MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

[metalmike]

Planning a purchase or trade ASAP. Have butterflies, but small doubts.

Playing a 6505+ very recently and then coming home to my current rig, plus *a lot of input from others* has me re-evaluating my current rig, and re-evaluating the 6505/5150. I miss having a Presence knob(s), and I'd forgotten how cool the Resonance knob(s) is (are). I'm going to give one or two 6505s a good workout in a speaker room, and more than likely make my move. I play rock and metal. I've got a JC-120 for cleans if I need them. I've always liked the 5150/6505. I know there is a one tube difference between the 6505 and 6505+, and that has to do with the bulk of my questions, from sonic and feel standpoints.

Here are my questions, please help, especially with the 6505 vs. 6505+ parts. I am not fishing for an argument I promise.

-How do Strats sound through it?
-How do fat Strats sound through it?
-Between the 6505 and 6505+, is there any difference with Channel 2?
-Between the 6505 and 6505+, what is the difference with Channel 1?
-How useful to you is Channel 1? What do you use it for? Besides a killswitch?
-How much warmer is it than the XXX? Should I try re-tubing mine first?
-How much warmer is it than the JSX?
-How much warmer is it than the TSL100?
-Between the 6505 and 6505+, is there any difference with the FX loop?

-How is the FX loop?
-Do you use pedals with it? Any of them sound great, or any data you can add to this question? (more with modulation and time-based than OD/Distortion)

-What cabinets do you use? Do you think my G-Flex and/or Mesa cabs would be good matches?
-How do you like the 6505 cab? I found it to be huger, darker, and lovelier than Oprah. Seriously, I think it's a great one. Should I switch that up, too?

-Do you like Detective Monk's assistant as much as I do? I love her?

-Should I get the 6505, or the 6505+?

After a bunch of amps including 3 Marshalls, my current tone/sound is better than it's been since I had to sell my Bogner in '03, but I am still not happy with it. This is not peer pressure or anything making me do this. I play often and put the guitar down often. I don't want to put the guitar down anymore. I'm not going to be able to afford an ENGL/Rivera/VHT/5153/Framus/Soldano/Bogner very soon, but I can make this move now I think, and if it will make a big difference, I'm doing it right f'in now.

Her name, I believe, is Traylor Howard. Yes, it is odd. No, there are no bikini/underwear pics of her on the internet.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

WRT your next-to-last question: Back off. She's mine.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

-Between the 6505 and 6505+, is there any difference with Channel 2?
-Between the 6505 and 6505+, what is the difference with Channel 1?

Overall, the entire amp is voiced with less gain, a bit less low end, a bit less grind on top, and a bit more twang. It sounds clearer overall, but these differences are wayyyy subtle, and I honestly think you could change tubes and those would make a bigger difference than 6505 vs 6505+

-How useful to you is Channel 1? What do you use it for? Besides a killswitch?

I use it for a 'dirty' clean tone. You can get a decent clean sound out of it, but I don't bother.

-How much warmer is it than the XXX? Should I try re-tubing mine first?

Way warmer, way more organic. Tube swaps didn't get the XXX very close to the 5150, I found.

-How much warmer is it than the JSX?

Just a tad bit warmer - they're pretty close. The JSX sounds to me like a Recto + 5150 Hybrid, with a bit of Marshall twang.

-How much warmer is it than the TSL100?

No clue.

-Between the 6505 and 6505+, is there any difference with the FX loop?

Nope!

-How is the FX loop?

It works best with rack units, but pedals can be used just fine. It sometimes reacts weird to pedals with the volume below 2 or so, but past that, it's fine.

-Do you use pedals with it? Any of them sound great, or any data you can add to this question? (more with modulation and time-based than OD/Distortion)

I run an OD808 and NS-2 infront, and it reacts well to it. Tightens up like it should with an OD.

I've run modulation effects in it... everything from a G-Major to Boss pedals - all sounded fine! The amp reacts really well to delays and choruses, in my experience.

-What cabinets do you use? Do you think my G-Flex and/or Mesa cabs would be good matches?

Mesa oversized 4x12 with the 5150 pwnsss me.

-How do you like the 6505 cab? I found it to be huger, darker, and lovelier than Oprah. Seriously, I think it's a great one. Should I switch that up, too?

I prefer Mesa cabs to the Peavey ones, but the Peaveys aren't bad actually. You've already got the Mesa, though, so I wouldn't bother.

-Should I get the 6505, or the 6505+?

Your choice, really - I'd probably opt for the 6505. It's got a bit more grind on top and is a bit more powerful sounding overall.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

Was hoping you would chime in Jeff.. but to clarify, you say "the" amp in some of your answers, but which one?

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

go with the 6505+

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

Was hoping you would chime in Jeff.. but to clarify, you say "the" amp in some of your answers, but which one?

Either/or, actually... the FX loops are the same on both, and they're equally warm for all intents and purposes. Both react the same to pedals, as well.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

Overall, the entire amp is voiced with less gain, a bit less low end, a bit less grind on top, and a bit more twang. It sounds clearer overall, but these differences are wayyyy subtle, and I honestly think you could change tubes and those would make a bigger difference than 6505 vs 6505+

Well here to be more specific, I assume you are referring to the 6505+, because even though I STILL havent played the 6505 I get that impression. Do you still have the + or did you get rid of it already?

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

Well here to be more specific, I assume you are referring to the 6505+, because even though I STILL havent played the 6505 I get that impression. Do you still have the + or did you get rid of it already?

Ah my bad - I'm talking about the II there. Still got it... not sure how long it will last. It'll eventually get replaced with a I, but it's so close I'm not in a huge hurry to do it.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

Yea, I am in a somewhat similar position.. I want a different amp, and I keep gassing for things like the VH100R and the original 6505, but the + is close enough that Im not in a hurry. I did put the amp on craigslist though and have gotten some offers.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

Yea, I am in a somewhat similar position.. I want a different amp, and I keep gassing for things like the VH100R and the original 6505, but the + is close enough that Im not in a hurry. I did put the amp on craigslist though and have gotten some offers.

I've got a nice $100 I wasn't expecting in the form of a phone rebate coming next week - I'll probably use it to ship the 5150II out. Gotta find a trader, or I may just resort to selling it. I'll probably make a bit of money selling it/finding a used one... but it'd almost be worth it just to trade and not deal with eBay.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

Yeah I know exactly what you mean there. Im almost tempted to call Doug Stapp back and see if he can get me a new 6505 and trade me straight up.. him being endorsed by Peavey and all. So whats the problem? I havent played one yet! Its really eating at me, but im afraid i will miss the cleans even more. Do the cleans break up the same on both of the amps?

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

The clean channel is the same aside from the separate eq's, actually - I just never use the ****ed thing, so it's worth it to get the better gain tone from the original.

 

[itbepopples]

Re: MASSIVE help request with 6505 vs. 6505+. I'm bustin' a move.

I've never played either but that assistant is the cutest **** thing I've ever seen!