5150 II Review

It's the tone that made history. 120 Watts of pile-driving power voiced to Edward Van Halen's specifications and identical to the amps he uses when touring and recording.

Features:	9
Sound:	9
Reliability:	9.3
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	9.1
Users rating:	7
Comments:	22

Featured review by: unregistered, on october 19, 2004

Purchased from: Sam Ash Music

Features: The 2003 Peavey 5150 combo, is an amazing value, especially for what I paid for it. It is powered by 2 6L6 power tubes and 4 pre-amp tubes (I don't know what brand these were originally they were replaced by the amp's previous owner). It's 2 Sheffield 12" speakers make it more than loud enough to play over drums, but it does have an "out" line so it can be plugged into an external speaker if necessary. This is an amazing amp for almost any style of music you can think of. It has 2 channels (clean and gain) with both a "bright" and a "crunch" switch on the clean channel. The "bright" gives you clean sound a very shimmery and trebly Fender-style sound. The "crunch" button gives you a light distortion that you operate with the "clean-pre" and "clean-pre" knobs. Cranking the post will give you more gain and you can dilute this gain with the "clean post". There is also a "resonance" knob, which, if on 0 will give you a pretty normal sound, but if you crank this knob it will give your tone a very focused quality. This is a very good feature for controlling distortion and noise. // 8

Sound: I'm using mainly, a Jackson DKMG with an EMG 81 in the bridge and an 85 in the neck. These pickups can make alot of gain without alot or work from the amp, so I usually only end up using about half the available gain. I like not having to crank my gain because with a tube-amp like this one the more "post-amp" you can use the ballzier your tone will sound. With my Fender strat, however it requires a little more juice to get it sounding crunchy but thats still no problem for the 5150; just crank up the "lead-pre" and your set. The 5150 can produce pretty much any tone imaginable, it has more than enough power if you want it and a great clean sound and light gain. // 10

Reliability & Durability: This seems to be a very reliable amp, as its second owner I see no real damage that would affect the tone and the tubes are in fine condition. When I got the amp, it had some minor cosmetic damage, but a little crazy-glue and black paint and it was fine. // 8

Impression: I play mostly metal, and this amp suits my style very well, but if I'm every in the mood to bust out a little Blink-182 from my punk-rock days, the 5150 is at the ready and can provide a great Tom Delonge-style sound. I would even go as far as to say that if I was in a mellow enough mood the 5150 would provide a great sound to jam out to a few Enya tunes. So this amp basically has you covered in all facets of your musical tastes. From Anthrax to Yanni the 5150 has you covered. I've had a few other amps and this is by far my favorite. After experimenting with both a Marshall Valvestate and a Fender tube-amp, I think I can safely say that the 5150 is your best bet if you want a versitile amp that can pack a pucnh and deliver great tones. If this amp had a toaster and a mini-fridge I don't think I would ever find it necessary to leave my basement. // 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on october 30, 2008

Price paid: C$ 1100

Purchased from: eBay

Features: It's an older model, I bought it used. Has the footswitch, two channels. The cleanish/rhythm channel has a crunch Switch and a bright Switch to change your tone a bit, depending on what you want. Also has an effects loop. I use this amp for recording, I also use it live. I play the head model with two 4x12 Marshall cabinets. // 9

Sound: The first time I turned this amp on, I swear to god a baby died. This thing is so brutal! I play through it with a Schecter C-1+ with EMG 85/81 combo, and a Schecter C-7 Hellraiser. I usually don't use any pedals recording, but Live I use a Maxon OD808 and a Boss NS-2. I use the NS-2 Live because at high volumes, it tends to get trebly and middy, and hiss a bit. The NS-2 calms that all down and cuts feedback substantially.

Anyways, on to the tone. You can get anything out of it, depending on your EQ. I don't play anything but metal, and I do that professionally. I'm sure though, if you wanted a crunchier sorta Ted Nugent sound, you could do so with the rhythm channel and the crunch Switch on. The lead channel is what you turn on to slay whole families and feel like you just curb-stomped a baby. It's so powerful, I use the gain on 6 and that's more than enough for my band, which is metal. If you crank your gain any higher than that on this beast, you need to learn to play and control your tone with your hand, not your amp. // 9

Reliability & Durability: This is a tank. I have used it while gigging as a backup, as I only have it for an amp. It's dropped off of my stack, back when I only had a single 4x12 so luckily it only dropped a few feet, but I picked it up and kept playing with it, although I had to turn it off and back on again. I have had tubes break in it, but thats expected with a tube amp. If you buy a tube amp expecting to never repair or replace anything, for gods sake, get a solid state amp. // 10

Impression: I love this amp. If it was stolen, I would find the person Who did it and kill them and their family. I would curb-stomp their babies and write a song about it. I play in a death metal band, and this thing suits it perfectly. I love everything about it, the only complaint I have is the insane amount of highs and mids it has when you crank the post-gain (volume) up. This is all fixable via an EQ or if you have mad amp-tweaking skills (like me). I'm glad it is so spartan and bare. If it had built-in effects and all that stuff, it wouldn't be the same. The fact that it is so simple and bare leaves a lot of room for your own personal mods and your own effects, rather than having built-in effects that you really don't like.

If you like heavy music and want a relatively cheap amp that you'll never find a replacement for, get this amp. It's so close to perfection, it's almost unbelievable the first time you plug it in. // 9

overall: 9

Reviewed by: PacoWang, on february 04, 2004

Price paid: $ 800

Purchased from: Music Shack

Features: I play in a tech metal band, a bluesy rock band, and an indie rock band. This amp delivers plenty of gain for my tech metal stuff, has a good crunch for my bluesy rock band, and for my indie rock band. It has a clean (rhythm) channel, which i will admit isn't very clean. it starts to get a tad bit gritty when you crank it, but that's ok with me. The clean channel has a crunch switch on it, which gives it just a crunch, not a distortion (self explanitory I'd say). The real sweetspot of this amp is the distortion (lead) channel. It has more gain than anyone will ever need. I am in love with it. This amp doesn't have reverb, but I don't care because I have a pedal for that. It's 120 all tube watts, and it has more than enough power for me. // 10

Sound: I use this amp with a 1983 BC Rich warlock with EMG pickups for the tech metal band. It is so fucking brutal. For the bluesy rock and indie rock band, I use a tele with dimarzio t-zone pickups. It could be a bit more clean...but oh well, I don't really care. This amp is bloody brutal. I will tell you right now, it's made for metal. Don't buy it if you aren't going to play metal. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I keep this head in a flight case...so I've never had trouble with it breaking. This head has not broken. Probably because i'm so cool. // 10

Impression: Perfect head for metal, and pretty good for the rock and indie I play. I've been playing for 3 years, and I own a Marshall JCM900, a Fender hot rod deville, and a few guitars. This is definitely my favourite amp. I would definitely buy another one if this were stolen or lost. I love everything about it, except for the clean, could be better. // 8

Comments

[epi-g-400-goth]

IM A NEWB(been playing for about 2 years) AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS AMP IS GOOD FOR MY METAL-ISH STYLE

i play ALOT of metallica and slipknot...pantera...that kninda stuff

[epi-g-400-goth]

o duh nvm!!!

...maybe i should read the ENTIRE thing first before i ask questions eh!!

[epi-g-400-goth]

lol

WOW ive typed ALOT of stuff on this review and NONE of it has to actually do with the REVIEW!!!

lol

[tabs aint cats]

err... :?

[bluespunkmetal]

Eddie rules !!!

[Gunback]

I've been playing for 4 years and Im 14, I know my way around a guitar I have a Custom flametop epiphone les paul. Its one of the epiphones that beat some Gibsons. And oh yeah its a tobacco burst. But anyway I have a Crate fxt120 as my amp. But i NEED a half stack. And I was looking at this one. I was mainly wondering if this amp gave alot of feedback and if I should get a cab with celestion vintage 30's or Zakk's Black Label speakers. Thanks

[aidandude]

v30s and dude 3 years of playing and you have a 6505+, jmc 900, fender hrd, and a bunch of guitars? someones loaded

[wallyyfm]

Gunback wrote:

I've been playing for 4 years and Im 14, I know my way around a guitar I have a Custom flametop epiphone les paul. Its one of the epiphones that beat some Gibsons. And oh yeah its a tobacco burst. But anyway I have a Crate fxt120 as my amp. But i NEED a half stack. And I was looking at this one. I was mainly wondering if this amp gave alot of feedback and if I should get a cab with celestion vintage 30's or Zakk's Black Label speakers. Thanks

why don't you just buy a mansion instead?

[solder_jointx]

I've been playing for 7 years. I play mainly metal and hard rock. This amp was designed for metal! My first amp head was a Peavey XXL. I eventually upgraded to a 5150 cabinet and that made my head sound so much better. I had my eyes set on the 5150 II head and I really didn't care much for the XXL head. When I got my 5150 II, I practically went crazy over it. It's got really great tone and some mean gain. I play a Epiphone Les Paul Classic, run a mxr 6-band EQ in the effects loop, and a few effects through the front end(Wah, phaser, tremolo, overdrive). I still have to retube it and from my research if anyone is wanting to retube their amp I would buy JJ Tubes. The are a good price and I've heard nothing but good things about them. The head's original tubes have a bite in the highs and the JJ's calm that down. Overall I gave this amp a 10.

[Click_Click]

I have this head. its the shit. its has awesome tone and more gain than you will evere need. I play mine through a peavey XXX 4x12 cab it makes plenty of noise for practice and gigs.Ive had it for 2 years with no problems but I baby mine

[TheFonz3301]

5150's are only for true Rockers, not for little 14 yr old Slipknot kids with BC Rich guitars.

[Wolfs_Hour]

its all self-preference when it comes to guitar..some people love marshalls..others love Mesa Dual Rectifiers..i love the 5105..aslong as you get the tone you want you cant go wrong..so just try em out..to me, this is the best amp i have ever played

[taylorfrey66]

is this a tube amp?

[Kevin DEEGAN]

Hi Gunback If your into rock guitar then this is the amp for you its got heaps of crunch and an awsum clean channel to boot, you can get pretty much any tone you want from this amp, My friend and guitar tutor Ray Walmesley of Demon uses The 5150 MK2 as do many other well known players.

I use a Zakk wylde signature les paul custom bullseye with EMG 25th anniversary pickups and would love to upgrade my MARSHALL MG250DFX to the 5150 when I get to a good enough stage in my playing its a awsum amp you'll love it. Oh yes I almost forgot Hi the fonz what is your definition of a true rocker then and remember we all have to start somewhere just because the lads only 14 and listens to slipnot doesnt exclude him from being a true rocker. Theres also nothing wrong with bc rich guitars I know there not exactly les pauls or strats but there great to learn on many great guitarists use BC RICH Blacky Lawless and Chris holmes of WASP are very much BC RICH fans in caser youve forgotten that fact No offence intended of course

[Siandos.BCRich]

TheFonz3301 wrote:

5150's are only for true Rockers, not for little 14 yr old Slipknot kids with BC Rich guitars.

..u have something to say about bc rich guitars?


and no im not 14(although i bet u are), im an 18 year old metalhead. now go listen to aiden "true poser" and be all emo about it

[Weybl Himself]

ethinks it's Gunback's daddy who buys all his toys.

[geetarguy92]

hey whats with the 14 year olds getting bashed here im 14 and i dont play bc rich or slipknot i play megadeth on jackson guitarsand also i want this head it sounds goddamn amazing

[TheCarl88]

Theres nothing wrong with 14 yr olds, but BC Rich are far overrated, theres a reason Mick Thompson dumped them for Ibanez, he even said in an interview that they played like shit and that they were performing under par. Personally I play a jackson so naturally I'm gonna say Jackson all the way. For Siandos.BCRich, I'm an 18 year old metal head aswell and seriously man, Jackson vs BC Rich, the BC gets there asses handed to them, and no I'm not looking for an argument on the subject.

[gibson101]

i want the new 5150 III

[DaBlackE]

gibson101 wrote:

i want the new 5150 III

Hell yeah! I tried one out the other day & it sounds amazing! The $1999 price tag is the only bad thing about it! So I'll have to settle with my Peavey 5150 block letter head I paid $550 for.

[stafford5150]

there is nothing wrong with being 14 and wanting a 5150 head, when i was 14 i wanted one, but BC rich, i agree are way over rated, im an sg and les paul man all the way although i dont currently own a les paul. i have a jackson too mind but i need to sell if anyone is interested in it (rr3) [e-mail]

[simoT.I.]

ok... i just got my 5150 II used only today... i was looking for that amp for such a long time and trust me if you are into METAL and HARDCORE this is heaven!! i tried the 6505 series and they simple DOESN'T SOUND like this beast! playing an ibanez s7320 7 string model and i run a mxr 6-band (i love it) and a boss noise suppressor (yeas the head is noisy, couldn't be happier... just one thing: push your gear to the top you don't need 1.400 $ stuff just find the amp that can cover your tone and few things to adjust it. the less things between your guitar and your amp, the more TONE to come... less gear talkin' & more guitar playin'!

(sorry for my english)