The EVH 5150 III is an Evh amplifier. Close alternatives include the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head. It pairs well with the Ibanez Tube Screamer and the Fortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects.
EVH 5150 III
Evh · amplifier
The EVH 5150 III is Eddie Van Halen's signature high-gain tube amplifier, a multi-channel head offering pristine cleans, a versatile crunch channel and a high-gain lead channel with the thick, saturated, harmonically rich voice associated with the 5150 lineage. It delivers tight, percussive low end, singing sustain and a smooth, liquid high-gain character that excels for hard rock and metal rhythm and lead. With usable cleans and a flexible mid-gain channel it is more versatile than the original 5150, and Wes Borland uses dual 5150 IIIs for his heavy Limp Bizkit tone. It pairs best with a good 4x12 and rewards being pushed.
- crunch
- hard rock
- metal
- liquid
- thick
- tight
- clean
- rhythm
Good for
- Live
Genres the EVH 5150 III is commonly used in
- Hard Rock
- Rock
- Metal
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Nu Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the EVH 5150 III
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
31% matchThe Screamer's mid-forward boost tightens the 5150's crunch and liquid saturation ahead of it.
Fortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects
Fortin Amplification
30% matchFeed a saturated signal into EVH 5150 III and it comes out closer to tight
Electro-Harmonix "Ram's Head" Big Muff Pi V2
pedal
29% matchThe 5150's crunch and liquid saturation push the Ram's Head Muff's edgy, midrange-forward fuzz further.
Greer Southland
Greer
29% matchThe Southland's transparent, boutique drive pushes the 5150's crunch and liquid saturation further without masking it.
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
24% matchEVH 5150 III's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Amptweaker Tight Boost
Amptweaker
24% matchInto the 5150 III's thick, liquid crunch, Tight Boost's articulate mid lift cuts through instead of just adding volume.
Wampler Cory Wong
Wampler
24% matchThe Cory Wong's punchy optical compression evens dynamics before the 5150's crunch and liquid saturation.
Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo
Caroline Guitar Company
21% matchPut the Parabola's tremolo after the 5150's own gain, so the pulse rides on the amp's thick, tight saturation instead of a raw signal.
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
63% similarityShared character: smooth, hard_rock, crunch
PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head
PRS
60% similarityShared character: lead_channel, hard_rock, mix
Marshall Jubilee Head
Marshall
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall 2555X Silver Jubilee
Marshall
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
Mesa Boogie
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Revv Generator 120 MkIII 4-Channel 120W Head
Revv
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Orange Dark Terror
Orange
95% similaritysimilar tone character
PRS MT 15 V1 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head
PRS
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Revv Generator 120 MkIII 10th Anniversary 4-Channel 120W Head
Revv
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa Boogie Mark Five:90 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the EVH 5150 III (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EVH 5150 III?+
The closest matches in character are the Friedman Dirty Shirley, the PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head, the Marshall Jubilee Head.
What pairs well with the EVH 5150 III?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Ibanez Tube Screamer, Fortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects, Electro-Harmonix "Ram's Head" Big Muff Pi V2 — The Screamer's mid-forward boost tightens the 5150's crunch and liquid saturation ahead of it..