The Iconic designer (James Brown, who actually designed the original 5150) confirmed there will be differences in the preamp voicing, just like all other EL34 variants, but shouldn't require clipping a cap (ref C137) to get a good overdrive sound. Just changing the tubes wouldn't make much difference, they revoice it to be closer to what people expect from an EL34 amp.
I appreciate you watching this video! Unfortunately standard tuning isn't necessarily my play style at the moment. Though if it helps at all my 7 string is standard tuning on the top 6 strings, and just has a low A for the 7th
I bought both the EL34 and the 6L6 last Saturday. I set them both up next to my JCM 800 and I have to say, the EL34 gets pretty close to the JCM 800 tone on the green channel with overdrive on and drive set about 2. With a TS9 Tube Screamer in front of it with level dimed, tone at 6 o'clock and drive at 0. Eq Settings were Low at 8, mid 4, trebbile 8, resonance 2, Prescence 6. Kick in that TS9 and closed my eyes, and A-B back and fourth to my 2203 JCM 800 and sounds incredibly close On red channel, same eq settings and red channel drive at 2 with a Boss SD1 overdrive in front, drive at 0, tone at 6 o'clock and level dimed it has a killer tone for the heavvier stuff. I don't like the burn button, it is just way to much. I also running a CE5 Stero chorus, HOF Reverb, FlahBack2 delay and a EH 720 Looper in the effects loop and do not use the amp reverb. In front I am running Les Paul Custom Shop into a TU2 tunner, into Boss 200EQ to better shape the tone, into a Mark Tremonti Morley Wah, then to TS9, SD1 and OC5 Octave. Last in Chain is NS2 Noise gate. The EQ pedal allows you to refine the tone really well. After 5 days of having both, I settled on the EL34 and returned the 6L6. The El34 is just a little more reminiscent of the classic Marshall tone. A bit warmer, and not as harsh as the 6L6. If I was a hardcore metal player, then the 6L6 would have been my choice. For me, the EL34 is a winner. And I forgot to mention the clean channel. Same EQ settings, but I do have a dedicated eq channel on the boss EQ 200 just for clean that gives probably the best clean tone I have ever heard from any amp. I have a fender twin reverb, and a 1977 Roland Jazz Chorus 120 I usually A-B with my JCM 800 for cleans, and the tone I got out of the EL34 with the eq pedal, is surprisingly better. No need for me to lug multiple amps to the gig now. Being a diehard vintage amp snob, I was very reluctant to give this a try. But wow!! I am glad I did. The vintage stuff can stay at home now where it is safe, and this will now be my gigging amp. Less to haul around to achieve great tones all in one head versuses A-B ing 2 amps, two mics in front and two channels to dial in on front of house board. This is a win for me. Never thought I would say this, and immediatley hated it until I gave it a try. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. PS: I spent about 6 hours total, tone shapping with EQ 200 to each specific channel to achieve the tones I finally dig. TS9 on Green Channel with Overdrvive engaged, and SD1 for Red Channel no burn button. The burn will never be used. And one final tweak, I removed the front grill and took off the 5150 and EVH logo and put behind the grill. Looks a lot better estetically. Now it's a custom lol
Awesome to hear dude! I have some amps that have EL34s and I do like them it seems to be definitely different from the 6L6s. I have yet to check out the 5150III EL34 I just have the 6L6 version I can't quite afford to buy another 5150 III haha Thank you so much for watching! 😁
@@HighImpaktAudio I find the EL34 gives off the John Sykes vibe. I really like the natural distortion, it doesn't need any pedals to boost. I play rhythm guitar and sing (and might to an occasional solo). I would adjust the mids higher (I did a lot of mixing and those mids are very important in the mix). A nice alt setup is running some powered speakers via the headphone jack in the back for a bedroom level sound.
Yes it definitely has a different voicing forsure! I just uploaded a video of my first impressions. And I can definitely hear a warmer tone. More low end and low mid frequencies forsure. 😁
Hey Chris, some great sounds here. Are you expecting the EL34's to be warmer/darker with the scooped mid vibe they tend to have. I like them, they are great for dialling in and tweaking with a fatter tone as default. Looking forward to hearing the new purchase, cheers Will 😎🤙
Turn the boost on with the channel 1 clean no crunch lower the gain to just open 7 o’clock turn master volume to 9-12 o’clock and guitar volume nob lower than half way❤❤❤
@@HighImpaktAudio how does that happen? i tried looking up info about it but that is wild? have you found why it does that? i mean most people buying that amp aren't going to complain about sustain on the clean channel but wow that's weird.
I own two in stereo never noticed it I use the boost instead of the crunch and channel 2 for anything else combined with guitar volume nob mostly below half
I do agree with you dude. The EL34s do seem to be a little different from 6L6s but if that's the only change it is not enough to justify it if you have the 6L6. I can't wait to get it in to see the true difference in tone. Who knows maybe EVH has been cooking 😁
It's like man you say overdrive and "crunchy" but you're already playing saturated metal. Like i appreciate the videos but everyone knows these amps do that
The Iconic designer (James Brown, who actually designed the original 5150) confirmed there will be differences in the preamp voicing, just like all other EL34 variants, but shouldn't require clipping a cap (ref C137) to get a good overdrive sound. Just changing the tubes wouldn't make much difference, they revoice it to be closer to what people expect from an EL34 amp.
I wish you guys would play a 6 string in standard for these
I appreciate you watching this video! Unfortunately standard tuning isn't necessarily my play style at the moment. Though if it helps at all my 7 string is standard tuning on the top 6 strings, and just has a low A for the 7th
🎯 GTFOH with that rubber band bullshit...
I bought both the EL34 and the 6L6 last Saturday. I set them both up next to my JCM 800 and I have to say, the EL34 gets pretty close to the JCM 800 tone on the green channel with overdrive on and drive set about 2. With a TS9 Tube Screamer in front of it with level dimed, tone at 6 o'clock and drive at 0. Eq Settings were Low at 8, mid 4, trebbile 8, resonance 2, Prescence 6. Kick in that TS9 and closed my eyes, and A-B back and fourth to my 2203 JCM 800 and sounds incredibly close
On red channel, same eq settings and red channel drive at 2 with a Boss SD1 overdrive in front, drive at 0, tone at 6 o'clock and level dimed it has a killer tone for the heavvier stuff. I don't like the burn button, it is just way to much. I also running a CE5 Stero chorus, HOF Reverb, FlahBack2 delay and a EH 720 Looper in the effects loop and do not use the amp reverb.
In front I am running Les Paul Custom Shop into a TU2 tunner, into Boss 200EQ to better shape the tone, into a Mark Tremonti Morley Wah, then to TS9, SD1 and OC5 Octave. Last in Chain is NS2 Noise gate. The EQ pedal allows you to refine the tone really well. After 5 days of having both, I settled on the EL34 and returned the 6L6. The El34 is just a little more reminiscent of the classic Marshall tone. A bit warmer, and not as harsh as the 6L6. If I was a hardcore metal player, then the 6L6 would have been my choice. For me, the EL34 is a winner. And I forgot to mention the clean channel. Same EQ settings, but I do have a dedicated eq channel on the boss EQ 200 just for clean that gives probably the best clean tone I have ever heard from any amp. I have a fender twin reverb, and a 1977 Roland Jazz Chorus 120 I usually A-B with my JCM 800 for cleans, and the tone I got out of the EL34 with the eq pedal, is surprisingly better. No need for me to lug multiple amps to the gig now. Being a diehard vintage amp snob, I was very reluctant to give this a try. But wow!! I am glad I did. The vintage stuff can stay at home now where it is safe, and this will now be my gigging amp. Less to haul around to achieve great tones all in one head versuses A-B ing 2 amps, two mics in front and two channels to dial in on front of house board. This is a win for me. Never thought I would say this, and immediatley hated it until I gave it a try. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.
PS: I spent about 6 hours total, tone shapping with EQ 200 to each specific channel to achieve the tones I finally dig. TS9 on Green Channel with Overdrvive engaged, and SD1 for Red Channel no burn button. The burn will never be used. And one final tweak, I removed the front grill and took off the 5150 and EVH logo and put behind the grill. Looks a lot better estetically. Now it's a custom lol
I have the 5150 III EL34 50watt. It was pretty easy to dial in some awesome settings.
Very responsive amp. 3 channels
Awesome to hear dude! I have some amps that have EL34s and I do like them it seems to be definitely different from the 6L6s. I have yet to check out the 5150III EL34 I just have the 6L6 version I can't quite afford to buy another 5150 III haha
Thank you so much for watching! 😁
@@HighImpaktAudio I find the EL34 gives off the John Sykes vibe. I really like the natural distortion, it doesn't need any pedals to boost. I play rhythm guitar and sing (and might to an occasional solo). I would adjust the mids higher (I did a lot of mixing and those mids are very important in the mix). A nice alt setup is running some powered speakers via the headphone jack in the back for a bedroom level sound.
James Brown said that the EL34 Iconic has a slightly more vintage voice. So the preamp must be at least a little different.
Yes it definitely has a different voicing forsure! I just uploaded a video of my first impressions. And I can definitely hear a warmer tone. More low end and low mid frequencies forsure. 😁
That Black and Gold does look really sick
It definitely does haha 😄
Hey Chris, some great sounds here. Are you expecting the EL34's to be warmer/darker with the scooped mid vibe they tend to have. I like them, they are great for dialling in and tweaking with a fatter tone as default. Looking forward to hearing the new purchase, cheers Will 😎🤙
Hey Will! I am expecting them to be a bit warmer. More mid frequencies and more low end. I'm excited to get it in! We will see how I like it 😁
This puppy sounds killer with a TS9 in the front, and an EQ in the effects loop.
TS9 - Drive at 1, Tone at center, Level jacked.
Do you really need the Tube Screamer? This amp is known to have a very tight high gain sound and feel.
Turn the boost on with the channel 1 clean no crunch lower the gain to just open 7 o’clock turn master volume to 9-12 o’clock and guitar volume nob lower than half way❤❤❤
love the look and el34, this may make me finally get one
Yeah the black and gold is definitely an alluring look! I can't wait to see it in person 😁
Ordered one 8 days ago, now we wait…!
is it the noise gate that is gating off the sustain on clean channel 1? that makes no sense an amp would do that otherwise.
Unfortunately no it's not. I have the threshold all the way at 0.
@@HighImpaktAudio how does that happen? i tried looking up info about it but that is wild? have you found why it does that? i mean most people buying that amp aren't going to complain about sustain on the clean channel but wow that's weird.
I own two in stereo never noticed it I use the boost instead of the crunch and channel 2 for anything else combined with guitar volume nob mostly below half
Pretty sure that the noise gate only works for channel #2.
I can't justify buying it unless it had more features / tonal options beyond aesthetics and el34 tubes. Sigh
I do agree with you dude. The EL34s do seem to be a little different from 6L6s but if that's the only change it is not enough to justify it if you have the 6L6.
I can't wait to get it in to see the true difference in tone. Who knows maybe EVH has been cooking 😁
I just bought this head yesterday. Tried it in the store and I was really impressed. More to come after I crank it at band practice at friend's place.
My little Bogner Ecstasy Mini pees on this thing... check it out 🤭
It's like man you say overdrive and "crunchy" but you're already playing saturated metal. Like i appreciate the videos but everyone knows these amps do that
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