After spending a little time with my newest amp I can now offer a brief review.
I've wanted one of these for years, particularly the 50w model, mainly due to size and cost.
I found one used locally, and I had recently come into some free money so I paid $300 less than I should have I'm my mind.
This amp came from a gear hoarding hermit type and it's basically brand new. Plastic still on the two logos and 15 hours max playtime. Footswitch unused and still in it's package and just a quick dust wipe down to make it look new again.
From what I can tell it's a first run model as it only says 5150 III on the badge. No "Mini" or Fender "F" to be had.
Sound;
Clean GREEN channel: I don't spend too much time here so it's just fine enough for me. Warm, chimey all that crap...
Crunch BLUE channel: Bliss. Hard Rock heaven and Metal magic. Great, wide open midrange, just a pinch of compression. Tight, clear lows and cutting highs.
The entire gain dial is usable. From AC/DC crunch to VH brownsound to NWOBHM to thrash. Never mind then increased capabilities when a boost pedal is added!
Lead RED channel: Gobs of liquid lava gain. This channel is most reminiscent of my JVM.
Highly compressed, excessive gain, tight and smooth playability with a more scooped voice.
I keep the gain at half and that is plenty for modern metal and death metal tones. No boost required.
I haven't been able to really open this amp up asmy new living conditions restrict that. But even at just 1/10 on the volume it's very loud.
The global resonance dial on the back does a great job fine tuning the lowend thump controlling any boominess. I've found I've been keeping the channel treble low and set the presence just above half.
Great tones so far, I don't think this one is going anywhere anytime soon!
I've wanted one of these for years, particularly the 50w model, mainly due to size and cost.
I found one used locally, and I had recently come into some free money so I paid $300 less than I should have I'm my mind.
This amp came from a gear hoarding hermit type and it's basically brand new. Plastic still on the two logos and 15 hours max playtime. Footswitch unused and still in it's package and just a quick dust wipe down to make it look new again.
From what I can tell it's a first run model as it only says 5150 III on the badge. No "Mini" or Fender "F" to be had.
Sound;
Clean GREEN channel: I don't spend too much time here so it's just fine enough for me. Warm, chimey all that crap...
Crunch BLUE channel: Bliss. Hard Rock heaven and Metal magic. Great, wide open midrange, just a pinch of compression. Tight, clear lows and cutting highs.
The entire gain dial is usable. From AC/DC crunch to VH brownsound to NWOBHM to thrash. Never mind then increased capabilities when a boost pedal is added!
Lead RED channel: Gobs of liquid lava gain. This channel is most reminiscent of my JVM.
Highly compressed, excessive gain, tight and smooth playability with a more scooped voice.
I keep the gain at half and that is plenty for modern metal and death metal tones. No boost required.
I haven't been able to really open this amp up asmy new living conditions restrict that. But even at just 1/10 on the volume it's very loud.
The global resonance dial on the back does a great job fine tuning the lowend thump controlling any boominess. I've found I've been keeping the channel treble low and set the presence just above half.
Great tones so far, I don't think this one is going anywhere anytime soon!
![](https://image.ibb.co/jCmx9H/IMG_20180423_161621_01.jpg)
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