Peavey 6534+ Head

The Peavey 6534 Plus is a 120 watt all tube head that is based on the classic high gain fury if the original 5150/6505 line but with a change in design that allows for EL34 power tubes. Typically known for their bright and sizzling high gain sounds, the EL34s may have at first seemed an odd choice for such a crunchy and low end based amp, but it offers a unique take on the classic 6505 tone that is so revered around the world. Otherwise it features the same specs as a standard 6505 Plus, with two channels, separate EQ, master presence and resonance controls and an effects loop as well.

UTILIZATION

Getting a good tone out of this amp is pretty simple. Peavey amps historically are quite intuitive and sound great at just about any setting. It is obviously optimized for certain heavier sounds, but the controls are responsive and don't really offer any "bad" tones within. Obviously the EL34s change up the tonestack a bit but the tones are still great and very easy to dial in. I find that the EL34 version has a bit more of a classic vibe to it but it still has the killer saturation from the 6L6 versions.

SOUNDS

This amp sounds optimal with more modern guitars to my ears, because the higher output pickups can get more saturation and tightness for rock and metal tones. The rhythm tones are very defined and clear and have that classic EL34 based sizzle which suits the design of this amp well. I find it to be a liitle bit less full sounding than the regular model but there is a bit more dynamics and compression available overall. The lead channel is great for modern sounding tones that excel especially as the amp is turned up. These are loud amps so be prepared for a serious sonic assault if you want to crank it up.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I think the Peavey 6534 Plus is a great amp for anyone looking for a different sounding take on the classic Peavey high gain tone. It is built very well and still retains the spark that makes the original so awesome. It is reasonably priced and the value for money is great on these US made Peaveys. They are fairly loud amps so I wouldn't say it's the best rig to look at if you're a bedroom warrior, but for the modern rock player who wants a different sort of high gain tone, the 6534 Plus is very much worth a look!

This is a similar amp to the 6505+, but with a tailor British voicing and gain structures well as El34 powers tubes. They simply didn't just put El34 power tubes in it and called it a British voiced amp. They went to work altering the amps circuit to be more of the British flavor.

The amp can sound amazing with the right speaker cabinet. I suggest not getting a Peavey cab since they are just garbage and I'm a Peavey fan. Get a nice Marshall cabinet or a decent Mesa Boogie cab and see how this amp will open up with good Greenbacks or Celestion v30's. They claim these amps are voicing with these cabs and that maybe true but I feel that this amp can come to life even more with the proper cabi adn speaker combo.

UTILIZATION

Features

120 watts RMS into 16, 8, or 4 ohms
6 - 12AX7 preamp tubes and 4 - EL34 power amp tubes
Footswitchable Lead/Rhythm channel select
3-band EQ on each channel
Resonance and Presence controls on each channel
Pre Gain and Post Gain on each channel
Footswitchable Crunch boost on Rhythm channel
Bright switch on Rhythm channel
Preamp output
Effects loop
Bias test point
Footswitch included
Made in the U.S.A.



SOUNDS

The tone from this amp is phenomenal. I think the Peavey tone lives on the ultra high gain mode whether it is a 6505, 5150, Rock master, or this new amp 6534+. The ultra high gain modes in most of not all Peavey amps sounds the best to my ears. I have ever been a fan of their low gain amps such as the classic series but there high gainers are out of this world good.

This amp sounds a little like a Marshall in its character of voicing but is has its own thing going. This amp definitely has its own feet to stand on. I like this amp like all the Peaveys with a Gibson Les Pauls or another humbucker style pickup guitar. I think the humbucker sounds the best through Peavey's type of distortion. It has a great resonance feature that controls the bottom end of the amp a bit which is a nice addition.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these amp come in right at around $1160, which is about $40 cheaper than the 6505+. I think because it uses El34 power tubes and those tend to be cheaper than the 6L6 power that the 6505+ uses.

I would recommend this amp to anyone who loves a good solid hard rock and metal tone and prefers a more British leaning voicing and gain structure over the more American style of the 6505+

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. It is a two channel amp that acts like a three channel because the first channel, the clean channel, has a button to kick in overdrive and it really kicks it in. The you have the dirty channel that gets ultra high gain saturation. This channel goes to a super modded British voiced amp. Even though this amp has El34 Peavey added some more goods in the voicing category to give a more British feel and tone compared to the 6505 amps.

UTILIZATION

* 120 watts RMS into 16, 8, or 4 ohms
* 6 - 12AX7 preamp tubes and 4 - EL34 power amp tubes
* Footswitchable Lead/Rhythm channel select
* 3-band EQ on each channel
* Resonance and Presence controls on each channel
* Pre Gain and Post Gain on each channel
* Footswitchable Crunch boost on Rhythm channel
* Bright switch on Rhythm channel
* Preamp output
* Effects loop
* Bias test point
* Footswitch included
* Made in the U.S.A.


SOUNDS

This amp is a stellar piece of work! The tone from the amp might be on everyone's plate but it has sensational grind to the tone that is so flavorful to my ears. It makes me want to start a metal band just to play this amp to the aggression that it is capable of achieving.

There is only one way to play this amp, and that is with a Charvel guitar. You need that alder body with a simple maple neck and a nice Seymour Duncan JB and you'll be cooking. This combo in my opinion is hard to beat. Just a fun combination that really gets filthy and dirty.

OVERALL OPINION

Another great feature to this amp is the line out fr the preamp. You can hook this into some effects and out to a power amp for some wet dry rig configurations. Also you will be able to send it out direct for recording or direct house PA systems. A great feature that it part of the new generation of amplifiers.

At new these amps come in at around $1200 which is great price for a fantastic sounding and looking amp. At a 120watts this thing is putting out some steam! I highly recommend.