5153 EL34 50w first impressions..

[RaceU4her]

ive had this thing sitting here for months, i had some bad tendinitis or something going on in my wrist and decided to take a little break which turned into a few months and i never even tried the thing. i clipped the c137 before even trying it without. i only tried it with my main godin with a 81 into a 1960a but so far i cant say im too excited like my 6505+ i never play it feels like total shit, just dosent respond to my playing at all. it is tight which is nice but its pretty smooth and compressed. i gotta try it with my other guitars and cabs and maybe try boosting but i dont know about this thing

[Dave]

Damn, I'm surprised you're not gelling with it, but if you don't get on with the 6505 then it makes sense.

What speakers are in your marshall cab? The few times I've fucked with the 5153 it was through the heritage greenbacks and it sounded real nice.

[RaceU4her]

Just the stock 75’s, I could see greenbacks or maybe g12h30s with a little more upper end grit working better. I think the evh cabs come with g12h30s?

[EndTime]

I could have told you you wouldn’t like that amp. Lol. Just based on your clips, polar opposite. But also I wouldn’t have clipped 137 and used a boost. That would have likely given you the best chance at liking that amp

[FAKA!]

Your not alone on the 5150/6505 thing. Not sure what it is but it (my old 6l6 5153) just didn't have that something for me too. I have the 6505 synergy module just to cover that base but yeah always surprised i'm not into them either considering how popular they are for metal n stuff. I tried the 50 watt el34 one too which I thought was better than 6l6 but still... does the 100w versions that much better than the 50?

[GuitarBilly]

I had the EL34 50w and I didn't like it either but that was before the C137 mod was known. I think I could have liked it better with the mod, but then again I don't play metal.


With that said, that's just the Blue channel, the Red channel is similar across all versions. If you didn't like that (and you also didn't like your 6505+), maybe the 5150 tone is just not your thing. Nothing wrong with that IMHO.
I've had popular amps I couldn't get along with, it happens.

[GuitarBilly]

Your not alone on the 5150/6505 thing. Not sure what it is but it (my old 6l6 5153) just didn't have that something for me too. I have the 6505 synergy module just to cover that base but yeah always surprised i'm not into them either considering how popular they are for metal n stuff. I tried the 50 watt el34 one too which I thought was better than 6l6 but still... does the 100w versions that much better than the 50?

The 100w are definitely better. If you like the sound of the 5150 50w and want more of everything (punch, low end, tightness, headroom etc), going to the 100w is a great idea.


But if you're not into the 5150 tone, I doubt that going from the 50w to the 100w will change that.

[FAKA!]

Yeah, I come to realize its not for me. I still gravitate to tight Fryette UL and some saggy Dirty Shirley tones most of the time.

[NinjaRaf]

Not surprising. But at least now you know for sure.

[Mike Oxhuge]

The only 5150 I like is the OG 5150/6505. Completely different amp to me.

[greatmutah]

I love the OG 5150/6505. I also really, really liked the 6534+. That amp was fucking cool.

I don’t have a lot of experience with the EVH line. I did like the 50 watt EL34 version but I play more rock these days and it’s more rock voiced.

[EndTime]

Also the 5153 series, all the red channels are essentially the same. So if you aren’t a fan of that tone, then you won’t be no matter which model. And don’t forget the 5153 started as just a tweaking of the 5152/6505+. They are all related. For sure the 5153 got rid of some of those harder/cardboard mids that Is PV’s tone but still that’s the jumping off platform the 6505+. The Blue channels vary quite a bit tbh on the 5153 line. There legit might be an amp that nails it in your head and the other you may totally dislike. Again, the el34 50 blue(stock) with a boost would have been my suggestion for you to best get a long with the amp. With it clipped you can still maybe boost it and get some fatness with some settings but if I were to go back and get this amp for some reason, I’d leave it stock and use boosts. Altho the 50 watt el34 does have a bit muddier resonance control. I rarely got it above 11 o’clock. Maybe even 10oclock mostly and used the bass control higher if need be. Depends on the cab tho.

Other than that, yea the 100s are THAT much better for me. But if you aren’t a fan of the 50, then I clearly wouldn’t recommend the 100. But if you like the 50, then the hundred is betterererer. IF I had to get a 50, I’d likely get the regular 6l6 version cause it feels somewhat closest to the 100watt versions.

[JiveTurkey]

The only 5150 I like is the OG 5150/6505. Completely different amp to me.

I love the OG 5150/6505. I also really, really liked the 6534+. That amp was fucking cool.

I like my Stealth 50 a lot. The most out of the 50 watters I have had. But the OG 5150 and the 6534+ call to me nonetheless

[Mike Oxhuge]

I forgot I owned a 6534+ and I also loved it. So, Peaverty 5150/6534+ are the 2 that I like from the series the best.

[eyeball987]

I have had a 5150, 6505+, 5153 50W EL34, and a 50W Stealth. The 6505+ was my favorite. Still want to try the EL34 100W though. The 6505 Synergy module is pretty good too. Can get that into the 6505+ ballpark with some knob turning.

Wish I would have known about the blue channel mod on the 50W EL34 when I had it. Might have stayed around a bit longer.

[GuitarBilly]

Also the 5153 series, all the red channels are essentially the same. So if you aren’t a fan of that tone, then you won’t be no matter which model. And don’t forget the 5153 started as just a tweaking of the 5152/6505+. They are all related. For sure the 5153 got rid of some of those harder/cardboard mids that Is PV’s tone but still that’s the jumping off platform the 6505+. The Blue channels vary quite a bit tbh on the 5153 line. There legit might be an amp that nails it in your head and the other you may totally dislike. Again, the el34 50 blue(stock) with a boost would have been my suggestion for you to best get a long with the amp. With it clipped you can still maybe boost it and get some fatness with some settings but if I were to go back and get this amp for some reason, I’d leave it stock and use boosts. Altho the 50 watt el34 does have a bit muddier resonance control. I rarely got it above 11 o’clock. Maybe even 10oclock mostly and used the bass control higher if need be. Depends on the cab tho.

Other than that, yea the 100s are THAT much better for me. But if you aren’t a fan of the 50, then I clearly wouldn’t recommend the 100. But if you like the 50, then the hundred is betterererer. IF I had to get a 50, I’d likely get the regular 6l6 version cause it feels somewhat closest to the 100watt versions.

Yeah I agree with all of this.

[Shask]

I think a mid scooped 5150 has pretty much became my sound through the years. Add an EQ in the loop to cut some more mids as well, and it is there. They can be smooth, but they are also good if you back the gain down and use an OD. That will crunch them up more and make them not as smooth. I think they are always compressed though, as compared to some other amps.

[Chris Z]

I hate to admit it, but the 5153 would be perfect if it had the lower mids of the OG 5150. Everything else is perfect for me. I think the Stealth will be my next amp.

[RaceU4her]

its a new year and im gonna start fresh with these two assholes lol. clips to come soon

[spawnofthesith]

Bummer I have the 6L6 version but it's like the ultimate metal amp imo

I personally could never get along with 5150 or 5150II despite loving the tone of it in other's hands, but the 5153 is just perfect to me