5150 TUBE PREFERENCE

[Gnash]

What's everybody's tube preference for 5150 heads? Pre and power. What are some bitchin mods, too? I've heard that Peavey sets the bias cold from the factory, and I'm trying to cut out the fizz as well. I've done a search on this topic for a while, to no avail, so fuck it, here it its again.

 

[Rupturemetal]

I would check out FJA mods, I'm thinking about sending mine to him for the metal head mod. check eurotubes for tube info

 

[Nebulous]

metal head mod.

What would that be? It's not like it needs any more gain, if anything it needs an "un-metal head mod" which fucks off some of the fizz

 

[Rupturemetal]

What would that be? It's not like it needs any more gain, if anything it needs an "un-metal head mod" which fucks off some of the fizz

It actually cuts the power in half plus you get a bias mod,a clarity mod,and a new transformer which helps tighten up the bottom. Where are you going to play that you can open up a 120 watt amp. It also sounds better at low volume playing with the mod

 

[Metaltastic]

Oooh, that makes it worth considering...it's amazing how much my JSX tightens up in the low end when I really crank it (and I would mention that according to the Eurotubes guys as well as common sense, 4x 6L6 or EL34 tubes will produce 100 watts, and Peavey is dreaming if they think their amps are any different...still, 100 is enough to take paint off the walls)

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

FJA has some sweet mods. At the very least get the bias mod.

 

[ochants76]

If the fizz bothers you the bias mod will help a lot.

 

[Gnash]

FJA has some sweet mods. At the very least get the bias mod.

I've contacted Jerry. Real cool guy. Can't wait to send him some stuff. I'm looking for something to throw in there, right now, for an upcoming tour. Right now I'm looking at tung sol for pres, with maybe a balanced 12at7 in the phase inverter spot, maybe a JJ high gain, and Tung Sol 6l6c's. There's 3 versions of the 6l6s (soft, medium, hard). I haven't made up my mind which set to order yet. Any thoughts on these 3 types? Anyone mix KT88s with 6l6s? I'll take the stock 6l6 Ruby's out, and I'll have them for backup. I don't know what came stock for the pre tubes, but they're comin out too. I'll definately get the bias mod after the tour.

 

[trendkill1168]

I've contacted Jerry. Real cool guy. Can't wait to send him some stuff. I'm looking for something to throw in there, right now, for an upcoming tour. Right now I'm looking at tung sol for pres, with maybe a balanced 12at7 in the phase inverter spot, maybe a JJ high gain, and Tung Sol 6l6c's. There's 3 versions of the 6l6s (soft, medium, hard). I haven't made up my mind which set to order yet. Any thoughts on these 3 types? Anyone mix KT88s with 6l6s? I'll take the stock 6l6 Ruby's out, and I'll have them for backup. I don't know what came stock for the pre tubes, but they're comin out too. I'll definately get the bias mod after the tour.

Stock preamp tubes are Electro Harmonix and I think they sound like shit in this amp. I've never been a big fan of the JJ pre's either but I like their power tubes and have the 6L6's in mine with the bias mod at about 33mA or so. I'm running a Tung Sol reissue in V1 and Shuguang's in the rest of the positions for the pre's. Amp just rips!!! I did the bias mod myself and that actually turned out to be real easy.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

If I had the money I would do the fallowing to my 5150:

3 chanell (how sweet would it be to have a 3 chanell 5150, I don't there are that many in exsistance either) - $350
Bias test points - (unknown)
IEC socet - $60
Ajustable noise circuit on the lead ch - $145

I might also consider the eq sweep and tone mod but yeah we are talking about putting alot of money into a 5150 at this point actually even if I did the bare min that I want in the above mods (noise circuit and 3 ch) it's still alot of money to put into a 5150.

BUT GODAMN IT WOULD BE KICKASS!

 

[JeffTD]

I've had an FJA modded 5150, a 5150 with a bias mod, and a stock 5150II.

The stock one sounds the best.

Honestly, I think the mods suck for metal. They make the amp less of a 5150 - takes away the grind and chug we like in it for metal!

(and I would mention that according to the Eurotubes guys as well as common sense, 4x 6L6 or EL34 tubes will produce 100 watts, and Peavey is dreaming if they think their amps are any different...still, 100 is enough to take paint off the walls)

No, a single 6L6 or EL34 is capable of putting out 30W, if not more. Old Marshalls, when fully dimed, have been measured at near 180W.

 

[Gnash]

Some widely varied choices. I dig that. There seems to be no standard in tube choice. After extensive research,, I'm gonna play it by ear. The stock tubes are coming out for sure. I'm gonna start with replacing the preamp section, comparing JJs and Tung sols. Then the power section (It'll be Tung Sol). Then the bias mod. I've actually found a dude in my hometown, who can perform the bias surgery in time.


The amps tone now is killer out of the box, and always puts a grin on my face, it just needs a very fine tuning. Tone is just hard to explain in words.

 

[greyskull]

i love my 5150, and its got the same tubes in it that have been there for the last 15 years

 

[trendkill1168]

Some widely varied choices. I dig that. There seems to be no standard in tube choice. After extensive research,, I'm gonna play it by ear. The stock tubes are coming out for sure. I'm gonna start with replacing the preamp section, comparing JJs and Tung sols. Then the power section (It'll be Tung Sol). Then the bias mod. I've actually found a dude in my hometown, who can perform the bias surgery in time.


The amps tone now is killer out of the box, and always puts a grin on my face, it just needs a very fine tuning. Tone is just hard to explain in words.

Damn dude....I was watching your youtube vids. You guys fucking kick ass!! Nice playing and tone.

 

[beyond dead]

what about groove tubes? they sound awesome in my dual rec.

 

[Gnash]

Damn dude....I was watching your youtube vids. You guys fucking kick ass!! Nice playing and tone.

Fuck yeah!Thanks, man!

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

I checked you vid as well, very cool. It must suck being a lefty (no offense) your guitar selection goes way down and all of the sudden it's okay to play Ibanez.

Are you a member of Threat Signal?

 

[Gnash]

Yep!

 

[Glenn Fricker]

Honestly, I think the mods suck for metal. They make the amp less of a 5150 - takes away the grind and chug we like in it for metal!

I agree to a certain degree. I had the bias mod installed in mine & it helped bigtime in getting me what I needed out of my amp. It certainly cleaned up the fizz & I've always got the option of pulling off the back grill & turning down the bias pot.

Going with JJ tubes in the power section was a big help, too. But, after listening to a number of records I've made with it, I realize I might have made a mistake by changing the preamp tubes. I had the original 8th gen preamp tubes in it, the ones with the 'made in China' sticker on them. This spring, I swapped them out for a premium completely matched & balanced set of 9th gen Shugangs. I paid quite a bit extra for the M&B.

Needless to say, they give a warmer, smoother tone... ...which might not be the right thing for the music I'm recording. The originals had a certain 'savageness' to their character that I find lacking in the new ones. That, & I find my green channel gain 'sweet spot' has moved up the knob as well.

Oh well, I'll have to play around with 'em when I get the thing back from the shop. I'm having a couple pots replaced this week.

-0z-

 

[trendkill1168]

I agree to a certain degree. I had the bias mod installed in mine & it helped bigtime in getting me what I needed out of my amp. It certainly cleaned up the fizz & I've always got the option of pulling off the back grill & turning down the bias pot.

Going with JJ tubes in the power section was a big help, too. But, after listening to a number of records I've made with it, I realize I might have made a mistake by changing the preamp tubes. I had the original 8th gen preamp tubes in it, the ones with the 'made in China' sticker on them. This spring, I swapped them out for a premium completely matched & balanced set of 9th gen Shugangs. I paid quite a bit extra for the M&B.

Needless to say, they give a warmer, smoother tone... ...which might not be the right thing for the music I'm recording. The originals had a certain 'savageness' to their character that I find lacking in the new ones. That, & I find my green channel gain 'sweet spot' has moved up the knob as well.

Oh well, I'll have to play around with 'em when I get the thing back from the shop. I'm having a couple pots replaced this week.

-0z-

Love the Shuguangs man. I didn't realize there was a difference between the two versions. I've never tried the 8's though and have always run the 9 gens. Dougs Tubes sells both of them....maybe I should order a set of the 8's and check em out. They are cheaper too.....only $8.00 a pop.