All user reviews for the Peavey 5150 Head

I note the 6505 - but hey it's the same - says it all prcdemment for data sheet

the effects loop has no volume slecteur it ets injury, but passes

the components of this amp is a little cheap (thus breath) but well ets which gives the character this amp

USE

Confi very simple - you get branches, it sounds live - no problem to find a sound you recognize the sound live 5150

it's bold, thick, a dynamic incroyble his super sharp, not bad, however acute depending on the gartte you doing it a cul - a small rglage well perso treble is necessary according to scratch --dropoff window

in comparison with the amp scratch daemon group that has an Ultra +, bah he breaks out his gueuele, sound ets cooler, edgier, more gain and also grain

manual that serves nothing left for the big novice MATIRE amp, I think

SONORITS

His Mtal insured - to thrash, death metal, heavy (actually my domain)

for rock, not that bad ets - just slightly run down the pre gain

his "rock enough" (EVH requires) in the soul compar a Fireball or Powerball to sound more mtallique, drier and more saturated ultra ultra right Teutonic metal
I find it more rock because medium and higher than the one before I hsitais (the fireball)

dj with 5 to gain, ets war

NOTICE GLOBAL

Ps cheap, efficient, nothing wrong

if a breath lot and feedback as well, but a good noise gate (ns2 boss), a good rglage gain and my dick and sparti

some say the sound is clear ets shit - yes and no

in fact, it ets pa sun mapli to jazz
it is those that calve before rserv a big sound and need a clear, period

with modulation seffets has embellished the clear

clear pretty quickly saturates dej but with better lamps preamp warmer, it saturates pre gain much levbr />
with experience, I rachetrais the same amp

if one day, I decides to buy a atre amp, it's not that it does me - it would be just to try something different by curiosity simploe

5 x 12 AX7 preamp with 4 x 6L6GC power. 2 channels shared EQ. Controls of presence & resonance itou.120 watts at your feet ...

UTILIZATION

the manual tells you less operating mode footswitch jack (stereo forced to drive effects loop and switch channels). To get a nice sound volume must be opened and the ears ...

SOUNDS

The EQ is very effective. I played with guitars equipped with Seymour Duncan SH4/SH2, EMG 85, and Seymour vintage rails and Hot Rails. We still can draw a nice sound. Look for what is, but it takes not for ages. FYI I plug a 4X12Framus equipped V30 (rewired by me) and it sends! That said it's still a receiver oriented "metal / rock" ... to my delight!

OVERALL OPINION

A beast Hard'n Heavy. Before speaking ill try and be seduced. Bought secondhand I Retube (rinsed original lamps ...) Personally I love this beast that screams "rock and roll" to each note

I bought the 5150 from musicians friend for about 700 buckaroonies.

everything. At first I saw this compared to the 5150 II and saw that the second unit had a lot more knobs. Better right? NO. Yeah, i can get whatever i want out the the head, i just have to play around with it. Dont believe all of the crap you hear from other reviewers about it having a dirty clean channel. It all sounds better than fine.

I didnt like paying a lot of money for it. But i dont like wiping my butt and I got over that ok.

I would suggest buying this from a music store instead of ordering it from a catlouge or ebay. I had mine spend about 3 weeks in a shop because UPS screwed up the tube filaments and that was also the catalouges fault because somehow they installed ruby tubes in it which peavey never uses standard and they dont do to well with shipping.

Just buy it. Im 17 and I cant afford anything but this truely is the best thing you cant get for any amount of money. Its very practical and if i would spend 700 hundred dollars on anything it would have to be the best. Just dont buy solid state.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I was searching for an entry level tube amp for a couple of different styles. I was looking on ebay at a couple of Marshall's. Namely a JCM900 50 watt head. Then I was approached about buying a used original 5150 head for $420. Well I thought to myself, thats a decent deal, peavey makes good amps, go for it. So I bought the amp in a private transaction, and the rest is history

I've had this amp about a year or so now, and its great. I put JJ tubes in and used the amp with a Carvin 2x12 with vintage 30's. With the right eqing you could get a lot of different sounds. Mainly complain about the clean, but if you lower the preamp gain, use an eq and a reverb, and punch in the bright button, it makes for a very nice clean sound. Also if you punch in the crunch button on the same rythem channal, you could get a gritty texas blues sound. Now we come to the lead channal. This channal is all about big gain. Since it was designed in part by Eddie Van Halen, you know you could get that Van Halen crunch out of this thing. It could really comp just about every other modern high gain sound

Well its heavy, at times noisy, and the stock bias setting is very cold. Its rated at 120 watts, this means lots of tubes, a big transformer, and a lot of wiring. This makes for an amp that weighs in at just about 60lbs. The rectangler shape of the head makes that 60lbs real heavy. The amp is a bit noisy, but with good tubes and a noise gate its quite controllable. Also the bias is fixed and set very cold. I've decieded to modify the amp for a bias trim pot. This should warm up the amp a bit, and add some picking dynamics. Generally just change a little of the character.

For $420 used, I have a rather well built amp. Peavey makes quality stuff, and they stand behind it. You won't get the maticulous construction you get out of a Soldano or a Bogner, but its sturdy and thats what matters.

In all I spent $420 on a big monster tube amp, that sounds good and could be toted to a gig. Combined with the $330 carvin cabinet, I have a complete rig that costed me under $800. To me thats a lot of bang for the buck

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

T was all said before, and better explained, I could do it.

UTILIZATION

Config super easy.

The sound is easy to get, but you have to know what has been research!

SOUNDS

This is the, I'll write a bit more !!!!!!!!

I possd several heads before it. I have not had 100, but 2 / 3 but not least. I started with a Tech 21 Trademark 300 head, and I had a peavey triple xxx, and finally up again two weeks ago, a mesa dual recto.

There's nothing to say, a mesa was ringing, but I never Russia to find "THE" sound that suited me and cel in 2 years. By dint of searching, I came to the conclusion that the head was not made for me! Having a mesa mesa just because it does m'interressais more.
Then over the course of my research, I came across the 5150, a head that I knew by reputation.

So l have come to the subject that interest to us.

The clean channel: right and very cold. If you find a killer clean sound on this head, go your way. The clean, is not awful, must stop, but it is not exctase. Personally, I put in a neck pickup and going well

Crunch channel: I use it for the moment, so no opinion.

Lead channel: its very powerful, and prcis, all spring into the mix, a true beast of war. It rujit the inside (this was the momment my doubts about the exchange with the mesa + 600 euros in my pocket, flies, and I said, this head is for me). The sound is tighter, as other heads America. I eat the second scratch group with its single harmonic. As against the mesa's + peavey, mixes perfectly )))

It sounds crazy, esp eclipse has a verse ......

OVERALL OPINION

I use it recently, but in retrospect I have on the other head, does not stop me to say that I am very happy with my choice.

The head is heavy, but it's tough, has to see live. For me, the quality price ratio is second to none. Sound / quality inngal prices.

To my taste, do not play the head of an orange cab ........... ........... I beurkkkk jou this aprem a cab, mesa, and waouhhhhhhh, the slap ......

I would do without hsiter this choice, and I would say that I owed, do so before the election.

All have said before t

Small precision indestructible never had a problem with.

UTILIZATION

Configuring more than simple
The manual is more than enough given the amp

sound easy but it has to have a lot of dpend baffle use and style you want.

SOUNDS

could still get sound with either my or my other 7-string guitars.
I even jou it with a telecaster for an alternative project and I was his

I use it mostly on the lead channel
sound clear how little I use a qualizer with a chorus or a phaser in the loop and passes (it's not the fender but that's okay for a few terms in the clear in the bulk metal)

I use the crunch as personal works well and does not rev out the overdrive
a collgue used by pushing the gain and with a strong od its course.

the default one for me breath

OVERALL OPINION

I've had 14 years ago and even if sometimes I Buddhist I've never sold

Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
too much and a lot of preamp amp rack and I'm always return it.
what I love most in him of his knob rsonance and with him you always comes out of the mix
With the exprience, you do again this choice? .
no doubt I plan to offer even a 2nd life in doing so changed to the amliorer.

Everything has been said before at this level.

UTILIZATION

Use could not be more simple: a rhythm channel and a lead channel, a general equation, a resonance knob and a knob presence, nothing more.
All middle, the jack plugged into the guitar and made it blow up the watts.
Settings can be fine depending on Bafle partner (the person who had a Bafle orange 4x12 and a marshall 412a, I can say that).
So very easy to use

SOUNDS

Head of a madman metalheads. Whether you're a metal undue heavt or black, this amp regia harmonics and sounds very fat and severe (with good accuracy in the treble).
I played in a group of heavy-rock, and personally I play a lot of metal in both cases the head sent the right thing.
I tested with a ltd viper 1000 and a fender james root, the results are different (obviously) but the metal grain remains the same and gives pleasure to play it.

I want to make a small apartment on the clean: it's not OK to clean a fender, ok this is not one to clean vox, but with a guitar that gives a well rounded, I swear that the clean is Audible (personally I preferred the other guitarist had a gibson on a JVM 410H!)

OVERALL OPINION

I used it 4 months (unfortunately).
Frankly I sold it against the heart, no longer group and therefore more useful, I decided to sell it to buy an amp less expensive and less powerful (to play at home).
This is an amp that level quality / price surpasses many others.

* 120 watts (rms) into 16, 8, or 4 ohms (switchable)
* Five 12AX7 preamp tubes and four 6L6GC power amp tubes
* High and low gain inputs
* 2-channel preamp switchable on front panel or remote footswitch
* Rhythm channel: pre-/post-gain, bright and crunch switches
* Lead channel: pre-/post-gain
* Channels share 3-band EQ
* Presence and resonance controls
* Switchable post-EQ effects loop
* Preamp output

UTILIZATION

This amp is killer. It is very easy to get a good clean, dirty, or lead tone out of. It is a simple amplifier head, with no real frills except an effects loop, and has been a staple amp head in rock and metal music since the early 1990s. Edward Van Halen had this amp built and voiced specifically to his specifications, and so the EVH tones are incredibly simple to achieve, but the 5150 can get many other sounds as well.

SOUNDS

To start off, this amp is LOUD! It has so much headroom, it's ridiculous. If you can get it wide open, you will be greatly rewarded with a pure crystalline clean tone with plenty of presence, a neat crunchy brown tone with plenty of meat, and a liquid singing sustain that responds to the slightest touch. I've used my 5150 for classic rock, hard rock, metal, hardcore, fusion, djent, death metal, and it excels at all those applications. It even gets a great spanky lead tone for country chicken-pickin'! The main drawback is that the 3-band EQ is shared by both the lead and rhythm channels, so one must find a setting that works for both channels. Also, I wish this had a reverb, but I'm nitpicking on that point.

OVERALL OPINION

This is a great amplifier in the pantheon of screaming rock classics. This is a fantastic amp for any subgenre of rock from the late 60s until now. There are certainly other amps that can get more tones, or can offer more glitz and glamour, but for a meat and potatoes player, this is the head. Highly recommended.

The Peavey 5150 head was designed in the early 90s by one Edward Van Halen as a signature amp and at the time was touted as the answer to getting Ed's famous Brown Sound. However, many modern players discovered that the 5150 had a certain crunch to it that was ideal for heavier metal settings. It delivers 120 watts of power and is run by 6L6 tubes. The 5150 has two channels, channel one having more of a "clean" application and channel two being more of the high gain side. It has a shared EQ with presence and resonance controls in addition to the standard bass, middle, and treble. It also has an effects loop as well, great for running time based effects

UTILIZATION

Getting a good tone out of the 5150 is very simple. The amp is loud and high gain but the EQ controls are very responsive and easy to dial in for great tones. Peavey amps as a general rule are very "player friendly" and the 5150 is no exception. The tones are good just about anywhere that the controls are set and it works well for a whole host of modern sounds.

SOUNDS

This amp sounds best to me when using thicker sounding guitars such as Les Pauls, SGs or Flying Vs. The sustain is really quite good with this amp and the tones are very meaty and full, especially in a band mix. The clean tones are not the amp's strong point - the clean channel is really more of a crunch channel. It sounds great for really gritty clean tones or classic crunch sounds with the gain dimed. The second channel is where it's at for high gain molten metal tones, and it sounds especially great for chugging rhythms or sustained modern leads. Definitely a tone to be reckoned with for high gain brute force.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I think the Peavey 5150 is a truly cool high gain amp. Though it might be a bit of a one trick pony, it does that trick extremely well. It's perfect for the modern metal player who needs serious doses of high gain tones at high volumes. They can be had for about $700 used if you look which is a very good price for a high gain, great sounding head that's made in the USA, definitely worth the look.

Amps lamps (May 12 AX7 pramp / 4 L6GC power) with an output of 120 watts RMS
High and low gain inputs, two switchable preamp channels, Rhythm channel: pre & post gain, bright & crunch switches, Lead channel: pre & post gain, 3-band EQ, and presence of CONTRL and resonance, switchable post EQ effects loop, preamp output
Footswitch included.

UTILIZATION

Trs easy to use, we first choose between the low or high (for potatoes), then choose the rhythm channel (its "clear") or lead (saturated). Then we can dose saturation will and qualizer sauce.

The sound is connected and one can Mtal s'tonner Van Halen conut that this product has such a dose level of saturation. What is is the imprssionant EHJV dveloppe that this head: the knob volume is up 10 in my room, the walls tremble when 1, RPET Level 2 is more than enough and it's the same concert. For my part I mount up to a maximum of 4, I deprecated, it quickly becomes deaf! It is a formidable war machine and it seems that the higher the level, the stronger the sound is good!
The manual is basic and simple trs.

SOUNDS

Reserved to mtal, this amp has all the same a big point failble: channel in rhythm, sound n'xiste not really clear (rpar thing about the version 2). Lovers nomtal or death-is mtal rgaleront and the guitar "hroes" who practice the solos or the steve will Satriani (he also sometimes used ).
The sound is rich trs, granular and hope you feel the heat lamps. To advise all those who love distos type "american stack."

The grain of 5150 may Dranger specially as it may please. Feedback is the number in case of high saturation and it is advisable to use a noise gate for rduire a max. (For those well Adrangi sr).

The CONTRL of prsence (Aiges) and rsonance (bass) are a good trs complment qualization compartment (low, med, high) that is not dynamic enough I got. Prsence the sound will make you shine, as it will give the rsonance of sub-bass that gives you a feeling of Superior!

OVERALL OPINION

I use the 5150 since 1998 with one body but not the brand peavey (deprecated).
What I like is that you can plug a guitar directly into the amp and have a sound of thunder without saturated amounts of connections and effects.
I use all of the same one qualizer numrique to refine my sound and control the feedback. MODEL Before this, I used a peavey 160 watt transistor, no comparison is possible, the sound of transistors is just dirty and without heat.
I pay 6200 francs to the head era. I think the ratio quality / price is right and now with the new heads of Msa boogie correct, the two brands can not concurencer on the price (about a head msa rating 20 000 francs).
I exprience with the remake that choice, although I prfere msa boogie sound, but for 6200 francs, the quality is of the same date. Last highlight: the sleek design and futuristic 5150's design, which bury too vintage Marshall.

Peavey 5150 head was designed in collaboration with Eddie Van Halen (he also uses on most of these albums). This is a 120W all-tube head that costs about € 1200 depending on the store where you bought it.

To look sober enough (all black) This head is a perfect finish and seems robust. A grid on the back reveals 2 large transformers (power supply + output) and lamps. Little touches: the power cord can be wrapped around two small hook for that purpose. On the front is written in large letters 5150 white. The knobs are shaped "arrow" as the vintage amp (I like). In short it's nice and well finished.
The 120W of the beast are generated by four 6L6, the preamp is in turn by 5 12AX7 driver. The front panel has two inputs (normal and high) to fit the output level of the different guitars. Then the gain of the clean channel it has two switches (Bright and crunch) respectively for added shine to her and get her a crunch (ie + saturated).
Boosted channel has its own gain knob, but the EQ (equalization: a serious one medium, one acute) is common to the two channels.
Each channel has a volume called Rhythm Master Post (for the clean channel and crunch) and Lead Post (for full).
The EQ is supported by a presence control (for acute) and resonance (for serious). These parameters are changing the way work of HP (speaker!) Then the effectiveness of these adjustments depends on the HP that is used.
Finally come the start of inter and stand-by (for lamps!)

The back of the head has 2 speaker outputs with impedance switch, an effects loop, and the entry for the Footswitch. The footswitch're talking about, it is a bit light and make a little cheap compared to the quality of the head (the same footswitch that the series Transtube peavey home ....)

UTILIZATION

Too bad there is only one EQ ...
Otherwise it is easy to use.

SOUNDS

Both say it's not immediately make an amp for jazz or variétoche (although it could). It is an amp to play loud and saturated! 120 W are there is no doubt!

The clean channel sounds not too bad (it is not the strong point of the beast), but it tends to be a bit messy: it saturates slightly even when the gain very low (of 3). If not for the blues a little dirty is pretty good but no way to have sounds very clean and crystal to Dire Straits or other ... When one starts the switch ca crunch even more saturated. The color and texture of the sound reminds us once again that it is a tube amp. The grain is really good well-balanced, all that is necessary. EQ let well enough to work even if the sound settings of presence and resonance are not as effective as the channel saturated.

The Distortion channel (called LEAD) is it really enjoyable ... (Lol). The base saturation is high and can not be reduced by lowering the volume of the guitar. And attention, it is not a saturation Cheap: it's true, good, full of warmth, compression and harmonic.
The resonance is fully usable on that channel and helps in the manufacture of the large metal & Co. ca frankly hard! Y has more gain than you'll ever need in your life as a guitarist (even for a Death metallers!)
Well, there is still a lot of steam but which has seen a high gain amp without blowing ... (A small Hush (Noise Reduction Rocktron home!) Will do.
In short saturated sound excellent!

8 / 10 in total because of the clean sounds if 9 / 10 just to heavy distortion

OVERALL OPINION

There are ways to find good prices for OCCAZ for metalheads it's worth it.
A grain of her a little more dirty than the mesa, but very good all the same (different).
It's good stuff strong and powerful.

Electron in perfectly summed up the situation
I only takes 7 for 2 reasons:
- Switch the "crunch" is a boost channel "clean", and can not switch with the pedal ... And besides, when you switch, you boost the volume, because no two separate volumes
- The bracket is a plastic relatively shabby, old and poorly

UTILIZATION

I bought OCCAZ 'without a manual, and I have never felt the need ... not rocket science, therefore, from the test in the store, I immediately pulled out a killer sound.

SOUNDS

I wish he is a real clear sound ... but I confirm what has already been said, this is not the case in nature.
But I still managed to improve the situation as follows: in the effects loop, I put a Boss GE-7 (equalize graph) and EH-2 (enhancer) (I have not settings on hand, but those interested can email me). The sound is slightly more crystalline with both pedals. Ironically, the lead channel is even more brutal and cold with these two pedals ... there, it sounds like a Metal Zone boosted the amphetamines' ...

The crunch is probably more punchy sound that lead some amps ... pulse that serious, but it lacks warmth for a tube amp ... it sounds a little metal ... is not the goal of a crunch
(And worse anyway, it's not a real channel that stuff ... not super useful for my taste)
For my part, for a sound a little more roots, I use a clean sound with overdrive.

On the terrace lead everything in its path. A 3, there is no part that remains on the wall ... This amp is a brute ... you love it or hate it ...
For my part, I think again it lacks (a little) heat lamp for an amp while ... but hey, this amp was designed for metal guitar hero, and in this context, it is a pure killing, the sound is huuuuge.

OVERALL OPINION

My thirst was quenched power ...

All Tube amp head (and 5x12AX7 4x6L6), 3 channels (rhythm, crunch and Disto) with equalization common gain for each channel, SETTING THE prsence rsonnance and (low) on the Poweramp, effects loop, with outputs diffrent impdances;
We have a minimum of rglages, but is more than enough for an amp that is meant to direct and unadorned.
Note the two between high and low.

UTILIZATION

Super simple to use, choose the channel, the gain goes up, adjusts the legalization, and roll my chicken

SOUNDS

As said many times, this amp is not for play in clean, clear, moreover, the call is "rhythm" and not "clean," he says it all. However're clean sounds are acceptable, even if relatively round and fat.
Ct disto all is well: APRS on JCM900 and have jou in RPET Ashdown was the 5150, thank you for the studio, no need to bring the metal zone and have his rotten!
Saturated sound really hard, the legalization is effective, even if I do not really touch the presence and resonance. Frankly metallica, pantera and sepultura, all happening is prcis net, while still warm and round. It was a hard but its trs what to roundness.
Attention trs important point !!!!!!!! 120-watt lamp is standard, and o my point, push the head to sound. A low volume, sounds a transistor, in short everything pourrave. However when the volume goes up from 3, the receiver is rveille at once and you take on the chin. But 3 is the volume at which I play rpt, in other words, it is absurd to have an amp like the house, sound bad, unless you live in the open field and can mount the volume.

OVERALL OPINION

Finally:
Goodies: a distortion of hell, a great simplicity of use, a standard power
Cons: A clean way, non-programmable amplifier, its not that great down the volume.

But for thrasheux c'es tun super amp, especially considering the price, much more affordable than mesa boogie (found under 1000 new on the German sites). To test urgently so for mtalleux, but certainly not low volume ... and so what if the neighbors or vendors shout!

All lamps
5 12AX7
4 6L6
1 equalo for 2 channels
120w

....

UTILIZATION

Very simple config
they need to understand can be a time for the monster that has 10 push the gain is not useful!
uh ... no manual, no need!

regret, no MIDI

all 9

SOUNDS

Rhythm channel:
For those aAll QWho say the 5150 does not sound clear!!
shine ON
OFF crunch
Pr 2
Post 5 / 6

and the magical sound is clean!

good move on distos
basically there are two

Crunch ON and the pr gain a background
its very heavy and fat distortion
canale distortion (red)
more distortion and less burdensome prcise (a equalo equivalent)

AMPS dbourepour that big sound!

OVERALL OPINION

It dboure!

if you do not find an amp of REGLEG bour, a machine has its Head, the In Flames ....

More dark I got a 600 to OCCAZ! is that of happiness!

See more advice.

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple (see may be a little too !!!). So, we quickly toured the possibility to the "mailbox". I never need the manual.

SOUNDS

Amp at 100% ddi Metal!
The distortion is enormous.
The clear sound did not really, it's better to forget.
The crunch channel and lack of heat may be too powerful.
Note also a problem of breath and you get feedback but easily ammliorer clearly playing on the Pre-Gain, I think, need to invest in a noise-reducer, it is enough to not to put everything back, and lose no power either.

OVERALL OPINION

It is now over 3 years since I made the acquisition.
The distortion is Fully that was looking for.
I have to pay around 1300 euros for the era, as saying that the report in qualitprix plutt good.
With exprience, it is clear that the choice I would do without hsiter!

All Lamps amp 120 watts into 4, 8, 16 Ohms.
One entry found Normal and High gain.
9 by facades knobs (Gain clean and lead, bass, middle, treble, volume and lead clean, resonance and presence.
Effects loop.
2 HP.
No effect.

UTILIZATION

Using ultra simple, or even too much! Is lit, allowed to warm, the branch, and it sounds live!
I did not have a manual (purchased used).
Please note that head is heavy and quite bulky ...

SOUNDS

It is perfect for my style (Black, death, heavy), I play an Ibanez with EMG Active mounted.

Its clean: The problem is that you can not really have a nice, if you put in a presence and trebles thoroughly. It did not really heat, it is really to help out. As against the Crunch switch direct AC sends most is Kazys the same sound as the lead channel and it is exploitable.

in the final clean is usable when you love the clean crunch that has some kind of Arch Enemy.

Lead her: it's more kidding Trendy in normal gain, the gain to 7, resonance and presence of 5, bass and treble to 6, has 3 middle, ca sends severe, the grain is, it's all lights, great! attention this amp is very heavy in medium, for lovers of big sound dug I suggest you add an equalizer in the effects loop.

High gain came in, it's too much gain! y'en everywhere, ca feedback, it's really for passive guitars!

I put 8 for the lead sound, shame about the clean does not follow!

Warning: Equalization passive! ca not really change the sound even if you turn it up! mesa is not!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about 1 month. I really like the lead channel, but I use it with an equalizer in the effects loop. I try the dual rectification, that's about the same sound, a little dirty, but dirty in a good way.
is very suitable for metals!
The value for money is good I got it for € 770!
With experience, I probably would do this choice, although I regret that the clean is not up to the lead ...

Tube amp head 100 watts
Two speaker outputs, an effects loop series and not parallel
The settings are really childish, like a Marshall head base.

UTILIZATION

Setup is simple. you do not spend hours finding the sound, like a Boogie, for example.

SOUNDS

The 515O is not necessarily dedicated to pure metal guitarists. On channel 1, by adjusting the gain, we can easily give in the Marshall-type AC / DC or RATM. By switching the small button "crunch", the sound gets thick. Then, several options are possible: either there are a little sauce with the type overdrive OD-1 or TS-9 (with the gain of 4 / 5, we obient the famous sound "Machine Head". Or you up the gain to the amp, but its push too hard, otherwise you lose the momentum, and it blows a little (big default 5150).
On channel 2 is direct compressed metal sound that vibrates the chest on the palm-mute. With the gain 2 is already clipped. Personally, it's the one I use, with a TS-9 which is the drive to zero, and the volume turned up.
The two settings that make the difference on this head, "resonance", which sends the big gum in the grave, and "presence", which sends much of the bite fever worship (not abuse).

on the other hand, do not expect to play in the 5150's clean (the exit to casseroles Franky Vincent). At best, we get a clear a little crunchy.

Note: Someone said earlier that the new 6505 sounds exactly like the 5150, and it is false. Even the 5150 II sounds more cheap.

Time to major defects:
- The blast, which can disrupt recording. By changing the capacitors in the audio, the problem can be solved (it is cheap).

- The effects loop can not be modified. The sound subsides a little active when the pedals are in insert. Again, you can ask a technician to put the loop in parallel with an input volume knob, and one output.

OVERALL OPINION

I have mine ... ten years from now. I like that it sounds good, and without taking the lead. I had a Marshall JCM800 before, that was cool too, which was cool for blues rock, but had little in the bag. The 5150 is more versatile.
The value for money is excellent.
If I had to change, it would be for a Marshall JCM80O amended by VHM (outright killing) or a Bogner.

120 Watts (not 100 as the two reviews), all-tube short .. just been said.

Where I want to add a clarification that its build quality ... I had several problems with it. Do not worry mine is almost 20 and perfectly normal. In fact, the problems I may have never came from the amp! What I mean is that it is TIP-IN-THE-TI-BLE!
To have dismantled several times I know what I mean! The first problem I had: two lamps burn and it was actually the speaker who was court-circuit. The second problem: most of his! Hey, after disassembly (12 screws), it was just a fuse and I think it was my fault more ... pfff

Yep, this amp is protected overprotective see! And I doubt that we find the same thing now on the market ...
I mean a fuse for power, so far so good ... But within: 5 fuses that protect EVERYTHING! You really have to screw up a grudge! You can plug any old way, I doubt you burn out a single component except a fuse ... I did not dare take the test. But mine in 20 years, more .. I oula not count the number of concerts and trips he had to. In short, it is reinforced concrete and was designed for long!

Rating: 9 / 10 is not perfect.

UTILIZATION

Ultra simple ... The manual can be useful for a beginner, I have not had personal need.

Rating: 9 / 10 is not perfect.

SOUNDS

Start with good: it captures the dynamics of the stratum and respects its sound. With a good Ibanez: the sound is always respected. Yamaha? Ditto!

Sound good? It all depends what you're looking.

No sound clear? You can always play with the knobs of the guitar and not too challenging or even with the return of the loop as some do.

Sound metal? Hahaha: of course! It is for that! He might be 20 years old, it's just a massacre. "Ugh me is that i want mesa boogie! Jveux sound MODERN" Well my friends brought you just change the first lamp for a preamp that hard with a little more sound mesa (20 and 40 euros), and it is almost equivalent. At worst you place a equalo in the loop to sculpt the sound to your taste and go.
I give to several groups: death, hardcore, rock, 90's metal: it's simple: IT WORKS! At worst the scenes with sound engineer, well all is said: There's a sound engineer to put it all square.
In addition it is 120 watts: jpense not turn up your post to gain more than 4 ...

Of breath? A lil noise gate effectively or ptite modif (I have not done).

All the effects go well ... you just know the rules ...

Last but we must know: the baffle. With it, a rotting cabinet is not suitable (whatever). However to take advantage of all its dynamic speaker with a good HP quality and you have the METAL amp of your dreams.

Rating: 8 / 10 just for clear sound.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 years now. I do not regret absolutely not! With him I save over 500 euros repair: just take his mimine, a screwdriver and open it to watch the beast. A voltmeter in the putty and everything is arranged.

Value for money: IN-FI-NI! You are against over-consumption. Are you against the electronic "programmed" to die. Haha for 800 euros he is away! Okay there is no separate equalization 50. Okay the clear sound is warm to have (much). But if you want a powerful sound, aggressive rock and roll or grunge, hardcore short .. if you know what you want and what did not get a good distortion without putting 4,000 euros: it is he that 'you need.

Rating: 9 / 10 is not perfect.

With the experience I redo the election. Okay at worst a LS2 and a fender amp for clear sound if I really want but then really be bourgeois. But in terms of distortion: no there's no it's him and nobody else!

* 120 Watts RMS
* Five 12AX7 preamp tubes
* Four 6L6GC power tubes
* HI and LO Gain Inputs
* 2 channel preamp
* PRE and POST gain Controls on both channels
* Bright & Crunch Switches
* 3-band EQ
* Presence and Resonance Controls
* Post-EQ effects loop
* Preamp output
* Footswitch included

This is the original 5150, block letter version with I believe RUBY tubes.
It's your typical 2 channel amp with rhythm and lead, best known for high gain distortion sounds and not so much clean.


UTILIZATION

Pretty simple to use if one is used to playing peavey amps, they almost always have the same set of controls. It's like a universal set of knobs to include onto every amp they've ever made. Especially the pre and post gain features, with the bright and crunch switches too.

No manual is generally needed, it's pretty easy to get a decent tone and tweak further for specific changes.



SOUNDS

I first have to say that this amp sounds great generally only at high volumes and not bedroom practice volumes. Yes it's obvious but there are some players out there who don't know. Even though my review of this head is nearly 10 years + too late, I'm sure nearly 99% of the guitarist population knows about this amp, has at least heard of it and most likely plugged this in, or maybe a variation of it.

So what does it sound like? Like the past 10 years+ of all metal albums out there. I can't imagine how many players have played through this model amp, it has become so widely known and so many variations and modifications have been made for it, to it. There's even been clones of these amps made by other companies etc, the list goes on.

This has been the go to amp for anything high gain related. Especially with some sort of boost put out in front. Super tight, raunchy distortion. Perfect in this respect.

As for cleans, no this amp is not known for cleans, although depending on how you tweak it, has potential to be very usable. It is no fender mind you but it does have a clean channel. Though it is rather sterile sounding compared to the jangly fenders and what have you, it's definitely still usable in a live situation.

OVERALL OPINION

The 5150 is so famed it's hard to completely tell you every detail about it because you most likely already know. It's a metal amp, a great one with an overdrive, and has become the industry standard high gain amp for metal players.

Is it versatile? I wouldn't say so. The cleans are nothing to write home about and I don't see any blues/jazz or just non high-gain players plugging into this. But what it does, it's very good at. VERY good at.

It's heavy though. All of them are, so be prepared to be lifting something like a ton of bricks every time you transport the damn thing!

The Peavey 5150 is a 120 watt high gain tube amp. It runs off four 6l6 power tubes and has five 12ax7 preamp tubes. There are 1/4' inputs for high gain and low gain, two speaker outputs, 4/8/16 ohm selector, pre-amp out, and post EQ effects loop.. This is a two channel amp with a shared EQ of bass, middle, and treble. Each channel has it's own pre-gain and post-gain knobs and the clean channel has a crunch and bright switch. The channels can be selected on the front panel or with an external footswitch which can also turn the effects loop on and off. There are also controls for power amp resonance and presence.





UTILIZATION

There are not too many frill with this amp and it laid out very straight forward. Setting it up is easy and getting it to sound good is just as simple. I love amps that can sound good with the EQ controls at noon and this is one of those amps. A basic understanding of amp heads will get you through this no problem. I did not receive a manual nor did I need one to know what to do.

SOUNDS

When playing this amp I am more than likely in metal mode. The clean channel is there but it does not sound very good. It is flat and uninspiring but can be livened up with some delay or reverb. I usually run this amp with the controls set around noon with the bass being slightly lower and the mids up a bit. The amp has so much gain that I usually leave that dial below 4. Even with the gain up higher it it surprisingly detailed sounding. Of course you can get into buzz saw territory by running the gain high and cutting the mids but I have never been a fan of that sound. This amp is also loud very loud. The post gain dial is so sensitive that little adjustments make it go from bedroom level to ear splitting very quickly. That added headroom is great to have as the amp sounds better when you turn it up. At stage volumes this thing just hits you in the gut. Palm mutes sound ridiculously heavy and power chords cut with authority.

OVERALL OPINION

These amps can be found cheap and are great to have around even for a backup. They are also built tough to withstand constant abuse and volume.This amp has fallen from the top of a full stack and still works. I have had the same tubes in this amp for probably close to five years and it still sounds good. My other amps sound better overall but I find myself re-tubbing them about once a year.

If you need a no frills metal amp it is tough to beat the 5150 at any price range. There are other high gain amps with more features and a more refined sound but the raw tone of this amp is great for that style. This amp is on tons of records and criminally underrated by gear snobs.

Specs include:

120w of pure American voiced power
5 - 12AX7s in the preamp
4 - 6L6s in the power amp
Footswitchable Lead and Rhythm (clean) channels
Effects loop
3-band EQ (lows, mids, highs)
Resonance and Presence controls
Bright and Crunch switch on Rhythm channel
4, 8, or 16 ohms
Made in the USA

This amp is the same model as Peavey's current production 6505.

UTILIZATION

The 5150 has a simple and minimalistic layout, which is very easy to get used to. Super easy to get a great tone out of it, though the Rhythm channel can be a bit finicky with getting a good clean tone out of it.

SOUNDS

I have owned many, many 5150s over the years (probably somewhere close to 10). Having playing it through everything from a Strat to a Les Paul, a Tele to a Jackson, they have never let me down. Currently, I'm using it through a Soldano 2x12 with Eminence V12 Legends and a Parker Fly Stealth, mainly in Drop C.

Mostly, I play metal, and while this amp isn't necessarily the most versatile amp on the market, it is certainly the best I've heard in its price range for the genre (and trust me, I have owned pretty much EVERY high gain amp there is to own in the sub-$2000 range). This amp has a very strong mid-range presence, and it is almost impossible to achieve a "scooped" sound with it, unless you're using an external EQ in the loop. This amp will cut through a live mix like a knife, with your mids at 3, and is quite possibly the best sounding amp I've used for recording (maybe tied with a 2 Channel Mesa Dual Rectifier).

A lot of people complain about this amp not truly having a "clean" tone on it, and personally, I think they're nuts. While I can see not being able to achieve a shimmering clean tone out of the 5150 with super high output pickups, pickups similar in output to the Duncan JB are more than capable of getting an entirely passable clean tone out of this amp, you just need to spend some time learning how the EQ controls and Bright/Crunch switches work on the channel.

The Lead channel is capable of the heaviest of heavy, with a tight, super-cutting tone. The secret to the clearest distorted tone out of this amp, however, is using an overdrive pedal (I use a Maxon OD-808) over the Rhythm channel with the Crunch setting engaged, the pre-gain set a bit low on the channel and the overdrive pedal with the drive set at 0 and the volume all the way up. While it might not pack quite the saturated punch that the Lead channel does, it's one of the clearest high gain tones you will find on ANY amp (even more so than my Diezel Herbert).

However, perhaps the biggest increase in tone that can be made with the 5150, is the addition of the "bias mod" circuit. This adds an adjustable bias pot, which allows you to run the tubes at the correct voltage (they come biased very cold from the factory), and get rid of nasty cross-over distortion. Not only does this mod open the amp up quite a bit and reduces the sterileness of it, but in some cases also gives it more saturation and gain (like it needs extra gain as it is! :P )

OVERALL OPINION

I have been recommending these amps to people for years, and for good reason. You can get them dirt cheap on the used market and they sound GREAT! I keep buying more expensive amps to try them out, and keep coming back to the 5150. With this amp and a 2 Channel Mesa Dual Recto, you're able to nail just about every high gain tone ever recorded. While the more expensive amps sound great, having tried nearly all of them, I've yet to find one that is really worth the extra cash over these two amps. While I own a Diezel Herbert, and it sounds AMAZING, would I pay that much money for one again? Definitely not. Am I going to sell it anytime soon? Definitely not.

I honestly can't say enough good things about the 5150... While this may not be the perfect practice amp (it's a bit buzzy at super low volumes, but has a great Master Volume once you get it past 1.5 or so), it's an awesome head that I would recommend to anyone playing heavier music, whether their budget is $500 or $5000.

Unless some revolutionary new amp comes out that really blows me away, this amp won't be going anywhere, or be traded for anything.

The Peavey 5150 made its debut in 1991 with the collaborative effort of EVH to get his own signature amp. It's a 120 watt, two channel amplifier with a shared EQ. However, as many people in Europe discovered, this thing is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Sure, EVH may have designed it, but it does not sound similar to his Marshalls of the past. This thing has a ridiculous amount of gain on tap, and it's been successfully utilized by the melodic death metal scene in Scandinavia.

UTILIZATION

Layout wise, the amp is very simple. In fact, it's somewhat limiting due to the shared EQ. You only have a clean/crunch button for one channel, along with its own volume knob. The effects loop can be finicky and is prone to dust issues causing the amp to sound like it's shorting out. If this happens, spray some contact cleaner in there and cycle the jacks a bit. The amp also has a preamp out feature, along with a ground select switch to help cancel any hum that you may get due to bad power at gigs.

SOUNDS

While the amp is lacking in terms of overall versatility, the sound is where this thing excels. First of all, the clean channel is dismal. If you're looking for an amp with a clean channel, I'd look elsewhere. With the crunch switch engaged, you can get a great EVH sound, and boosting the crunch channel can get you a good metal sound. However, the lead channel is where this thing really excels. This high gain, low midrange grunting amplifier has been famously recorded by bands such as Arch Enemy, Carcass, Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, Machine Head, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Haunted and the list still goes on to this day. For those into more extreme metal, I recommend boosting the lead channel as it gives a tight, percussive sound that sounds absolutely massive.

OVERALL OPINION

Even to this day, the 5150 is one of the most utilized amps in heavy metal. This isn't just for the EVH fanboys, and it can actually do more than just metal. Pair it up with some Greenback speakers, put it on the crunch channel, and you can get a great blues/rock sound. While it lacks overall versatility in terms of functions, it is one of those amps that delivers the goods every time. On top of that, they're extremely reliable and have proven themselves on tour for decades. Just be warned -- if you're looking for a good clean channel, look elsewhere.

The Peavey 5150 Head is a tube based guitar amplifier head designed by Eddie Van Halen.  The amp delivers 120 watts of power and has both rhythm and lead channels.  The head has 1/4 inch connections in the front for your instrument inputs, with both high and normal gain options.  It also has a 1/4 inch speaker output to send this to a speaker cabinet.

UTILIZATION

The Peavey 5150 Head definitely has a lot to work with in terms of parameters.  The rhythm channels is very simple, consisting of both pre and post gain knobs as well as buttons for bright and crunch.  The lead channel has the same pre and post gain knobs, and in general it has a three band EQ including knobs for low, mid, and high.  There is also a 'power amp' section with parameters for resonance and presence.  Getting a great sound from both the lead and rhythm channels isn't too difficult, and if you don't get it right off the bat there are a lot of options to work with here.


SOUNDS

The Peavey 5150 Head can really rip in terms of its tone quality.  I do like the lead sound over the rhythm, but both channels sound pretty great overall.  I've only used the head a few times for a recording session, in tandem with a Peavey cabinet and a Fender Stratocaster guitar.  I found that I was able to get most of the sounds that I wanted inside of this amp, so I didn't use it in tandem with an external effects.  The rhythm tone is crunchy and thick, while the lead sound really cuts through and has a good deal of sustain.  The 5150 Head gives you a lot of raw power in general, as this amp can get incredibly loud.


OVERALL OPINION

For an amp head of this caliber, the Peavey 5150 Head has been set a pretty reasonable price.  Of course you need a speaker cabinet to go along with it, but Peavey speaker cabinets aren't too expensive either depending on which one that you choose.  I'd recommend this head for lead guitarists over rhythm ones, as this amp really seems to cater to lead sounds over rhythm.  The rhythm channel will definitely get the job done most of the time, but it isn't like the lead channel.  If you're looking for a great sounding amp head without a huge price tag, I'd encourage you to try out the Peavey 5150 Head.