My EVH 5150III vs my JVM410HJS, doing Fair Warning again

[donnyboiler]

Apologies for the lack of flanger on Unchained on the HJS, I forgot. Just a quickie this one.



EVH is first in each case. Enjoy!

[donnyboiler]

Dead link fixed!

[dirtycooter]

Hate to say it but the marshall sounds more "authenic" and I think it has to do with the midrange area of the tone. Wouldn't expect you to go through it but I wonder if that would be less difference if the marshall ran 6ca7's but thats another box of business.
Both are very close to each other but the marshall sounds less "modern" here so it wins my favor. Plus... its actually a marshall

Btw... always really enjoy your presentations and playing like this

[donnyboiler]

Cool!

Will try 6CA7s at the next valve change. I like both amps but the Marshall's midrange is definitely more vocal. I like how the EVH punches and sits in a mix, it's also fluid for soloing. The Marshall is fun in an aggressive bitey way, and the low end is harder to get right.

Glad you liked it dude. More soon.

[dazzlindino]

Listened a bunch...good job on the playin' ....
The Marshall to me has it.....are the heads played thru the same cab?

[donnyboiler]

In many ways I agree. I miss the tight controlled thump from the EVH though, and it's smoother for soloing. Mids are more honest on the Marshall.

Love' em both!

Cab, mic, verb, everything is the same. EVH cab with Heritage Greenbacks.

[donnyboiler]

Updated with video now!

[Santino]

Sounds great! Marshall wins.

[OdgeUK]

Well Don. I'm sold on your videos. Just bought a used JVM410HJS on eBay for £675! (in Essex funnily enough). Will have it in a week or two.

My fave amp is the 1987 JMP. I have two. However I've never been able to gig them in the current band as the set requires a fuller tone, a little more gain and channel switching in parts. So instead, have been using a Peavey JSX, which has been an excellent workhorse for the last 4years+

I recently gigged with a DSL100, as I was missing the Marshall mids that I know so well from the JMPs. The JSX is super-compressed by comparison. The DSL was ok. Maybe a little thin, but cut through the mix very well.

I'm kinda hoping the JVM410HJS will be the "do-it-all" Marshall. I played the Orange mode of OD1 on a regular JVM recently and just loved it. I'm a little concerned about some forum comments I've read about the JVM410HJS being a little 'smooth' compared to an old JMP, or JCM. And lacking the punch and bite of those particular amps. However, your Van Halen clips put me at ease on that, as they seem plenty in your face! I know you like the SLX and VM as well, would you say these are capable of more 'old school' tones than the JVM410HJS?

[Dunkmop]

Cool!

Will try 6CA7s at the next valve change. I like both amps but the Marshall's midrange is definitely more vocal. I like how the EVH punches and sits in a mix, it's also fluid for soloing. The Marshall is fun in an aggressive bitey way, and the low end is harder to get right.

Glad you liked it dude. More soon.

I'm interested in chucking 6CA7's or EL34's into my 5153 also, so let us know if you make the jump.

I'm hoping it'll clean the mid range up a little, and get it closer to the more biting mid range of the Marshall. That is my only gripe with the amp (the mid range).

[donnyboiler]

Cool!

Will try 6CA7s at the next valve change. I like both amps but the Marshall's midrange is definitely more vocal. I like how the EVH punches and sits in a mix, it's also fluid for soloing. The Marshall is fun in an aggressive bitey way, and the low end is harder to get right.

Glad you liked it dude. More soon.

I'm interested in chucking 6CA7's or EL34's into my 5153 also, so let us know if you make the jump.

I'm hoping it'll clean the mid range up a little, and get it closer to the more biting mid range of the Marshall. That is my only gripe with the amp (the mid range).

Yeah, the mids are great but they're not quite there. Even with the mids cranked I sometimes wanna turn them up more. Love this amp as an all rounder though. Will do.

Well Don. I'm sold on your videos. Just bought a used JVM410HJS on eBay for £675! (in Essex funnily enough). Will have it in a week or two.

My fave amp is the 1987 JMP. I have two. However I've never been able to gig them in the current band as the set requires a fuller tone, a little more gain and channel switching in parts. So instead, have been using a Peavey JSX, which has been an excellent workhorse for the last 4years+

I recently gigged with a DSL100, as I was missing the Marshall mids that I know so well from the JMPs. The JSX is super-compressed by comparison. The DSL was ok. Maybe a little thin, but cut through the mix very well.

I'm kinda hoping the JVM410HJS will be the "do-it-all" Marshall. I played the Orange mode of OD1 on a regular JVM recently and just loved it. I'm a little concerned about some forum comments I've read about the JVM410HJS being a little 'smooth' compared to an old JMP, or JCM. And lacking the punch and bite of those particular amps. However, your Van Halen clips put me at ease on that, as they seem plenty in your face! I know you like the SLX and VM as well, would you say these are capable of more 'old school' tones than the JVM410HJS?

Wow, that's the cheapest one I've seen. Actually, joint cheapest with the last one I bought. They seem to be coming down to reasonable levels now.

As an all-round channel switching Marshall, if you like the old-school flavour, I believe it's the best there is. Obviously there are compromises - the plexi mode (crunch green) is way too dark and basically unuseable for me, and the high gain doesn't stay tight beyond early VH levels. But every amp has its compromises.

I had mine alongside a DSL for a week or two last year. The DSL is thinner, brighter, more immediate. The HJS feels like a smoother boutique DSL with a million sounds on board. Like I say, it ain't perfect, there are times when you want it to tear your face off like a DSL or an SLX or a Jubilee (or indeed a 1987) can, but considering its flexibilty it does great.

Build quality is very very nice as well. Last Marshall that was this nice up close was the Anniversary. Actually I think this is better.

Best rock amp I ever played was a 1987 JMP as well. Everything else is a compromise once you've experienced that, but they're not practical for me.

[Megaro]

Great videos and tone. I have always enjoyed your work.
My recent checking of new prices on eBay for the JVM410HJS is around $2300 to $2500 new whereas the 5153 50 watt new is about $1,000.

I like my 5153 50 watt for at home, low volume work. For some reason, it sounds better to my ears through an old, early 90's JCM 900 4 x 12 than the EVH 4 x 12 with the greenies. I think it is just a volume thing. Speaker break in probably plays a role in that too.

Anyway, great job !

[OdgeUK]

As an all-round channel switching Marshall, if you like the old-school flavour, I believe it's the best there is. Obviously there are compromises - the plexi mode (crunch green) is way too dark and basically unuseable for me, and the high gain doesn't stay tight beyond early VH levels. But every amp has its compromises.

I had mine alongside a DSL for a week or two last year. The DSL is thinner, brighter, more immediate. The HJS feels like a smoother boutique DSL with a million sounds on board. Like I say, it ain't perfect, there are times when you want it to tear your face off like a DSL or an SLX or a Jubilee (or indeed a 1987) can, but considering its flexibilty it does great.

Best rock amp I ever played was a 1987 JMP as well. Everything else is a compromise once you've experienced that, but they're not practical for me.

Well, it arrived! I've only had a chance to play it once, and only at 'Mild-Neighbour-Annoyance' levels.

First impressions are very good. There is a VERY wide range of tones in this thing. SUPER versatile.

Didn't think much of the clean really, until I went Red Mode. Then it finally sounded more like the clean you might get on a JMP. Less compression, a touch of gain if you hit hard.

Crunch channel, wonderful, in all modes. Whack the guitar for some ACDC. Really sharp and present. You have to work hard in this channel though without a pedal to give you more sustain.

OD1 / OD2. Well, I need to play with the EQ. That Marshall sound is there in spades, but it's not as tight as I'd like in the bottom end. Seems a bit muddy. Doesn't have the clarity in the mids of my Peavey JSX 120 head.

Only other thing I can say so far, is that at these volumes, I need the bass control almost on zero, on all channels. Whereas I complain that the DSL can be too thin and needs the bass all the way up, it's like they overcompensated on the JVM410HJS! I'm expecting the game to change though at gig volume....

Overall very happy. Just need to use it in anger

[rgalpin]

excellent comparison!!

there is an opaqueness to the EVH which actually is a great sounding tone but it takes it a step away from the EVH vibe where you feel like you can step inside the tone. EVH is like a wrapped up package of VH tone. The Marshall sounds more like the real thing - unwrapped - where I can touch it. makes a big difference - the Marshall draws me in - the EVH is like when you look under the hood and there are no visible engine parts - nothing to touch or beat on.

[donnyboiler]

Great videos and tone. I have always enjoyed your work.
My recent checking of new prices on eBay for the JVM410HJS is around $2300 to $2500 new whereas the 5153 50 watt new is about $1,000.

I like my 5153 50 watt for at home, low volume work. For some reason, it sounds better to my ears through an old, early 90's JCM 900 4 x 12 than the EVH 4 x 12 with the greenies. I think it is just a volume thing. Speaker break in probably plays a role in that too.

Anyway, great job !

Thanks man. I know what you're saying. The 75s do feel a bit stiffer but I think that bump in the highs and lows can make them feel great at lower levels, like the loudness button on your stereo! I love the 75s personally.

As an all-round channel switching Marshall, if you like the old-school flavour, I believe it's the best there is. Obviously there are compromises - the plexi mode (crunch green) is way too dark and basically unuseable for me, and the high gain doesn't stay tight beyond early VH levels. But every amp has its compromises.

I had mine alongside a DSL for a week or two last year. The DSL is thinner, brighter, more immediate. The HJS feels like a smoother boutique DSL with a million sounds on board. Like I say, it ain't perfect, there are times when you want it to tear your face off like a DSL or an SLX or a Jubilee (or indeed a 1987) can, but considering its flexibilty it does great.

Best rock amp I ever played was a 1987 JMP as well. Everything else is a compromise once you've experienced that, but they're not practical for me.

Well, it arrived! I've only had a chance to play it once, and only at 'Mild-Neighbour-Annoyance' levels.

First impressions are very good. There is a VERY wide range of tones in this thing. SUPER versatile.

Didn't think much of the clean really, until I went Red Mode. Then it finally sounded more like the clean you might get on a JMP. Less compression, a touch of gain if you hit hard.

Crunch channel, wonderful, in all modes. Whack the guitar for some ACDC. Really sharp and present. You have to work hard in this channel though without a pedal to give you more sustain.

OD1 / OD2. Well, I need to play with the EQ. That Marshall sound is there in spades, but it's not as tight as I'd like in the bottom end. Seems a bit muddy. Doesn't have the clarity in the mids of my Peavey JSX 120 head.

Only other thing I can say so far, is that at these volumes, I need the bass control almost on zero, on all channels. Whereas I complain that the DSL can be too thin and needs the bass all the way up, it's like they overcompensated on the JVM410HJS! I'm expecting the game to change though at gig volume....

Overall very happy. Just need to use it in anger

Congrats man. Volume helps with this amp, big time. A clean boost in front of OD channels livens things up nicely if you don't have the luxury of volume.

excellent comparison!!

there is an opaqueness to the EVH which actually is a great sounding tone but it takes it a step away from the EVH vibe where you feel like you can step inside the tone. EVH is like a wrapped up package of VH tone. The Marshall sounds more like the real thing - unwrapped - where I can touch it. makes a big difference - the Marshall draws me in - the EVH is like when you look under the hood and there are no visible engine parts - nothing to touch or beat on.

Neatly put. Yeah it sounds great but it can feel like listening to a recording of yourself! Pre-compressed, eq'd and mastered, compared to a Marshall's raw feel. What a sound though!