Is this the only other lunchbox amp under a grand with EL34 tubes other than the DSL20? This is gonna hurt 6505mh and invective.MH sales
New 5150 iconic 15w head
- Thread starter Dez
- Start date
Is this the only other lunchbox amp under a grand with EL34 tubes other than the DSL20? This is gonna hurt 6505mh and invective.MH sales
Progressive_disclosure
Roadie
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- 526
Just one EL34 power tube. How will that affect the sound? I’ve mostly seen pair or quads of tubes.
paisleywookiee
Rock Star
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That looks like shit. Two 12AX7s and one EL34? It’s an EVH branded Blackstar HT.
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- 13,013
Why would someone buy this when you snag a used 50-watt non-Iconic for around the same price? I got mine with the EVH 2x12 for $850, which was a crazy deal for sure, but I see the 50-watt heads popping up for $500-$800 regularly.
paisleywookiee
Rock Star
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- 9,841
Why would someone buy this when you snag a used 50-watt non-Iconic for around the same price? I got mine with the EVH 2x12 for $850, which was a crazy deal for sure, but I see the 50-watt heads popping up for $500-$800 regularly.
Three for $850, actual tube amps.
paisleywookiee
Rock Star
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The whole thing screams “cost savings”.
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- 7,228
Def developed to a price point, but I’d give JB a shot to make it sound good within the restraints.
![[Nathan]](/data/avatars/m/0/613.jpg?1726885163){kind=avatar}
[Nathan]
Shredder
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- 1,306
I got one coming
it’s the opposite of a 5150iii stealth 100 being 15w iconic and el34, but super keen to check it out
Blix
Shredder
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- 1,988
What James say about it:
"Now that it's out....there's a few things that might not be talked about on the site. For example, some ask about the noise gate missing. It's actually in there, but I borrowed a trick from my Amptweaker pedal brand where I set up the noise gate to automatically adjust with the gain control, and increase with the Burn switch. So it's in there, and didn't cost as much as adding another control. Also this amp uses a mixture of self-bias and fixed bias class A design in the power amp. So it's a little fatter sounding than the bigger amps, but doesn't run quite as hot as a regular single ended tube amp like a Champ or something.
The reason for this choice of 1 EL34 rather than 2-EL84's is that EL84's cost almost as much as EL34's nowadays, so it's almost as expensive as making a 40-60W amp if you use 2-EL84's. Also, when Ed toured with the 5150 back in 91 on the F.U.C.K. tour, there was a time where he had a power tube go out, and he really liked the tone he got that night. They told me about it, and I said go for it, so they ran for a few months with 1 6L6 on one side and 2 on the other. The result is that the amp has more 2nd order harmonics, which are octaves and always harmonically correct. This amp sounds more like that tone.
One last detail....the Boost on the footswitch not only adds the Boost knob that is a volume boost(slightly tighter) for solos.....but it also adds about 8dB in the input circuit even with that Boost knob down. So you get more gain in both channels when you hit that.
Enjoy,
James B"
"Now that it's out....there's a few things that might not be talked about on the site. For example, some ask about the noise gate missing. It's actually in there, but I borrowed a trick from my Amptweaker pedal brand where I set up the noise gate to automatically adjust with the gain control, and increase with the Burn switch. So it's in there, and didn't cost as much as adding another control. Also this amp uses a mixture of self-bias and fixed bias class A design in the power amp. So it's a little fatter sounding than the bigger amps, but doesn't run quite as hot as a regular single ended tube amp like a Champ or something.
The reason for this choice of 1 EL34 rather than 2-EL84's is that EL84's cost almost as much as EL34's nowadays, so it's almost as expensive as making a 40-60W amp if you use 2-EL84's. Also, when Ed toured with the 5150 back in 91 on the F.U.C.K. tour, there was a time where he had a power tube go out, and he really liked the tone he got that night. They told me about it, and I said go for it, so they ran for a few months with 1 6L6 on one side and 2 on the other. The result is that the amp has more 2nd order harmonics, which are octaves and always harmonically correct. This amp sounds more like that tone.
One last detail....the Boost on the footswitch not only adds the Boost knob that is a volume boost(slightly tighter) for solos.....but it also adds about 8dB in the input circuit even with that Boost knob down. So you get more gain in both channels when you hit that.
Enjoy,
James B"
GuitarBilly74
Roadie
- Messages
- 917
I love James Brown designs and contributions over the years but EVH is competing against themselves here, because for not much more you can get an used 50w head that's going to be a vastly superior amp. Or even the LBX amps, EL84s and all. It's kind of a weird spot for them.
maddnotez
Roadie
- Messages
- 356
Yep, was planning on posting a NGD soon and while im waiting I've been looking around to see what I should list my EL34 Iconic for which i may sell after NGD.
I do see the appeal to certain niche players who must have a lunchbox. But for me, why would you bother with that when for another $100-$150 you can get a dead mint used big brother.
I'd like to see a review on it.
I find JB's info fascinating.
The emulated speaker out is always a plus for me.
Muting the power amp is also a plus for me.
The fact that the site depicts it with a 4x12 cab as opposed to anything else is intriguing as well - as if its a 15w designed specifically for a 4x12.
I'm certainly not in the market, but I'm interested.
I find JB's info fascinating.
The emulated speaker out is always a plus for me.
Muting the power amp is also a plus for me.
The fact that the site depicts it with a 4x12 cab as opposed to anything else is intriguing as well - as if its a 15w designed specifically for a 4x12.
I'm certainly not in the market, but I'm interested.
Desertdweller
Shredder
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- 1,759
Technically you can find a bunch of EVH 5150 III heads used under a grand, and they’re 50w.
CorrosiveMatter
Roadie
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- 586
Got my 50W Stealth for $900 with a bag and everything else. So worth it!
synthpenguin
Roadie
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- 684
Agreed. I’m not into modern metal sounds for my own playing, and I was pretty impressed by this video. It sounded great with the power amp pushed, which answered my initial question of “what’s the point of a low wattage version of an amp that people keep the master down on” lol
And I think he makes a great point that it’s not just a smaller 5150 Iconic and that it’s not good at all the same things, and is good at things those larger amps aren’t, and I think they did themselves a little bit of a disservice by branding it this way.
I hope they get this into the hands of demo people who specialize in more low to mid gain stuff, as I’d be interested to hear that. I’d be interested to see this compared to something like a Rocker 15 too.
