EVH 5150III EL34 50W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp Black
The 5150III EL34 1x12 combo delivers three channels of modern British-voiced high-gain tone with Eddie Van Halen's signature sustain. EL34 tubes replace the standard 6L6s for more aggressive clipping and compressed mids, while the custom EVH Celestion G12H speaker yields tight lows and punchy presence.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +EL34 power tubes provide more aggressive, British-flavored gain character compared to the 6L6 version
- +Custom EVH Celestion G12H speaker delivers tight lows, punchy mids, and sparkling highs
- +Independent gain and volume controls for clean and crunch channels solve the shared-control limitation of earlier models
- +Power scaling from 50W down to 1W with MIDI input for effects integration
- +Three distinct channels (clean, crunch, lead) with global presence, resonance, and reverb controls
Cons
- −EL34 version sounds rawer and needs more pick attack compared to the smoother 6L6 model
- −Clean channel isn't pristine—robust and thick but not Fender-level sparkle
- −Blue (lead) channel can be slightly too smooth for some players due to V30-style speaker compression
- −At $1,850, you're paying premium for the EVH name versus similar-spec competitors
The Verdict
MusicRadar’s perfect 5/5 score isn’t hyperbole—this is a killer high-gain weapon. The EL34 tubes give you more of that vintage Van Halen brown sound with British aggression, though they demand more from your picking than the creamier 6L6 version. If you want modern metal smoothness, grab the 6L6; if you want raw, open midrange bite that cuts through, the EL34 is your amp. The combo format is genuinely giggable at 50W, and the power scaling makes it studio-friendly. Premier Guitar called it the “beastly embodiment of Eddie’s tone quest,” and we agree—this is world-class tone in a compact, road-ready package.
