“Virtually indistinguishable from the all-tube original”: EVH’s first digital amp, the 5150III Hypersonic, delivers Eddie Van Halen’s iconic tube tones without the heft
EVH has officially entered the digital arena with the 5150III Hypersonic 6L6, a 1×12 combo designed to deliver the power, clarity and feel of Eddie Van Halen’s legendary 5150III tube amp – without the bulk or maintenance that comes with traditional valves.
Built using “massive digital processing power”, the Hypersonic 6L6 is said to deliver “EVH tone, volume and dynamics” that’s “virtually indistinguishable from the all-tube original”.
With a premium Celestion speaker and closed-back cabinet, it dishes out the familiar growl, punch and high-gain aggression players expect from the brand.
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The launch also marks EVH’s first fully-digital amplifier, positioning it alongside the modern convenience trend pioneered by Fender’s Tone Master series. According to EVH, the Hypersonic aims to solve the long-standing challenge of capturing true EVH tube tone in a form factor that’s practical for home studios and travelling musicians alike.
The amp sticks to the familiar three-channel layout – Clean, Crunch and Lead – but with added features for greater precision. Clean and Crunch come with concentric EQ controls, while each of the three channels comes equipped with its own noise gate and trim control. The result is a setup that stays tight and controlled, even with high-gain tones or loud stage volumes.
The redesigned footswitch allows players to toggle reverb and the effects loop on the fly, and an onboard power selector offers full power plus five attenuation levels, making it easy to dial in your ideal tone at any volume.
Credit: EVH
Recording and live routing options are equally comprehensive. A balanced XLR line out with built-in IR cabinet sims provides studio-ready tones straight to a mixer, while a mute switch enables silent monitoring and late-night tracking. A headphone jack, MIDI input and USB-C port round out the modern connectivity.
Weighing just 39 lbs – roughly 40% lighter than the Iconic Series 5150III 50W combo – the Hypersonic offers exceptional portability without sacrificing tone. The amp is available in Black or Ivory vinyl, and is priced at $1,699.99.
“This represents the next evolution in EVH amplification, delivering Eddie’s iconic tone through innovative digital technology,” says Jon Romanowski, VP of Product of EVH Guitars. “The Hypersonic 6L6 1×12 breaks down the barriers that have kept players from accessing authentic EVH sound, making it more portable and versatile than ever before. Whether players are recording at home or performing on stage, this amp delivers that unmistakable EVH tone that made Eddie’s sound iconic.”
Learn more at EVH.
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