Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

[youngthrasher9]

I've been told the cleans from a Peavey 6505 are lackluster at best, and I'm thinking about picking one up. If I do end up getting one, is there a part I could swap to get a better clean tone without changing the aggressive character of the dirt channel? The obvious choice would be to buy a 5150 III, but I don't think I'll have enough dough to do that.

 

[Grindspine]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Try different tubes, but first research which tube does what in the amp's signal chain. I know that I was able to smooth out my amp's sounds quite a bit with some tube swapping.

 

[CTN]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

the 6505+ has a better clean channel, FWIW.

I'm not sure about any mods to the 6505 though.

I'm sure they'd have a lot better info to provide over at the whammy bar & grille (peavey forum)

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

I think a good portion of your answer would lie in identifying the deficiencies of the 6505's clean channel. "Lackluster" doesn't really say a whole lot about what it sounds like compared to a more favorable clean channel -- which is going to vary from one player to the next. You have to know specifically what's wrong with it before you can approach how to "fix" it -- another relative, subjective concept.

 

[CTN]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

I think a good portion of your answer would lie in identifying the deficiencies of the 6505's clean channel. "Lackluster" doesn't really say a whole lot about what it sounds like compared to a more favorable clean channel -- which is going to vary from one player to the next. You have to know specifically what's wrong with it before you can approach how to "fix" it -- another relative, subjective concept.

...it's not very clean, it's not very detailed, it's not really "nice" sounding at all. nice crunch tones though.

 

[mantis]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

I think a good portion of your answer would lie in identifying the deficiencies of the 6505's clean channel. "Lackluster" doesn't really say a whole lot about what it sounds like compared to a more favorable clean channel -- which is going to vary from one player to the next. You have to know specifically what's wrong with it before you can approach how to "fix" it -- another relative, subjective concept.

I can answer this as I really wanted to pick one up starting with the 5150 then the 6505 which I was hoping for the exact same thing , a better clean channel.

Basically the clean channel on the 6505 is never truly clear and clean , it's just a lot less gain. It's like a OD pedal is on jut turned down , gritty and slighty dirty. You can actually get some very nice rock tones out of the clean channel and country , picky stuff it's really nice. It's not the channel is useless or anything but when you want a clear clean channel like a Fender Twin , JC120 or so clear clean channel , it just doesn't have it at all.
I never played the 6505+ as I gave up on the amp all together when I found and played the JSX. This might be the amp you want to check out as well. It has a very nice clean clear clean channel and very usable for anything you want. It takes pedals and effects very well. The Effects loop is foot switchable and everything. I really loved that amp except how damn noisy it can get. That can get away from you IF you push the lead channel to hard. The Drive channel was awesome as I was able to dial in so many damn badass tones with it. 80's metal was a breeze with this amp all the way to death metal type tones and everything in-between.

I fully understand the attraction the the 6505 , if I wanted just a mean and nasty drive channel amp on the cheap , I would buy one without question. I would then add a Fender Twin reverb as a 2nd amp and run dual channel. I would have a switcher to switch between amps for clean and drive. That would be badass but not really cost effective.

If I where you I would look into the 6505+ as well. Who knows maybe the cleans are good enough for what you want to do now and into the future. If not seriously check out a JSX.

 

[mantis]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Sorry I just re read your opening questions and I believe if you get the 6505 and start messing around with the tubes , your going to alter the drive channel as well.
I'm wondering if any amp builder or mod guys can clean up that channel without touching anything about the drive channel? Interesting question as I would love me a 6505 with a badass clear clean channel. it's not the way the amp is designed but if a set of different tubes and Bias setup would clear it up and leave the drive channel alone?? Peavey could sell that amp no sweat. I would buy one.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Yeah - the best way I have found to improve that is play better and ignore internet chatterboxes. It will sound better than you can play - so ignore the tone snob haters and go LISTEN for yourself before you start swapping magnets. And spend some serious time with your guitar doing so.

 

[SteveAlysis]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

just add some delay and make it work...

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

There is technically no clean channel at all on a 5150/6505.
The voicing of the amp makes it sound incredible for any kind of heavy rock or metal, but those kind of mids don't lend themselves well to a clean tone.
The main issue is the tonestack itself, not the tubes or anything like that.

3 options.

1. Use an EQ pedal like a Boss EQ pedal ('Guitar' or 'Bass', doesn't matter which version, both work perfectly well with guitars and bass guitar) and dip the 800Hz slider halfway to all the way down (for other EQ pedals, slide down 500Hz and 1000Hz a bit)
This will take out a lot of the nasaly mids, will stop the sound from breaking up as much. Will really open up the sound for cleans.
The easiest option, but perhaps not the best of the 3 but still better than nothing.

2. Go on ebay or look around on guitar forums for something like a Boss GT-8 or GT-10 and run that into the amp using the 4 cable method.
You'll be able to bypass the preamp for using clean sounds and switch back to the amp's preamp section for your gainy tones.
Best option for live use

3. Go straight into the power amp with a guitar.
Just plug directly into the effects loop return. Bear in mind that post-gain on this amp are not master volume controls, so it will sound VERY loud using this method.
Add a delay pedal, use an EQ pedal to adjust the level and tonal shaping and use your guitars volume knob to get the desired volume level.
Not convenient for live use, but if I had no other amps on hand and wanted the best clean out a 5150/6505 for playing at home or recording clean guitar parts, this is the best sounding method.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Thanks guys.

 

[CTN]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

There's another thing you could do...

use a lower gain preamp tube (like a 5751 or 12at7) in V1. It'll reduce the gain level of probably the whole amp (but the gain channel has so much gain, you'll still be able to get lots out of it, it just won't get as gainy as fast as it normally does.

That should clean up the "clean" channel significantly and will probably make the lead channel a bit more articulate/tighter.

Worth trying at least.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Getting a 6505 and wanting good cleans out of it is sorta like buying a ferrari and wanting gas mileage. A friend I was playing in blues band with had one and we tried to get better cleans and low gain tones out of it. I tried 7025's and 12au7's in the preamps slots mixing and matching with 12ax7's and it does help the amp stay cleaner louder (note I said cleaner its still not incredibly clean) but the cleans still lacked any liveliness and were still pretty unexciting, but much worse than this was the gain channel suffered it still has alot of gain but its less compressed it doesnt palm mute as well and just sorta starts to fart out. What we found out was that swapping the preamp tubes wont help in anyways that turning down the preamp knob wont already do.

I know guys like FJA mod the 6505 to have a ton better clean but mods on a 6505 due to their board design I wouldn't recommend for the unexperienced modder.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

There is technically no clean channel at all on a 5150/6505.

+1

With the right guitar, you get your "clean" sounds by simply rolling back the volume pot on your guitar. The overdrive saturation of the amp should reduce whilst the volume level remains the same.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Listen guys,m I agree that the 6505 is definitely biased towards crunch. But tune the guitar volume down, go single coil, and/or play nice and it will be fine.

But if Fender twin clean and headroom are what you want , this aint it. Listen to Run Around on F.U.C.K. by VH. There is a sound you can make all day with that.

My MArshall (still love saying that) has a clean that operates in a similar way. But the crunch does not pick up until way later. 6505 is a loud mofo amp. You shouldn't even be playing volume way up and gain way down on that channel to even think about cleans.

But agree - that amp is good for one thing - but wow is it good at that. But it will get you through the clean into to a song before you rage.

 

[Lightstrings]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

I've been told the cleans from a Peavey 6505 are lackluster at best, and I'm thinking about picking one up. If I do end up getting one, is there a part I could swap to get a better clean tone without changing the aggressive character of the dirt channel? The obvious choice would be to buy a 5150 III, but I don't think I'll have enough dough to do that.

Yes. If you have the time. Find an amp that has really nice clean channel that you like. An example. Fender Super Sonic 60 or 22. Then head to the specs page, and find the tubes they use in the gain stages. Usually gain stage 1 is split 1/2 for the lead and 1/2 for the clean and cruch. Don't change those tubes. That will greatly effect the overall sound of the amp. You could but your amps gain stages might sounded watered down, muddy.

Then look for wiring schematics. With a little effort you should be able to find them. Find the gain stages. I would start at the last gain stage for cleans. If like in 6505+ the gain stages are powered by 12AX7 tubes, then your in luck. Its just so happens that 12AT7, 12AY7, and 12AU7 and 5881 can be swapped out. When you change the tubes be careful. Yes the unexperienced have gotten a bad shock or worse.

Look at amps like Vox AC30 all tube. Others Fenders Twin Reverb 65, which to many exemplifies the "California Clean" sound that you might be looking for.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

I think JJ's sells a tube that is 12ax7 on one side and 12au7 on the other. I would think that this may prove advantageous if used as the first tube in the clean section. You can get the tube with either assembly first.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[Smdouris]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

I agree with the post recommending using an eq to cut some mids; that works well in my set up. I also use the option of bypassing the pre and running into the effects return. I use an H9 with an eq/compressor patch that controls that volume. That is pristine but a bit of a pain if you don’t have the switching setup to handle it.

 

[dave74]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Wouldn't work for on-the-fly cleaning,,,,,,,but couldn't one use an acoustic pedal or boss "fender" pedal and then go into the effects return?
It would only be using the amp for power not pregain, but it would still have the pedal's tone/effects controls.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Getting a 6505 and wanting good cleans out of it is sorta like buying a ferrari and wanting gas mileage. A friend I was playing in blues band with had one and we tried to get better cleans and low gain tones out of it. I tried 7025's and 12au7's in the preamps slots mixing and matching with 12ax7's and it does help the amp stay cleaner louder (note I said cleaner its still not incredibly clean) but the cleans still lacked any liveliness and were still pretty unexciting, but much worse than this was the gain channel suffered it still has alot of gain but its less compressed it doesnt palm mute as well and just sorta starts to fart out. What we found out was that swapping the preamp tubes wont help in anyways that turning down the preamp knob wont already do.

This is the reason I opted not to try to switch tubes in TT for better cleans. What the lower output preamp tube does is simply to lower the gain on next stage, which is exact the same thing gain knob does.

If it actually gives any "extra" headroom for the amp, it's because the eq shift of different tube, not the lower output.