Best amp for covers band

Re: Best amp for covers band

Already got a 6505+ so might be too similar. After all the 5150 is the original version of the 6505 or thereabouts.

Comparing the 6505 to the 5150iii is not a good comparison at all. They honestly sound nothing alike.
The 5150iii has a clean and crunch channel that the 6505 could only dream of. The ultra channel is close but the EVH is more refined and less fizzy.
You'd be surprised by it if you tried it. It's way more versatile than the 6505+ is.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

Wow - look at the amazing AMP bias here! Seriously?

Nobody at these events cares jack about "tone"

Get a Line6 Floor unit, or a Boss GY8/10 whatever and program the bejeebers out of it to SOUND right.

Try a powered Atomic cab or Tech 21 power train or whatever.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

Comparing the 6505 to the 5150iii is not a good comparison at all. They honestly sound nothing alike.
The 5150iii has a clean and crunch channel that the 6505 could only dream of. The ultra channel is close but the EVH is more refined and less fizzy.
You'd be surprised by it if you tried it. It's way more versatile than the 6505+ is.

Maybe they're not similar at all, I haven't played one before but would like something that does good cleans as well. Modern high gain amps are renowned for having a crap clean channel. Fender deluxe could be another option.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

Comparing the 6505 to the 5150iii is not a good comparison at all. They honestly sound nothing alike.
The 5150iii has a clean and crunch channel that the 6505 could only dream of. The ultra channel is close but the EVH is more refined and less fizzy.
You'd be surprised by it if you tried it. It's way more versatile than the 6505+ is.
A lot of that fizz can be fixed with a tube swap and a proper biasing (which isn't the Peavey recommended bias setting).
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

A lot of that fizz can be fixed with a tube swap and a proper biasing (which isn't the Peavey recommended bias setting).

Which would be nice if a 5150 could cover half of the tones that a band covering 4 decades of pop/rock needs. But it can't

Modeller + powered cab for the win.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

Which would be nice if a 5150 could cover half of the tones that a band covering 4 decades of pop/rock needs. But it can't

Modeller + powered cab for the win.
I would agree with you if I didn't watch my buddy Cory do exactly what you're saying can't be done every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for a few years. A 5150-II/6505+ and a good overdrive with a couple different guitars covers A TON of ground.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

ANd a POD dialed in will kick said amp to the curb. On EVERY sound, except post DLR Van Halen.

The OP is more concerned about having the totally tubular awesomeness of a 5159 and jumping through invisible hoops to use it. Popular consensus is that the 5150 is pretty much a one trick pony (but what a trick it is!). The cleans could be cleaner, the gain could be more wide ranging, we can go on.

He is in a "function" band. What that means is people want them to show up and play sound alike hits from 4 decades of music:

Clean Fender
Over Driven fender
Marshall 800
Modded Marshall
Roland Jazz Chorus
with an assortment of EQ, Chorus, Phase, Flange and delays ranging from mild to wild.

You can tweak a 5150 and pedal it to death, but the presets in a POD through the "function band" PA will beat it in a New York minute.

Just like guys who try to mod a Pearly Gates into a Dimebucker. You can mod the PG all you want. It will get closer, but never win. Use the right tool for the job.

I have played in bands that have done Mustang Sally, Rock & Roll, Can't Get enough, Shake It Up, Pride (In the name of love), Rebel Yell, Nothing But A Good Time, Surrender, and The Trooper.

Would I have a cool tone with a JCM 900 SL-X? Sure. Would be the right thing for that gig? Heck no. I think it is flat out bad advice. Are you playing for you or for the crowd/client/customer? I'm saying as a guitar player, yeah - you'd dig "Cory's" tone.

I'm saying as a member of the Function - it won't sound "right" no matter how you bias a tube.
 
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Re: Best amp for covers band

ANd a POD dialed in will kick said amp to the curb. On EVERY sound, except post DLR Van Halen.

The OP is more concerned about having the totally tubular awesomeness of a 5159 and jumping through invisible hoops to use it. Popular consensus is that the 5150 is pretty much a one trick pony (but what a trick it is!). The cleans could be cleaner, the gain could be more wide ranging, we can go on.

He is in a "function" band. What that means is people want them to show up and play sound alike hits from 4 decades of music:

Clean Fender
Over Driven fender
Marshall 800
Modded Marshall
Roland Jazz Chorus
with an assortment of EQ, Chorus, Phase, Flange and delays ranging from mild to wild.

You can tweak a 5150 and pedal it to death, but the presets in a POD through the "function band" PA will beat it in a New York minute.

Just like guys who try to mod a Pearly Gates into a Dimebucker. You can mod the PG all you want. It will get closer, but never win. Use the right tool for the job.

I have played in bands that have done Mustang Sally, Rock & Roll, Can't Get enough, Shake It Up, Pride (In the name of love), Rebel Yell, Nothing But A Good Time, Surrender, and The Trooper.

Would I have a cool tone with a JCM 900 SL-X? Sure. Would be the right thing for that gig? Heck no. I think it is flat out bad advice. Are you playing for you or for the crowd/client/customer? I'm saying as a guitar player, yeah - you'd dig "Cory's" tone.

I'm saying as a member of the Function - it won't sound "right" no matter how you bias a tube.
Well, the point I was trying to make is that it's not as much of a one-trick pony as many believe it to be and it's a scenario that it's excelled in before.

Plus, the guy already has the amp, so why not save money and/or get other cool gear for the situation.

There's more than one way to skin a cat. :D
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

I use a POD precisely because I need a wide variety of tones available on the fly.

Singing lead vocals and pedal dances do not mix.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

As much as I don't care for MY tone using them, the POD is great for this type of gig. One of the guitar players in my uncle's band was using a POD floorboard (can't remember of it was the XT or HD500) and a Variax and could get any tone you could imagine.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

I tend to agree with Ace a multi effect with a line out would be the way to go. Plug direct into the house system and you are done. The whole set can be programed into the unit and there is less to drag around for load in. The purpose of a GB gig is to make money, not go into debt buying fancy tube amps.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

Depends on the band and the people in it.

I always recommend that you get an amp that has balls and presence instead of an anemic, emasculated digital box that pretends to be something it isn't.

Of course, that's just me.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

Depends on the band and the people in it.

I always recommend that you get an amp that has balls and presence instead of an anemic, emasculated digital box that pretends to be something it isn't.

Of course, that's just me.

I agree if you're playing one style, but when you're calling for versatility, the amp that has balls and presence will not be able to do everything that the emasculated digital box that pretends to be something it isn't.

If you want balls and presence, put the digital box through a power amp and cab.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

Depends on the band and the people in it.

I always recommend that you get an amp that has balls and presence instead of an anemic, emasculated digital box that pretends to be something it isn't.

Of course, that's just me.

I would tend to agree with you, If it was a 80's/90's rock cover gig that would be the case. I don't see the need to buy a 5150 to play Celebration, Walking on Sunshine and the Chicken Dance.

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Re: Best amp for covers band

Different strokes for different folks.

I've always been a firm believer of making your gear do what you need it to do.

Granted, with some gear - that isn't possible. However, with a good amp and some pedals you can only make so many excuses.
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

I would tend to agree with you, If it was a 80's/90's rock cover gig that would be the case. I don't see the need to buy a 5150 to play Celebration, Walking on Sunshine and the Chicken Dance.

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I agree. No need to buy it. However, if you already own it, like the OP, it'll work. That was the basis of my suggestion. :)
 
Re: Best amp for covers band

However, with a good amp and some pedals you can only make so many excuses.

No excuses brother. I would rock the **** out of the Chicken Dance with a multi effect! 5 minute tapping solo with tons of echo.
 
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