The EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo is an Evh amplifier. Close alternatives include the Boss Katana-50 MkIII and the Boss Waza-Air. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Flux-Drive and the Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31.
EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo
Evh · amplifier
The EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 is a 50-watt digital modeling 1x12 combo amplifier from EVH that faithfully recreates the 5150III 6L6 tube combo without physical tubes. Using advanced digital processing, the Hypersonic weighs dramatically less than the tube original while delivering three channels with the same independent controls, EQ sections, and global reverb, resonance, and presence as the tube version. An integrated power attenuator (50W, 35W, 25W, 15W, 5W, 1W), XLR output with cab sim, headphone out, MIDI input, and USB-C for firmware updates make it a versatile studio and live tool.
What stands out
“An integrated power attenuator (50W, 35W, 25W, 15W, 5W, 1W), XLR output with cab sim, headphone out, MIDI input, and USB-C for firmware updates make it a versatile studio and live tool”
— from the listing
“the evh 5150iii hypersonic 6l6 is a 50-watt digital modeling 1x12 combo amplifier from evh that faithfully recreates the 5150iii 6l6 tube combo”
— from the listing
“The cab sim provides two IR options for direct recording”
— from the reviews
“Players describe it as genuinely feeling and responding like a real amp in a room”
— from the community notes
“Using advanced digital processing, the Hypersonic weighs dramatically while delivering three channels with the same independent controls, EQ sections, and global reverb, resonance, and presence as the tube versio…”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“The EVH 5150III Hypersonic receives consistent praise for accurately capturing the 5150III tube character at a fraction of the weight”
— from the community notes
- attenuator
- midi
- digital
- amp in
- aggressive
- lead
- xlr
- tight
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Practice
- Silent Recording
Genres the EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo is commonly used in
- Black Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Acoustic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie Flux-Drive
Mesa Boogie
25% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (high headroom → crunchy)
Into a high headroom tone, Mesa Boogie Flux-Drive brings a pull toward crunchy that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31
Tone City
22% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (high headroom → mid-forward)
Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31 leans this high headroom tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Goes in front of the amp
J. Rockett Archer Ikon
J Rockett
22% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (high headroom → low gain)
Into a high headroom tone, J. Rockett Archer Ikon brings a pull toward low gain that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
Lab Ratz 3D Boum Warming Unit
Lab Ratz 3d
15% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo leans toward pristine, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Goes in front of the amp
MXR Flanger
MXR
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep MXR Flanger after EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo in the signal chain, clear of EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo
TC Electronic
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo's pristine voice out front: TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo goes in EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo's effects loop so its pristine voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay's analog warmth voice goes in EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo's effects loop — it's not there to compete with EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo's own pristine character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Source Audio L.A. Lady
Source Audio
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Run Source Audio L.A. Lady into that high headroom platform and it finally leans toward low gain
Alternatives
Boss Katana-50 MkIII
Boss
49% similarityShared character: room, practice, studio
Boss Waza-Air
Boss
48% similarityShared character: presence, practice
Line 6 PowerCab 112 Plus
Line 6
47% similarityShared character: digital, response, studio
Boss Katana Artist Gen 3
Boss
42% similarityShared character: presence, practice, response
See all alternatives to the EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo?+
The closest matches in character are the Boss Katana-50 MkIII, the Boss Waza-Air, the Line 6 PowerCab 112 Plus.
What pairs well with the EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 1x12 Combo?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Flux-Drive, Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31, J. Rockett Archer Ikon — Into a high headroom tone, Mesa Boogie Flux-Drive brings a pull toward crunchy that's missing.