Thomann Affiliate: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=3210 Sweetwater Affiliate: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0mGvx My personal Thomann recommendations: thmn.to/thocf/cv37zixo68 My webstore for Captures, presets etc: ko-fi.com/sonicdrivestudio Thanks for supporting the channel!
I get killer bedroom tones with my stealth 50 watt head into my old Ampeg 412 with vintage celestion speakers in it. When I run the stealth 50 head into the stealth 212 cabinet it's so so so so fucking loud that I can't even play it indoors. I think it's down to db sensitivity of the modern speakers compared to the old celestion speakers that have been used for decades and well broken in.
Best one for sure. I've had all the different models in both 100 and 50 watt versions. My white pre-concentric knob 6l6 50 watt is the one I have kept and will never sell.
I bought the 6L6 50 watt brand new in January 2014. Waited 18 years for a tube amp. Zero problems, zero regrets. The channel volume jump does not bother me. This version is more pure than concentric versions. 👍🏻💪🏻
I put a 12at7 tube in the V2 position of the red ch 3 pre amps, it really tightened up the fizz and lowered the gain level where it can get beefy without being too hissy, it’s more like the blue channel now with a boost, really tight and thumpy metal tone.
FWIW, AT7 is a terrible replacement for an AX7. It's more of a driver tube. 5751 is a much better lower gain replacement. It has the same transconductance specs as a 12ax7.
The amp sounds great. I love playing in drop tuning as well. I think a lot of players are limiting themselves by not using drop tuning, especially metal players. I guess it's about style but I like the thicker power chords and just the sound of the chords typically played in drop tuning.
Do you have the old version or the new 6l6 with concentric pots? I had the old version. Loved it. Sold it in hard times about 6 years ago. I bought the el34 a few years back but I sold it because I just remember liking the 6l6 way more. The 6l6 was way more versatile and had tones of usable tones on the green and blue channel. The El34 had a few good tones on the green channel but that blue channel didn’t do much. The red channel on the el34 might actually be better than the 6l6 though.
Thanks Jon for this awesome video! Can’t wait to watch the el34 compare! I’ve owned the first gen 50 Watt - but sold it and went with the helix LT - but now I want my EVH back and Iam a bit unsure if I will buy the el34 or the 6l6 version (2. gen). I already own the evh (el34) 2x12 cab and use this with the Palmer and helix. But wanna switch then to the EVH amp again and use the helix as effect unit / controller.
While I've never been crazy about the 15 watt EVH lunchbox amps, the 50 and 100 watt versions (both 6L6 and EL34) are absolutely fantastic! Not sure why that's the case, but to me, that's just the way it rolls...
I had one of these for a while, it sounded awesome but there was something up with it and it did not take pedals well at all. Ended up getting rid of it and got an MT-15 instead. Legendary amp though!
I have the stealth version of this amp and it’s absolutely killer. I run it through a Marshall MX412A with stock cheap Chinese celestian speakers and I still love the tone. Even the clean tone is pretty damn good. It also takes pedals pretty well too.
I wanna hear this amp shot out with the original 5150. I feel like this model is closest to the original. Ihave the 100 watt el34. Imo its the best one of them all but that's just me. I like the channel 2/3 gain trick and use a fuzzlord doom screamer as a boost for saturation.
That's sucks. I bought it 4 years ago (old version, no concentric pots on either gain and volume control in channel green and blue), and it still works well until now.
Low volumes eh?? Hmm, it’d be fun to see the LBXII 15W against this :) the LBXII I had was a bit noisy at idle and even that smaller amp was a bit much for “at home”.
I think I need to switch cabs. I’ve had the amp for a couple of years and it’s ok but I don’t love it. I think the evh 2x12 is just a little harsh compared to a mess 2x12
Will this thing do AiC type of rich high gain tone with the right guitar? I'm thinking of switching amps because I don't want to rely on pedals so much. I like just guitar and amp for my main sound
How do you record this? I want this amp but can you record it into a computer without any sound coming out? Or should I just use an amp sim for when I want to do that
To the owners on here, I have a 6l6 combo and it sounds great but on the red channel, once you turn the gain past 1 o'clock or even all the way up, the rhythm gets muddy. Any suggestions on keeping that gain all the way up without getting muddy? Thanks
Sounds awesome with everything except the Fishmans on the Carpentier sig. Idk why people like those pickups, honestly. They sound super flat and characterless.
Nice sounding amp. I can't understand why such a good amp would use IC caps? Planned obsolescence perhaps? Come on Fender. You can do better than this. How about F&T? And or Mallory and Nichicon etc.?
@@SonicDriveStudio all good... I have a hard time telling the differences between the two. It's a little more obvious when you play it, but not a big deal IMO. To me it's just the updated version of the 6L6 series and should be the main reason for getting the Stealth. A little easier to dialing in the gain and the clean is more pristine... Maybe if you could get it in white? Stealth the white edition?? Well, maybe not... 😅 Cheers mate.
Human nature.....once something becomes too popular and trendy, people tend to look in a different direction. They're still fashionable and will remain popular, but I know a lot of people who like the white just as much. I like both.
My amp, bouth on thomann in 2019 , stopped working on the Red channel !! no warranty. I hardly used this amp ! mox 20 hours, NEVER moven it, only tudio. DONT buy thia map, several reports on LOW quality !
Literally just had mine in black delivered last weekend. Cannot stop playing it. It’s so versatile and that’s just on the blue channel! I liked the EL34 and Stealth versions when I tried them but this one is the perfect in between IMO.
I played on 2 used and one new of these before getting mine and the consistency was dead on. Love my pre concentric and usually set it up for two hi gain channels. Three channel, Midi, Brutal, what else is there to want? Plus HP jack on a 50w head! Wow!
Dude I usually play a quad cortex but I was kind of missing tube amps so I decided to get this... Holy smokes is it ever insane! I've never had this kind of definition on my 7 and 8 string guitars.... What's the best way to record this? Can I send the signal into my quad cortex and then feed that into my computer? I don't really want to make it up as I find the DI version through an IR to be a lot more accurate and noise free.
@@SonicDriveStudio I certainly appreciate the offer 🫴 I'm actually interested in trying to do my own capture I have several reasonably good microphones but I don't have a load box... I wonder if I can manage to get a reasonable capture for my QC of the actual physical amp head? I haven't done any captures yet myself. The only other tube amp I have is a Mesa 50 watt triple Crown... 34 is and around the same amount of 12ax7 in the preamp and power section.... But I've got to say this 5150 is substantially louder!
greetings!, nice video, i think you should try the clean channel as the manual says, i don´t know if you have read it, but here´s some of it. "Note: For a cleaner sound from channels one and two, set these volume controls to their maximum, then bring the gain controls (B) up from their minimum settings to the desired level." so, doing it the right way may change your experience. Peace
I really like everything I've heard from this amp, including this video, your Tonex captures and a handful of various digital models. I'd really like to get this head, but am somewhat discouraged by your double failure experience. In your experience, was this a sort of anomaly, or have several people had similar problems? I'm wondering if perhaps that vendor received a bad batch of amps, or if this is a universal problem. Thanks!
@@SonicDriveStudio Thanks Jon 👍🏻 I just read through the comments and it seems that many people had some issues and many didn’t 🤷🏻♂️ I suppose that as long as I acquire it from a reputable retailer, the risk should be low.
It really is the best. I currently have the Stealth 50 and, frankly, the original 6L6 is the best. The blue channel has a great chunky slightly scooped sound that sits back in the mix so wonderfully for rhythm playing. The Stealth is too mid-foward for this. I miss my non-concentric old 6L6.
Same here. I A/B'd the Stealth and the newer 50w 6L6 through the same rig and I liked the regular 50w 6L6 better on every channel. Even did some tube swapping and the Stealth still didn't stack up. The Stealth went back, the regular 6L6 with concentric knobs stayed.
@@gusmc01 It's going to become a bit of an all time classic, that original 50 watt, I think. Love it. I've compared it to loads of amps and it always comes out on top for my style of rock/metal.
Is this one of the EVH amps that had a bad blue channel or so by reputation?. I want an EVH but was looking at the stealth as the rest of the EVHs seems to get a bashing for the blue channel
I basically have the same set up. I have a 6L6 50 in black and I use LTD deluxe guitars. Plus a Washburn Dime 3 signed by Pantera that is my secret little weapon. That clean song was pretty sweet. How you get the guitars sounding so loud and clear? Is that two or 4 tracks panned left to right? Also any EQ?
Thomann Affiliate: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=3210
Sweetwater Affiliate: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0mGvx
My personal Thomann recommendations: thmn.to/thocf/cv37zixo68
My webstore for Captures, presets etc: ko-fi.com/sonicdrivestudio
Thanks for supporting the channel!
Bedroom player friends, get the combo. It comes with a built in attenuator right on the front. Get all the tone at any volume. It's great.
I second this, I have had the 50w 1x12 for years and it’s amazing as a bedroom amp..
I wish I bought the 2x12 instead of a new 1x12
What combo do you mean? The tube amp combo?
@@MikeyC25yessir any of the 5150 or 6505 tube 1x12 or 2x12 combos are sick amps
I get killer bedroom tones with my stealth 50 watt head into my old Ampeg 412 with vintage celestion speakers in it. When I run the stealth 50 head into the stealth 212 cabinet it's so so so so fucking loud that I can't even play it indoors. I think it's down to db sensitivity of the modern speakers compared to the old celestion speakers that have been used for decades and well broken in.
Best one for sure. I've had all the different models in both 100 and 50 watt versions. My white pre-concentric knob 6l6 50 watt is the one I have kept and will never sell.
I also have the white pre-concentric knob 6L6 50w, also never selling it!!!
@@LtCore Here, here!
SAME HERE!
I bought the 6L6 50 watt brand new in January 2014. Waited 18 years for a tube amp. Zero problems, zero regrets. The channel volume jump does not bother me. This version is more pure than concentric versions. 👍🏻💪🏻
Literally the best amp ever. I played it for the first time last year and have wanted one since. Ever other amp doesn’t do it for me. This one does
I put a 12at7 tube in the V2 position of the red ch 3 pre amps, it really tightened up the fizz and lowered the gain level where it can get beefy without being too hissy, it’s more like the blue channel now with a boost, really tight and thumpy metal tone.
isn't a 12AT7 to weak ? i put a 5751 on V1 in my 6505MH and it is so much better for the sound, but still strong gain
FWIW, AT7 is a terrible replacement for an AX7. It's more of a driver tube. 5751 is a much better lower gain replacement. It has the same transconductance specs as a 12ax7.
What an amp, this may be my favorite. So organic and tight. Alot of folks says the stealth is better. But to my ears this can't be beat.
I’ve never thought about trying my string guitar through my EVH amplifier but now I’m looking forward to giving you a shot. You make it sound so good!
Still one of my favorites. Blue channel is simply amazing. Great vid.
Excellent video as usual! I own both this and the EL34 50W versions with the matching cabs. I sometimes run them in stereo just for fun 😄🤘
Hands down one of the best amps I've heard in my life. Fantastic demo, props to you bro!!
Thanks! Too bad I had to send it back after it broke twice
@@SonicDriveStudio - what?? It's that unreliable? 😮 I was just looking around to buy one with EVH 2x12 cabinet included...
Mine was. I dedicated a video to it, check it out
That blue channel rocks! We came for the review and stayed for the riffs. Great job as always dude!
As usual, well done Jon. I have the LBX and I love it so looking forward to seeing that video.
The amp sounds great. I love playing in drop tuning as well. I think a lot of players are limiting themselves by not using drop tuning, especially metal players. I guess it's about style but I like the thicker power chords and just the sound of the chords typically played in drop tuning.
Absolutely the best amp out there.
excellent. I have this for years. really excited to hear the comparison vid.
Yep. Love this amp. I've owned quite a few amps and currently have 5, this is the only one I've never considered selling for something else.
Do you have the old version or the new 6l6 with concentric pots? I had the old version. Loved it. Sold it in hard times about 6 years ago. I bought the el34 a few years back but I sold it because I just remember liking the 6l6 way more. The 6l6 was way more versatile and had tones of usable tones on the green and blue channel. The El34 had a few good tones on the green channel but that blue channel didn’t do much. The red channel on the el34 might actually be better than the 6l6 though.
Thanks for the video it’s a great amp!!! You can get so many tones out of it love it!!
Your comps are getting better and better. Also i wish i had access to this to try.
Thanks!
I have the same amp same color…I love it just bought it this month . It does everything plus it’s small and portable.
The clean channel isn't bad. Better than any other previous 5150 type amp
Thanks Jon for this awesome video! Can’t wait to watch the el34 compare!
I’ve owned the first gen 50 Watt - but sold it and went with the helix LT - but now I want my EVH back and Iam a bit unsure if I will buy the el34 or the 6l6 version (2. gen).
I already own the evh (el34) 2x12 cab and use this with the Palmer and helix. But wanna switch then to the EVH amp again and use the helix as effect unit / controller.
Oh, it's my dream amp for sure. Such a beast
Great review and impressive amp! You're a great player 🤘
My favorite amp. Even at the volume you’ve got it at I know it’s f’ing loud! But that’s what the blue channel needs
Buckethead has been living on the blue channel with this amp live for years now. It was so piercing.
Piercing?
Sounds killer Jon! you nailed it again, sounds gorgeus!! What about a new mix and drums tutorial ?
Love that crunch rhythm tone!!
Love your vids bud ! Thx
Your playing and tunes r stellar !! 🤘😀😀🤘
Very nice review buddy!! Good writings!!
16:31 was just killer! The amplifier is great no doubt!
Excited for the EL34 to 6L6 comparison!
There's a little delay because I have to send the amp back. Hopefully it won't be long until I get a replacement
While I've never been crazy about the 15 watt EVH lunchbox amps, the 50 and 100 watt versions (both 6L6 and EL34) are absolutely fantastic! Not sure why that's the case, but to me, that's just the way it rolls...
I had one of these for a while, it sounded awesome but there was something up with it and it did not take pedals well at all. Ended up getting rid of it and got an MT-15 instead. Legendary amp though!
Were you running in front or in loop?
@@stevedahl6531 OD’s in front and reverb in the loop, it was something internal with the amp
I thought I was going to have to shut this review off until we hit the blue channel. Whoa! LOL
I have the stealth version of this amp and it’s absolutely killer. I run it through a Marshall MX412A with stock cheap Chinese celestian speakers and I still love the tone. Even the clean tone is pretty damn good. It also takes pedals pretty well too.
04:27 i love that view Walls of great amp
Amazing evh sound!
Sold mine to a friend at church, the only thing I hated was the shared 1-2 channel. And who puts the on/off switch on the back, or was it standby.
If you love this one, the 100 watt version will absolutely blow you away.
You need to try the 5150 iconic it totally Rips !!!!
Would love to
Great tones here!
That. Was. SICK!
Sounds really great
I definitely prefer the Stealth over the regular 6L6. Once I heard the stealth, I sold my white 6L6 amp.
I wanna hear this amp shot out with the original 5150. I feel like this model is closest to the original. Ihave the 100 watt el34. Imo its the best one of them all but that's just me. I like the channel 2/3 gain trick and use a fuzzlord doom screamer as a boost for saturation.
Imagine this head with a Hamer Californian Elite USA 🤗🤗🤗🤗 ,great video
John, what about 100w version? We are waiting… 😀
That's sucks. I bought it 4 years ago (old version, no concentric pots on either gain and volume control in channel green and blue), and it still works well until now.
So when's the back to back with the EL34 love to see a comparison between the two so I know which to get next haha
Soon
I only have 3 amp heads and this is one of them :)
Great Video, If you were trying to really dial in that EVH tone which one would we get 6L6 or EL34 just in the EVH Line of Amps ?
I'm not an EVH connoisseur so I don't really know tbh...
Low volumes eh?? Hmm, it’d be fun to see the LBXII 15W against this :) the LBXII I had was a bit noisy at idle and even that smaller amp was a bit much for “at home”.
thats my go to amp!
I think I need to switch cabs. I’ve had the amp for a couple of years and it’s ok but I don’t love it. I think the evh 2x12 is just a little harsh compared to a mess 2x12
I've had a crush on the el34 50w for a while now. You really like this 6l6 version better? What stands out the most? Thanks
Comparison coming soon!
@@SonicDriveStudio cool! Look forward to seeing it.
Don't bother with the 6L6, if you have the EL34 it's better. I've owned both, sold my 6L6. The El34 is the only amp I'll never sell.
You could use a Jimmy clip to mute your strings instead of a piece of foam...
I'm curious how different the real deal sounds from STL AmpHub Eddy 5153
Will this thing do AiC type of rich high gain tone with the right guitar? I'm thinking of switching amps because I don't want to rely on pedals so much. I like just guitar and amp for my main sound
How do you record this? I want this amp but can you record it into a computer without any sound coming out? Or should I just use an amp sim for when I want to do that
Hi man, did you use any booster or noise gate int the playing?
How is it vs. the Fireball 25? How much quieter is the Fireball when you turn the gain up on both?
I wish you could compare it to the stealth version, but I know you don‘t have that one 🙈
This over the engl savage mark 2?
Love it!
Have you tried the EVH 5150III 50s? I scrolled through your videos and didn't see it?
Great videos. How you create your drum tracks?
I program them by hand using Steven Slate Drums 5.5
@@SonicDriveStudio ok thanks for info
To the owners on here, I have a 6l6 combo and it sounds great but on the red channel, once you turn the gain past 1 o'clock or even all the way up, the rhythm gets muddy. Any suggestions on keeping that gain all the way up without getting muddy? Thanks
Blue channel boosted= best metal tone
Also what’s your resonance setting at
My only complaint is there is no way of activating the FX loop without the pedal. Such an odd thing to overlook.
Are you saying without the footswitch hooked up, the loop is disabled?
@@aaroncollins5188 That's right
@@jakespeare3864 wtf
I own the first edition of EVH. Am I the only one feeling the old one is less hollow?
Good amp needs serious onboard noise gate though
Sounds good, but the stealth 50 watt is even better having played both.
Awesome
Nice! 🔥👍🔥
Sounds bad ass.
Great fucking demo man. Minimal talking. Maximum playing. :cheers:
Sounds awesome with everything except the Fishmans on the Carpentier sig. Idk why people like those pickups, honestly. They sound super flat and characterless.
What string gauge you use SDS?...
I use various gauges, depends on the guitar/tuning
Why is the tape on the strings?
To mute unwanted resonances
Nice sounding amp. I can't understand why such a good amp would use IC caps? Planned obsolescence perhaps? Come on Fender. You can do better than this. How about F&T? And or Mallory and Nichicon etc.?
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Can you gig with this?
Thanks!
It works for Mammoth WVH
Please do one of your awesome. Helix, fractal compared to this video's 😀
I might but I won't include the Helix as it has no EVH
Gonzalez Ruth Hernandez Brenda Gonzalez Scott
This one or the stealth? That's the question
So suddenly no one likes the Stealth version...? Strange world.
A lot of people like it
@@SonicDriveStudio all good... I have a hard time telling the differences between the two. It's a little more obvious when you play it, but not a big deal IMO. To me it's just the updated version of the 6L6 series and should be the main reason for getting the Stealth. A little easier to dialing in the gain and the clean is more pristine... Maybe if you could get it in white? Stealth the white edition?? Well, maybe not... 😅
Cheers mate.
Human nature.....once something becomes too popular and trendy, people tend to look in a different direction. They're still fashionable and will remain popular, but I know a lot of people who like the white just as much. I like both.
Sounds weak compared to the SLO30!
Do you know if there has been any tone shaping between version1 v2?
My amp, bouth on thomann in 2019 , stopped working on the Red channel !! no warranty. I hardly used this amp ! mox 20 hours, NEVER moven it, only tudio. DONT buy thia map, several reports on LOW quality !
Literally just had mine in black delivered last weekend. Cannot stop playing it. It’s so versatile and that’s just on the blue channel! I liked the EL34 and Stealth versions when I tried them but this one is the perfect in between IMO.
I played on 2 used and one new of these before getting mine and the consistency was dead on. Love my pre concentric and usually set it up for two hi gain channels. Three channel, Midi, Brutal, what else is there to want? Plus HP jack on a 50w head! Wow!
THe 50 watt is pretty magical. I know a lot of people like the Stealth when it comes to the 100watt.
50 watt OG and 100 watt Stealth are the 2 best iterations of the 5153.
Having said that all versions are great and get the job done.
Can't go wrong with an EVH!
some people just can’t play clean.
Dude I usually play a quad cortex but I was kind of missing tube amps so I decided to get this... Holy smokes is it ever insane! I've never had this kind of definition on my 7 and 8 string guitars.... What's the best way to record this? Can I send the signal into my quad cortex and then feed that into my computer? I don't really want to make it up as I find the DI version through an IR to be a lot more accurate and noise free.
You have to get a good load box! Of course I can also highly recommend my EVH captures for the QC: ko-fi.com/s/9540f8ca2c
@@SonicDriveStudio I certainly appreciate the offer 🫴 I'm actually interested in trying to do my own capture I have several reasonably good microphones but I don't have a load box... I wonder if I can manage to get a reasonable capture for my QC of the actual physical amp head? I haven't done any captures yet myself. The only other tube amp I have is a Mesa 50 watt triple Crown... 34 is and around the same amount of 12ax7 in the preamp and power section.... But I've got to say this 5150 is substantially louder!
greetings!, nice video, i think you should try the clean channel as the manual says, i don´t know if you have read it, but here´s some of it. "Note: For a cleaner sound from
channels one and two, set these volume controls to their
maximum, then bring the gain controls (B) up from their
minimum settings to the desired level."
so, doing it the right way may change your experience.
Peace
I really like everything I've heard from this amp, including this video, your Tonex captures and a handful of various digital models. I'd really like to get this head, but am somewhat discouraged by your double failure experience. In your experience, was this a sort of anomaly, or have several people had similar problems? I'm wondering if perhaps that vendor received a bad batch of amps, or if this is a universal problem. Thanks!
I didn't happen to everyone of course but I would recommend checking out the comment section under that video
@@SonicDriveStudio Thanks Jon 👍🏻 I just read through the comments and it seems that many people had some issues and many didn’t 🤷🏻♂️ I suppose that as long as I acquire it from a reputable retailer, the risk should be low.
It really is the best. I currently have the Stealth 50 and, frankly, the original 6L6 is the best. The blue channel has a great chunky slightly scooped sound that sits back in the mix so wonderfully for rhythm playing. The Stealth is too mid-foward for this. I miss my non-concentric old 6L6.
Seems to be an unpopular opinion. I think the Stealth is better. I’d be happy to do a swap with my concentric pot og 6L6😉💀
Same here. I A/B'd the Stealth and the newer 50w 6L6 through the same rig and I liked the regular 50w 6L6 better on every channel. Even did some tube swapping and the Stealth still didn't stack up. The Stealth went back, the regular 6L6 with concentric knobs stayed.
@@gusmc01 It's going to become a bit of an all time classic, that original 50 watt, I think. Love it. I've compared it to loads of amps and it always comes out on top for my style of rock/metal.
Is this one of the EVH amps that had a bad blue channel or so by reputation?. I want an EVH but was looking at the stealth as the rest of the EVHs seems to get a bashing for the blue channel
@@gazzaduce3424 Who the heck is bashing the blue channel? It's like the EVH trump card.
I basically have the same set up. I have a 6L6 50 in black and I use LTD deluxe guitars. Plus a Washburn Dime 3 signed by Pantera that is my secret little weapon. That clean song was pretty sweet. How you get the guitars sounding so loud and clear? Is that two or 4 tracks panned left to right? Also any EQ?