Watch It First
Quick heads up before we get into it: the specific EVH 5150III LBX lunchbox head from a few years back has been discontinued at Thomann. It’s just not something you can order new anymore.
So instead I’m covering the amp that’s actually its spiritual successor in the current lineup – the EVH 5150 III 50W 6L6 Head. Same DNA, same three-channel monster circuit, just in the full-size chassis that EVH still sells brand new.
If you came here looking for that killer Van Halen crunch in a head you can actually buy today, this is the one. Let’s get into why it’s still one of the best high-gain heads on the market.
Build & Design
The chassis is the classic EVH 5150 III shape everyone knows – black steel head, EVH stripe logo, chicken-head knobs everywhere. It’s not subtle. It’s not trying to be.
Under the hood you get 2x 6L6 power tubes and 7x JJ ECC83S preamp tubes doing the work. All-tube, no digital modeling nonsense here. It weighs in at 11.4 kg, so it’s not exactly a featherweight, but it’s manageable for a full tube head.
Three Channels, Properly Different
Channels 1 and 2 share the low, mid and high EQ but have their own gain and volume via those dual concentric pots (basically two knobs stacked on one shaft). Channel 3 gets its own full EQ section, separate from the other two.
There’s global presence and resonance controls too, plus an effects loop with its own volume knob – a small detail a lot of amps skip and it genuinely matters if you’re running time-based effects.
MIDI input is there for channel switching automation, and there’s a headphone out for silent practice, which honestly feels a bit out of place on an amp this loud-capable but nobody’s complaining.
Playability & Sound
Channel 1 (green) is the clean/crunch channel and it’s actually really usable – fenderish, a bit of sparkle, cleans up nicely with your guitar volume rolled back.
Channel 2 (blue) is where the „brown sound” lives. Mid-gain crunch, very Van Halen, very responsive to pick attack. This is honestly the channel most people buy this amp for.
Channel 3 (red) is the high-gain lead channel and it goes properly heavy. Not djent-tight modern metal heavy, more of a saturated, vocal lead tone that sustains forever. If you’re into high-gain tube amps built for metal, this channel alone puts the 5150III in that conversation.
One thing worth knowing: this amp has a scooped, V-shaped EQ voicing out of the box. Great for solo playing, but if you’re gigging in a band mix you may find yourself fighting for mids. Nudge the mid knob up more than feels natural and it sits a lot better in a mix.
Who It’s For
This is a rock and metal player’s amp, full stop. If your main reference points are Van Halen, EVH’s solo stuff, or modern hard rock, you’ll feel at home immediately.
It also pairs beautifully with guitars that already have a bit of bite in them – something like the ESP LTD EC-1000 or the ESP LTD H3-1000FR – both of which are built for exactly this kind of high-gain riffing.
If you’re mainly a clean-tone player, jazz, country, ambient stuff – keep walking. This amp will do clean fine but it’s not what it’s built for and you’re paying for headroom you won’t use.
The Honest Niggles
Let’s be real for a second, because too many amp reviews are just marketing copy with extra steps.
- The scooped EQ means it can lack cut in a full band mix without some tweaking.
- No built-in reverb – you’ll need a pedal or the effects loop for that.
- It’s a 50W tube head, so at bedroom volumes the power tubes never really get pushed the way they want to be.
- Lead times from Thomann can run 3-4 weeks since this isn’t a fast-mover on the shelf.
None of these are dealbreakers, but IMO you should know them going in rather than finding out after the return window closes.
How It Compares
The obvious rival here is the Peavey 6505, which basically shares a bloodline with the original 5150. The 6505 is arguably tighter and more scooped-for-djent out of the box, while the EVH leans a bit more vocal and Van Halen-ish in the lead channel.
If budget is the deciding factor, it’s worth browsing our roundup of the best amp heads for metal before committing – there are some genuinely good budget options in there too, and a quick look at whether Bugera amps are actually any good is a fair rabbit hole if money’s tight.
Pair it with a solid drive pedal from our best pedals for metal list and you can push channel 2 into some really nasty territory if channel 3 feels too saturated for your taste.
Specs at a Glance
- Type: Full-tube amp head, 3 channels
- Power output: 50W
- Tubes: 2x 6L6 power, 7x JJ ECC83S (12AX7) preamp
- Channels 1/2: shared EQ, independent gain/volume via concentric pots
- Channel 3: fully independent gain, volume, EQ
- Global presence and resonance controls
- Effects loop with dedicated volume control
- 2x speaker outs, switchable 4/8/16 ohm
- MIDI input, headphone output
- Dimensions: 21.6 x 50.8 x 30.4 cm
- Weight: 11.4 kg
- Includes 2-way footswitch
Final Verdict
The EVH 5150 III 50W 6L6 Head is exactly what it says it is – a serious, all-tube, three-channel monster built for rock and metal players who want that specific brown-sound lineage without hauling a 100W beast to every gig.
It’s mid-to-premium priced for a boutique-adjacent tube head, and it earns that bracket. The scooped voicing and lack of built-in reverb are the only real asterisks here.
If the LBX lunchbox version is what originally brought you here, don’t stress about it being gone – this 50W head covers the same tonal ground with more headroom and a proper effects loop to boot. Solid buy.
