Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

[bulb]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Out of the amps i have tried i would rate it as such:

5150/6505 series: Definitely my favorite. A one trick pony, but god what a trick! Such character, such bite, such an amazing price too! As a bonus they record well too, but many people dont know how to set them properly and they get a bad rep especially live (wtf no mids?!).

JSX: Nice amp for more generic crunch and rock but can definitely handle metal (sikth used them live for a while and i believe even recorded the "trees" album with it!). Decent clean, good crunch and lead channel, and a good eq section. These amps can really push live if set right (mids are cool!!!)

XXX: I kinda feel like this is the jsx's cheaper brother, like they fixed what was wrong with the xxx for the most part with the jsx but thats just me, waaaaay gainy, and very good for generic metal and rock crunch, you can dial in a lot of mids on the amp to cut thru live too! Can be a little tricky to get sounding as good when recorded tho... And the clean channel leaves a lot to be desired, however for the money they are definitely cool! (especially used)

XXL: Solid state crap, there are better and cheaper solid state alternatives as long as you follow the sacred rule of not cranking your SS amp. Go with line 6 if you want a solid state practice amp or something... On the other hand buying this amp will probably teach you a few valuable lessons about amps in general (the hard way unfortunately).

of course all of this is imho, which really amounts to very little haha

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

5150/6505 series: many people dont know how to set them properly and they get a bad rep especially live (wtf no mids?!).

Hehe, I'm one of them. Mids at two on the thing sounds best, IMO... tighter, more balanced, fits the mix a bit better, less honky.

 

[vendettabass]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Valve King- dissapointing

awe noway how come! (will be trying one out this weekend!)

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Classic 50 does have the best cleans in the business. I used to have a 2x12. Loved the cleans, but the dirt was disappointing. That's all I've tried.

I love the clean channel on my C50 Head thru the 5150 cab.... so much so i use my Godin's Piezo thru it as well.... I Mix both the piezo and neck postion humbucker on the Godin Solidac thru the C 50's clean channel... add a Boss Chorus pedal here and there and it is the best Clean sound i have ever heard.... It's not quite acoustic sounding, but more of the best clean sound i have ever heard, lots of sparkel!!!

 

[bulb]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Hehe, I'm one of them. Mids at two on the thing sounds best, IMO... tighter, more balanced, fits the mix a bit better, less honky.

Its a combination of things really. People feel the need to use "bedroom" settings live. First off, the mic adds A LOT of high end to the sound, second people dont always tweak while directly in front of the speaker. Since high frequencies are directional, it leads them to believe that the sound is a lot darker than it really is so they crank up the highs. Then they also feel the need to crank the bass, when they have a perfectly good bassist to take care of that too. Mids are where its at on the 5150, i keep them at 10, whereas lows and resonance will be at like 5 or 6 and highs and presence will be at 3 or 4. That way with the mic, it adds just the right amount of brightnes not to be ear piercing, and you get enough mids to cut thru the mix.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I Now own an Ultra 212. Killer metal amp that can also do blues. Clean channel is nice. Mid gain tones are really rich and warm. High gain--I've found nothing better, but I've never played a Bogner.

Used to own an XXL. Sounds decent at medium volume. Go too loud and the tone falls apart. fartfartfartsqueeeek. Clean channel sucks.

I thought the 5150 was quite noisy. Good tone, but too much noise. I like my ultra better.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Thanks for reviewing those amps bulb. That's sort of how I'd rank them too. The XXL isn't even worth buying.....a Vox Valvetronix head will blow it away.
I wasn't impressed with the XXX either.....just a buzz machine.

Did Peavey make any changes when they dumped the 5150 for the 6505, or did they just put a new badge on it and remove the EVH affiliation? Or did they add a resonance knob, so there's one for each channel?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Its a combination of things really. People feel the need to use "bedroom" settings live. First off, the mic adds A LOT of high end to the sound, second people dont always tweak while directly in front of the speaker. Since high frequencies are directional, it leads them to believe that the sound is a lot darker than it really is so they crank up the highs. Then they also feel the need to crank the bass, when they have a perfectly good bassist to take care of that too. Mids are where its at on the 5150, i keep them at 10, whereas lows and resonance will be at like 5 or 6 and highs and presence will be at 3 or 4. That way with the mic, it adds just the right amount of brightnes not to be ear piercing, and you get enough mids to cut thru the mix.

You, sir, have way too much sense to be in a band! Anyone remember an article by Stevie Rays tech saying he set the amps numbers to the same place no matter what the venue sounded like?!?!? There is something to be said for knowing how to play your amp - whatever it is! Kinda like flying a plane and not being able to land it - you gotta do both play guitar and work an amp!!!

 

[Farkus]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

My 5150 was my favorite amp for metal. Until one of the power tubes fried and there was an arc that fried some of the components. IMO it sounds better on a cab loaded with G12m75's than it does on the 5150 cab, unless you want the Carnal Knowledge tone, which is nailed with that setup. Now I'm really GASing for another 5150. Thanks guys.

My first amp was a Backstage Plus; I still use it in my bedroom...I've had it since the late '80s. It doesn't sound that great, but you can drop it off of a roof and it'll still work.

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Did Peavey make any changes when they dumped the 5150 for the 6505, or did they just put a new badge on it and remove the EVH affiliation? Or did they add a resonance knob, so there's one for each channel?

Again, no changes whatsoever to the amp, aside from logo.

 

[inter]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Check out VH's tone on live in Sydney on the VHIII tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcvLtfW6FI&search=van halen sydney. It's a classic example of the 5150. My god Cherone is such a fruity performer.

My take is if you have enough quality in your other amp's cleans and distortion tones (with it looks like u do). The 5150 is a great tool to add to your flavours.

The 5150 has a raw mid snarl to it! Play it to some heavy drum tracks and you'll hear some Machine Head, Megadeth and can groove, with a killer response to your playing. Your a player so you'll get something very nice out of it.

Laneys are something to look at. I came across this vid of PG. I really liked his phrasing around 2:00 min mark he's growing up abit!!!! He's playing a laney VC50 combo with laney extension cabs in the beginning and during the performance.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPGA3vjMLgE It's the combo version of the VH100R.

Check out this guys GH50L laney clip at HC http://acapella.harmony-central.com...?s=&threadid=1162434&highlight=pics+and+laney. The VH100R & GH50/100L amp's have the same gain structure.

Man I love YouTube it's the greatest source of live guitar amp tones!!!! I just bought a VC50 and it sound's exactly like these clips.

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

WHAT ABOUT A PEAVEY BANDIT?
pure muddy and crappyness?

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

One of my 1st amps was a Backstage plus I bought new in 84'. Probably the only S.S. amp I've ever had any fondness for. It had killer Verb,took pedals well and was just loud enough to hang with a drummer.

In the early 90's I bought a Classic 30. ( A MAJOR P.O.S. IMO) The clean channel gave up it's headroom way to soon, And broke up very harshly. The O.D. channel was very grindy. A Lil' to much for a good light fendery O.D. and miles away from a Marshall crunch. Worst of all... It couldn't hang with a hard hitting drummer.

2 years ago a buddy gave me a old VTX Classic in disrepair.It sounded pretty good for about 5 minutes then the tubes would red plate.:yell:
Jeff Seal advised me the TO-220 package transistors may be the culprit and the part # was now obsolete! His Professional advise was to create some more work for my garbage man.:laugh2: After unsuccessfully being able to locate them transistors... I took Jeff's advise.:flush:

 

[Pecan]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

^ You didn't like the classic 30? sure you didn't have something wrong with it? I've never heard a person they didn't like the classic 30.

 

[element062]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

awe noway how come! (will be trying one out this weekend!)

I said it several times now and I'll say it again. I love my valveking. Also, some of you will with out a doubt disagree with me but, when I play my VK half stack while jamming with my friend who has a XXX half stack I've gotta say I prefer the VK. Now I grant my friend does have a stupid rack with tons of crap that sucks tone and I run my guitar straight in, but still. I love my valveking. The XXX is a very very tight amp with great gain but, its just too buzzy for me. Something I don't particularly care for on the VK though is when the more gain button isn't pushed in. Its an ok tone but it sounds way better when both the more volume and more gain buttons are in.(for what I play anyway)

**Please note that this comparison is purely subjective so please don't bludgeon me.:blackeye:

 

[Danglin' Fury]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I own a JSX and I have to say it is the best in the Peavey line hands down. I do love the 5150 and the 6505 ALOT but no cleans man. I heard from a friend that the XXX blows the JSX away for metal and I must say it just blows. I tried one out yesterday and the crunch channel is good but when I switched to ultra it was as if someone put a turd in the signal. I run a parametric in the loop of the JSX and get phenomenal heavy tones so if you are thinking of a Peavey, try a JSX. Put an EQ in the loop and listen to the pure tonal wizadry first hand!:bowdown:

 

[CGord]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Check out VH's tone on live in Sydney on the VHIII tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcvLtfW6FI&search=van halen sydney. It's a classic example of the 5150. My god Cherone is such a fruity performer.

My take is if you have enough quality in your other amp's cleans and distortion tones (with it looks like u do). The 5150 is a great tool to add to your flavours.

The 5150 has a raw mid snarl to it! Play it to some heavy drum tracks and you'll hear some Machine Head, Megadeth and can groove, with a killer response to your playing. Your a player so you'll get something very nice out of it.

Laneys are something to look at. I came across this vid of PG. I really liked his phrasing around 2:00 min mark he's growing up abit!!!! He's playing a laney VC50 combo with laney extension cabs in the beginning and during the performance.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPGA3vjMLgE It's the combo version of the VH100R.

Check out this guys GH50L laney clip at HC http://acapella.harmony-central.com...?s=&threadid=1162434&highlight=pics+and+laney. The VH100R & GH50/100L amp's have the same gain structure.

Man I love YouTube it's the greatest source of live guitar amp tones!!!! I just bought a VC50 and it sound's exactly like these clips.

Man, I started to watch the Unchained clip, but then I went to the Dance the Night Away clip. Ahhh, yes. Van Halen. :headbang:

Ooh, Ooh, Hear About it Later! I'm gonna be here awhile.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Check out VH's tone on live in Sydney on the VHIII tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcvLtfW6FI&search=van%20halen%20sydney. It's a classic example of the 5150. My god Cherone is such a fruity performer.

Wow, Ed's tone is asstacular.

Compare to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r0giCsDios&search=unchained "van halen"

 

[FamousForSustain]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Ooooh, did someone say Peavey?

Here's the ones I've tried:

Classic 30 head w\matching 410: This thing KILLS! For cleans and light bluesy OD I can't imagine anything better. I've even heard kids pull borderline metal sounds out of it without the use of a pedal.

ValveKing 212: As I stated in another forum, I didn't really jump for this one. Sounded a little dark and not quite as vibrant as a good tuber should be. Probably great for metal, though.

XXX head through Soldano 412: The crunch channel on this thing is probably my favorite gain channel on any amp; just the right amount of warmth, bite, grit... awesome channel. The ultra channel is cool but voiced a little too dark along the lines of Mesa\Nu metal amps. Didn't try the cleans. Sue me, but I like the mudflap girls!

6505 212: Absolute gain monster. They probably only included the clean channel for guys running pedals into it.

Various solid state Peaveys: This is where their tainted reputation comes from, although a lot of guys seem to like the XXL.

I've yet to try the JSX. The clips on PV's site all have a noticeable "woody" character that kind of killed my hardon for this amp, but I'd still love to try it. Ditto the Penta, not so much the "Windsor" (If I want British tones I'll get a vox, thanks).

Don't knock the Mace too hard, it was what Rossington used on "Free Bird"!

I own an Ultra 60 head from '92; this amp was the forerunner to the XXX. It's a lot more organic in tone and doesn't have the bells and whistles of the XXX (i.e. damping switches and seperate EQs for the gain channels). It's crunch channel is thinner and less gainy than the one on the XXX, which makes it less suitable for heavy stuff but awesome for everything from gritty blues to classic hard rock and punk. The Ultra channel rules: Thick and heavy, awesome for solos and heavy chording. You can get this channel to put out some serious Scandinavian death metal sounds, but unlike the XXX you have to really crank the gain to get to that level, whereas on the XXX it occurs at gain 4 or so. Clean channel is as good as it gets for a gain amp, cool reverb. Mine's beat to hell and I haven't had the chance (or money) to get it retubed and recapped, and so as it is the mids are pretty harsh. Also the amp, physically, is HEAVY as a monster! As in 10-15 pounds more than a Mesa! Finally, it's about the quietest gain amp I've ever played (in regards to noise and hiss, not volume) and it does NOT get along with any pedals I've tried on it.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

^ You didn't like the classic 30? sure you didn't have something wrong with it? I've never heard a person they didn't like the classic 30.

Well, I don't like the Classic 30.

I have a Mesa DC-3, and whenever I have let someone play the DC-3 who owns a C30, they cry. Yeah, it's more money, but worth every penny!

Bill