deadpool_25
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,222
I’m a huge 5153 50w fanboi. I had all three at the same time. I didn’t do the C137 mod on the EL34. I considered it but because I had the other two, and because the black and gold was my least favorite aesthetic of the three, I just left it stock and eventually sold it. I think my favorite of the three was the 6L6 which I feel has the best channel (blue) across the 50w lineup. Additionally, I’ve had the 100w 6L6 and I much preferred the 50w.
The 50w are damn near perfect. My only “gripe” is they have too much gain on the red channel. That was easily solved using a lower gain tube (5751) to tame that a bit.
Now with all that said, I think I actually prefer the Badlander in some ways (I have the 25w head). The main thing that stands out is the clean channel. Although the 5153’s clean is far better than that of the 6505 (which I’ve warmed to over the last few years), the Badlander’s clean mode is even nicer. Significantly so imo. It’s so good it could stand on its own as a one channel amp. It goes from stellar cleans—I’d be fine playing John Mayer stuff with it—to a beautiful crunchy rock tones with the gain dimed. Cleans up nicely like that too.
Oops I’ll stop raving about the BL in a 5153 thread.
The 5153s are phenomenal overall. I will always be a massive fan of the 50s.
But fuck those 5153 100w amps. I suspect the 100w EL34 would be my favorite of the lineup if I tried it, but they’re laughably big.
The 50w are damn near perfect. My only “gripe” is they have too much gain on the red channel. That was easily solved using a lower gain tube (5751) to tame that a bit.
Now with all that said, I think I actually prefer the Badlander in some ways (I have the 25w head). The main thing that stands out is the clean channel. Although the 5153’s clean is far better than that of the 6505 (which I’ve warmed to over the last few years), the Badlander’s clean mode is even nicer. Significantly so imo. It’s so good it could stand on its own as a one channel amp. It goes from stellar cleans—I’d be fine playing John Mayer stuff with it—to a beautiful crunchy rock tones with the gain dimed. Cleans up nicely like that too.
Oops I’ll stop raving about the BL in a 5153 thread.
The 5153s are phenomenal overall. I will always be a massive fan of the 50s.But fuck those 5153 100w amps. I suspect the 100w EL34 would be my favorite of the lineup if I tried it, but they’re laughably big.
