New (sorta) Amp Day!!

[Rex_Rocker]

Some time ago, I had an EVH 5150III LBX II that I traded for an LBX 1 because I wanted the red channel. I didn't regret the trade, but I missed having that gorgeous clean green channel. I also think of the LBX 1 as more of a 1-channel amp because its blue channel sounds so weak and undergained. Pretty unusable for what I play.

So the dude I made the trade with listed his LBX II for sale, and I couldn't help myself. I jumped on it. And voilà, I took the LBX II back home with me.

I really like it. I still like my LBX 1 for its red channel, but the blue channel is much more usable on the LBX II. It barely has enough gain for what I like, but it gets there on its own without a boost (big emphasis on "barely", TBH), and it's different enough on the gain channel to warrant having both. Honestly, I'm surprised at how different these two are. It's not like playing a JCM800 vs. Dual Rectifier, but they're definitely more different than what I expected/remembered. And the clean channel is gorgeous. Very crisp and clear.

I'm pretty happy with my LBX collection, but now I need the LBX S to have 'em all.

 

[Bogner]

Congrats! More is always better IMO.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Thanks!

 

[Semetery]

Cool! I've been lusting after one of those lbx's for a while. I almost got the first one for the red channel but held out since the stealth just released. But then I'd miss the blue channel.....

Which do you prefer, boosted blue on the II or the red channel of the I?

 

[JOLLY]

If you had the lows at 12:00 and the volume cranked a bit, you'd pretty much be at Eddie's settings.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Which do you prefer, boosted blue on the II or the red channel of the I?

Red channel on the 1 for sure. But I think the unboosted blue channel on the II is more than usable too.

I haven't found the right boost to use with these amps, TBH. My TS808 and MXR Classic Overdrive cut too much lows. Neither of the LBX's have tons of lows to begin with. I mean, they're not thin or anything, but you will not mistake them for Mesa Rectos. I usually run the lows on both on 7 (out of 10) and the resonance cranked, even through my 4x12. The louder they get, the more the EL84's do their thing (thin out).

I like the red channel the best, and it doesn't need a boost for sure, but the blue channel on the II gets me there too. I do have to run the gain pretty high (almost full, but no quite), and if I pick hard, I can get it to sorta work. The blue channel on the 1 is super weak, though. The blue channel on the II definitely has more gain than it does on the 1.

Don't get me wrong, I love these amps. They're great, but they do have their quirks.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

If you had the lows at 12:00 and the volume cranked a bit, you'd pretty much be at Eddie's settings.

Ha! That's awesome. Where can I see his settings?

 

[JOLLY]

Ha! That's awesome. Where can I see his settings?

I was wrong. For some reason I was thinking he kept his lows at around noon. It looks like you're just about pretty dead on.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Wow! I guess that is these amps' sweet spot.

I've never quite gotten the "666" settings people use on 5150's. Every version of the 5150 I've played has sounded mega honky with the mids above 4.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

So I got myself a Spark Booster to drive the LBX 2 a little harder without as much coloration as a Tube Screamer had.

I LOVE IT! It sounds fantastic. I just raise some level going in, and cut just a tiny bit of bass, and it really opens the amp up and makes much more of a high-gain metal beast!

 

[Hsb]

Glad youre digging the rig, one of these is on my list of possible added amps

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Glad youre digging the rig, one of these is on my list of possible added amps

They're great. Totally recommended.

Be wary, though. The II's clean channel is fantastic, but I'm starting to think the gain channel does need a subtle boost for high-gain chuggah chuggah. Not a Tube Screamer, though. Neither my TS808 nor my Classic Overdrive are the right boost for these amps.

 

[Top-L]

They're great. Totally recommended.

Be wary, though. The II's clean channel is fantastic, but I'm starting to think the gain channel does need a subtle boost for high-gain chuggah chuggah. Not a Tube Screamer, though. Neither my TS808 nor my Classic Overdrive are the right boost for these amps.

When a tube amp needs a little extra gain, a graded GT ECC83S gives it another 10%. That is the hottest production tube I've found. Some of the chinese AX7 tubes are hot, but you have to dig. Every GT ECC83S I've bought had extra output.

 

[Demanic]

I think that using a clean boost is the way to go.

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[Adieu]

I was wrong. For some reason I was thinking he kept his lows at around noon. It looks like you're just about pretty dead on.

why do NONE of the knobs point at the dots? Alternate settings? Or just weirdness?

 

[Demanic]

Peavey must not have thought that Eddie's settings were optimal for the average guitar player.

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[Rex_Rocker]

*Fender