Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

SirJackdeFuzz

New member
I got a heads-up about a guy wanting to sell his mint cond 5150II head.

What do you guys think about the 5150 as a "non-metal" amp ?

Can it do Ozzy-era Sabbath, Led Zep, Clutch, Five Horse Johnson, AC/DC, Nashville P*ssy and any other 'good' music that you can think of ?

The so-called clean channel, with the gain close to maxed out, always sounded good to me . . .



. . . what is your thoughts on this amp as a low-to-medium gain amp ?



Thanx to all





PS : feel free to post clips if you know of any good classic rock tones with this amp.
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

Turn the gain down and it will do it just fine.

These were originally marketed as Eddie's amps, he's not a metal guy. ;)

The amp just had more gain on tap for people that want/need it.
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

Yeah - the question is has anybody ever actually turned the gain down :lmao:

Actually, based on peoples complaints about the clean channel, I'd say just turn that up... :)

It will do just fine. I have played one a bunch of times and always go through the range on the knob. I got Rock & Roll All Night and Black Diamond out of one just fine.
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

The clean channel with the crunch on is great. And the low gain input really opens up the amp alot. It's really versatile but it isn't quick to shift to each sound. It can do them though. Tubescreamer in the front makes a big difference too.
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

Yeah - the question is has anybody ever actually turned the gain down :lmao:

Actually, based on peoples complaints about the clean channel, I'd say just turn that up... :)

It will do just fine. I have played one a bunch of times and always go through the range on the knob. I got Rock & Roll All Night and Black Diamond out of one just fine.


THAT is what i am thinking too ;-)

I am looking for a massive sounding, albeit very open (ie. non compressed) sounding amp with a thunderous low end !
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

The clean channel with the crunch on is great.
And the low gain input really opens up the amp alot.
It's really versatile but it isn't quick to shift to each sound. It can do them though.
Tubescreamer in the front makes a big difference too.


Now this is indeed good news !

Wonder how it will sound with my LM308-chiped RAT ?
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

Honestly, if you've got money (IE you're not trading something you couldn't get a good price out of for this amp) then I'd say that your money would be better spent on an amp that is meant for the kind of music you want to play.
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

Honestly, if you've got money (IE you're not trading something you couldn't get a good price out of for this amp) then I'd say that your money would be better spent on an amp that is meant for the kind of music you want to play.


I hear you !

The main reason i am looking at this amp now, is only because i can get it at a very good price.
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

I hear you !

The main reason i am looking at this amp now, is only because i can get it at a very good price.

ya, for van halen and 80s music its fine. people define genres differently and that is not the "classic rock" that I listen to anyways.

I do not play that style, so if I got it, it would just collect dust. thats why I sold my Marshall Jcm900 50 watter since I really just play music suited for my Orange Thunderverb 50 :)
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

ya, for van halen and 80s music its fine. people define genres differently and that is not the "classic rock" that I listen to anyways.

I do not play that style, so if I got it, it would just collect dust. thats why I sold my Marshall Jcm900 50 watter since I really just play music suited for my Orange Thunderverb 50 :)

Ahhhh, yet another GREAT amp.

I would love to have both the Retro 50 & Thunderverb 50.
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

I find the 5150 the exact opposite of that. It's compressed to hell and back.

I saw a Black Stone Cheery concert (on Youtube) that was filmed in Germany.
They did a Muddy Waters song and the amp sounded sooo O P E N, (for a lack of a better word) and uncompressed.

But i know what you are saying.
My cousin's 2nd guitar player (he is in a metal band) has an old block letter 2X12 combo, with the help og EMG's, that amps sounds sooo compressed and tite on the lead channel - everythging i HATE about modern sounding amps.

I am after the type of amp character that Jimmy Page gets, on the IT MIGHT GET LOUD film, when he demonstrates the light & hard strumming on his Les Paul.
I know an Orange Retro 50 can get shockingly close, but i do not have the money for one of those, and for some reason, they stoped making them :-(
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

for Jimmy Page type full stack sounds I would steer clear of the compressed 5150!

If on a budget I would look at other used amps in that price range, like the Laney AOR 100 or maybe a Peavey VTM 120. You might be able to find amps from the 70s era like an Ampeg V4 but with any of these amps that are 20+ years old, have a good repair tech in mind and set aside some funds, just in case ;)
 
Re: Peavey 5150II for Classic Rock ?

With a 12AY7 swapped into V1, these amps are absolutely awesome as a classic rock amp! The 12AY7 lowers the gain enough that the clean channel gets really clean and the high gain channel takes on a JCM800 character, complete with all the attack and dynamics that the 5150s typically lack...it almost completely takes all of the compression out of the amp. No modifications other than swapping out the one tube are required.
 
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