5150 Three

[TimmyPage]

Re: 5150 Three

And although I like Van Halen, I certainly didn't buy the amp to sound like Eddie. So I scratch my head when I read comments like "I dont like Van Halen so I wont like that amp". The 6505 has more gain and balls than Eddie would ever use. Take that to the bank Peavey bashers!!

I agree.. the 5150 tone, for some reason, I don't really associate with VH at all.. I think more.. Metalcore, Death Metal/Melo-death, and older Opeth. They sound really really great.. and despite having heard Van Halen using them.. I don't hear him at all when I play those amps, whereas other amps I may turn them on and find "Oh this tone is like THIS band"

 

[jimlp]

Re: 5150 Three

The amp doesn't seem to be voiced like a 5150, which could be good or bad depending on what you prefer. Maybe it's the sound on the video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIr-WBZT1MI

 

[VTM Mike]

Re: 5150 Three

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Ed was smashed off his ass!

 

[Mephis]

Re: 5150 Three

The amp doesn't seem to be voiced like a 5150, which could be good or bad depending on what you prefer. Maybe it's the sound on the video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIr-WBZT1MI

Try a 5150II, it sounds pretty damn similar to me... Maybe a little less gain.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: 5150 Three

I never cared for the 5150. Yeah, I guess you could say it was "brown", but it was mushy. EVH's plexi sound during the Dave years was anything but mushy. If someone out there is looking for that EVH tone, then Mojave Amp Works "Peacemaker" is the head to have. That head nails that sound like no other amp I've ever heard.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: 5150 Three

I think Brian Young (DLR Band) endorses and uses the Mojave. I saw them last summer, and sure enough, the Mojave on stage was late 70s/early 80s Ed all the way. It was sweet, and Mr. Young plays a mean guitar! Hearing those tunes live with that kind of great playing and Dave makes it easy to understand the magic of early Van Halen.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: 5150 Three

Gain - Low - Mid- High - Volume

(3 times in a row)

1 Presence knob per-channel

That's it! No Reverb.

I like the choice of controls! If it sounds good, it might be a great amp for studio recording! For recording, I don't need reverb anyway, I'll add it when mixing. For what I'm looking for at this point, I'd prefer an amp where they cut the cost of including reverb and instead focus on making it sound great.

The trend in newer tube amps also seems to be 3 and 4 channels, with switchable voicings. Look at the new Marshall, some of the new Boogies, the Fender SuperSonic, etc. It gives a guitarist some of the veratility of a modeling amp while still retaining all analog, all tube circuitry.

I'll be interested in giving this amp a listen.

As for the Peavey 5150, I've only plugged into a 5150 combo once, and listened to the sound clips on Peavey's site. So I don't have loads of experience with it. It does seem to have this distinctive, midrange growl that you either love or hate. What I liked when I tried the combo is at moderate gain settings, it cleaned up nicely when you back off the volume, better than about any amp I've tried. And as you turn the guitar volume up or pick harder, the transition to a more distorted tone isn't that abrupt. It's very smooth. You don't suddenly get this noise like paper tearing when the amp starts to distort.

I can see where the Peavey 5150 it's a great amp for heavier styles. If not for that midrange "raaaaaawwwwr" I'd say it'd work great for more classic or moderate rock sounds.