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Overview of all front panel controls including INPUT, GAIN, VOLUME, SELECT, PRESENCE, REVERB, and POWER LEVEL.
Details on rear panel connections for POWER INPUT, FUSE, STANDBY, HEADPHONES, MIDI IN, FOOTSWITCH, EFFECTS LOOP, PREAMP OUT, RESONANCE, LOAD IMPEDANCE, and SPEAKER OUTPUTS.
Procedure to assign amp channels to MIDI program changes for remote control.
Instructions for controlling reverb On/Off using MIDI Control Change messages.
Guide to resetting MIDI settings to factory default configurations.
The EVH 5150III EL34 2x12 Combo Amplifier is a professional all-tube amplifier designed to meet the exacting specifications of Edward Van Halen, a legendary figure in rock guitar. This amplifier is an evolution of the 6L6 2x12 version, incorporating new features for enhanced artistic expression. It boasts a "cleaner" channel one and delivers a more compressed tone and saturation, thanks to its matched JJ EL34 tubes. The amplifier is engineered for phenomenal EVH performance, featuring a ferocious tone and uncompromising construction. Its distinctive characteristics include an ultra-high-gain preamp design, custom-voiced for maximum harmonic content, and a sleek black-and-gold EVH motif.
The front panel of the amplifier offers a comprehensive set of controls for shaping your sound. The INPUT jack is where you connect your instrument, and it's recommended to use a high-quality shielded instrument cable for optimal signal integrity. For gain control, the amplifier features dual concentric knobs for CHANNEL ONE/TWO GAIN. The inner round knob adjusts the gain for channel one (clean), while the outer "chicken-head" knob controls the gain for channel two (medium gain). Adjacent to these are the CHANNEL ONE/TWO LOW/MID/HIGH controls, which are dedicated tone controls for low, middle, and high frequencies for both channel one (clean) and channel two (medium gain).
Similarly, CHANNEL ONE/TWO VOLUME also utilizes dual concentric controls. The inner round knob sets the volume for channel one (clean), and the outer "chicken-head" knob adjusts the volume for channel two (medium gain). For a cleaner sound from these channels, it's advised to set these volume controls to their maximum and then gradually increase the gain controls (B) to achieve the desired level. The CHANNEL ONE/TWO SELECT is a momentary pushbutton that toggles between channel one (indicated by a green LED) and channel two (indicated by a blue LED).
Moving to the higher gain options, the CHANNEL THREE GAIN knob controls the preamp gain for the high-gain channel three. Higher settings of this knob will intensify the preamp distortion. Correspondingly, CHANNEL THREE LOW/MID/HIGH provides low, middle, and high-frequency tone controls specifically for the high-gain channel three. The CHANNEL THREE VOLUME acts as a post-preamp gain control for this high-gain channel. The CHANNEL THREE SELECT is another momentary pushbutton that activates channel three (high gain), indicated by a red LED. The amplifier remembers the state of channel one or channel two when you switch back from channel three to the channel one/two select (E).
Further sound sculpting is available through the PRESENCE control, which is an ultra-high frequency tone control that affects all three channels. The REVERB knob adjusts the reverb level across all three channels, and the reverb can also be toggled on/off using the footswitch (T). A unique feature is the POWER LEVEL control, which allows you to adjust the amplifier's output from 1 to 50 watts while preserving the same tonal characteristics. Finally, the POWER LAMP illuminates to indicate when the amplifier is powered on.
The rear panel of the amplifier provides essential connections and controls for power, speaker output, and external effects. The POWER INPUT is where you connect the included power cord, ensuring it matches the voltage and frequency listed on the rear panel. An important safety feature is the FUSE, which should only be replaced with a fuse of the same rating. The POWER switch turns the amplifier on and off. When powering on, it's crucial to wait 30 seconds for the tubes to warm up before engaging the STANDBY switch. When powering off, first place the amp in STANDBY mode for 10 seconds before turning off the POWER switch. The STANDBY switch itself puts the amp in standby mode, which is recommended when taking breaks from playing or before powering off the amplifier, as using standby mode helps prolong tube life.
For silent practice or monitoring, the HEADPHONES jack allows you to connect headphones, which automatically mutes the speaker output. The MIDI IN port is for connecting a MIDI controller, enabling MIDI-commanded channel selection and effects loop bypass. The included FOOTSWITCH connects to the dedicated jack, providing easy selection of the three channels and reverb. The footswitch LEDs (green, blue, red) correspond to the channel LEDs on the front panel, and a purple LED indicates when reverb is active.
The EFFECTS LOOP consists of a SEND jack to connect to an external effect input and a RETURN jack for the external effect output. The PREAMP OUT allows you to connect to another amp's effects return or power amp input for simultaneous multiple amp use, or to send the preamp signal directly to a mixer. The RESONANCE control adjusts the power amp's low-frequency response. The LOAD IMPEDANCE switch is crucial for matching the amp's output impedance (4, 8, or 16 ohms) to the speaker load. It's important to note that the recommended EVH 5150III 212ST speaker enclosure has an impedance of 16 ohms, so the LOAD IMPEDANCE switch should be set to "16Ω" when using it.
Finally, the SPEAKER OUTPUTS are for connecting to speaker cabinet(s). Either jack can be used when connecting only one speaker cabinet. It is critical to always have a speaker plugged into one of the speaker jacks when the amplifier is on to prevent damage. Always turn the amplifier off or put it in standby mode when changing speaker connections or impedance settings. Only high-quality unshielded speaker cables should be used for these connections.
For MIDI setup and use, the amplifier offers intuitive programming. To initiate MIDI "learning mode," simultaneously press both channel SELECT buttons (E and I). The current amp channel LED will flash. You can then send a desired program change message from a MIDI controller. The channel one LED will flash, or the LED for a previously assigned channel will flash if the message has been used before. To select the target amp channel (one, two, or three), use the channel SELECT buttons (E and I). All three amp channel LEDs will briefly illuminate to confirm a change in assignment. If the program change message is currently assigned to channel one, you'll need to press the channel one/two select button (E) twice to select channel two, and vice versa. This process can be repeated for each channel, and multiple program change messages can be assigned to the same amp channel for greater flexibility. The footswitch can be used to temporarily change channels during MIDI setup without affecting saved assignments. To exit "learning mode," press both front panel channel select buttons (E and I) simultaneously. The amp will then switch to the target channels based on the selected program change messages.
The default MIDI channel for the amp is channel one, but this can be changed by sending a program change message from another desired MIDI channel while in "learning mode." The amp will then respond only to program change and control change messages on that new MIDI channel. For reverb on/off via MIDI, no setup is required. From MIDI channel one (or the channel used for program change messages), send a control change #85 message with a value of 63 or less to switch reverb off, or 64 or greater to switch reverb on. To clear MIDI programming and return to factory defaults, hold down one of the CHANNEL SELECT buttons (E or I) while powering up the amplifier. For more in-depth information on MIDI programming, users can visit the EVH website (evhgear.com) and refer to the "MIDI Programming EVH® 5150III 50W Series Amps" under the "Schematics and Wiring Diagrams" heading in the "Support" section.
General| Type | Tube |
|---|---|
| Power Tubes | 4 x EL34 |
| Channels | 3 |
| Effects Loop | Yes |
| Preamp Tubes | 8 x 12AX7 |
| EQ Controls | Bass, Mid, Treble |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Footswitch | Yes, 4-button |
| Wattage | 100W |
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