5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

dvanburen

New member
Ive either played a half stack with 100w head or a combo amp. Im in the position where I cant bring my half stack in my house to play from the studio so i need to downsize. I dont really want the combo. I was gonna pick up the 5150 III 50w head and matching 2x12 cab. My concerns with that head are the way the channels 1 and 2 share eq and the volume jump. My thought was to get the 100w head with three different eqs on each channel and run it through the 2x12 cab just to have a smaller rig in the bedroom. Is this a good ideal or no? Somebody talk me into it or out of it.. Or just say im stupid. Thanks for the help
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

You're going to blow the 2x12 cab speakers.
The speakers inside the EVH can only hold 50w max. 100w will be way OVERKILL for that 2x12 cab. You may consider getting a 2x12 with other higher wattage speakers.
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

I bet Celestion G12M-65 Creambacks would sound great with the 100w head. They're essentially higher wattage versions of what's in the EVH 4x12 cab.
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

Also might I add that this rig will NOT be played very loud which is why I was curious if it will work. I would just transport the head to the studio with the 4x12 when I want to crank it
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

I just ordered an Avatar 2x12 cab with those speakers. I should receive it next week. I hear the build quality is excellent and you can choose the style, tolex, grill cloth, piping, ohms, stereo/mono. I got mine shipped for $499 with those speakers. It's hard to beat that value.

I was thinking myself of purchasing an EVH 5150. If I did, I might go for the 100w as I would prefer the independent tone controls for each channel (including separate presence controls). I also don't like how the 50w shares gain and volume controls with the clean channel. However, the 50w does have a master resonance control, midi capability, and a headphone jack, if those features are important to you. I hear it's blue channel is also slightly better with more gain. There's a limited edition 100w coming out in a stealth black color with independent resonance controls and revoiced blue and red channels.
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

I mostly play 2x12 cabs, and as long it can support the amp wattage wise, it should sound great. However, I think there are a lot better options for quiet, at home playing than a 100w 5150.
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

I mostly play 2x12 cabs, and as long it can support the amp wattage wise, it should sound great. However, I think there are a lot better options for quiet, at home playing than a 100w 5150.

Yeah, the 50w head. But for reasons mentioned I dont want that head. I love the sound of the new 5150. I dont want the combo and I want more control over each channel than with the 50w. I wish you could scale down the power on the 100w head to 50w. Ive considered the mesa mark v where you can scale down the power, but i played one and its just not for me. Any other 2x12 cab suggestions that would handle the 100w head?
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

What about the 2x12 Mesa Rectifier cabinet? It is 120-watt with Celestion Vintage 30s. I have one for my Dual Rectifier, and I really like it. The build quality is really nice. I've read some places people pairing the 5150 III with the Mesa cab and liking it.

I too am thinking about getting a 5150 III 100-watt version because of all of the things you mentioned about the 50-watt version.
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

50w is not going to be much quieter than 100w. It's a 3db difference, which is very small. The 100w will offer greater headroom though. You can scale down the same 3db (and then some) with a good attenuator. Have you tried the 5150 III yet? If so, with which cab?
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

I use a Eminence Legend 128 Greenback speaker in my fender its 50 watts, sounds great get 2 and your good.
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

But let me get it straight, a 100 Watt bedroom amp? For low volume use?
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

I'm not sure about the Fender 5150III, But on the Peavey amps you can usually pull the 2 inner or 2 outer power tubes and it drops the wattage in half. You also have to change the impedance selector on the head to be half that of the cabinet -ie: Run head at 8ohms into 16 ohm cab- run head at 8ohms into 4ohm cab.-

But Like Mike D said would only make a 3 db difference. (if this even an option with the 5150 III)

Edit; from the little research I just did yes you can pull the inner pair or outer pair of power tubes on a 5150 III. be sure to change impedance as stated of above.
 
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Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

i would want 150W minimum for a 100W head, even if you are just using it at home.
the 100-watt celestion speakers marshall use could be good; 2 of them in a 2x12 would be a relatively safe bet
don't forget to check your ohmage
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

it's not the speakers not being able to handle the amp that you need to worry about, it's killing a transformer in that 100W flamethrower that you need to be mindful of.
a high-energy dog needs a task; load it
 
Re: 5150 III 100w head with 2x12 cab?

Two v30s or bigger power handling speakers... Heritage 65s might just squeak by... gt75s would too, but the very concept of PAYING for that crud is staggeringly obscene

Is the 50w version of the EVH actually a proper member of the family, or a redheaded stepchild like the GODAWFUL peavey 6505+ 112??? Cuz i dunno what went wrong there, but it can NEVER EVER be dialed in to put out a single tone vaguely similar to its bigger siblings (tho it does come with a 100% free all-original "weird disturbing modulation effect, automatic", sans off switch)

PS no it aint strange to have it push two 12s - both the other two big companies producing unlicensed 5150 amps have 2x12 combos on the market, and those contain the fullfledged 120w heads built into the box, and their speakers arent even name brand stuff, just their own 70-watters (certainly so for bugera, afair same for PV)
 
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