EVH 5150 iconic owners.. Beware!

59Plexis

59Plexis

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I'm new here and would like to share my growing "beef" with EVH and Fender. I am a (pre-sale) Marshall guy, I've been using 50 and 100w Plexi's for almost 30 years.. I picked up the 5150 iconic 80w head almost a year ago. I loved it right out of the box, wrote reviews recommending it, defended it in comments and recommended it to friends. When it started sounding fizzy I wasn't concerned, I put a good amount of hours on it and figured it's good and broken in and probably could use a new set of tubes. Replaced them with the same tubes it had when I bought it, set the bias and still sounded fizzy. Then the preamp tubes, different cabinet, speaker cables, surge protector, and everything else....
It just got worse, so I did some research and came across an issue on the earlier amps with an adhesive becoming conductive and frying resistors, also causing other problems. I read something posted by the designer James Brown saying the issue had been resolved in 2022, so I looked up the serial number and saw mine was built in april 2023. I decided to take another look and can't believe I missed the sloppy glue job when I did the tubes, the glue is all over the base of the caps and covering several resistors and solder points, there are burn marks where the adhesive is discolored. Then I noticed the PCB's are stamped 2021, so I did more digging and emailed EVH/Fender support. They replied that I have to take it to an authorized tech for diagnoses then wait for fender to evaluate the problem and approve the warranty work. I called the authorized shop and they were "less than enthusiastic" and informed me that it fender doesn't approve the repair I'm responsible for the diagnosis. They will inform me when I can bring it in... I am familiar with this shop and they do quality work, but are notorious for taking months for warranty jobs. I did some more research and found that this adhesive, some call it the yellow glue of death, has been an issue with chinese made PCB's for over 20 years, that it's still used because it usually outlasts most warranties. Apparently when it breaks down and starts to turn brown it becomes very conductive, the heat of a tube amp speeds up the process.
Now I would be ok waiting months for one of my Plexi's, not thrilled but worth the wait. After my blood stopped boiling I contacted fender support again with pictures of the subpar workmanship and the obvious known "factory defect" on the 2 year old board they slapped in my amp. That was almost 2 weeks ago and neither the authorized shop or fender has replied. I have met a half dozen other Iconic users along the way with the same issue, just as angry as I am with fender.

I'm not waiting months for what I bought as a practice/backup amp, I could give it to my regular tech or do it myself... but honestly, I don't want this thing anymore, fixed or not. Just for kicks I'm emailing fender one more time with an empty lawsuit threat if they won't replace the p.o.s. I won't get a reply but why not...
I have 4 Strats, and was interested in either a new Charvel or an EVH frankenstein relic. But I'm done with fender, to the point of removing the fender logos from my Strats and ordering custom decals for the headstocks. No more picks, strings, polish or anything else associated with them.

As far as the 40lb $1000 p.o.s. I'm gonna sell it cheap to someone who wants to fix it.. $400. Putting Eddie Van Halens name on this chinese made junk is like putting whipped cream on dog crap.
Sorry for rambling
Anyone with an Iconic should have a look inside and compare it to the pic Im attaching. If it has the same adhesive it will be a problem.View attachment 38697
 
Your frustration is understandable. I truly mean that. But do yourself a favor and just drop the amp off and proceed with the warranty process. It'll be annoying in the short term but in the long term you'll look back and realize it's really not that important in the grand scheme of things.

In the meantime, while that amp is getting repaired, let's figure out another amp for you to buy. We excel at spending other people's money around these parts. 🙂
 
Yeah I'd take it in for Warranty man it sucks but it's probably worth it.



Sorry for the BS man hope it gets figured out.
 
Sorry for your troubles. At least you have some great Plexi's to get you through the tough times. Imagine how pissed you would be if that was your only amp.

Drop it off for warranty work and sell it when it's fixed. Even if they decline the work under warranty, you should be able to sell it once it is fixed and get more money for it.
 
Get it fixed. Swallow some anger for a bit. Follow the process. Once it is fixed, make a decision about keeping it or not.
 
I’m sorry to hear that and understand your frustration. I had a less than stellar warranty incident with a Vibro Champ XD that farted out. First, no auth. Service center in Austin. Which has plenty of amp repair shops. WTF? So I have my brother drop it off at one in San Antonio. Then the place just ghosted me. I lost the amp because they never responded at all.

So I skipped the Iconics because I knew they were a budget offering of EVH tone. I stuck with 5150’s because I knew they were toured a lot and had high visibility so I figured they were built to last. That and the Fender 65 reissues as I figured the same.
 
OP and I have been chewing on this happenstance on another forum. I bought mine in 2021 and mine has that yellow adhesive too. It oozed onto resisters around the area it’s in. My Iconic is way past the 2 yr warranty period and it’s still running healthy for now. Until the glue of death poisons the board.

When mine fails I’m gonna shoot it with a scatter gun. Chew it up good. I’ll pull the transformers to save shipping weight. Send it back to EVH Fender for the visual and a thank you for lending the amp to me for $1K. It’s been 4yrs now. The longer it lasts, the more I’ll feel I got a good deal.
 
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Cut your losses and aggravation. Just throw it in the garbage, and forget about it. Its a piece of shit. The more expensive EVH amps are pieces of shit as well. Quality control sucks, doesn’t matter where it’s made. China, Mexico. It’s all shit.
 
Pissedplexi said:
OP and I have been chewing on this happenstance on another forum. I bought mine in 2021 and mine has that yellow adhesive too. It oozed onto resisters around the area it’s in. My Iconic is way past the 2 yr warranty period and it’s still running healthy for now. Until the glue of death poisons the board.

When mine fails I’m gonna shoot it with a scatter gun. Chew it up good. I’ll pull the transformers to save shipping weight. Send it back to EVH for the visual and a thank you for lending the amp to me for $1K. It’s been 4yrs now. The longer it lasts, the more I’ll feel I got a good deal.
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I suggest the Cologaurd treatment.
 
GuitarBilly74 said:
This. It's infuriating. I get it. But don't make decisions out of anger.
Take the amp to the service center and don't even think about it, use other amps in the meantime. Then decide what to do
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I'd ask for a hard (and not a scale) cost of the diagnosis before I'd make the decision to take it in at all. "Well, it could start at about $xxx, but potentially as much as $xxx" wouldn't work for me. Especially if Fender might not authorize the warranty job.
 
Spaced Out Ace said:
I'd ask for a hard (and not a scale) cost of the diagnosis before I'd make the decision to take it in at all. "Well, it could start at about $xxx, but potentially as much as $xxx" wouldn't work for me. Especially if Fender might not authorize the warranty job.
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Also you have to call ahead and find out if the designated service center works on amps or it services other Fender products before making that appointment. That’s in their instructions.

Most of my designated ones in Washington were miles from me, except one in Tacoma. I work graveyard shift. Every appointment in the day(my sleep time)is zombie effort. Walk and drool. I’m way beyond warranty anyways.
 
CarlF said:
Cut your losses and aggravation. Just throw it in the garbage, and forget about it. It’s a piece of shit. The more expensive EVH amps are pieces of shit as well. Quality control sucks, doesn’t matter where it’s made. China, Mexico. It’s all shit.
Click to expand...
I’ve still got some jollies left with it but I can relate to the sentiment. Why would you use an adhesive known to burn shit up? Computer guys have known about this stuff for years. Terrible application.
 
Pissedplexi said:
I’ve still got some jollies left with it but I can relate to the sentiment. Why would you use an adhesive known to burn shit up? Computer guys have known about this stuff for years. Terrible application.
Click to expand...
The only thing holding me back from the EVH 5150 100 watts, is QC issues I see. I had the 50 watt EVH a few years ago, and it just went dead on me.
 
CarlF said:
The only thing holding me back from the EVH 5150 100 watts, is QC issues I see. I had the 50 watt EVH a few years ago, and it just went dead on me.
Click to expand...
With the wages going up in Mexico (from what I have read anyways) plus tariffs/trade deals going on, I would not be at all surprised to see the 100w Stealth go for closer to $3000, which it certainly is not worth.
 
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