Hi, sorry for the double post, but I think this is the correct video to post this: I recently bought the 5150 iii lbx, cause I wanted a high gain amp that I could play at really low volume. I've replaced all my Marshall heads with the 1watt 50th anniversary models for the same reason. Thing is, I can't get this thing to play quietly! Even with the volume set at just a hair above complete 0, it's already somewhat loud! It's like the volume starts at 5/10 in relation to my marshall 1 watters, and I can even get my 100watt Jubilee head to play more quietly! I was wandering if this is an lbx "problem", and if you can actually make the 5150iii 50 or 100 watt version to play more quietly, ie if the 50/100watt versions have a more "evenly" scaled master volume control. Any answer would be greatly appreciated..... Thank you
Ed should have done this years ago. I have a room full of heads and my fav is the Marshall YJM100 because of its variable voltage from .1-100w. You can get all the crunch and rewards of a cranked Marshall with hot tubes without getting the law called on you. Run this LBX head through a decent cab, throw in a MXR 10 band eq and you are good to go. Its narrow in what it can do but it does it well. Get the Mesa mini rec for your best bang for your buck though.
Nice demo of these amps...still works after 8 years! The LBX seems to have more mid focus...maybe that's the power tubes working. Both are great sounding heads.
Thanks for the review, Phillip! Nicely done and a beautiful collection of guitars you have. It sounds like this amp has the goods at a lower volume from what I hear. Typical of the EL-84 stuff though, as soon as you turn it up much louder, then that becomes where it loses some of its fun. Still, for a small space and jamming at home, this sounds like a perfect setup as it was probably designed for.
Changed my mind about the lbx lol I played it again today and if it would've been out when I bought my 50 watt I would've bought it instead. Minimal controls and monster tone. If someone thinks they can't gig with this amp with the volume on four then there's other problems going on lol
I plug my LBX into a Soldano 4x12 with Celestion G12H30 70th speakers and I can't be in the same room with it on three. This little amp is LOUD. By the time the 50 watt head overruns the LBX volume wise it would be so loud it would be pointless.
Good demo. With my surround sound cranked overall I liked the LBX better at the volumes you were playing. For home use it seems that the 5150 LBX would be the way to go unless you’re playing out and need more.
I'm in love with the new home wattage trend in tube amps! 5-25 watt amps are perfect for guy like me. I'm not in my 20's anymore, I'm not in a location that has a market for bands I want to play in (I like hard rock-80s metal, but I live in an area that's 90% gospel and country) and I live in such a rural area that it's 80-100 miles from the nearest "big" city in any direction. I lovE the cost of living and the school districts so I'm not moving any time soon. With all that said I only play in my basement and every once in a while I'll hang out with friends and jam. I had been using all digital multi-processing amps units for about 8 years (I had previously been using a 100 watt Mesa-Boogie Tremo-O-Verb 2x12 into a Peavey XXX 4x12 cab for my dirty to lead and a Peavey Classic 50 2x12 for my clean tones) it was a shit ton to carry and setup every time I gigged. But now I have a Blackstar HT5R and am looking to buy a Peavey Valveking, 6505, Classic, or Hughes & Ketner Tubemiester 18, ect
I went with the Peavey Valveking mini, but it shit out on me 10 days in. I returned it for another and it shit out on me an hour after i opened the box. I went with the fender BassBreaker 15 head.
That was awesome! Love your choices in music! I also think those amps would do well together. I feel like the top one is super clear and the bottom... a bit more bottom heavy. Both pretty killer though:-)
I bought this 2 weeks ago, well it turn's out it only uses 1 tube for blue and 2 for red, the 50 watt head uses 2.5 for blue and 3.5 for red see the differences ?
Hey Phillip, Loved your videos on the 5150 LBX. Just curious which cabinet you would recommend for it. The EVH 1x12, EVH 2x12 or the EVH 4x12. Only using for home not for live gigs. Also what cabinet are you using the lBX with in your review? Thanks in advance!
Hmm... hard to say! In the case to complete a Peavey 6505MH, and mainly for a studio use with a Torpedo loadbox (so with ability to crank it as loud as I'd need to get the sound I want), wouldn't the 50W head a best choice? I mean, it would have more versatility with the clean channel, don't you think?
This is an old video but its very usefull one, funny you say that the lbx on low volumes sounds better than the 50W, it makes sense tbh Do think it happens the same with the LBX Stealth, sounding better at low volumes than the bigger brothers?
Really great video, thanks for doing this! Is there any chance you could compare the LBX with the MXR 5150 overdrive pedal? I actually think the pedal would be more practical for me as it would in effect create a third channel on my existing amp (Jet City JCA22H), whereas with the LBX I would have to swap out speaker leads and fx leads every time I wanted to use it. But... There's that part of me that thinks the LBX must surely sound better than the pedal?... One of your videos would be awesome to compare the two! :-) Oh, and consider me subscribed to your channel :-)
Phil I'm in the market to by either the EVH LBX or the EVH combo. However, it's obvious the Combo has more options (Clean, 3 channel, reverb, etc), but what about the tone? Is there a big difference? Tonally, which one would you choose? Give me your thoughts!
I own the 50 watt head and I bought a used plexitone for $170 and it gives me that plexi marshall tone hands down, $699 is way too high, you can buy the 50 watt head in eBay for a hundred more.
Kinda old video Phil, but which one would you recommend for bedroom/semi-low volumes ? I can't decide on my next amp head! I play thrash metal to modern metal.
Lunchbox head sounds killer. This for home and the 100 watt version for playing out. Perfect solution. I have had the 50 , the clean channel and blue channel volumes don't match when you switch channels. Got rid of it. I don't know what Fender was thinking with the 50 watt. Unusable.
@@PhillipMcKnight try the Maxon 808. The best way I can describe how you should set the knobs is that you have to set them like an upside down peace sign .
Nice review man !! Im thinking of getting one to play live. I'm using the 50w version now and never turned the volume knob over 4 ... So I thought with a 15w, I could get the lamps to work a bit more adn get the best out of the amp. Do you think it's worth to use live ?
I'm back because I've waited for 3 years and have purchased the LBX for $444. in "great" condition. Which is the price I would have wanted to see when there were first released.
I play at home and have the 50 watt. Sounds great at the ~1 volume I play at. And in the video it sounds like the 50 watt has more low end and "balls", but now I'm curious though the LBX would be better suited based on what you said. Definitely don't to lose the low end though.
I am super interested in this, I don't play a lot of clean but I do know how to control my volume knobs. But what I want to know is if this thing can gig hooked up to a 4x12 cab.? From what I've played at the store, it seems to get pretty loud. But I can never actually test it out cause they have a limit of how loud you can be in the store.
Hey Phil! Does the LBX get a good low end? Do you think its a good investment to get the LBX or save $300 more and get the 5150iii mini? Right now I need more a really nice bedroom amp, but I wonder if I can eventually take the LBX out to do small gigs with it. I also keep hearing the LBX overall sounds better than the 50 watt, why is that?
Really great review! I'm seriously into the 15w EVH, but not sure if it will stand with that great sound when giging (with mics and PA of course). Speaking about master volume knob... where it starts to lose his character and breaking up?Only interested in higain sounds. Thanx for your great reviews and regards!
Can I use a mini head (either mesa or peavey) that can play with a band, while the other guitar player is using a 100 watt? I play metal so it's going to be loud. lol Thanks for all of your amazing videos.
The LBX definitely has the note separation over the 50 watter. I can hear it on my iPhone 6. There also more of the low mids that I can hear. Like you said Phil, it's more the Van Halen I through the 1984 album tone, except at volumes that won't make you end up wearing hearing aids like I do now because of that very reason of having stage volumes that kill off the hair cells in the inner ear like I have now. I'll definitely be liking at the LBH. I never play more than a 15 watt amp on stage anymore anyway. I want to keep the hearing I have left. I do have a 50 watt Marshall Vintage Modern that's only used when playing outdoor gigs.
I sold my evh 50 watt 6 L 6 for the LBX el84. In my opinion The Lunchbox 15 watt does have a decent clean channel. Just take your time and do the EQ right. I love my clean channel! The red and blue channels are fantastic on the LBX. I have to be real with myself I love to el84s and he el34 tubes then after that that 6 V6.
Hello, I got the 5150 iii 50w with the evh 212 cab. I'd like to get another head amp. I would purchase a Revv generator 100w but it's said in the manual that the evh 212 cab is 60w. Do you know if it's possible to such a thing without damaging my cab? Can you help me please? Thanks!!!
I know this is a very late comment:) just wondering would the Lbx hold up with a somewhat loud drummer through a 4x12 cab? before it starts to sound bad?
I have the 50w amp but can't decide on a 4x12. I play metal so my first thought is to get something with V30's but I keep reading that nothing pairs up like the matching cab, thoughts?
I recently played the EVH 5150 III 50W - loved the green and blue channels and built in reverb and power soak. I'd like to have something like the LBX but I really liked that green channel - can you get by with the blue and still get those cleans or no?
I'm sure any guitarist that's recorded themselves jamming on video and watched it back will understand what you're talking about. It's so hard to tell the difference in volume levels and variations in sound etc the way camera microphones compress the sound. Kind of like how the only way to tell an amp is getting louder on camera is by being able to hear the actual strings twanging less and less.
+pbeckster307 I have not tried it. EVH wanted the store to carry one, but I sale 99% of what I carry in the store and not a lot of local guys are looking for a more expensive EVH head. I really do thing the LBX can get pretty darn close. It is one of the highest gain amps this size I have played through. But I have to say the new EVH 5150 Overdrive pedal is super high gain and nice also.
it's interesting that the lbx has El84s and the 50w has 6l6s. but some how achieve very similar tones, I suppose it's all it the wiring and voicing. just my two cents though.
The 50 had more mid range, I liked the bite it had over the Lbx. You made it sound as if the 50 wasn't very loud? Could you play small clubs with it?... Thanks Phil, I love your channel.
I hear a difference but it's not exactly what you described. The 50 watt head sounds clearer in the highs, tighter in the lows, and less present in the mid range. Very modern sounding. The LBX sounds more ideal for classic rock because it has more mid-range focus and punch, and vintage flavor in the high end. I definitely wouldn't mind having both but am happy with the 50 watt head.
Hello I come d to buy an evh 5150 LBX, I am very satisfied with my amplifier. On the other hand I do not find normal that there is so much breath. It is him(it) normal thank you oliver
This is very true I agree the 100 watt a much clearer sound than the 50 watt version. I played both an the 50 watt version sounded dark not very open sounding like the 100 watt Version
I ran it through the EVH two 12 and it was pretty loud. the only issue is it will not push the lows when it is turned up, but I would think in most cases it is fine.
I am very concerned about FX loops because some just suck. The 50 watts is very good, so I can tell you from ears the LBX is the same. No hum, no sound coloring, or loss of tone that I heard.
I don´t care about volume because I use always a dummy load approach. Like EVH did and does until today because it just doesn´t make sense to put time effects between preamp and power amp if you want the power tube distortion. And big sound is all about that....
Retail is what things are actually selling for. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is what the maker thinks you might be able to sell it for. Everything I have EVER seen MSRP on will actually retail for 20-50% less.
Awesome, I didn't know they were made in Mexico? For some reason I thought it was Chinese.... Have you ever played a Friedman Brown Eye? Expensive but good sound
+Etienne Bibes The PT is a awesome amp more 80s JCm 800 Vibe and the EVH is a more new vibe to it. I did not keep my PT20 it was great but I ended up always running a pedal through it and running the amp clean so I bought the Marshall 2061. They are both great and not alike.
I owned the 50 watt 1x12 combo. the reverb and power adjustment are so awesome. but I do not have room for combos heads stack and happy wife happy life
+randy outlaw I think they sound a little better. the rumor. is they will make a 50 head version of the combo 2016. and yes the 2x12 I would think has a fuller bass and mid response.
Yes, the reverb is a big add to the overall sound. But turning the combo down to 1 or 5 watts when playing late at night sounds huge at low volumes. I miss my combo. Worth checking out. The combos speaker section is isolated from the amp section so they are just like the heads with closed cabinet. Think of it this way it is the head with two extra options. But remember the combo sounds like the head they all sound very close to each other.
Still like my 50 watt better it just has what I want. I'm just surprised more people aren't pissed because the lbx actually shares the same eq where the 50 watt they say it wouldn't be done because of the diff voicing between the two channels
+matt wilkins I could be wrong, My understanding is the LBX has a passive eq which is supposed to be different than the 50 watt one. But I will have to check that since that is something I heard in passing.
+Phillip McKnight I guess a lot of people were complaining about the volume jump between green and blue and was wondering why the distortion channels couldn't share the same eq so they could get a true clean. Voodoo amps does a mod for concentric volume and gain between green and blue so you can get your clean but still share the same eq. Doesn't bother me I just roll back the volume
the lunch box sounds great but it has nothing like the bottom end of the 50, nice review man 😊
Bought a 2nd hand LBX yesterday, should arrive by mail on monday, and judging by this video, i`m gonna love it :)
This video is what sold me on the lbx1...got mine last year running my striped EVH thru a Marshall 4x12. No regrets.
Thanks for taking the time and energy to demo these amps. It’s truly appreciated!
Hi, sorry for the double post, but I think this is the correct video to post this:
I recently bought the 5150 iii lbx, cause I wanted a high gain amp that I could play at really low volume. I've replaced all my Marshall heads with the 1watt 50th anniversary models for the same reason. Thing is, I can't get this thing to play quietly! Even with the volume set at just a hair above complete 0, it's already somewhat loud! It's like the volume starts at 5/10 in relation to my marshall 1 watters, and I can even get my 100watt Jubilee head to play more quietly! I was wandering if this is an lbx "problem", and if you can actually make the 5150iii 50 or 100 watt version to play more quietly, ie if the 50/100watt versions have a more "evenly" scaled master volume control. Any answer would be greatly appreciated.....
Thank you
Great job, I was just considering both of these today, great timing.
The LBX sounds great. Also, nice to hear Dance The Night Away - one of my fave Van Halen tunes. Nicely played, too.
Great a/b and impressive honest review. Been waiting a longggggggg time for lunchbox edition of 5150. Glad to see this finally!
Ed should have done this years ago. I have a room full of heads and my fav is the Marshall YJM100 because of its variable voltage from .1-100w. You can get all the crunch and rewards of a cranked Marshall with hot tubes without getting the law called on you.
Run this LBX head through a decent cab, throw in a MXR 10 band eq and you are good to go. Its narrow in what it can do but it does it well. Get the Mesa mini rec for your best bang for your buck though.
Nice demo of these amps...still works after 8 years! The LBX seems to have more mid focus...maybe that's the power tubes working. Both are great sounding heads.
Thanks for the review, Phillip! Nicely done and a beautiful collection of guitars you have. It sounds like this amp has the goods at a lower volume from what I hear. Typical of the EL-84 stuff though, as soon as you turn it up much louder, then that becomes where it loses some of its fun. Still, for a small space and jamming at home, this sounds like a perfect setup as it was probably designed for.
Changed my mind about the lbx lol I played it again today and if it would've been out when I bought my 50 watt I would've bought it instead. Minimal controls and monster tone. If someone thinks they can't gig with this amp with the volume on four then there's other problems going on lol
I plug my LBX into a Soldano 4x12 with Celestion G12H30 70th speakers and I can't be in the same room with it on three. This little amp is LOUD. By the time the 50 watt head overruns the LBX volume wise it would be so loud it would be pointless.
Good demo. With my surround sound cranked overall I liked the LBX better at the volumes you were playing. For home use it seems that the 5150 LBX would be the way to go unless you’re playing out and need more.
What you said at 8:35ish, isn't that what they were made for? One being good at low levels, the other higher levels?
+Chuck Nowakowski I would think so.
I wish you could do a comparison video between the LBX and the evh 5150 2 12 combo bc of the power level control
I'm in love with the new home wattage trend in tube amps! 5-25 watt amps are perfect for guy like me. I'm not in my 20's anymore, I'm not in a location that has a market for bands I want to play in (I like hard rock-80s metal, but I live in an area that's 90% gospel and country) and I live in such a rural area that it's 80-100 miles from the nearest "big" city in any direction. I lovE the cost of living and the school districts so I'm not moving any time soon. With all that said I only play in my basement and every once in a while I'll hang out with friends and jam. I had been using all digital multi-processing amps units for about 8 years (I had previously been using a 100 watt Mesa-Boogie Tremo-O-Verb 2x12 into a Peavey XXX 4x12 cab for my dirty to lead and a Peavey Classic 50 2x12 for my clean tones) it was a shit ton to carry and setup every time I gigged. But now I have a Blackstar HT5R and am looking to buy a Peavey Valveking, 6505, Classic, or Hughes & Ketner Tubemiester 18, ect
which one did you choose then?
I went with the Peavey Valveking mini, but it shit out on me 10 days in. I returned it for another and it shit out on me an hour after i opened the box. I went with the fender BassBreaker 15 head.
90% Gospel? fuck them up with a 100W Head bro......dont let anybody take you down because of the stupid image they have from rock and metal
Have you compared the LBX2 to the 50 watt? The LBX2 seems to be better rounded than the LBX1
LOVE THAT SHINEDOWN RIFF
That was awesome! Love your choices in music! I also think those amps would do well together. I feel like the top one is super clear and the bottom... a bit more bottom heavy. Both pretty killer though:-)
Have you considered to make a test between the 5150 III LBX and 5150 III 1x12? This combo has the variac; could be interesting soundwise
I bought this 2 weeks ago, well it turn's out it only uses 1 tube for blue and 2 for red, the 50 watt head uses 2.5 for blue and 3.5 for red see the differences ?
The LBX is a loud, giggable amp. Even an the 1/4 power setting it is fairly loud - like keeping up with a drummer loud.
Hey Phillip,
Loved your videos on the 5150 LBX. Just curious which cabinet you would recommend for it. The EVH 1x12, EVH 2x12 or the EVH 4x12. Only using for home not for live gigs. Also what cabinet are you using the lBX with in your review? Thanks in advance!
The EVH 4x12 has Celestion Heritage Greenbacks in it..those are made in the UK by Celestion. Those other 2 have other speakers in them..
Another awesome review, any chance of an LBX and Mark V:25 A/B?
Id say the upper mids are more pronounced on the LBX and comes through clearer and cleaner ..something that was lacking in the 50 watter
Hmm... hard to say! In the case to complete a Peavey 6505MH, and mainly for a studio use with a Torpedo loadbox (so with ability to crank it as loud as I'd need to get the sound I want), wouldn't the 50W head a best choice? I mean, it would have more versatility with the clean channel, don't you think?
I was stuck on this choice, but your video was very helpful. Seems I need both!
Great video
Does this sound close to the EL34 EVH amp for the classic Van Halen sound?
Phillip I think you need to update these vids now that the el34 mini came out... We'd like to know what you think about it
This is an old video but its very usefull one, funny you say that the lbx on low volumes sounds better than the 50W, it makes sense tbh
Do think it happens the same with the LBX Stealth, sounding better at low volumes than the bigger brothers?
Thanks.great review! If you try the lbx in your review "is your amp loud enough"what do you think of the result?
Really great video, thanks for doing this!
Is there any chance you could compare the LBX with the MXR 5150 overdrive pedal? I actually think the pedal would be more practical for me as it would in effect create a third channel on my existing amp (Jet City JCA22H), whereas with the LBX I would have to swap out speaker leads and fx leads every time I wanted to use it. But... There's that part of me that thinks the LBX must surely sound better than the pedal?... One of your videos would be awesome to compare the two! :-)
Oh, and consider me subscribed to your channel :-)
I currently use the LBX as a second amp and play it through my Friedman 4x12 and it sounds great.
what cab are you using? sounds great.
Phil I'm in the market to by either the EVH LBX or the EVH combo. However, it's obvious the Combo has more options (Clean, 3 channel, reverb, etc), but what about the tone? Is there a big difference? Tonally, which one would you choose? Give me your thoughts!
I own the 50 watt head and I bought a used plexitone for $170 and it gives me that plexi marshall tone hands down, $699 is way too high, you can buy the 50 watt head in eBay for a hundred more.
Kinda old video Phil, but which one would you recommend for bedroom/semi-low volumes ? I can't decide on my next amp head! I play thrash metal to modern metal.
You are so right. It is much clearer in sound. It also seems to have more grunt but clear
Lunchbox head sounds killer. This for home and the 100 watt version for playing out. Perfect solution. I have had the 50 , the clean channel and blue channel volumes don't match when you switch channels. Got rid of it. I don't know what Fender was thinking with the 50 watt. Unusable.
can you give us a demo of the EVH 15W with single coils, start or so? CHEEEERS
Can you do some advice videos for improving your playing and just things in general that can help the beginner guitarist. Thanks
The LBX just sounds brighter with less low end IMO. Makes it clearer tonally at the volumes you are using in that room.
Interesting but what about running pedals through them, does one have an advantage over the other?
+gbh The LBX is almost useless for pedals.
@@PhillipMcKnight try the Maxon 808. The best way I can describe how you should set the knobs is that you have to set them like an upside down peace sign .
Lower the wattage makes it easier for the tubes to break in. So you're right about this review.
Nice review man !! Im thinking of getting one to play live. I'm using the 50w version now and never turned the volume knob over 4 ... So I thought with a 15w, I could get the lamps to work a bit more adn get the best out of the amp. Do you think it's worth to use live ?
Good comparison. Appreciate the info. Next time, just remember it's flanger not phaser on Unchained. ; )
+Jimmy D will do! Thank you for watching and posting
I'm back because I've waited for 3 years and have purchased the LBX for $444. in "great" condition. Which is the price I would have wanted to see when there were first released.
I play at home and have the 50 watt. Sounds great at the ~1 volume I play at. And in the video it sounds like the 50 watt has more low end and "balls", but now I'm curious though the LBX would be better suited based on what you said. Definitely don't to lose the low end though.
Do you like the LBX better than the Mark V 25 you had?
I am super interested in this, I don't play a lot of clean but I do know how to control my volume knobs.
But what I want to know is if this thing can gig hooked up to a 4x12 cab.?
From what I've played at the store, it seems to get pretty loud. But I can never actually test it out cause they have a limit of how loud you can be in the store.
Hey Phil! Does the LBX get a good low end? Do you think its a good
investment to get the LBX or save $300 more and get the 5150iii mini?
Right now I need more a really nice bedroom amp, but I wonder if I can
eventually take the LBX out to do small gigs with it. I also keep
hearing the LBX overall sounds better than the 50 watt, why is that?
Really great review! I'm seriously into the 15w EVH, but not sure if it will stand with that great sound when giging (with mics and PA of course). Speaking about master volume knob... where it starts to lose his character and breaking up?Only interested in higain sounds. Thanx for your great reviews and regards!
I have the 50w. Now I want the LBX. Great amps.
Can you do a video comparing the LBX to the new LBXII? The blue channel on 1 vs the blue channel on the new one would be great to hear.
Really tough choice because after you buy the cabinet you're looking closer to the price of the combo version you might as well go with the bigger one
Can I use a mini head (either mesa or peavey) that can play with a band, while the other guitar player is using a 100 watt? I play metal so it's going to be loud. lol Thanks for all of your amazing videos.
The LBX definitely has the note separation over the 50 watter. I can hear it on my iPhone 6. There also more of the low mids that I can hear. Like you said Phil, it's more the Van Halen I through the 1984 album tone, except at volumes that won't make you end up wearing hearing aids like I do now because of that very reason of having stage volumes that kill off the hair cells in the inner ear like I have now. I'll definitely be liking at the LBH. I never play more than a 15 watt amp on stage anymore anyway. I want to keep the hearing I have left. I do have a 50 watt Marshall Vintage Modern that's only used when playing outdoor gigs.
the lbx seeems slighly more middy,compared to the III which sounds a bit fuller.
I sold my evh 50 watt 6 L 6 for the LBX el84. In my opinion The Lunchbox 15 watt does have a decent clean channel. Just take your time and do the EQ right. I love my clean channel! The red and blue channels are fantastic on the LBX. I have to be real with myself I love to el84s and he el34 tubes then after that that 6 V6.
Hello,
I got the 5150 iii 50w with the evh 212 cab. I'd like to get another head amp. I would purchase a Revv generator 100w but it's said in the manual that the evh 212 cab is 60w. Do you know if it's possible to such a thing without damaging my cab? Can you help me please? Thanks!!!
Though I think the 50 is more macho, who’s really in need of 50 watts? With that said, I really appreciated this review. I like the explanation
I know this is a very late comment:) just wondering would the Lbx hold up with a somewhat loud drummer through a 4x12 cab? before it starts to sound bad?
I really wish they would have keep the clean channel on the LBX.
Awesome review! Love the EVH amps.
I have the 50w amp but can't decide on a 4x12. I play metal so my first thought is to get something with V30's but I keep reading that nothing pairs up like the matching cab, thoughts?
What’s this sound like compared to Mesa ?
I recently played the EVH 5150 III 50W - loved the green and blue channels and built in reverb and power soak. I'd like to have something like the LBX but I really liked that green channel - can you get by with the blue and still get those cleans or no?
no, sadly it is missing that super clean tone.
Phillip McKnight Bummer, thanks for the quick replay and videos.
I'm sure any guitarist that's recorded themselves jamming on video and watched it back will understand what you're talking about. It's so hard to tell the difference in volume levels and variations in sound etc the way camera microphones compress the sound. Kind of like how the only way to tell an amp is getting louder on camera is by being able to hear the actual strings twanging less and less.
Thanks for the review. I have two of the 50 watt 6l6 and I love them
You described it best, what I hear is cleaner.....
Are you guys familiar with the 5150 III S (Stealth)? Do you think the LBX can get a similar, super articulate high gain sound like the Stealth?
+pbeckster307 I have not tried it. EVH wanted the store to carry one, but I sale 99% of what I carry in the store and not a lot of local guys are looking for a more expensive EVH head. I really do thing the LBX can get pretty darn close. It is one of the highest gain amps this size I have played through. But I have to say the new EVH 5150 Overdrive pedal is super high gain and nice also.
Yo Phillip, what speakers are you using? i just got the lbx, and im trying to find a speaker that gives me a really smooth lead tone with it.
+Firks 91 I am using a Celestion Heritige speaker
it's interesting that the lbx has El84s and the 50w has 6l6s. but some how achieve very similar tones, I suppose it's all it the wiring and voicing. just my two cents though.
Does the 5150 III 50w hiss as much as the LBX when your not playing through it?
Very Informative...Thanks Phillip!
The 50 had more mid range, I liked the bite it had over the Lbx. You made it sound as if the 50 wasn't very loud? Could you play small clubs with it?... Thanks Phil, I love your channel.
I have a 50W and I've played medium-sized venues with it with the volume/gain around the 10 o'clock position. It's plenty loud.
all in all - how will the 50 watter sound while practicing quite late at night?
+Yohai Shelef It has no problem being super quite. It can get so quite if you run the dish washer you will have to turn it up.
+Phillip McKnight Great. Thanks for the quick response.
I know its a long time ago but I still choose the 50 watts , sounds so much better in my ears !
I hear a difference but it's not exactly what you described. The 50 watt head sounds clearer in the highs, tighter in the lows, and less present in the mid range. Very modern sounding. The LBX sounds more ideal for classic rock because it has more mid-range focus and punch, and vintage flavor in the high end. I definitely wouldn't mind having both but am happy with the 50 watt head.
nice you are good for videos.
the LBX have almost the half gain of mini head??
ty
+XDX I don't think so. Both seem to have a ton of gain on tap.
i think the new evh tone is the 5150 iii stealth version
Hello I come d to buy an evh 5150 LBX, I am very satisfied with my
amplifier. On the other hand I do not find normal that there is so much
breath. It is him(it) normal
thank you
oliver
Did you find a hiss with the LBX sitting at idle? (No instrument plugged in.)
No more than any high gain amp.
+Phillip McKnight Any suggestions on how to reduce the hiss? MXR - M135 - Smart Gate maybe?
This is very true I agree the 100 watt a much clearer sound than the 50 watt version. I played both an the 50 watt version sounded dark not very open sounding like the 100 watt Version
song at 3:40 and 3:50?
Song at 3:40?
what song is he playing at 4:02???
Dance the Night Away by Van Halen
The little one seems brighter. I'm wearing mid level Audio Technica ear buds.
So when using a mic at a gig through the EVH 212 cab will the LBX power the cab ok? My drummer plays loud but I know the 50w is more than I need.
Thanks for the review Phillip this helps take the edge off while I'm waiting for my LBX to be shipped next week!
I ran it through the EVH two 12 and it was pretty loud. the only issue is it will not push the lows when it is turned up, but I would think in most cases it is fine.
+Phillip McKnight Have you tried the effects loop, if so how is it compared to the 50w?
I am very concerned about FX loops because some just suck. The 50 watts is very good, so I can tell you from ears the LBX is the same. No hum, no sound coloring, or loss of tone that I heard.
+Phillip McKnight Good to hear thanks!!
I prefer the LBX, I like the sound better and I don't play clean. However I think a +/- $500 price point would be more adequate for it.
Totally dig your reviews! Cheers!
I don´t care about volume because I use always a dummy load approach. Like EVH did and does until today because it just doesn´t make sense to put time effects between preamp and power amp if you want the power tube distortion. And big sound is all about that....
Very helpful review. Thank you for posting this.
Retail is what things are actually selling for. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is what the maker thinks you might be able to sell it for. Everything I have EVER seen MSRP on will actually retail for 20-50% less.
Philip you rule the roost.
Awesome, I didn't know they were made in Mexico? For some reason I thought it was Chinese....
Have you ever played a Friedman Brown Eye? Expensive but good sound
+w1third Had a Friedman Pink Taco, It was cool.
I played one today and they sound insane! You can get great low volumes all the way up to deafening loudness! Also the gain 2 has so much gain on tap!
How does this 5150 III lbs compare to the PT-20?
+w1third I have a Friedman BE 100 Half stack well worth the money.
How would you compare the evh lbx to the pt 20?
+Etienne Bibes The PT is a awesome amp more 80s JCm 800 Vibe and the EVH is a more new vibe to it. I did not keep my PT20 it was great but I ended up always running a pedal through it and running the amp clean so I bought the Marshall 2061. They are both great and not alike.
Have you tried the 50 watt 2x12 combo?
I owned the 50 watt 1x12 combo. the reverb and power adjustment are so awesome. but I do not have room for combos heads stack and happy wife happy life
lol i understand...So im guess the 2x12 sounds fuller then the 1x12 does....so the combos sound just as good as the heads?
+randy outlaw I think they sound a little better. the rumor. is they will make a 50 head version of the combo 2016. and yes the 2x12 I would think has a fuller bass and mid response.
wow....so you think the combos sound better then the 15 or 50 watt head? Did I understand you correctly?
Yes, the reverb is a big add to the overall sound. But turning the combo down to 1 or 5 watts when playing late at night sounds huge at low volumes. I miss my combo. Worth checking out. The combos speaker section is isolated from the amp section so they are just like the heads with closed cabinet. Think of it this way it is the head with two extra options. But remember the combo sounds like the head they all sound very close to each other.
Still like my 50 watt better it just has what I want. I'm just surprised more people aren't pissed because the lbx actually shares the same eq where the 50 watt they say it wouldn't be done because of the diff voicing between the two channels
+matt wilkins I could be wrong, My understanding is the LBX has a passive eq which is supposed to be different than the 50 watt one. But I will have to check that since that is something I heard in passing.
+Phillip McKnight I guess a lot of people were complaining about the volume jump between green and blue and was wondering why the distortion channels couldn't share the same eq so they could get a true clean. Voodoo amps does a mod for concentric volume and gain between green and blue so you can get your clean but still share the same eq. Doesn't bother me I just roll back the volume
Of course at the same volume you're hitting the power tubes of the EVH 5150 III LBX harder than the EVH 5150III