full stack be solid with head and cabs for I believe around $1800. This was expensive back in the day.... Eddie's signature Music Man guitar even much more illusive. I recall calling the Guitar Center's central Houston location every week asking if they had gotten one in... This was a time I'd visit guitar stores around town almost every weekend and I think over 4-5 years Music Man was producing these I only saw them in store twice (played them both times). We all speculated back then than his early Peavey and signature model guitar would be incredibly valuable some day... Within a few years of release, the Peavey 5150 was common to see in any Peavey dealer, the signature guitars, even after he switched to Peavey Wolfgang models hard to find until late 90s.

[@Clipsjetsmets]

This video made me purchase a iconic as a backup for my signature 5150. Job well done. Now that it arrived I’m even more impressed in person. Green channel is *chefs kiss*! Running them in stereo sounds so amazing.

[@KillaFXZ]

Dude that Jackson rips with the Iconic, that was dope af! The Grimoire always sounds great too!

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks dude. Think it's time I remove the shrink plastic from the pickups 😂

[@KillaFXZ]

@@TaylorDanley yep been there before! Lol

[@TRVE666]

Can somebody please tell me what is the riff Taylor playing at 5:50? Sounds really familiar, but I can't remember where is it from.

[@TaylorDanley]

It's "Hail" from my band, Sacrificer

[@TRVE666]

@@TaylorDanley thank you!

[@thrash8315]

My only critique of the Iconic is that there is no way to access the Overdrive in the Green Channel in a live setting. One has to physically push the button. There is also no other way to access the burn setting in a live setting. Again, one has to push the button. I can't do that in the middle of a show!

[@dane4453]

I got the 15 watt version. I do not pay live, so not an issue. But, I see your point. However, it was probably done this way to save on costs.

[@emartinezr]

That would have made it a 4 Channel amp. The 5150 iii have 3 channels and cost a lot more. This one has 2 and is pretty affordable. You need to make a compromise, and unless you play very varied music.... you can choose either Clean or crunch 1 + Channel 2 in either standard or Burn. Or Overdriven Ch1 + Ch2. You also have the Boost pedal swith which opens up a sort of Lead channel. So.... Ch1 either clean or OD plus Ch2 with or without Burn for rhythm. Then Boost for solos. Or... use an OD pedal.

[@YonkyKADAVER]

Who play with overdrive having distortion? The clean channel is only to tune the guitar. Don´t be soft man.

[@markhardin7252]

Dude that was a sick Jam you riffed reminds me of George Kollias's of nile album. Nice work.

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks dude 🙏 🥳

[@rossbalch]

To be honest, I'm not gonna miss the tubes in the EQ circuit and effects loop buffer, they barely effect the tone there anyway.

[@johnhotz1400]

@@rossbalch funny how I don't use any pedals hardly at all anymore except maybe an overdrive but I own all these pedals! In all kinds of musical stuff! But it all comes down to a bunch of Watts big ass 4 x 12 in the damn good guitar Kramer!

[@maddoxmay611]

Sweet!!!!! Been waiting for this video for a few weeks, so excited!!! Thanks Taylor!

[@TaylorDanley]

I'm happy you're happy!

[@SocksworthRiffs]

this sounds miles more brutal than most other demos, and I love the tones. The only issue I have with the Iconic is that I don't see a point in buying it at 1000 dollars when a used 5150III 50W can be had for around the same price, or the stealth. I'm NOT saying that its fair to compare a new amp to a used one, but I couldnt imagine me with the cash in hand choosing this amp over one of those that have a bigger feature set. I'd love to pick one of these up used for around 650-700 if anything, and that's just because my brain is still partly stuck in the prepandemic times of seeing used 6505s and 5150s going for pennies on the dollar.

[@TaylorDanley]

I’m with you, I bought this one used lol

[@escalator9734]

It's crazy to me too, but I found a lot of people really don't want to buy used. I guess It's a good thing, more things for us to get

[@SAagreedSA]

Two years of not worrying about it inspired me to get it new. One trip to the amp tech and one of those used ones starts climbing in price, and that's for an easy fix, you know? Hopefully never have issues but I've had too much shit fail on me over the years for one reason or another to discount some peace of mind.

[@chrisday5341]

Good shit man! Ive owned a 5150II and a 6505+. Both were fantastic amps. I played the Iconic a couple times and I liked it a little more. More versatility and it sounds a little more aggressive to me. You can't go wrong either way but for the price even used 5150/6505s are going go for the iconic is a steal.

[@heavybrett-al4082]

I brought EVH Wolfgang couple of weeks ago, and I tested the guitar in store through the iconic combo, and man it sounded bloody fantastic! So I ended up thinking myself, why all the online hate?

[@nathanielcava4128]

I loved the combo as well! Not sure the hate. It sounds great and has modern features

[@TaylorDanley]

Idk I think people just jump to conclusions from listening to the official evh demo through their phones speaker

[@dotkennedy5292]

I just bought the 5150 Iconic 1x12 combo. Still not sure how much I like it. Even with the onboard noise suppressor dimed out, it still has a LOT of hiss when using the red channel.

[@thinkingjack]

You need to tell us more about that boost pedal dude! I can’t wait to hear about it more

[@michaelbarber590]

I have the ML Sound Lab Icon plugin, which many have said is a very good emulation of the actual amp. If the real amp sounds that good, then it's one of the best things I've ever heard.

[@tatt2guy86]

I use the iconic head with a 2x12 cab loaded with v30s. I run a Friedman BE-OD, Revv g8, and a 6 band EQ. It sounds really great with that setup in my opinion. I think the only reason this amp got hate was from people who can't play anyways, or, diehard tube amp critics. Not sure if anyone really spent time dialing in tones, most probably just tried to use settings from other more expensive amplifiers. I love my setup and the way it sounds.

[@Neesavampi]

Just got the combo, love it! Now you've got me wanting to hook up my TS9 in front. Thanks!

[@travisrathmann8940]

Dude, I didn't hear a word you said after that pedal hit the floor behind you... I was literally mumbling, "you gonna pick that up?" over and over in my mind. LOL I know this is an older vid but I still appreciate your perspective as I am considering an iconic on the used market. You're definately one of my favorite axe related contributors. Thanks and keep em coming. METAL FURY!

[@bardicdad]

The price of the original 5150 depended on the dealer. I remember when I was shopping for them in 1992, the head was around 800, and the cabs were roughly 200 a pop, so $1200 for the whole package. You had to work to get the sound from the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album because that album was recorded with Laneys and Soldanos (esp Soldanos), but you definitely got in the zone. FWIW, I was told on good authority that he was touring with his Marshall Plexi miked backstage. Chonky sounds with the Iconic.

[@djabthrash]

15:35 this sick riff sounds very Burnt By The Sun / Ripping Corpse. Love it

[@TobyKBTY]

Yes, wasn't expecting you to make content about this! I sold a Katana and a DSL20c for the 40w combo, and it's been a blast. Without a boost, it's VH and shred city on both channels and really shines in E standard and E flat. But honestly with a noise gate and a good OD, it totally does the modern thing too. Maybe not as well as its 5150III big brothers (The original 5150III 100 and 5150III Stealth are still the greatest high gain amps I've ever tried), but it totally hangs and does way better than any modern high gain combo IMHO. It simply rocks, especially for the price.

[@TaylorDanley]

Yeah, I almost think the stealth has too much gain. Did I just say that? Who am I?

[@prometherion3089]

@@TaylorDanley never too much gain lol

[@rickyshults4932]

10:06 LOL does it now taylor? these are big finds in our world today :P

[@StephenCameron]

I still have the receipt for the 5150 head and 5150 slant cab I bought new in Sept. 1993, List price: $899.99 and $699.99 respectively, but the sale price I paid was $629.98 and $472.48 respectively.

[@bradschimke5865]

Holy shit the riff at the 3:42 with the pick scrape my dude! It’s Mr Nasty Time!😳🤘🏻🔥🔥🔥

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks dude!

[@djabthrash]

06:10 what's this riff again ?

[@woochyna]

Should be talking about amps, but the ts9 is the best OD you used in this video. Cleans and tightens everything in a very pleasing way.

[@TaylorDanley]

You can talk about whatever you want! Thanks for your input 🙏

[@scaleitback1055]

The boomstick was way sicker IMO

[@DavidMadeira29]

I did it too, I've selected muff for the green channel, then I've set medium toast for the yellow and clean on the red, but then it was occasionally all a mess. I hate these phones with a key to the heart of a noseless wiring. Was Bluetooth^ already a thing at the time?! I don't know. Namastè.

[@stephenwinchester6668]

I need that second overdrive pedal!! The boom stick, how do I get it? A quick search did nothing!

[@TaylorDanley]

It's in the prototype phase right now, I'm just test driving it so we can tweak it before it goes into production. There will be a video on it when it's ready.

[@stephenwinchester6668]

@@TaylorDanley I’ll keep an eye out for any updates, that thing sounds killer!!!! 🤘

[@luukeksifrozenhillbillyeur3407]

Awesome presentation, and relevant to my genre too! Definitely considering getting one

[@philipandersen4406]

In a full mix its definitely harder to hear the difference but by themselves the OG is so much thicker sounding, which may or may not matter. Both are bad ass in a touch different ways

[@emartinezr]

Yeah that thicker sound is what you get on the new Iconic with the "Burn" switch on. Burn off sounds a little closer to the 5150 iii.

[@driftthekaliyuga7502]

8:40 sounds like a hot rodded JCM800 you get from Hate Eternal. It's awesome.

[@DouglasMelchiades]

I had two og 5150, not the same exactly sound even with same cabs, tubes etc.. both great as this new icon seems to be 🤘🏼 great video as always

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks dude! 🤘

[@rodcrist]

Did you put the logo plates behind the grille?

[@TaylorDanley]

I didn’t, it was like that when I bought it… but the previous owner definitely did. They don’t come like that.

[@rodcrist]

@@TaylorDanley It looks cooler this way!

[@brandonbryson3317]

I would say it honestly sounds better than the original in a lot of way. I have an OG block but I kind want to get one of these now.

[@TaylorDanley]

It's different in a lot of ways, but very familiar in a lot of ways if you know what I mean.

[@kennethc2466]

It's NOTHING like my Peavey 5150. NOTHING. My friend brought his new one over, and my 5150 and 5150II buried it. The Iconic sounds grainy and muddy as hell next to them. It feels NOTHING like the original, sounds NOTHING like it, and resembles it in name only.

[@brandonbryson3317]

@@kennethc2466 interesting. I watched Tone Wars video and the iconic buries the 5150 block letter he is using in that particular scenario haha I’ll just have to try them side by side. I do like my 50 watt stealth better than my Block Letter.

[@kennethc2466]

@@brandonbryson3317 I'm talking about the ROOM, not a miked up production. Anything can bury anything in a video. You can make a Line 6 POD bury a Peavey XXX in a video, coming through a phone speaker. I'm talking about playing with another GUITARIST, DRUMMER, a BASS PLAYER, and a SINGER! You know, like what the 5150 was built for, and not the ICONIC 'sounds good on youtube' Fender budget amp.

[@K707OR30]

Bought the head and cab a couple months ago, been stoked on it. I also got the combo for practice. With the right OD it can sound killer. It isn’t the best amp in existence but it holds its own against my OG 5150. When rehearsing with my bandmate where we do a ton of harmonizing the iconic stack blends really well with his dual rec/1960av. And yeah the features on this amp are great. Not the biggest fan of the reverb on it but the rest of the features at the price point you can’t really ask for much more. I may play around with trying different speakers in my combo as a test for what I may want to do in the 4x12 cab. There’s room for improvement but they’re not bad, but to your point the R&D probably went into the head and the speakers just aren’t going to be top tier $200+ Celestion/Eminence models. But overall if you can’t get a good tone out of this amp, it’s a you problem not the amp.

[@TaylorDanley]

That's interesting, let us know if you upgrade the 4x12 and how much of a difference it makes! I'm curious about cab construction vs speakers.

[@K707OR30]

@@TaylorDanley will do! The cab is mdf sides/back and plywood front where the speakers are mounted. Also a brace in the middle front to back. Aluminum handles on the cab (more than I can say for other “better” cabs), nice tolex. The cab is overall quite nice in my opinion. I think my biggest takeaway is the presence on the amp can be a night and day difference between 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock. I can’t even imagine going past 2 o’clock on the presence without the treble making my ears bleed. And if the overall tone profile is a bit too scooped in the mids for your tastes, a 1-2dB bump with an MXR 10 band or your favorite EQ around 800-2k makes a huge difference.

[@TaylorDanley]

@@K707OR30 Oh totally agreed, presence past noon for me is a deal breaker. It actually made me realize that I prefer it that way on the OG too... Although the top end on the OG breaks up a little better IMO

[@nbcviper]

Why doesn't anyone give a scooped mid sound???

[@dimebagfan42022]

Dude I want one of the boom stick pedals !! Just curious if you named it from the army of darkness movie ? Killer video man

[@TaylorDanley]

100% I know it's hard to see, but Shea went ahead and acid etched Ash holding up the shotgun on the pedal.

[@dimebagfan42022]

@@TaylorDanley that is Fucking amazing dude .. we wrote a song called evil dead but it’s a tribute to all of those movies really 🤘🏻.. makes me want that pedal even more now lol

[@TYLERtheMAGGOT1]

This is the best review of the amp I had ever seen. I just got a Maxon ST9 Pro+ and it pairs perfect with my EVH Iconic. I love the amp. I've also been using my Jackson SL2 Mick thomson signature and it sounds so great all together.

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks so much 🙏 those have blackouts as well, don’t they?

[@TYLERtheMAGGOT1]

@@TaylorDanley yes sir. The signature mick thomson blackouts EMTY. They're amazing

[@TaylorDanley]

@@TYLERtheMAGGOT1 I almost think I like the blackouts sound better with this amp than my EMGs. I’m also totally willing to admit that it could be in my head 🤣

[@TYLERtheMAGGOT1]

@@TaylorDanley I'm with you on that. I have a LTD EC-1000 work EMG 81s as well as a Solar A2.6 with the regular blackouts and I thought the blackouts sound a bit better on the Iconic, as well as the EMTY blackouts. The brightness of the Iconic make the blackouts shine. I agree

[@shredaintdead9323]

If you don't like this amp, you either can't hear tone, cant dial in an amp amp or you can't play guitar well. This amp is killer. Feature and Tone packed for a fantastic price. The hate is beyond dumb.

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks for dropping in dude!

[@shredaintdead9323]

@@TaylorDanley anytime dude!

[@Hazardteam]

02:55 Why you need 5150 for this noise pollution? I don't got it. Isn't a coffee grinder enough or what?

[@anthonygodfrey5236]

April 1992 Peavey U.S. Suggested Retail Prices is the first price list with the 5150. The retail price was $899.99.

[@gabrieltaylor6196]

The info might be out there, but I would be very interested to know how much input evh actually had, if any, in developing this Amp before he passed.

[@greenbaysixxstring5008]

The Brown Sound Wasn't his sound! He was talking about Alex's drum sound.

[@No_Lucks_Given]

I have the 5150 iconic 40w combo and it's fantastic. In the 10w setting I can play it inside and it sounds great. I replaced the speaker with a celestion heavy cream back. It's just good. I don't think I'll need another amp unless for some reason I'll need more power which I down I'll need.

[@whatdoyoucare777]

He actually bought and used a Variac because the marshall heads that he had were rated at 220 volts which is what england uses and here in America we use 120... So he had to drop the amps voltage in order for the amp to work to begin with and in doing so he found that dropping the voltage and having the amp cranked lowers the volume but gives a more gain saturated tone.

[@RodRanDusted]

I love the 5150 and EVH badges placed in the inside of the grill.

[@calebneff5777]

I’m picking one up tomorrow, stoked for it! The amp really came alive when you turned down the low end, should’ve turned it down a lot more!

[@TaylorDanley]

Can’t do it… I love having ridiculous amounts of low end 🤣

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@TaylorDanley Yeah, when you play by yourself in your bedroom, low-end is great! But when you are with a band, you gotta roll that off.

[@TaylorDanley]

@@TheCyberMantis no, you just need a band that loves and respects your needs and together you can build a relationship based off of trust and not fear. If your band makes you turn down your low end, it just wasn’t meant to be 😢

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@TaylorDanley It's not about that. It's about getting into the bass guitar's sound range. Below a certain frequency, is the space for the bass guitar. If the guitar is in that range too, it can be too boomy sounding to the audience. Then the FOH guy has to try and compensate to tame the muddy low-end. This is why I don't even like 7-string guitars, or 5-string basses. You get an overlap into each others range. If the band has a keyboard player... he can get into those ranges too. It all adds up.

[@TaylorDanley]

@@TheCyberMantis I’m just making jokes dude, I understand how mixing works. While I disagree about it being entirely necessary to cut out your low end to accommodate your bass player, if you feel it’s necessary have at it! You do you champ!! 💪

[@UpUpBobby]

5150 Distortion > Rectifier Distortion don't @ me

[@tobins6800]

Liked the boomstick with the iconic. Ts9 with OG. Gotta say though, if you can get Bruce Campbell to have even a replica signature, that'd just be cake. Army of Darkness was just hilarious.

[@TaylorDanley]

One of my favorite movies! Not sure what the actual art is going to be yet, probably something commissioned, so it won't be the same as the prototype. But we're gonna try and keep it close to the movie.

[@saltpeter7429]

"Listen up you medieval screwheads!.." Shop smart. Shop s- mart.

[@Matthew_Scan]

I love it the only thing I don’t like is the volume jump on the clean to the overdrive

[@MarkCoffin]

I've owned a 6505 and I currently own the EL34 5150III 50W with matching 2x12 cab. I also have several other cabs, including a Marshall 4x12 1960AV and two different Orange cabs. The new Iconic 80W head absolutely rips through all of them with no external pedals needed unless preferred to taste. Your videos are fun. Torres is high AF. The end.

[@Blacktarprophecies]

When is that boom stick getting released???

[@Werecatyouth13]

Thanks for doing the Iconic justice! Sounds fuckin killer 🤘💀🤘. Couldn't help but notice the Peavey XXL in the background.....demo soon?

[@TaylorDanley]

YES! I just gotta get it on the rotation. Keep an eye out for the poll.

[@Jeremoid]

I don't think the amp sounds bad at all, specially after seeing a couple of reviews from other channels. For me, between the green and red channel there's enough range to cover most of rock and metal tones, and I honestly don't see the need to over-saturate it's sound with an overdrive in the first place. That being said, for that reason I think the video misses the point in the most part, because of trying a bunch of ODs that honestly mess with the tone instead of actually improving it.

[@Patrick-857]

With a modern high gain amp, we don't use an OD to push the gain further, those days are long gone, modern amps have more gain than anyone will need. The reason we use it is to cut low end going in. That's how you get that tight chugging sound. A more modern example is the Fortin Grind pedal, which has a very particular EQ curve that cuts a ton of low end, and boosts a ton of midrange and high end. Combine that thing with a Fortin amp that's essentially his even more extreme take on an already extreme Jose modded Marshall, and you have the Meshugga sound, which is definitely an acquired taste.

[@brendanflaherty6696]

Boom Stick!! Love it. Sounds badass too

[@musicmore5169]

dont people usally use the 85 in the bridge ? just making sure.

[@Z17xMachine]

No, 81 in the bridge.

[@musicmore5169]

@@Z17xMachine Thank you

[@musicmore5169]

only because my schecter hellraiser c-1 frs, w/ sustainiac has an 85 in the bridge and it's insane . B ut wanted to know the OG.

[@u.s.a.198]

i think the amp and 4x12 5150 were about $2200 new?

[@timrussellguitar1516]

Great video Taylor. You are a great guitarist bro.

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks so much man, I really appreciate that!

[@reneotten7376]

That is some crazy playing! How do you make that whip sound at 03m43s?

[@Steadybeheady]

It's so hard to know what to do right now when it comes to 5150 shopping. EVH 5153, stealth, el34, 5150 Iconic, 6505 1992 reissue and 6505 II are all "current" production choices (though only some lucky testers on the last two). I know I'm not going for the el34 variant, but god damn. Which one has the best master volume is another question lol give me that bedroom volume without a lbx?

[@TaylorDanley]

Well the good thing is they are all awesome. I like the 1/4 power on the iconic for that reason personally, but you could always get a power soak or attenuator to run in the effects loop to make the volume more reasonable

[@Steadybeheady]

@@TaylorDanley this is true! Different flavours of the same for sure. An eventual 6505 1992 vs 6505ii shootout would be fire though, just saying! That is a highlight for sure, and you’re right attenuation would be ideal with a dual rect on there too.. Engl has the volume control down pat though!

[@Donotcareabyouropinion]

im running it with the evh cabinet and it sounds undeniably great. anybody says anything else they have no idea what theyre talking about

[@RubyRoks]

I don't know what black magic you worked on the mixed demo, but that's the only time i've heard the Iconic sound passable. In your playthrough of the channels and their various tones, and in every other demo of this amp, it's just sounded weirdly shrill, especially on the red channel. Almost like it needs a setting lower than 0 on the presence knob. The Burn switch (or the Block Letter switch as i'll call it after reading James's comment) helps a little bit by thickening the rest of the sound and thus evening it out a bit, but the harshness remains. I listened to the shootout between the Iconic and the Block whilst tabbed out to a different website and could clearly hear the difference. The Iconic sounded clearer in the low mids and a fair bit brighter

[@LykaonMetalMusic]

Damn these Block Letters have the extra thickness! Awesome!

[@TaylorDanley]

They are a little thicker!

[@poopoo-qz7sw]

Great episode 👍

[@TaylorDanley]

🤘

[@shredaintdead9323]

I agree with poo poo 💩!!!

[@JosephChavez]

I owned an original block letter 5150 way back in 1993 and 1994. I bought (NEW) the head and slanted cabinet from a store in Long Beach, CA February 1993 for $750.00-head and $650.00-cab. Then in July 1994 I bought the straight cabinet for $560.00 from the same store new.

[@TaylorDanley]

Ok that makes more sense. There's another comment that said they went for 1200 new, which seems really expensive to me, but maybe there were just some unscrupulous dealers trying to make a mark up.

[@playthefightriffjohn843]

I thought the Iconic sounded quite a bit better than the block letter in the comparison

[@freeXpizza]

I love mine!! I rip that at all My gigs. Been running it with a 6202 aby and it sounds crazy.

[@barrygomez5968]

That's a sweet roasted Maple neck which model?

[@helio1055]

Iconic sounds much better, who the hell is talking shit about this amp? lmao

[@TVoltG]

I tried one for a few hours.. It's a must get for me now..

[@HaydenMcCarry]

So unrelated but what are you using to get those moving shots on 20:00 🤣 Also, sounds heavy AF, great video!

[@TaylorDanley]

Those are just handheld shots in slow motion. I do use a slider though to ad movement when I'm demoing stuff since I'm a one person operation!

[@PRP-YT]

The Iconic sounds good man, you made it sound better than others on YT i'm not sure if i would buy it new cause you can get the 6505 used still less than 1000$ but the Iconic has some features that the OGs doesn't so. In the mix at the end the OG has that característics mids and is a little more darksounding, but im sure with some tweaking it would sound better, i was actually well surprised with the Iconic, and prefered it over the 5150, thats crazy. props to you. Pedalwise, very surprised that the Grind sounded that bad in all amps and eqs, medal goes to the TS9 but the Boom Stick goes close. Great work with this one Taylor

[@prometherion3089]

The Grind only sounds good in amps like the Mesa's, basically amps that need to be tightened up which is the complete opposite of the 5150s.

[@BattleofTrenton]

Thank you for answering what is brown sound

[@ulrichweber3944]

Thanks for your test, many test videos made by manufacturers are made for the masses. They put their "house guitar" player with the Fender Strat, Tele or a LesPaul with low output pickups and should then bring a convincing impression across. That will simply be nothing. Good that there are guys like you, who with reasonable input the amp then also tickle out the right sound.

[@burndownthegate]

Super sick intro!

[@TaylorDanley]

I'm glad you like it!

[@mattvdh]

Finally someone who can actually play good death metal is demo'ing high gain amps. I'm tired of listening to shitty rock guitarists or chug queens that can only play 3 riffs. The way you put them both in a music context and then solo'd each of them to show the tonal differences was a really great way of showcasing the tones. It's weird how this amp gets such negative feedback when it's actually better or at least equal to the iconic. Maybe they just don't like the look of it? tonally it sounds nearly the same, granted the original 5150 probably chugs a bit harder and more bottom end from more head room/watts, but pretty damn close!

[@Sabbra]

what is this guitar model?

[@FatSoundStudio]

I think the iconic sounds a little less boxy and more open. This is legit the first demo of this that made me go "maybe this thing is killer," .

[@JesseLeeKing]

That pedal that you and your friend are creating is freaking killer my dude.

[@prometherion3089]

Great vid and playing Taylor! What tuning are you in because it sounds absolutely brutal?

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks dude! C standard.

[@apoplexiamusic]

Cool shoot out! The Iconic definitely sounds great, so i wonder what the hate was about. Fun thing i noticed when you're talking, at one point your dB meter reads 66.6 and it seems to be that on average... :D

[@TaylorDanley]

😂 good catch. Idk man, people want to find something to hate on always. "It's the chinese parts... it's missing 2 tubes... it looks weird" 🤷‍♂️ I think it's great.

[@mickenilsson]

I'm really not a hardcore burningpeople/deathtoallparents/chopmylegsoff-metal fan. But I've been enjoying last year of progress on your channel. The quality has increased hugely on your productions and that's a big part why I keep returning to watch your vids. You are more meticulous than most when testing stuff and I like it. Great production means more than people think. Keep going. Enjoying my time here. Subbed and rang the bell 🌹☀️😊 Greets from Sweden

[@shadilamesbutr8239]

How are the built quality and durability?

[@AndrewWukusick]

Hey Taylor, have you tried the Peavey 6505 MH? I've been looking into it but haven't quite seen demos doing it metal justice. Imo you do the best metal demos for peavey style amps, so I would love someday to see you demo one!

[@TaylorDanley]

I haven’t, but one of my patrons just listed one on reverb! I may do some mini head videos in the future, right now I have my sights set on some 90s death metal amps 😈

[@VanjaSpirin]

Man, it's your playing. It is so hystericaly fast that any distorted amp sounds the same. And chugging is allways better/chunkier/stronger without to much gain.

[@isaacvasquez4401]

Lmao, “….your mom’s boyfriend Todd…” I hit the subscribe button for that part alone.

[@JOpethNYC]

Great video. I'll always regret selling my 51050 block letter. Nasty riffs by the way 🤘🎸

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks dude! 💪

[@thisguy2973]

I still believe to this day that the combination of a 5150/6505 with a Celestion greenback loaded plexi cab is the best metal tube tone I’ve ever heard.

[@privateprivate4378]

Hey Metalhead: do you call that music?

[@antoniosober666]

The big sound of the original one was the clean channel with one of tube screamer... for metal. Like Machine Head used to. But for me... if you need a clean sound and a metal one, it was very easy to fix it up. There's no a great clean sound , but works... and then you have the second channel, with a little of love, you get the sound. Its a noisy amp, with a lot of cheap construction issues, like pc hook ups and so on. But, I must say that was a game changer in that years. It was an affordable amp with a great sound. But if you had the money for a SLO 100... that was the right sound.