EVH 5150iii 15W LBX-S Head Black 230V Eur

A "Stealth" version designed as a cross between LBXI/LBXII

The EVH 5150III LBX-S follows the line of compact heads inspired by the 5150 sound, offering a very musical balance between versatility and immediacy. Designed as a crossover between the LBXI and LBXII approaches, this "Stealth" version combines a green channel focused on clarity and touch, and a red channel designed for the most straightforward saturations. All housed in an ultra-portable chassis, with a dark and distinctive visual identity, true to the EVH aesthetic.

Who is the LBX-S for, and in what contexts does it make a difference?

This head is aimed at guitarists who want a compact all-tube amp capable of covering everything from home playing to rehearsals and stage (with the right cabinet and good volume management). In an apartment, the 3.5W mode helps enjoy tube tone without turning the living room into a concert hall. In the studio, it becomes an excellent platform for recording tight rhythms and sustained leads, while maintaining precise attack.

Style-wise, the LBX-S excels in modern rock, hard rock, metal, and all variants requiring defined distortion, but its green channel also allows for clean tones and crunches leaning more towards blues/rock when the gain is pushed. If you like switching from an articulate clean sound to massive saturation with the footswitch, this is exactly its playground.

Channels, settings, and features: a compact but truly complete head

The LBX-S offers two channels accessible via a 1-button footswitch. The green channel covers a wide range: from crystalline clarity to a thicker, more expressive crunch as gain is increased, ideal for biting rhythms or more rootsy parts. The red channel is tailored for "full burn" saturation: controlled compression, generous sustain, and an abundant gain feel that remains clear for palm-mutes and extended chords.

To keep a minimal format without sacrificing control, EVH integrates dual concentric potentiometers : you have independent Gain and Volume controls for each channel, handy for precisely balancing the level between clean/crunch and lead. Presence equalization is handled via shared Presence and Resonance controls, useful for adjusting brightness, top-end openness, and bass foundation depending on the cabinet, room, and volume.

The head is also equipped with an effects loop to place delays, reverbs, and modulations after the saturation, and two parallel speaker outputs to adapt to different cabinet configurations. Finally, the 15W / 3.5W power switch is not just designed for playing quieter: it can also be used to achieve a more "spongy," tighter, and more compressed response at a more reasonable volume, highly appreciated for certain studio takes.

In terms of finish, the LBX-S stands out with its black front panel and black metal grille featuring the EVH Stealth pattern, along with an internal LED backlight that illuminates the cage in green or red depending on the selected channel. A special feature of the Stealth models: the head is modified to include an adjustable bias control port, a real plus for advanced users and maintenance.

A high-quality fitted cover is available as an accessory (sold separately).

Sound

Fully all-tube, the LBX-S focuses on a lively grain, with a very "guitar-like" response under the fingers: sharp attack, pick-sensitive dynamics, and saturation that naturally thickens as the amp is pushed. The green channel offers a clean, bright tone with enough body to handle pedals (overdrive, fuzz, compressor) and move towards a more bluesy crunch when gain is increased. The red channel delivers a modern, aggressive distortion with a distinctly EVH character: tight, incisive, and designed to maintain definition even at high gain, with long sustain and a very controllable "wall" of sound at volume.

The tube configuration clearly contributes to this sound: the 4 x JJ ECC83S (12AX7) preamp tubes provide precision and harmonic richness, while the 2 x JJ EL84 power tubes offer musical compression and effective projection, particularly satisfying at rehearsal volume or mic'd on a well-chosen cabinet.

Technical specifications

Category	Guitar amp head	Category	Amplifier
Technology	Tubes	Number of channels	2
Effects loop	Yes	EQ	3 channels
Amp tubes	2 x EL84	Color	Black
Pre-amp tubes	4 x 12AX7	Finishing	Steel
Attenuator	Yes	Power output	15 W

Amplifier type	Tube	Shared controls	Presence and Resonance
Power	15W	Input	1 x 6.35mm Jack
Power reduction	3.5W (via switch)	Speaker outputs	2 parallel jacks
Rectifier	Solid State	Total impedance	4, 8, or 16 ohms
Power tubes	2 x JJ EL84	Cabinet	aluminum/steel chassis
Preamp tubes	4 x JJ ECC83S (12AX7)	Handle	vinyl with metal insert and black end caps
Channels	2 (green and red), switching via footswitch	Lighting	internal LED (green/red depending on channel)
Controls	Gain and Volume independent per channel (dual concentric potentiometers)	Adjustable bias control port	yes