If its anything like the head version you will be happy.

Congrats and can't wait to read your review(s)!

It weighs a ton. Sweet water just got the cover for it back in stock. Everyone was out of them .

You'll have to let us know how the modeled version compares once you get the combo.

I would like to know what you think of it. I almost pulled the trigger and got one.

So, of course I get a new toy and all kinds of shit starts popping up keeping me from spending some quality time with it...but some quick early observations after just a few hours playing through it...

It lives up to the hype for me. Of course I went straight for channel 3 and began dialing in the riffage. Way more gain than you'll ever need on tap, crystal clear chiming notes, no mud, no flub, just tight ass low end chunkage. By far the best tube amp I've owned. As far as comparing this to the Axe model that will require some more time and some side by side experimenting that will come this week. I will say, I feel very good about purchasing both. Playing through the EVH confirmed to me that what I've been hearing through the Axe with CLR's for the past year is as awesome as I thought, and the possibilities with the Axe seem endless. I've got so much more to learn about tweaking advanced parameters I know whatever tone I want is in it. I just have to find it...

But the EVH is a great metal amp. I'll be running a ts808 in front tomorrow...

Congrats. I've read on here that an overdrive/distortion pedal can loosen up a tight sounding amp when ran in front of it.

I'm looking closely at getting a Splawn Quick Rod right now, and in all of the Splawn videos I've seen, regardless of the model, they do seem "stiff" because they're so clear. But that tone is to kill for.

I also really liked the 5150 III 50-watt I tried out in GC a couple of times.

That should be the other way around. An overdrive should tighten up a loose sounding amp

Really? That surprises me because I would think that an overdrive could add a tiny, subtle amount of "fizz" to the sound. Not enough to hurt the clarity, but to add some warmth.

I think of an EQ as tightening up the feel.

Now I'm really looking forward to grabbing my bud's ts808... I have never owned one but in the Axe FX it can do wonders for some of the amp models. However with the latest firmware the 5153 didn't seem to need it... we'll see how it works with the "real" amp. Worse case scenario I can see if it does anything to wake up my Blue Voodoo...

My 5150 iii is tight enough to not need my Tube Screamer running in front. Sounds great through my orange closed back 2x12 with V30s and I also have a 4x12 with Warehouse Veteran 30's. It kills on both cabs. The EQ is responsive and the cleans are actually very good. Not Fender good but very usable. Overall it is one of the better tube amps and for the money it is a home run.

So if an overdrive doesn't soften up a stiff amp, then what does?

Try a delay pedal.

As a general rule an OD will tighten up the sound, but there definitely are exceptions, depending on how the overdrive is set and the design of the amp. I think with a Splawn it would definitely not make it looser though

The 5150III is sublime with a tube screamer in front (Especially for more modern metal tones). Don't discount the crunch channel either