Yes, I put in four 5751's, everything except the reverb driver. It wasn't so much that it tamed the tone as it tamed the gain, so that I could have more usable range in the controls before the sound would distort or break up. With the 70% gain tube in the P.I. slot the volume was slightly reduced, but my amp gets mic'd anyway so I didn't really care. I run in 5 watt mode a lot, but I stand close enough that it blends perfectly with the stage sound. The differences are even more noticeable with the full power setting.
Of course, none of this would be pleasing to me if I were still using the stock E50 speaker. I tried several, but I think the EV (both EVM12L and EV Force 10) allowed me to most accurately gauge exactly what tone I was getting from the controls. For example, there is some kind of high freq fizzy sound that creeps in as the pre gain goes higher and higher, especially with pedals in line, and I did not notice this sound until I unplugged the Weber and plugged in the EV. Then it was almost annoying. I dialed it out, cranked up a bit more master volume, and all was beautiful tone again. I plugged back into the Weber and gave it yet another bit of master volume, and the sound gave me goose bumps.
What I like is the EV does not over emphasize the high mids, it has no presence boost. The lows are never muddy, at least with the 12 (the 10's inherently do not handle lows as well, but the EV Force 10 handles lows better than other 10's) and the low mids are quite smooth and evenly balanced all up and down the neck, which I really really love for what I do. The top highs are smoother as well, it takes more high end tone gain to get that ear piercing sound fromt he EV. They are so efficient it is easy to mistake the extra loudness for ear-piercing ice pick highs, but that aint what it is. The EV is like the best reality check speaker I've ever had. You can set your amp to sound good with any speaker, they all dial in differently, but if you want to know what's really coming out of them thar tubes, plug in the EV to find the elusive truth! Redial to taste, then it will sound good on almost anything else with just a little more master volume added in. Works great, more filling!
I really love the Weber Michigan the best, both 12 and 10, but this 16 ohm California is really nice, no complaints, just not my ideal tone. I'm waiting on a Weber Neo 10 with a bass cone. If I understand what I read about it, it will be quite pleasing......and it will take the 5 watt tone to the next level.
The single best pedal for running in 5 watt mode, by the way, is a clean boost. I use the BBE Boosta Grande in the fx loop because it has absolutely no added noise and no tone coloration, at least none that my old fart ears can detect!
