5150 2x12 combo.

[34029324079]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

maybe so...I am not into VH tone either though... they can probably be a bit versatile but are mainly a high gain 1 trick pony imo

450$ for a cab and head is probably a great deal - play before you buy - I would probably get it if I was 10 years younger

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

maybe so...I am not into VH tone either though... they can probably be a bit versatile but are mainly a high gain 1 trick pony imo

450$ for a cab and head is probably a great deal - play before you buy - I would probably get it if I was 10 years younger

Found out the head is a combo converted to a head. So it would be a 60watt head, rather than the 120(?)

I am hopefully going to go play one this weekend.

 

[34029324079]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

120 watts is way too much for me. Too loud. I dont want to hurt my ears. You would have to turn it up alot to hear the actual tube circuitry and not just hearing the preamp. I mean, I can just plug my headphones into a DOD distortion pedal if I want to hear preamp.

I think the combos are a great idea for portability and becuase they have closed backs. In contrast they will never sound like 4x12, you cant pair them up with other heads as easily, and vibration from the speakers may move things in the amp head.

Maybe you can talk him down? Never miss an opportunity to haggle by showing him the cash, tell him of all the other deals open to you, point out the damage on his amp he is selling, then walking away

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

The cleans aren't so great? I really play a lot with a clean and a slightly over driven tone right now.

Ok.. I know it gets the EVH tone. How well does it do Other tones? Most of what I play is HB equipped. Dean Icon (59/C5), MIM Strat HSS, and a Tele.


Well I have 2 4x12 cabs already. I don't need a third. Depending on what I buy Something is being sold. I have too much Mediocre gear not getting used. I need something to set my tone in the right direction.

I just hate that combos are so dang heavy!

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Hahhahaha That converted head has gone from eBay to HC to eBay, and is apparently now selling locally in your city. :laugh2: Funny how the thing has moved around.

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Hahhahaha That converted head has gone from eBay to HC to eBay, and is apparently now selling locally in your city. :laugh2: Funny how the thing has moved around.

So... something to avoid perhaps?

 

[Mephis]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Found out the head is a combo converted to a head. So it would be a 60watt head, rather than the 120(?)

I am hopefully going to go play one this weekend.

The combo version is biased way way hotter and will have far better and richer cleans than the head. It will also be a bit darker.

 

[Mephis]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Why will the combo have better cleans than the head? What does a hotter bias have to do with it?

A hotter bias will make the tube work less and sound more "warm." (Giving more headroom)

By hotter I mean a higher mA rating.

On a 5150 if you go below 32mA bias per tube you go into cross over distortion that makes the amp sound cold and buzzy. Mines biased around 11-12mA I may rebias but I like its tone.

The combos are usually biased around 38mA.

 

[firebirdV]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Biasing hotter decreases headroom.

 

[Mephis]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Biasing hotter decreases headroom.

From what I read it was the other way around. :smack:

 

[Mephis]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

I just read it over.

It says to cold of bias causes distortion in the power tubes and to hot of bias causes early breakup.

I'm not arguing it so don't think that way, I'm just quoting what I was reading in an article on biasing amps.

 

[firebirdV]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

I just read it over.

It says to cold of bias causes distortion in the power tubes and to hot of bias causes early breakup.

I'm not arguing it so don't think that way, I'm just quoting what I was reading in an article on biasing amps.

That's because it's in a push pull configuration. If you don't have the bias set up correctly (id it's too cold) then there can be cross over distortion which is simply the top half of the wave and the bottom half not meeting on sync, and instead, there being a small lapse where there is a flat spot (like in class B amps).

This is different from the wonderful tube distortion that makes people spend lots of money. This kind can be introduced from any number of sources, one of being biasing the tube hot.

However, it's been a while since I've read up on this stuff so maybe a second opinion is in order.

 

[Mephis]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

You're completely right.

The combo is biased outside of cross over distortion. That's why it's warmer and cleaner.

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Anyone have any clips posted of either amp?

I found the amps through craigslist. I hope to go play them this weekend. I'm still waiting to hear back from a couple of the sellers but they are dragging their feet.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Chops, the bias in stock form is set for the tubes to draw about 5-10mA, and the bias mod being referred to brings it out of crossover distortion, which warms the entire amp up, bringing some dynamics back into the thing - that's the improved cleans he's talking about.

Unfortunately, it affects the rest of the amp, and not for the better, IMO.


Also, the combo will NOT be darker - it's voiced closer to a 5150II, so it'll be a tad brighter if anything.

 

[firebirdV]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

The amp was designed to have cross over distortion? That's kind of weird, but hey, if it sells it sells.

 

[Mephis]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Chops, the bias in stock form is set for the tubes to draw about 5-10mA, and the bias mod being referred to brings it out of crossover distortion, which warms the entire amp up, bringing some dynamics back into the thing - that's the improved cleans he's talking about.

Unfortunately, it affects the rest of the amp, and not for the better, IMO.


Also, the combo will NOT be darker - it's voiced closer to a 5150II, so it'll be a tad brighter if anything.

So I probably shouldn't worry with re-biasing my amp to the 30mA range?

Hmm I guess peavey just decided to go against all logic when they designed the 5150s.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Hmm I guess peavey just decided to go against all logic when they designed the 5150s.

They had to make something "different" to show that the 5150 is "not" a Soldano copy!:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[Mephis]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

So if I put a set of 5881's in it biased around 30mA it'd be a soldano clone lol?

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: 5150 2x12 combo.

Kinda - would need better components, transformers, etc...


But yeah, the amp was designed to have crossover distortion, and I find it perfect for the amp. When biased hotter, it was less ballsy, had less grind to it, less chug, and just didn't feel/sound like a 5150 should, IMO.