Back to navigation


EL34-injected Tone in a Convenient Combo





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





The EVH 5150 III 50W EL34 Combo gives you three channels of EL34-injected tone in a versatile, sharp-dressed package. Whether you’re chasing modern high-gain tones or the old-school Van Halen brown sound, the 5150 III 50W EL34 Combo tackles both effortlessly. This little amp is a beast ? it punches well above its weight with arena-filling volume and monster tonal attitude. Enjoy all the updates of the 5150 III along with a British-infused voice, thanks to the EL34-based power section. What’s more, a custom-designed EVH Celestion G12H speaker yields tight lows, punchy mids, and sparkling highs. You’ll also love this amp's in-your-face black-on-gold motif. For serious volume and monstrous high-gain tone in a compact package, look no further than the 5150 III 50W EL34 Combo.





Related Videos: 5150III 1x12" 50-watt Tube Combo Amp with EL34 Tubes


EL34s for the brown sound





The 5150 III is a standard for high-gain guitar tones and achieving the modern Eddie crunch. But when you need that thick, sustaining tone that Ed made famous on Van Halen’s 1978 debut, you need to turn to this 5150 III 50W EL34 Combo. What really sets this amp apart from the rest of the range is its EL34-based power amplifier. EL34s are much of the tone of the great British rock amps of the ’70s and ’80s. This amp nails those timbres with ease, adding a level of sag and saturation that feels and sounds great, and it will still get dirty with the best of modern metal machines.





Celestion G12H ? the sound of rock





The 5150 III 50W EL34 Combo comes loaded with a custom-designed EVH Celestion G12H. This speaker bathes your playing in classic British tone with a warm body and distinctive growl. Featuring a heavier magnet than the original G12M Greenback, the G12H redefined the sound of modern rock guitar from the 1960s on. This 75Hz-resonance speaker model perfectly re-creates the sound of an original high-resonance G12H, giving you tight low-frequency response, punchy upper midrange, and sparkling highs.





New sound, new look





The bold sound of the 5150 III 50W EL34 Combo isn’t the only update to the legendary amp line: the combo was also given a distinct and assertive look. While it shares the famous Van Halen stripe theme, this amp will look sharp in your backline with its black stripe on gold grille design. One look at this amp, and you’ll know exactly what you’re in for when plugging in. It stands out at Sweetwater, and we’re sure you'll instantly fall in love with the amp’s appearance and tones.





EVH 5150 III 50W EL34 Combo Features:


High-gain combo amplifier with EL34 power tubes


12" custom-designed EVH Celestion speaker yields tight lows, punchy mids, and sparkling highs


EL34 power tubes give the amp a British tone


Channel 1 offers a sparkling compressed clean tone


Channels 2 and 3 (crunch and lead, respectively) are dark, highly compressed, and saturated


Resonance control dials the amp into different cabs


Global Presence control and shared 3-band EQ for channels 1 and 2 with an independent EQ for channel 3


Effects loop for integrating your pedalboard and other processors


Headphone jack for private practice


Preamp Out jack for connecting to another amp's power in for multiple amp use, or to a mixing console


MIDI In jack for connecting a foot controller for channel selection and effects loop bypass


External bias adjustment and test points


Special internal baffling ensures ample, yet tight, bass response


In-your-face black-on-gold motif