EVH 5150III 15W LBX Lunchbox Two Channel Valve Head – Ex Display

Quick Product Summary

The EVH 5150III 15W LBX Lunchbox Head takes the aggressive, tightly controlled high-gain character associated with the 5150III amplifier family and packs it into a compact all-valve head designed for recording, rehearsals, home rigs and smaller live setups.

Despite its compact dimensions, the LBX uses a serious valve complement of five ECC83S preamp valves and two EL84 power valves, delivering 15 watts at full power with a useful quarter-power setting that reduces output to approximately 4 watts.

Two channels focus on the heavier side of the 5150III sound. The Blue Crunch channel handles muscular rhythm tones and lower-gain rock sounds, while the Red Full Burn channel moves into saturated high-gain territory with plenty of sustain for heavy riffs and lead work.

Shared Gain and three-band EQ controls keep the front panel straightforward, while independent channel volumes, Presence, rear-panel Resonance, a series effects loop and selectable 4, 8 or 16-ohm speaker operation make this a compact head with enough control for a serious guitar rig.

This particular amplifier is offered as Ex Display, providing an opportunity to own a genuine EVH all-valve lunchbox head while considering an alternative to factory-sealed stock.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	EVH
Model	5150III 15W LBX
Model Number	2256006000
Series	EVH 5150III
Condition	Ex Display
Amplifier Type	All-Valve Guitar Head
Output	15 Watts
Reduced Power	Approx. 4 Watts
Channels	Blue Crunch / Red Full Burn
Preamp Valves	5 x ECC83S / 12AX7
Power Valves	2 x EL84
Effects Loop	Yes
Speaker Impedance	Selectable 4Ω / 8Ω / 16Ω
Main Appeal	Genuine 5150III high gain in a compact all-valve head
Best For	Rock, hard rock, metal, recording, rehearsals and compact rigs

Ex Display Condition Report

Condition: Ex Display

This EVH 5150III LBX has been designated Ex Display rather than factory-sealed new stock.

No specific cosmetic marks, faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

The amplifier is checked by Fair Deal Music before leaving us so that its main controls, switching and general operation can be assessed prior to dispatch.

For an individual Ex Display amplifier, you're welcome to ask our team about a video demonstration if you would like a closer look before ordering.

What's Included?

• EVH 5150III 15W LBX Lunchbox Valve Amplifier Head

• 1-button channel-switching footswitch

✘ Speaker Cabinet Not Included

Condition Notes

No individual cosmetic marks or damage have been supplied for this Ex Display example.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for the listing.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Before leaving Fair Deal Music, the EVH 5150III LBX is checked for correct general operation.

Our assessment includes:

• Power-up operation

• Blue Crunch channel

• Red Full Burn channel

• Channel switching

• Footswitch operation

• Gain control

• Low, Mid and High EQ

• Independent channel volume controls

• Presence control

• Resonance control

• Effects loop

• Speaker output

• Impedance selector

• Full/quarter-power switching

• General valve operation

• General visual condition

Valve amplifiers should always be connected and operated according to the manufacturer's instructions, particularly when choosing speaker impedance and connecting an external cabinet.

Why Choose The EVH 5150III 15W LBX?

Genuine All-Valve 5150III Architecture

The LBX is a proper valve amplifier rather than a modelling or hybrid recreation of the 5150III concept.

Five ECC83S preamp valves provide the gain stages, while a matched pair of EL84 valves handles the output section.

For players who specifically want the response, compression and harmonic character of a compact valve head, that remains one of the LBX's biggest attractions.

Blue Crunch Channel

The Blue channel focuses on the famous 5150III Crunch sound.

It can handle aggressive rock rhythm playing, tight palm-muted riffs and lower-gain crunch while remaining more open than the Red channel.

Reducing the gain also gives the Blue channel enough flexibility for less saturated rock sounds rather than restricting the amplifier purely to maximum-gain metal.

Red Full Burn Channel

The Red channel takes over when saturation and sustain are the priority.

It is designed for heavily driven rhythm sounds and lead tones, with enough gain available for modern hard rock and metal without relying on an additional distortion pedal.

15 Watts With Quarter-Power Operation

Full power provides 15 watts, while the quarter-power mode reduces output to approximately 4 watts.

This does not turn a valve amplifier into a silent bedroom amp – four valve watts can still be surprisingly loud – but it gives you more flexibility when recording, practising or working in smaller rooms.

Effects Loop

The rear-panel effects loop lets you place delay, reverb and modulation effects after the amplifier's preamp distortion.

This is particularly valuable on a high-gain amplifier because time-based effects can remain cleaner and more defined than when placed directly in front of a heavily distorted preamp.

Selectable Speaker Impedance

The LBX supports 4, 8 and 16-ohm speaker loads, making it compatible with a wide variety of correctly matched guitar cabinets.

That gives players much more freedom to choose between compact 1x12 cabinets, larger 2x12 rigs and appropriately configured 4x12 cabinets.

EVH 5150III LBX vs Popular Alternatives

EVH 5150III LBX vs 5150III LBX-S

The original LBX focuses on Blue Crunch and Red Full Burn, making it particularly attractive to players whose priority is medium-to-high-gain EVH tone.

The later LBX-S uses a different channel combination aimed at players wanting another balance of clean and high-gain sounds.

Choose the original LBX if the classic Blue-to-Red gain progression is exactly what you want.

EVH 5150III LBX vs 5150III LBXII

Different LBX generations place the emphasis on different 5150III channel combinations.

The original model is particularly direct: Blue for crunch and rhythm, Red for full high-gain saturation.

It remains a strong choice for players who do not need a dedicated clean channel and would rather have two complementary driven voices.

EVH 5150III LBX vs 5150 Iconic 15W Head

The 5150 Iconic 15W offers a broader modern feature set including built-in reverb, boost and direct connectivity.

The LBX is the better fit for players specifically seeking an all-valve 5150III platform with a more focused Blue/Red channel architecture.

The Iconic prioritises feature count; the LBX prioritises the compact 5150III valve-head experience.

EVH 5150III LBX vs Full-Size 5150III Heads

Larger 5150III amplifiers provide substantially more output power and clean headroom for demanding live environments.

The LBX makes more sense for recording, rehearsals, smaller stages and players who want genuine 5150III gain without carrying a large amplifier head.

Who Is The EVH 5150III LBX For?

The LBX is particularly well suited to:

• Hard-rock guitarists

• Metal players

• Modern high-gain musicians

• EVH and Eddie Van Halen fans

• Home-recording guitarists

• Studio musicians

• Players with an existing speaker cabinet

• Guitarists wanting genuine valve amplification in a compact format

• Musicians who primarily use crunch and high-gain sounds

• Players building a portable lunchbox amplifier rig

Suitable Genres & Uses

The 5150III LBX is very much at home with rock, hard rock and metal.

Its Blue channel works particularly well for aggressive rhythm playing, classic and modern hard rock, punchy riffs and tones where you want drive without completely saturating the signal.

Switch to Red and the amplifier moves firmly into heavier territory. The extra saturation works well for modern metal rhythm playing, sustained lead tones and harmonic-heavy high-gain sounds.

The LBX is also useful in the studio. Its compact size makes it easy to integrate into a recording space, while the switchable power level gives you another way to balance output against the room and cabinet being used.

15 Watts vs 4 Watts: Which Power Setting Should You Use?

Valve amplifier wattage does not translate directly into perceived loudness. A 15-watt valve head through an efficient guitar cabinet can still produce substantial volume.

Use the full 15-watt setting when you need additional headroom, projection and a firmer output-stage response.

The quarter-power setting, at approximately 4 watts, is useful when you want to drive the amplifier at a lower overall output level or simply need less volume for recording and home playing.

It is important to remember that the 4-watt mode is reduced power rather than silent practice. A suitable speaker cabinet is still required for conventional operation.

Looking for advice on choosing the right EVH amplifier, speaker cabinet or high-gain rig? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Speaker Cabinet Matching: Why Impedance Matters

The EVH 5150III LBX allows you to select 4, 8 or 16 ohms to match a suitable external speaker cabinet.

Correct impedance matching is important on a valve amplifier. Before powering up the amplifier, check the impedance of the connected cabinet and set the LBX accordingly.

Always use a proper speaker cable between the amplifier and cabinet. A standard shielded guitar cable is designed for low-level instrument signals and should not be used as the speaker connection from an amplifier head.

If you're unsure which cabinet or impedance setting is correct, speak to our team before connecting the amplifier.

Story & Context

The 5150 amplifier story grew directly from Eddie Van Halen's pursuit of increasingly responsive, powerful and controllable high-gain guitar tones.

The later EVH 5150III family developed that concept into a dedicated amplifier range built around multiple channels capable of covering different stages of gain.

The original 5150III LBX took two of the most recognisable driven voices from that larger platform – the Blue Crunch and Red Full Burn channels – and placed them into a compact 15-watt lunchbox head.

Rather than trying to make the smallest 5150III cover every possible amplifier sound, the LBX concentrated on the areas where the platform had become particularly celebrated: muscular crunch, saturated rhythm sounds and singing high-gain lead tones.

That focused approach remains one of the reasons the original LBX is still an interesting amplifier for players specifically looking for a compact EVH valve rig.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Model	EVH 5150III 15W LBX Head
Model Number	2256006000
Series	EVH 5150III
Amplifier Type	All-Valve Guitar Amplifier Head
Colour	Black / White
Output Power	15 Watts RMS
Reduced Power	Approx. 4 Watts
Channels	2
Blue Channel	Crunch
Red Channel	Full Burn
Preamp Valves	5 x JJ ECC83S / 12AX7
Power Valves	2 x JJ EL84
Rectifier	Solid-State
Controls	Shared Gain, Low, Mid, High
Channel Volume	Independent Blue / Red Volume
Additional Controls	Presence, Resonance
Guitar Input	1 x ¼"
Effects Loop	¼" Send / Return
Speaker Output	1 x ¼"
Output Impedance	Selectable 4Ω / 8Ω / 16Ω
Input Impedance	Greater Than 1MΩ
Footswitch	1-Button Channel Footswitch
Chassis	Aluminium / Steel
Front Panel	Black EVH Striped Steel
Control Knobs	Chicken-Head Style Pointer
Handle	Vinyl with Metal Insert
Height	7" / 17.8 cm
Width	Approx. 12.5" / 31.2 cm
Depth	Approx. 6" / 15.3 cm
Weight	Approx. 15 lb / 6.8 kg

Specification Note

Model 2256006000 is the 230V, 50Hz European-market version of the EVH 5150III 15W LBX.

This is the original LBX specification using the Blue Crunch and Red Full Burn channels. It should not be confused with later LBX variants that use different channel combinations.

Power Requirements

Voltage: 230V AC
Frequency: 50Hz
Power Consumption: 100 Watts
Regional Version: EUR
Model Number: 2256006000

The amplifier should only be connected to an appropriate mains supply.

As this is an amplifier head, a correctly matched external guitar speaker cabinet is required for conventional speaker operation.

Always select the correct 4, 8 or 16-ohm output setting before operating the amplifier with a cabinet.

Fair Deal Music Expert Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The EVH 5150III 15W LBX is a great example of a compact amplifier that knows exactly what it is trying to do.

Rather than adding endless features, it takes two of the most useful driven 5150III voices and puts them into a genuinely portable all-valve head. The Blue channel handles powerful rhythm tones brilliantly, while Red provides the saturation and sustain required for heavier playing and lead work.

The five-valve preamp and dual-EL84 output section also make this particularly attractive to players who specifically want an all-valve lunchbox amplifier rather than a hybrid or modelling alternative.

As an Ex Display example, it is a strong option for a player wanting genuine 5150III tone while considering an alternative to factory-sealed stock.

Best suited for: Rock and metal guitarists, recording players and musicians wanting compact all-valve 5150III gain.

Customers usually upgrade from: High-gain practice amplifiers, modelling amps or smaller solid-state heads.

Most commonly paired with: A suitable 1x12 or 2x12 cabinet, noise gate, tuner, delay and reverb.

Our tip: The Blue channel is one of the biggest reasons to own this version. Don't automatically jump straight to Red – Blue can provide an exceptionally tight heavy rhythm sound with enough definition to work brilliantly in a dense band mix.

Showroom feedback: The LBX feels much bigger than its physical dimensions suggest. It is compact enough to carry easily but still behaves like a proper valve head when connected to a good cabinet.

Ask our team about a video demonstration of this exact Ex Display amplifier if you'd like a closer look before ordering.

Why Buy Ex Display From Fair Deal Music?

An Ex Display amplifier can be an excellent way to access a desirable piece of equipment while considering an alternative to factory-sealed stock.

At Fair Deal Music, Ex Display equipment is checked before leaving us so that its operation and general condition can be assessed prior to dispatch.

You also have access to our experienced team if you need advice about condition, cabinet matching, valve amplifier operation or whether the amplifier is suitable for your rig.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Based in Birmingham, our experienced musician-led team can help whether you're buying your first valve amplifier, putting together a compact high-gain rig or choosing the correct cabinet and impedance for your EVH head.

Buying from Fair Deal Music gives you:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, Ex Display and pre-owned musical equipment

• A large Birmingham showroom

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Secure online ordering

• UK delivery options

• Decades of experience supplying musicians

• Help choosing suitable cabinets, pedals, speaker cables and accessories

• New and pre-owned amplifier expertise

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EVH 5150III LBX fully valve?

Yes. It uses five ECC83S/12AX7 preamp valves and two EL84 power valves.

What are the two channels?

The original LBX uses the Blue Crunch channel and Red Full Burn channel from the 5150III concept.

Blue focuses on muscular crunch and driven rhythm sounds, while Red provides considerably more saturation for high-gain rhythm and lead playing.

Does the LBX have a clean channel?

It does not have a dedicated conventional clean channel. This version is deliberately focused on the Blue and Red driven voices.

Players needing a broader dedicated clean-to-high-gain range may prefer another amplifier or LBX variant.

How loud is a 15-watt valve amplifier?

Potentially very loud. A 15-watt valve head connected to an efficient guitar cabinet can comfortably reach rehearsal and smaller-gig volume levels.

What does the quarter-power switch do?

It reduces output from 15 watts to approximately 4 watts, providing a more manageable setting for recording, home use and lower-volume situations.

Does it have an effects loop?

Yes. The rear-panel Send and Return connections are particularly useful for delay, reverb and modulation effects when using the amplifier's own high-gain preamp sounds.

Does it have built-in reverb?

No. Reverb is not built into the original LBX. A reverb pedal or processor can be connected, with the effects loop being particularly useful for this purpose.

Does it come with a footswitch?

The factory specification includes a single-button channel-switching footswitch.

What speaker impedance does it support?

The amplifier can be set for 4, 8 or 16-ohm speaker loads. Always match the amplifier setting correctly to the connected cabinet.

Can I use it without a speaker cabinet?

For normal amplified operation through a loudspeaker, the LBX needs a correctly matched external guitar cabinet. Always follow the manufacturer's operating instructions before powering a valve amplifier.

Can I connect a normal instrument cable from the head to the cabinet?

No. Use a dedicated speaker cable between the amplifier's speaker output and the cabinet.

Is the LBX suitable for modern metal?

Yes. High-gain rock and metal are core strengths of the amplifier, particularly through the Red Full Burn channel.

Is this the LBX-S?

No. 2256006000 is the original 5150III 15W LBX, using Blue Crunch and Red Full Burn channels. Later versions of the LBX use different channel combination