5153 EL34 or Splawn QR? Or something else?

dan the man · Feb 2, 2024

Currently torn between getting a 5153 EL34 or Splawn Quickrod.
I have a 6505+ and a DSL that I both love.
5153's are cheap used, can get a 50w for like $900, pretty tempting.
Other other recs like a Ceriatone? Not real familiar with them and not sure if they have enough gain.

budda · Feb 2, 2024

Not sure the 5153 would be a difference, i’d skip that one.

orange rockerverb mk2/3?

dan the man · Feb 2, 2024

budda said:
Not sure the 5153 would be a difference, i’d skip that one.

orange rockerverb mk2/3?

Interesting! Orange is one of the few brands I don't have any experience with. I think a friend has one, maybe I'll ask if I can try his out.

USMarine75 · Feb 2, 2024

Very different amps. While the EL34 5153 may be slightly more Marshall sounding than the Stealth or 6L6 version, it’s not really similar to a Quick Rod or Ceriatone Marshall style amp. I have a QR100 EL34 and it’s a very different beast. (I can’t speak to the KT88 version)

Marshall amps generally sound weak at low volumes and require pushing air to acquire “that Marshall tone” any low end thump. 5150 variants all sound the same at any volume, you just get “more” as you turn it up. If that makes sense?

If you want something that sounds truly different than your 5150, I’d recommend Mesa, Orange, Marshall types, Engl, Diezel, KSR Ares, etc. My Fireball 100 sounded killer in an ABY rig with my 5150s. Right now I run it with a KSR Ares (similar to Herbert) to get that raspy x dry combo.

budda · Feb 2, 2024

He has a DSL, marshall high gain covered.

LeftOurEyes · Feb 2, 2024

Did you want something different than you already have or are you trying to see if a different variation of what you already own and love might be better? I ask because the ones you are looking at are pretty similar to the ones you own.

SalsaWood · Feb 2, 2024

I have the 5153S EL34. It's a much better sounding amp than the 6505+ to me. Otherwise get a Dual Rec.

Kosthrash · Feb 2, 2024

For around the $900 budget, I'd say 'something else': PRS Archon 50

dan the man · Feb 3, 2024

LeftOurEyes said:
Did you want something different than you already have or are you trying to see if a different variation of what you already own and love might be better? I ask because the ones you are looking at are pretty similar to the ones you own.

Good question. I think I'm looking for something that's similar to the 6505 and DSL that I might like better. From what I've heard it sounds like the el34 5150 is just a different 5150 flavor and not much of a supped up marshall sound. I'm kinda new to Marshalls since I've always wrote them off from not having enough gain. That was before I realized what a miracle OD pedals can do lol.

budda · Feb 3, 2024

Imo a 5150 is a boosted marshall tone but ymmv.

Kosthrash · Feb 3, 2024

If a 1-channel amp is ok, then why not the Orange Dark Terror?

Bram576 · Feb 4, 2024

If you’re looking to generally upgrade I’d honestly take a quick rod over a DSL any day. As far as the modded Marshall amps go the splawn stuff is affordable and sounds great. I’ve played a few ceriatones that are killer sounding but no idea how they are long term… I have heard a few reliability issues there. The real great modded Marshall stuff unfortunately is real costly but worth it brands like monomyth, gower, headfirst, ground zero.

If you want another high gainer that’s different and keeping what you have you can check out things like the prs mt 100, rectos boosted with a tc preamp circuit are always killer. The vht deliverance is also a killer amp, not tons of gain on tap but sounds great boosted.

Necky379 · Feb 5, 2024

I would never try to talk anyone out of getting a Quick Rod but since you have a DSL already I’d get a Rectifier. I agree that the QR would be an upgrade. I’ve got a Quick Rod, my friend has a DSL; I prefer the QR hands down but the DSL sounds great. You have a 6505+, that makes the 5153 seem kind of redundant but I have a 5150 and a 6505+ and it is nice having 4 channels of different 5150 flavor.

The Rectifier pairs really well the amps you have already. It also sounds and feels different from your other amps. I have a rev G Triple, I love playing it and they’re way more versatile than they get credit for. The red channel is what you’re paying for but once you start getting away from that you’ll find that the amp has a lot more to offer besides just metal tones.

I think you should look at Rectos and find a used Radial Shotgun.

budda · Feb 5, 2024

Recto, Mark, Orange, or a clean pedal platform and some standard fuzz pedals (they are easy to find and inexpensive).

Dead-Pan · Feb 5, 2024

The Quick Rod without the B+ option is stiff in feel. It is a very low mid forward amp.

The EVH EL34 is pretty good. IMO the blue channel requires the C137 mod but is great once done.

TedEH · Feb 5, 2024

Personally, if I had something in the 5150 camp, and something Marshall-y already, and was aiming for variety, I'd probably aim for Mesa next to cover a lot of ground. If you want very little overlap with that you've got, maybe track down a Mesa Mark.

In my mind, I find I've been trying to sort amps into vague camps of how I might group them.

- 5150 style is like a chainsaw. (loud and grindy - the thing non-guitarists think when they hear the word "distortion")
- Mesas are like a sledgehammer (heavy, weighty)
- Marshalls are like an animal or something (can be aggressive, often hairy)

One goes BWEEEEOOOOWN, one goes CHUUUUUG, and another goes WHOOOOM.

I have no idea how to categorize Orange stuff because they seem to be designed around how they're always played so loud that you can't discern much of their character outside of "yup, my ears sure are bleeding". So, I guess, Orange is tinnitus.

Anyway, go find a used Mark somewhere and all of your bases will be covered. :2c:

budda · Feb 5, 2024

Trick is also to like playing the mesa sounds. Im not buying another recto, though others sound great with them.

Stiman · Feb 5, 2024

Necky379 said:
I have a rev G Triple,

Curious about REVV, what lineage of bands is it based on, do you know? Like if you were to create broad categories of amps, most amp would fall in one category or another, where would you place the REVV G?

Necky379 · Feb 5, 2024

@Stiman I don’t know too much about REVV amps. My amp is a Mesa Triple Rectifier revision G, rev G for short. Owners often include the revision of their amp during discussions because they’ve changed over the years to the point it’s become relevant information.

budda said:
Trick is also to like playing the mesa sounds. Im not buying another recto, though others sound great with them.

Truth, it’s definitely different than playing through a 5150 or Marshall. I’ve found so many great sounds experimenting with that Triple.

budda · Feb 5, 2024

Even with the axefx I revisited rectos and went “it sounds ok but gimme the amps i prefer”. As a layer in a studio I could probably find one.

Having ran pedals into a clean amp loudly yesterday, gonna keep mentioning it :lol:

5153 EL34 or Splawn QR? Or something else?

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