adstr123

Hey guys,

A little while ago I posted (http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/foru...d.php?t=1562347) about wanting a new amp. Mentions of the Peavey 6505+ came up quite often, and after doing some research I also found out they made a 5150 combo version too.

I can get an EVH 5150 combo, used, for £450 - £500. I can get a 6505+ 112 combo, new, for £450.

What's your advice? What are the big differences between the two? I'll be playing mostly metal, Gojira/Periphery/Volumes/Machine Head etc., possibly on a 7 string in the future, but for now on an Epiphone Explorer. A lot of info is in the old thread about playing style etc.

Thanks very much,
Adam

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W4RP1G

Isn't the 5150 combo a 2x12 and made in the USA? If so, hands down the 5150.

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DarthV

How important are cleans to you? The 1x12 would be "more" versatile, but the 2x12 combo has better build quality. With either one, I'd looking into eventually swapping speakers. 6505's are almost meant to be paired with v30 speaker (or clones)

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LP_CL

Yup, it is. 5150 is the way to go, although 500 quid seems a bit steep. Try hasseling 100 off that price. (although I don't know how much the combo costs new there in the UK)

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adstr123

The 5150 is indeed a 2 X 12 combo made in 'Merikuh. I'm not completely sure I need a 2 X 12... But I'm not going to turn it down if it's there. Similarly, I know the build quality is better on a 5150, but at the same time, I understand 6505+ build quality is not that bad either.

So whilst taking those into account, I'm mainly looking at tone. I can't properly judge from compressed YT videos etc. Is there a big difference in tone between the two?

Thanks for the help so far, I messaged the guy with the used 5150 with some questions, when he responds I'll see how low he will go. I think they retailed for quite a lot and the cheapest I have seen one go for is £450, so £400 might be a push.

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dementiacaptain

They 112 and 212 will sound different, but probably not so much that it should affect your choice. I know that the 112 will have a better clean, but the 212 will be slightly less compressed. Ultimately I think that it comes to portability, the 212 is a monster, the 112 is a lot more manageable, but if you don't mind the bulk of the 212 then grab it

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KailM

I have the 6505+ 112 and it's a solid, solid amp. Though it's made in China I haven't seen any issues. With a speaker swap and some tube upgrades it sounds very, very good to my ears.

That said, the 5150 combo supposedly sounds a little different, more "raw" and maybe better for death metal. Just so you know, a 6505 212 combo is the same as the 5150 combo. The 6505+ models have a separate EQ for each channel, the 6505/5150 shares the EQ between channels.

Having never played an original 5150 or a regular 6505, I can't tell you how they sound compared to a 6505+/5150 II. But the + models are capable of any style of metal and then some.

Another word of advice is this: My 6505+ 112 weighs about 65 pounds. It has only a strap handle at the top. the 212 models weigh almost 90 pounds and are larger; still only a strap handle at the top. They are not very easy to move around. Rather than going with the 212 combo, I'd look into a head + cab. 'Twould be far easier on your back.

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Schecter Blackjack ATX V-1
Epiphone LP Studio w/ Dimarzio D Sonic bridge pup
Peavey 6505+ 112 w/ Eminence Governor
TC Elec. Hall of Fame 'Verb/Flashback Dly
Ibanez TS-9/MXR 10-band EQ
Boss HM-2

dementiacaptain

^ The 5150 212 has 3 handles on the top, two on the sides and one in the middle.

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adstr123

I forgot to answer, cleans are not incredibly important. I'm not going to be starting an acoustic folk band and purchase a 6505+ :P But y'know, would be nice if they existed in some semi-usable form.

Yeah I heard the 212 is a beast, 85 pounds I think. I would be moving it around a bit and I think the 112 would be more convenient for that, but at the same time if the 5150 offers vastly superior tone, then I would put up with extra bulk.

From what I am hearing so far, the 5150 and 6505+ are quite similar, understandable since the 6505+ is a spiritual successor. I think I may cut out the hassle of 2 speakers & having to source one used if the one I am looking at is snapped up before I get to it, and use the cash I save to do a speaker & tube replacement.

TL;dr Perhaps I will go with a 6505+ new, and use spare cash to buy speaker/tubes.

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W4RP1G

Oh my God, never mind what I said unless you are planning to convert it to a head and cab. I'd probably buy it, but with plans to convert it into a head/cab later on.

I owned a 6505+ 112 at one point. Great amp, even with the stock speaker and tubes, imo. However, I don't think I ever fully appreciated it since my dream tone seams to be a Mesa triple rec. But it certainly is a great amp for what it costs.

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Offworld92

I actually owned the 5150 212. I will never recommend it. It's impossible to move. It has a single handle on top, and that's it. No other way to feasibly grip it... it's just a nightmare. I hate that thing.

Why can't you get a used +112? Save some more cash.

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HUMANIZER

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adstr123

I had never heard of converting combos to head & cab. Im not sure I want to be meddling in that at any point to be honest.

Thanks for the first hand experience, both of you. That's very useful. I had never even though of getting a used 6505+ since I can just afford a new one, but why not try used? Might as well save some cash!! I'll look into it!

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Cathbard

All you needed was a decent trolley - you don't lift them by yourself. They are a two man lift really so you just buy a trolley and the nightmare is over. What sort of gigging muso doesn't own a decent trolley? You disappoint me, you should know better.

Get the 5150.

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travs2448

100% agree with this! i never understand why people complain about weight. if you're serious about your playing and your tone than it shouldn't matter. My Mesa 4x12 weighs a crapton and i hate myself when i move it but when i play through it, its more than worth it.

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Cathbard

My W-bins are a four man lift with no handles so it's either use a trolley or leave them behind. Compared to those, guitar amps are featherweight. You just need a decent trolley (and a truck )
Hell, my keyboards rack has a 2000W PA head in it. Even that makes my guitar amps seem light. Guitarists are a bunch of sooks.

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Ibanez Iceman
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Abbey Harmonic II
Marshall JTM45 clone
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Marshall 18W clone
Fender 5F1 Champ clone
Marshall 1960A

Cathbard Amplification

adstr123

I found a used Peavey 6505+ for £280, pre-installed with a V30.
Is it worth £200 extra to buy a 5150? Honestly I don't need the extra speaker. Tone is what I am talking about here. Is the tone worth another £200?

I'll take "sooks" to be one of your weird little Aussie phrases meaning weakling or somesuch - in which case, yes. Yes we are. I am a delicate mayflower built for stroking art out of my instrument. I got techies for all that manual labour, that shit is beneath me.

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KailM

^^Well, for metal at least, a bigger cab + more speakers is almost always going to sound deeper/fuller/more heavy. So technically, yeah, that 212 combo is probably going to have better tone even if it were to have the same circuitry as the 112 (it doesn't). It's not really about being louder, because they aren't truly much louder. (Crank a 6505+ 112 to "5" and tell me it's not loud enough ).

That's why so many metal musicians go with a head and 212 or 412 cab route. It sounds more brutal and heavy. Plus, there is then the option to mix different speakers for a more dynamic tone.

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I march to the rhythm of a different blast-beat.

Schecter Blackjack ATX V-1
Epiphone LP Studio w/ Dimarzio D Sonic bridge pup
Peavey 6505+ 112 w/ Eminence Governor
TC Elec. Hall of Fame 'Verb/Flashback Dly
Ibanez TS-9/MXR 10-band EQ
Boss HM-2

adstr123

I see. Better tone, but £200 better tone? I know that "if you're a true musician then price doesn't matter blah blah" just go with the best tone but... I'm a student. I have a lot of alcohol to buy. And even books sometimes. :/ I would like to get good bang for my buck as well.

Also, I forgot to mention before I could sell my Marshall DSL401 and not have to pay that much more for the 6505+ 112, which would be pretty convenient.

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mmjohn

5150

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