Advice needed: 5150 or 6505+ ???

[Virgil.]

I know I have another thread asking about all kinds of amps to buy, but I've narrowed it down to these two. I have 2 guys here in town looking to sell me their amps and want to know which is a better amp/deal.

I can get a 5150 block letter head for $450... or a 6505+ for $600. Both are in great condition with very minor scuffs and both fully functional.

I've heard that everyone NEEDS a 5150, so I'm almost leaning towards that deal. lol. I've also heard a lot of people having their 6505+'s poop out on them, but the idea of having multiple channels is very appealing. Idk.

HELP ME DECIDE!!!! (Please! )

 

[AllanD]

I'd get the 6505+, the separate EQ is useful, especially since the "Clean" channel sucks if you want to use it live.

 

[amarshism]

Block letter. You using it for live or recording primarily?

 

[Virgil.]

I'd get the 6505+, the separate EQ is useful, especially since the "Clean" channel sucks if you want to use it live.

Well, at these price points I may just end up getting a Vox Custom AC15C1 or something like that to mic up live and just switch between different amps to have one clean and one high-gain. I may also even just use my POD X3 for cleans live straight into the PA. So the separate channels are appealing, but not completely necessary at the moment.

Block letter. You using it for live or recording primarily?

Mainly just for recording. Not in a band at the moment. :\

 

[MatrixClaw]

Get the 5150, having owned 4 5150s, a 5150 II and a 6505+, the 5150 is by far my favorite. The 6505+ is more versatile if you need it and are using it as a live amp, but my 5150 absolutely destroys every 6505+ I've heard as far as heavy tones go, especially after the bias mod.

 

[paladin shredder]

You can mod the 6505+ fairly easily from what I understand to get the lead channel to the same specs as the 5150.

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/equipment/562452-modding-5150-ii-lead-channel-5150-spec.html

I traded my 6505+ for a 5150 and got $200 extra bucks from the deal. The lead channel is better for sure, but the clean channel is worse, especial since it has to share eq with the lead.

 

[slayercannibalsuffohead]

Get the 5150, having owned 4 5150s, a 5150 II and a 6505+, the 5150 is by far my favorite. The 6505+ is more versatile if you need it and are using it as a live amp, but my 5150 absolutely destroys every 6505+ I've heard as far as heavy tones go, especially after the bias mod.

Have to strongly disagree. Have both and have played through several others and I can definately say that one does not "destroy" the other.



They are very, very close to each other. Each kick for metal tones, and with the addition of a 2nd channel, I'd go with the 6505+. Both are awesome and do practically the same thing. The 5150 is a kin to an EMG where the 6505+ is a kin to a Blackout, both great for metal, fuck all between them.

 

[Mago]

if you need it for recording only then get the classic blockletter fiddy0fiddy.
Not worth to spend extra $ on the 6505+ if you only need the 5150 sound in the studio and wont use the seperate EQ and Channel.

For live I'd go with the 6505+ all the way. The clean channel is at least somewhat useable live if your clean pickup has low output and you ditch the gain on the green channel quite a bit.
Never gets clean tho.

 

[egan.]

What everyone else said. If you only need it for recording get the 5150.

 

[Virgil.]

Cool thanks guys.

Well as it turns out it's not a "EVH" blockletter afterall. It has eddie's signature in the spot where the "EVH" would be. So I'm assuming it's the model that was manufactured after the block. Does that make a huge difference now or change your opinions? I just found out this morning when he sent me some pics.

 

[guitarguru777]

You do realize the black letter vs signature thing is total bullshit right?

This has been confirmed NUMEROUS times bu the designer James Brown.

I dont understand why you guys still get all up in those Blockletter VS Signature thing.

EDIT: Adding Proof
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peavey_5150_Amplifier
http://forums.peavey.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1254&p=35060

 

[Virgil.]

You do realize the black letter vs signature thing is total bullshit right?

This has been confirmed NUMEROUS times bu the designer James Brown.

I dont understand why you guys still get all up in those Blockletter VS Signature thing.

EDIT: Adding Proof
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peavey_5150_Amplifier
http://forums.peavey.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1254&p=35060

Well then... that answers my question.

 

[guitarguru777]

Glad I could help

Seriously, just get the 5150 and have pure tonal bliss. If you need cleans live you can POD it. If you need them in the studio just go direct

 

[Virgil.]

^Haha true!

Thanks for your input everyone!

 

[TimatWaves]

Buy the 5150 and put the $150 towards a used JC120 or 60 for cleans. Best of both worlds. Another point is a 5150 in good condition is going to get harder and harder to find. Peavey will keep churning out 6505s for years. Perceived resell value on a good condition 5150 will only go up over time.

 

[Virgil.]

Tell me if you think this is clean (by the way, the tan (what looks like paint) stuff over in the signature area is supposedly tape residue that's been there for years when he pealed off the price sticker from when he bought it. )

 

[guitarguru777]

Dude thats almost mint!

BUY IT!

 

[MatrixClaw]

Have to strongly disagree. Have both and have played through several others and I can definately say that one does not "destroy" the other.



They are very, very close to each other. Each kick for metal tones, and with the addition of a 2nd channel, I'd go with the 6505+. Both are awesome and do practically the same thing. The 5150 is a kin to an EMG where the 6505+ is a kin to a Blackout, both great for metal, fuck all between them.

And I have to strongly disagree with you. Unless you're using a crappy cab, or guitar, or what very well might be the case in this instance, active pickups that kill any warmth in your tone, they sound quite different.

The 5150 II/6505+, while having an improved clean channel, is muddier on the lead channel. It is smoother and much less aggressive, which tends to make it a better lead amp. It responds very nicely to a set of good PASSIVE pickups, which will give you a cleans tone that's surprisingly good, especially for the 5150 series. They also have a bit less gain... Like that's really an issue with these amps though

The 5150/6505 has a clean channel that is completely useable, if you know what you're doing. Don't expect the best cleans out of it though, especially using actives. The lead channel is much more aggressive and clear with more high end sizzle which makes it cut through a mix like a knife.

The best, and clearest leads come from boosting the crunch setting on either amp though. The bias mod also improves these amps so much, that I still can't believe Peavey hasn't added it as a stock piece over the years. Sure, the 6505+ has a bias pot, but the sweep on it is so tiny that even with the knob all the way up, it's still not running the tubes at a voltage anywhere close to where they should be.


P.S. As you can probably tell, i dont like EMGs. I know this forum seems to really like them, but I personally am not a fan; they are sterile and lifeless and just do nothing for me. The Blackouts are noticeably better, but still not anything I'd waste my money on. It really gave me a good chuckle the other day when I read a post here where everyone was praising EMG and saying that brands like Bareknuckle were inferior.

 

[Virgil.]

Well I just got the 5150 pictured above! $400
Just posted the same pics in the G.A.S. purchases thread. Thanks again for everyone's input and advice! Now...... it just needs a good dusting and re-tubing.

 

[MatrixClaw]

Well I just got the 5150 pictured above! $400
Just posted the same pics in the G.A.S. purchases thread. Thanks again for everyone's input and advice! Now...... it just needs a good dusting and re-tubing.

Great deal dude!