5150 Iconic Series 40-watt 1 x 12-inch Tube Combo Amp - Ivory Review

Great amp

After owning more amps than I care to list over the years this one has nothing to compare to. You can easily get the most beautiful clean sounds as you can on its parent companies amps. The distortion channel is second to none. This amp gives the sounds it is supposed to. If you are looking for a great all around amp this is it.

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A great amp that got an initial bad rap from some YouTubers

This amp replaced a Marshall DSL40CR which I loved but I was seeking higher gain tones without having to depend on pedals. The Iconic 5150 looks sharp, its white enclosure really stands out yet blends in too. At first, I wasn't interested due to the initial bad rap it got from some YouTubers who poo-poo'd it for whatever reasons (country of manufacture, less tubes, who knows?),… read more but I gave it a shot having tried the EVH 6L6 combo in the past that I didn't like. The Iconic has a nice clean channel that, when pushed, goes into from a light to wild crunch. Then you get to that red channel and OMG, it's everything I need. Super high gain that can be pushed into higher gain with "burn" and "boost" controls too. Women will throw themselves at you, men will bow to you, your boss will finally give you that promotion that you deserve :) What I love: • Tone is insane • Flexibility, yet simplicity • Build quality seems solid, had my amp tech check it out too What I don't like: • Noise gate is lacking. You can activate it but expect to put another in the loop too • Speaker was meh, I changed it for a Neo Creamback which did wonders and made the amp lighter too Big thanks to Bob Furlong who is more than a sales engineer - he's my sherpa guiding me on my tone journey, my Yoda of tone, and he sends me candy in the mail too, so you gotta love him and Sweetwater :)

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MINI-MONSTER

First and foremost, this is an incredibly fun combo amp. Is got some heavy heavy gain and crunch, but also a surprisingly warm smooth clean channel. I've got a pile of other tube Amplifiers in this class, (Magnatone, Fender, Marshall, Blackstar), that cost roughly 2 or three times the amount of this unit. Let me tell you…This one holds its own and surpasses them in some ways.… read more It handles pedals and the effects loop much better than some of its competitors. You can really feel Edwards DNA here, and hats off to James Brown the amp crew really nailed this closed cabinet little beast!! These 5150s are packed with features that you will actually use too, including the 1/4 volume switch, for small space practicing. I was blown away at how this completely retained my tone at a fraction of the volume. Check it out for yourself, what have you got to lose on Sweetwater? If you don't love it send it back. I'm guessing you'll keep it.

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Serious Attitude & Surprising Versatility

This is an exceptionally fun & affordable tube amplifier with noticeable Edward DNA!! Right out of the gate I was surprised at how much personality the clean channel exhibited. Every one of my guitars kept its voice...& the overdrive on this "green" channel is super duper expressive. Channel 2 (red channel) is a tone monster resurrected from 1988, but with 2022 technology. I can't… read more get the gain past 7 without melting my eardrums. NICE!! I live in an apartment, and so the 1/4 power switch in the back is a huge huge advantage for someone like myself. I was amazed at how it preserved the attack & nuanced tones when engaged. The foot switch is flawless and quiet. Another surprising and delightful aspect of the sample fire, is it ability to work with pedals. Just exceptional! Although I can sometimes hear the "closed cabinet" affect on its custom Celestion, this is also part of its sound aesthetic. And I truly dig that. Besides there's NO way I can fault it's sturdiness and quality of build. This sucker is built like a tank and ready to gig. James Brown has ABSOLUTELY succeeded here!! He truly injected this little beast with an unmistakable amount of Edward's DNA and tone legacy. Get one...soon!!! And long live the lord of the fretboard.

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Oan your Toan

This 5150 sounds beautiful. The spring reverb and clean is amazing. Put an OD in front of it to really make it sing. The green channel is extremely versatile. The red channel chugs at all times. This amp is heavy and well constructed. Top notch quality even if made in China.

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