With its smaller size and portability, the all-new EVH® 5150III® 50S 6L6 Head is the perfect amp for players who want Ed Van Halen’s touring tone, arena volume, and performance in a compact package. Three channels of road-tested sound work for any playing style—crisp cleans, chunky overdrive, tight distortion, and searing leads, while newly added independent dual-concentric controls allow for gain and volume level matching.
Tweaked to meet Eddie’s touring requirements, this 50-watt head delivers a full-spectrum of tone. Channel one powers crystal-clear clean tone; channel two features increased gain for greater sustain and is re-voiced for improved low-mid frequency definition; channel three also has improved range for the “low” control and oozes with increased liquid gain. Channels one and two each have dual concentric gain/volume controls, with shared EQ (low, mid, high). Channel three has its own gain, volume and EQ (low, mid, high) controls. All three channels also have global presence and global resonance controls.
The amp is also loaded with seven JJ ECC83 preamp tubes, a pair of Shuguang 6L6 power tubes, switchable output impedance (4, 8, and 16 ohms), and adjustable bias control.
Seductively dark in black textured vinyl with a dual black EVH striped steel grille front panel, our 50-watt stealth head also comes with vintage-style “chicken head” black control knobs, red lamp jewel, dual speaker output jacks, four-button footswitch, effects loop, direct out and molded plastic handle.
A high-quality fitted cover is available as an EVH Accessory.
SNARLING SOUND WITH EVEN MORE SATURATION
The 5150III® 50S Head represents Eddie’s most recent touring rig in a more compact package that still radiates with high-gain intensity, snarling leads and robust rhythms.
This amp has a heavier edge that can handle the extremes of any genre. The three channels (Clean, Crunch and Lead) deliver signature melodic overtones with increased gain, all with the boundless sustain and versatility expected from an amp bearing his name.
Channel one sings with pristine and sparkling cleans, while channel two has been souped-up with more aggressive gain for full-throttle overdrive and Eddie’s signature rhythm crunch, while channel three is full-burn, pushing a modern liquid gain and distortion that’s ideal for blistering solos.
TAKE CONTROL
Dual concentric controls allow you to independently dial-in volume and gain for Ch. 1 and 2 for level matching. Ch. 3 has its own gain, low, mid, high and volume dials. A global presence knob on the front panel creates full control over ultra-high frequencies, while the rear global resonance knob adjusts the power amp’s low frequency response.
THE STEALTH SAUCE
Seven JJ ECC83S (12AX7) preamp tubes erupt with colossal overdriven tone when pushed to the max, while two premium Shuguang 6L6 power tubes up the ante with plenty of saturated, high-gain attitude synonymous with Van Halen.
EDDIE'S TOUR MODS
For his touring convenience, Eddie added a bias port with adjustable trim pots to his 100S head, which allows you to easily set the voltage of the tubes for the best tone. That same mod comes with this 50-watt package, saving you the hassle of having to remove the chassis from the cabinet to access the circuit board.
BEHIND THE SCENES
This amp also features a MIDI rear panel input, which allows you to directly connect a digital effects interface and sync your tone to your favorite patch for even more tonal variance, a headphone jack and a 4-button footswitch that allows you to quickly toggle between the channels or engage the effects loop.
