Friedman Brit-50 50-watt Tube Head

EVH 5150 Iconic Series EL34 15-watt Amplifier Head - Black/Gold

15W, 2-channel Tube Guitar Amp Head with Noise Gate, FX Loop, Power Reduction Circuit, and Speaker-emulated Output - Black/Gold
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Item ID: 5150ICEL34HD
EVH 5150 Iconic Series EL34 15-watt Amplifier Head - Black/Gold
Price:$659 and 99 cents
$110.00 suggested monthly payment§ with 6 month special financing‡

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EVH 5150 Iconic Series EL34 15-watt Amplifier Head - Black/Gold
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Price:$659 and 99 cents
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Modern EVH Tube Tone with a British Flair

The 5150 Iconic series head delivers two channels of tube-fueled, EVH-style tone with a streamlined design that satisfies the needs of gigging and recording guitarists alike. This tube amp head is geared toward Edward Van Halen's latter-day hard rock tones. That said, its EL34-fueled power section gives it a British-infused voice that classic Van Halen aficionados will appreciate. There's plenty of sound shaping onboard, with per-channel Gain and Volume, a shared 3-band EQ, and global Resonance and Presence controls. The 5150 Iconic series head also includes a top-shelf noise gate, footswitchable Boost function, and high-quality reverb to ensure a dynamic performance and US-prime, grade-A-stamped sound. Other features include a power reduction circuit, speaker-emulated output, dual parallel speaker outputs, selectable impedance, and an excellent-sounding effects loop. Brimming with modern EVH aesthetics, the 5150 Iconic series head delivers the searing tone and growling gain that King Edward made famous.

EL34s for the brown sound

The 5150 Iconic series is tailor-made for modern EVH crunch. But when you need that thick, sustaining tone that Ed made famous on Van Halen's 1978 debut, you need to turn to this 5150 Iconic series head. What really sets this amp apart from the rest of the range is its EL34-based power amplifier. EL34s have much of the tone of the great British rock amps of the '70s and '80s. This amp nails those timbres with ease, adding a level of sag and saturation that feels and sounds great. And it will still get dirty with the best of modern metal machines.

Two channels of tube-fueled EVH tone

The 5150 Iconic series head is voiced with two ECC83 preamp tubes and fueled by two EL34 power tubes, arming you with two channels of muscular hard rock firepower. Each of this tube amp head's channels includes two voices: a Green channel for crystalline cleans or overdriven crunch; and a Red channel for fiery leads with a blistering-hot Burn setting. Each channel includes independent Gain and Volume controls for easy level matching, along with a shared 3-band EQ for effortless sonic sculpting. Global Resonance and Presence knobs round out the 5150 Iconic series head's tone-shaping controls.

Chock-full of must-have features

Despite its streamlined design, the EVH 5150 Iconic series head is a gig-ready rock machine. Channel two includes a built-in noise gate, which effectively — and transparently — attenuates hiss and hum. The guitarists here at Sweetwater are impressed by this gate's responsiveness. You can churn out rapid staccato riffs all day long with zero noise between notes, and you can play long, sustaining passages without chopped-off notes. Channel two boasts a footswitchable Boost function that adds another 10dB to your signal to keep your solos front and center. The 5150 Iconic series head features a smooth-sounding reverb, which injects your playing with depth and dimension. You get a power reduction circuit for stadium-sized tones at bedroom-appropriate volumes, a speaker-emulated output for easy DI-ing, and dual parallel speaker outputs for no-fuss expansion. You also get a high-quality effects loop for integrating your pedalboard and outboard processors — an essential if you want to incorporate Eddie's distinctive pitch-shifting effect into your tonal palette.

EVH 5150 Iconic Series Head Features:

  • 15W, 2-channel tube amplifier head voiced for Edward Van Halen's latter-day tone
  • EL34 power section delivers a British-infused voice classic Van Halen aficionados will appreciate
  • Extra voicing on each channel gives you added sonic versatility
  • Green channel delivers crystalline cleans or overdriven crunch
  • Red channel produces fiery leads with a blistering-hot Burn setting
  • Each channel includes independent Gain and Volume controls for easy level matching
  • Shared 3-band EQ supplies you with effortless sonic sculpting
  • Global Resonance and Presence knobs adjust the high- and low-end aspects of your tone
  • Built-in noise gate effectively — and transparently — attenuates hiss and hum
  • Footswitchable Boost function adds another 10dB to your lead channel's signal
  • Smooth-sounding reverb injects your playing with depth and dimension
  • Power reduction circuit unleashes stadium-sized tones at bedroom-appropriate volumes
  • Speaker-emulated output makes DI-ing super simple
  • Dual parallel speaker outputs provide no-fuss expansion
  • High-quality FX loop for integrating your pedalboard and outboard processors
  • Rugged textured vinyl cover with brushed aluminum front panel and black steel grille
  • Eye-catching 5150 and EVH logo badges
  • Molded plastic top handle for easy transport
  • Includes a 2-button footswitch and 5-ft. speaker cable

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Tube
  • Number of Channels: 2
  • Output Power: 15W
  • Preamp Tubes: 2 x ECC83S
  • Power Tubes: 1 x EL34
  • Reverb: Yes
  • Effects: Resonance, Presenance
  • EQ: 2 x 3-band EQ
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
  • Outputs: 2 x 1/4" (speaker), 1 x 1/4" (pre), 1 x XLR
  • Effects Loop: Yes, 2 x 1/4"
  • Footswitch I/O: 1 x 1/4"
  • Footswitch Included: Yes, 2-button footswitch
  • Power Source: Standard IEC AC cable
  • Height: 10.2"
  • Width: 14.10"
  • Depth: 9"
  • Weight: 30.15 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 2258200000

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Reviews

OMG
Just do it. Pull the trigger. You will not regret it.
Just like the Bigger Brother. lml
The EVH 5150 Iconic El34 15 is the best Guitar Amplifier realesed in 2025. This Studio friendly Amplifier can be loud and aggressive. Itss built in noise gate very quiet no matter how much gain you put on it. Is pedal friendly and Have that Charecteristic British sound with the EL34 tubes on it. I would recommend it to anyone beginners, advanced and professional guitar players.
Music background: 20 years playing guitar.
OK I had to Mod it a bit but LOVE EVH 5150 EL-34 15 watt Wonder!
Ok, so the first thing for me was understanding the high gain circuitry on this was created by James Brown
the guy who created the original Peavey 5150 head long ago.

He's learned a LOT from his many years in high gain!
It's essentially a combo of solid state and tube preamp stacked high gain.

So first let's be honest the 1980's was the High Gain Guru era,
and most of what You heard was tweaked JCM 800 rigs using either 6550 or EL-34 power tubes,
and the Boogie Mark IIA-C series plain and simple.

So Soldano borrowed from Mesa-Boogie's Randall Smith to improve it,
and James Brown borrowed from Soldano to try to improve it.

I got this EVH and man in high gain green and red channels it got so distorted it gets muddy and thick,
like idiots who crank a distortion pedal into a high gain amp already cranked.

Fortunately for me, I know this game of Excess Gain so it's easy to take it down by swapping tubes in the preamp.

Like with old early 60's Fender Bassman with four 12AX7's in the preamp
the trick was dropping 12AV7 tubes in the preamp
to get this better than tweedy like vintage to-die-for tone countless electric Bluesmen seek.

And the old masters kept this real quiet so unless You could see inside the Bassman head
You never knew WHY it sounded so killer to them but Your stock one sucked.

I had an oldie 60/61 Bassman with GZ34 rectifier tube and learned this trick from some oldie Blues guys in Chicago long ago.

So dropping the 12AX7 to lower gain 12 series tubes does it to kill the howling excess...

Example:

12AX7 = 100%
12AT7 = 60%
12AY7 = 45%
12AV7 = 40%
12AU7 = 20%

So on this EVH I took out the 12AX7 tubes and saw they actually put 2 different brand 12AX7 tubes in there!
Well that SUCKS!

So I put in two sweet mild premium gold pin ECC802/12AU7 tubes in the preamp.

Then on the EL-34 power tube, the KT77 is a direct drop-in replacement tube with a bit more power and different tone.

So for me I dropped a KT77 power tube in to replace the EL-34.
I like the tone difference better, tighter bottom-soaring highs, better headroom...

It's KILLER!

The super high gain preamp taming it a bit makes this monster sing!

Essentially I got a vintage high gain tone that sounds like something created in the late 1940's
IF makers then had sought crunch made right instead of loud and clean.

LOVE this amp it's a single end Class A with just one power tube.

That's WHY it differs in tone from a bigger Iconic with four EL-34 power tubes running Class A/B in the power section.

That makes a HUGE difference in Tone.

But as studio player this works for me.

You can play small venues live with 15 watts or use the XLR out in back to go into a PA system to get a killer live mix,
and this XLR with the Mute button makes recording really easy going D/I to the Board.

And I've had high gain since the 70's with Randall Smith and my modded 1976 Mark I Boogie
he made using it as guinea pig project for his new 1978 Mark II amp back then.
Sweet and I dropped EL-34 tubes in there to get a British tone instead of the stock 6L6 American tone.

And for tone nuts the 6L6 is a tetrode 4 filaments where the EL-34 is a pentode 5 filaments.
That's the core different between the American and British tone.

And on this little amp You get BOTH Resonance low and Presence high knobs for even more EQ power
and believe me it's rare on any high gain amps out there to have BOTH Resonance and Presence.
Check specs on all the high gain monsters out there and see for yourselves.

And the full power to 1/4 power switch is handy in studio and home.

You won't be disappointed with this marvel amp.

I LOVE this little rig!
Music background: In the Game long before most of You were ever born.
WOW
The tone on this is remarkable! I think this is quite an accomplishment and if you dont need a higher watt amp it's my thought that it's best in class. BUY IT
EVH 5150 "Iconic" EL 34/15 Watt Tube Head...
This is a true classic! Phenomenal sound, playability, finger sensitivity, and must importantly: pushed-tube CRUNCH!!!

If you are looking for that 80's "brown-sound" crunch fest, this is the amp head for you - especially for the price.
I live on channel one, with the overdrive button engaged, and couldn't be happier, with plenty O'headroom as a garage warrior! This amp will easily push a 4x12 cabinet, as I am running it through a Laney 2x12 currently.

If you need even more distortion & saturation, channel two is right there/just a footswitch away (and a nice quality one is included, with a long leash)...

If you live for that metal, super heavy/brutal chug fest sound, with stadium-huge headroom, then get the 6L6 model, and you'll be most satisfied.

Any gripes?

Sure, I wish EVH left room on the front control panel for both the power-on & stand-by switches (though you do get Presence & Resonance controls), which are pretty awesome, and if there really is an "automatic" noise gate circuit built inside, well, it's slightly underwhelming, though not the end of the world...

* However, if you are looking for that classic sound of heavy-crunch/feel/harmonic swagger (ala, heavier AC-DC, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, & more), this amp head is pure gold!!!

You just can't touch the performance, VIBE, and excellent construction of this amp, as compared to all the others, within this price range...

Don't let those three tubes and 15 Watts fool you, as this Bad Boy Rocks!!!

* PS. Be sure to reach out/request Mr. Ben Toenges, your new (My) trusted sound engineer for outstanding customer service and phenomenal product knowledge!!! Sweetwater makes the decision & purchasing process so easy. Cheers!
Music background: 7-string electric rock guitar player & 80's rock enthusiast!