Peavey 6505 Head

The Peavey 6505 is the updated version of the famous Peavey 5150 as popularized by it's signature endorsee Edward Van Halen. The original 5150 was noted as a great rock amp, but eventually was recognized as a killer amp for metal music. Eventually Peavey took things one step further and released the updated 5150 II which had separate EQ for the channels. When Ed left Peavey in 2004 he took the 5150 designation with him... and so in 2005 Peavey renamed the 5150 the 6505. The 6505 is a 120 watt firebreather of an amp, featuring two channels.

This amp is a bit more simple than the 6505+. The two channels feature only pre and post gain controls (essentially reworked phrases for gain and volume). The EQ on this amp is shared between the channels (bass, middle, treble, as well as resonance and presence). On the back it has two speaker jacks, a switch to select between 4ohm, 8ohm and 16ohm impedence, a ground switch and send/return jacks for the effects loop.

Tube wise it features five (as opposed to six on the 6505+) 12AX7 preamp tubes and four 6L6GC power amp tubes to unleash the fire within.



UTILIZATION

The Peavey 6505 is an extremely easy amp to set up. It's not QUITE as easy as the 6505+ because you're dealing with a shared EQ for both channels, but it's still not terribly arduous. Peavey amps in general don't require much tweaking in general to sound great. The two channels are set up identically, so there's no new interfaces to learn and there's not really a learning curve with the EQ or gain structures like say a Mesa Dual Rectifier. Something to note about these amps... they are LOUD. When I had mine, I could barely dial the control to one without it being too loud for the room. In a band setting I found that two or three on the volume would overpower the drums... as a result I didn't keep it very long. Essentially, if you want one of these amps, be prepared to deal with the volume.

SOUNDS

I primarily used this amp with a Les Paul, a PRS and a few other various humbucker loaded guitars in a studio setting. The two channels are meant to be a clean and lead, however the clean channel really doesn't do great cleans. The clean channel is more useful as a crunch channel, especially when boosted with a good overdrive. I tried to get decent cleans out of this amp, but what I was greeted with was fairly flat and unremarkable. I had more fun turning the gain up full bore and just using channel one as a crunch channel. Channel two is a great high gain lead sound for any modern player. Despite the fact that I never tried it with any delay/reverb effects, I noted that on its own, the amp had more than enough sustain (via saturation) to play great lead passages as well as quite a few different types of hard rock and metal riffs. It doesn't really do the eighties thing all that well... which is somewhat surprising considering it's basically the EVH signature amplifier (though I've noticed that EVH has steadily gone for a more modern tone over time). The thing about this amp compared to the 6505+ is that the shared EQ makes things a fair bit more limiting as far as balancing the channels tonally. Fortunately Peavey's EQ structure isn't too bad as far as the learning curve and it works well enough that I don't feel the need to complain about it TOO much.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all, the Peavey 6505 is a great sounding amplifier head for anyone who wants a loud, gain heavy, loud, really saturated, loud tone. They are about $1,000 new and can be had for a fair bit less than that used, which is a killer deal for a USA made head. Peavey gear is quite reliable and I'd have no qualms using the 6505 for more rigorous applications. I partly wish that the "clean channel" was cleaner and sounded a little clearer, but used as a crunch channel it's fine. The lead channel is high gain, but it's still controllable and the excess saturation can be used to your advantage if you allow it to. The shared EQ is a bit of a frustration compared to the 6505+ and ultimately I'd prefer to spend the little bit extra to have the separate EQs at my disposal. Still, it's definitely worth looking into if you want a great metal amp for not a whole lot of money.

Peavey is one of those companies that provide affordable guitar gear for the budgeting musician who wants pro quality gear. The more I start listening to Peavey amps the more I start to love them. Peavey has taken a strong position on the metal market. This amp is a heavy duty metal amp capable of giving you some sizzling tones.

This amp unlike the 6505 + or Plus amp doesn't have separate EQ's for each channel. That is really the only difference in the two amps. The 6505 amp has a shared EQ between channel one and channel two. This limits the ability to have two differently EQ channels from one another. If it were me I would pay the extra $200 and get the 6505+ just for future in case I ever needed it.

UTILIZATION


Features:

120 watts (RMS) into 16, 8, or 4 ohms (switchable)
5 x 12AX7 preamp tubes and 4 x 6L6GC power amp tubes
High- and low-gain inputs
2-channel preamp that's switchable on the front panel or via 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
Footswitch included

SOUNDS

I used all kinds of guitars with this thing to make it sound good such as Strats, Tele, LP's, Wolfgang and even a Rickenbacker. Nothing could make this thing sound natural. This amp needs to be played with a humbucker pickup guitar such as a Gibson Les Paul or a Gibson Explorer. It needs that rock guitar for the gain style this amp produces. You can play any guitar single coil or humbucker but I think it sounds the best with the proper high gunner pickup.


OVERALL OPINION

At new these amps come in at around $999 online and most brick and mortar guitar stores. This is a great price for this amp. You can get a lot for this kind of money but you sure can get a stellar sounding Peavey amp.

I would recommend this amp to anyone needing to stay within a tight budget and needs a proper sounding metal or hard rock amp. This is a great amp for anyone needing a solid amp for any gigging or garage playing musician.

This amp comes from the tone of the 5150 amps that Peavey did years ago with Eddie Van Halen. This is basically the exact same amp but with a few minor tweak from over the years. This amp is a beast of an amp. You can get some serious tone and balls with this amp.

This amp is a very forgiving amp but still has the tightness to use low tunings for modern music. The 6l6's compliment the tone for this amp as well which gives it more of a low end thump than you would get from El34's. This amp shares the same EQing for the rhythm and lead channels which the + has each their own EQ's.

Some of the bands that rock this amp are 3 Doors Down, Ted Nugent, Atreyu, Steve Morse, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Visqueen, God Forbid, HIMSA, Darkest Hour, Sworn Enemy, Unearth, and Spades and Blades.


Peavey 6505 2-channel Tube Amplifier Head Features at a Glance:

120 watts (RMS) into 16, 8, or 4 ohms (switchable)
5 x 12AX7 preamp tubes and 4 x 6L6GC power amp tubes
High- and low-gain inputs
2-channel preamp that's switchable on the front panel or via 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
Footswitch included


UTILIZATION

Details
Type Tube
Number of Channels 2
Power 120W
No Effects
No Reverb
EQ Low, Mid, High
No Amp Modeling
Number of Tubes 9
Preamp Tubes 5 x 12AX7
Power Tubes 4 x 6L6GC
Inputs 2 x Instrument
Outputs 2 x Speaker
Footswitch I/O
Effects Loop
Height 10"
Width 26.63"
Depth 11.75"
Weight 48.3 lbs.

SOUNDS

This amp needs to be played with a humbucker pickup guitar such as a Gibson Les Paul or a Gibson Explorer. It needs that rock guitar for the gain style this amp produces. You can play any guitar single coil or humbucker but I think it sounds the best with the proper high gunner pickup.

The resonance and presence controls really enable this amp to do what you want with the the bottom end of the tone. The two controls are the key to this amp in my opinion.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these amps come in at around $1000 which is a freaking steal of a price. You can get a lot for this kind of money but you sure can get a stellar sounding Peavey amp. I would recommend this amp to anyone needing to stay within a tight budget and needs a proper sounding metal or hard rock amp.

See data sheet

UTILIZATION

The setup is super simple, super light manual! one can easily find a good sound but the sound palette is not large, difficult to dig a special sound! This is his big, fat and round then we can put more bass or more treble but the sound remains more or less the same grain
Level of use is very simple

SOUNDS

I do a lot of hardcore or thrash suddenly the sound is just perfect for me! on the other hand if you are looking for clean sounds, you just give up and go to a mesa amp as versatile ...
I play with a guitar ESP Eclipse, maxon tube screamer and ISP decimator noise gate. Some say that there is nothing original in my set but I think I am very happy! The sound of the amp without fat is TOO much bass and very loud (feedback etc) suddenly I think this amp power supplied sourtout what is normal by looking at the price, it is therefore essential to buy a noise gate in more. Isp decimator with it is just a treat! the sound is perfect even no hi gain feedback!
I really prefer more noisegate use a external amp noisegate engl powerball kind that has a noisegate internal médiocrissime.

I hesitated between this and ENGL Powerball head and I regret my choice after testing both! the ENGL is just too cold, if you want a bold and very heavy croum croum of worship where one feels good lamps, this amp is for you!
PS: I have a tube screamer that accompanies my head because thanks to him I can get this sound palette and just dig a reduced fat sound of the amp with treble more pronounced thanks to the screamer, a marvel if you have this amp that has changed my life

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a year and I still do it again this choice as easy to use unlike a Mesa sound is really very big and bold as I like + screamer I can find the sound between 6505 and ENGL basic So with this amp if you want we can!!
niquel money! the only thing negative is that it is made for big sound very fat if you like it, it's not even worth thinking about
its weak point is its strong point for those who seek simplicity and his big, fat and very HOT

IT IS PERFECT FOR ME