MXR EVH 5150 OverdriveFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 39 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment64%
PROS 64%
CONS 36%

Rank based on 39 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want EVH brown-sound tone without buying a dedicated 5150 amp
  • You value a built-in noise gate and boost for high-gain playing
  • You have humbucker-loaded guitars and a tube amp to pair it with

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You mainly play single-coil guitars, which many found sound thin or terrible with it
  • You're running it through a solid-state or mismatched amp like Hughes & Kettner
  • You want a true low-gain overdrive rather than a distortion-leaning pedal

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
MXR EVH 5150 Overdrive
Achieves EVH brown soundBuilt-in noise gateGreat with tube ampsHighly pickup and guitar dependentConfusing pedal category and usageMore distortion than overdrive
MXR EVH 5150 Overdrive
Achieves EVH brown sound
Built-in noise gate
Great with tube amps
Highly pickup and guitar dependent
Confusing pedal category and usage
More distortion than overdrive

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The built-in noise gate is the pedal's most praised feature. Multiple commenters singled out the integrated noise gate as a rare and welcome inclusion for a high-gain overdrive, saying it lets them solo without extra pedals and keeps the tone tight. One called it 'the feature I've always wanted' in an OD pedal, while another said it alone makes the pedal stand out from other amp-in-a-box units on the market today.

Tone quality depends heavily on guitar and amp pairing. Several users reported wildly different results based on their gear: cheap guitars with Duncan Design pickups or Jackson high-output pickups sounded great, while vintage Gibson single-coil 'boomerang' pickups or EMGs sounded terrible or useless. Others found it disappointing through solid-state or non-matching tube amps like the Hughes and Kettner, suggesting careful tweaking and the right rig are essential for good results.

Opinions split between metal-tone lovers and brown-sound purists. Fans say it delivers classic 80s metal tone worth the 200-dollar price and crushes live gigs, cutting through the mix with heavy, clear sound. Critics argue it's really a fizzy distortion pedal closer to a Boss Metal Zone than a true overdrive, lacking the definition and clarity of Van Halen's actual brown sound, especially when gain is pushed too high.

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