Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[siggy14]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
I think Peavey added a 12AX7 to the circuit on the +. Increased flexibility by making the crunch channel footswitchable. Improved the clean sound & also added a separate eq section with separate presence, resonance, low, high, and mid controls for each channel and a bias access from the back. Also made it single input as opposed to dual. Voicing seems to have changed a little as well. I recall when the II's first came out, people liked the flexibility but thought the tone of the mk1 were overall better..which seemed to effect resale quite a bit too.

Most these features are on the XXX as well..which to me is kinda the offspring of the Ultra mated to both 5150's.


[/ QUOTE ]

I have owned the combo, the first 5150 and presently own 5150-2 head.

Depending on the style of music you want is which head you will want. If you want pure brutal distortion then go with the original, but if you want a smother distortion and be able to get more flexibility then go with the 5150-2 head.

I personaly liked the 5150-2 head better, to me it has that great distortion, but at the same time i can get many different tones out of it.

[horns666]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

BBE 422...IN THE LOOP!!!!!

try it...what do you got to lose ...NOTHING!

BBE 422s...would be a very hot comodity right here on the JCF if you don't like it...but you will...you'll NEVER play a 5150 without it again...

Trust me...been there twice...got the T-shirt to proove it..

OR

take your chance and have some fucktard butcher your amp for half the cost of the head.....sure you could do that too...it's your amp...your call..go for it. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[charvelguy]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

well, if you are going to get a BBE, try the 422a. Plenty of 362's out there cheap tho. Saw one at GC for 20.00 over memorial day. That being said, a BBE will color your sound, usually for the better but not the case for every amp so its not a cure all in every case. It'll add more prescence and tighten up the bottom end while still sounding full.
Worth giving it a shot before any mods if you're tired of the tone.

[siggy14]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
BBE 422...IN THE LOOP!!!!!

try it...what do you got to lose ...NOTHING!

BBE 422s...would be a very hot comodity right here on the JCF if you don't like it...but you will...you'll NEVER play a 5150 without it again...

Trust me...been there twice...got the T-shirt to proove it..

OR

take your chance and have some fucktard butcher your amp for half the cost of the head.....sure you could do that too...it's your amp...your call..go for it. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I have BBE 482 and have put it in the loop before and it does bring a whole new sonic sound sculpture to play with, defintly a great option.

[Posepatrol]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

Covert it to EL-34's! I know a Guy that used those more than anybody who's amps were EL-34 Equipped. 6l6's were used in production for the price point.

[LouSiffer]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
BBE 422...IN THE LOOP!!!!!

try it...what do you got to lose ...NOTHING!

BBE 422s...would be a very hot comodity right here on the JCF if you don't like it...but you will...you'll NEVER play a 5150 without it again...

Trust me...been there twice...got the T-shirt to proove it..

OR

take your chance and have some fucktard butcher your amp for half the cost of the head.....sure you could do that too...it's your amp...your call..go for it. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I completely agree. I sold mine to someone in a fit of idiocy as well as the rest of my gear last year.

Also, try changing the brand of tubes. You would be surprised in the different tones you will get. I liked the Electro Harmonix myself.-Lou

[Twisteramps]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
Covert it to EL-34's! I know a Guy that used those more than anybody who's amps were EL-34 Equipped. 6l6's were used in production for the price point.

[/ QUOTE ]

EL34s draw a lot more current than 6L6s. If you're going to do this, be prepared to run the amp with only a pair of EL34s instead of a full quad. And you'll need to mod the bias supply slightly.

Pete

[siggy14]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Covert it to EL-34's! I know a Guy that used those more than anybody who's amps were EL-34 Equipped. 6l6's were used in production for the price point.

[/ QUOTE ]

EL34s draw a lot more current than 6L6s. If you're going to do this, be prepared to run the amp with only a pair of EL34s instead of a full quad. And you'll need to mod the bias supply slightly.

Pete

[/ QUOTE ]

I would not change to EL34's, to much hassle and you will loose distortion and bottom end, well unless you want more of a rock/hardrock tone. Like Horns said, put a freaking BBE in the loop! Also try a EQ pedal there as you can then change the voicing some.

[horns666]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

I want to RIP out these lousy GAY EL34s outta my Uber...

AND YOU WANT TO STICK THEM IN???? [img]/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/what.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

Oh yeah...that will sound MUCH better... [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[siggy14]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
I want to RIP out these lousy GAY EL34s outta my Uber...

AND YOU WANT TO STICK THEM IN???? [img]/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/what.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

Oh yeah...that will sound MUCH better... [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Horns,

have you tried the The JJ E34L's , i have heard they are alot better normal EL34's, read what euro tubes has to say about them.

http://www.eurotubes.com/euro-e.htm

[horns666]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

Hey thanks Siggy..

as I was tellin' Pete once ...

I hate the midrange "HONK" EL34s make when pushed to high volume levels..I know I got the stock JJ EL34s in there I don't know if they're Ls..

whatever amp I ever had with EL34...I could dial up amazing tones from the amp...from the preamp section...but as soon as those Poweramp tubes kick in and compress and shit..I lose whatever coolness I dialed up..

6L6s have more of a scopped sound to them to my ears which I prefer because guitar freqs are all mids any way...and when loaded with EL34s...it goes into UBER-Mid...HONK HONK!! [img]/images/graemlins/eviltongue.gif[/img]

at least 6L6s / 5881s...give you some tight bottom end and a pretty sharp edge...not all midrange HONK!

I can see why EL34s are great for amps without alot of gain...amps like old Marshalls that need stomps and crap in front of them...the "compression" makes those amps "sing"..

but NOT high gain amps...EL34s MUSH up and the low end is lacking...NOTHING but all MIDS...No bottom...No edge!

But I'm fucking with the Uber as stock...I got it sounding better at louder levels..I'm trying to keep it stock...I really don't want to fuck with it. I'll just sell it if I ever find a worthy replaceement...but so far ..NOPE!!

I still didn't get a chance to do the Uber VS Powerball thing...too busy playing with my "Summer" toy...the ALMIGHTY AC Cobra [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]

I could EASILY see that an UBER would SUCK ASS with Vintage 30s...jeez...yeah that would be great MORE midrange...OH PLEAS NO!!!!!...that is why I'm not even interested in a Uber cab...I'd rather stick to my 75 watt celestion loaded 1960b cabs....I like those speakers MUCH better..

I wouldn't take FREE Vintage 30s and EL34's if you kept throwin' 'em at me all day long...I have NO use for them..not my taste in tone whatsoever! [img]/images/graemlins/refuse.gif[/img]

Those are the two elements I consistantly have a problem with ..

BTW I retubed my two 5150s with groove tube 6L6s back in '92...and I thought the stock Sylvanias were MUCH better to my ears..I did NOT like the groove tubes at all...I heard ED used GTs in all his heads...so I had to try it.

we didn't have forums like this back in 1992...it was all trial and error ...On our own...remember that crap..

remember all the wads of wasted money on modding and fucking up our shit...that really sucked! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

nahhh ..if i don't like an amp the way it is designed to sound..I'll move on until something better comes along...no more fuckin' with shit...NO WAY!!! [img]/images/graemlins/nono.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/refuse.gif[/img]

[siggy14]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
Hey thanks Siggy..

as I was tellin' Pete once ...

I hate the midrange "HONK" EL34s make when pushe to high volume levels..

whatever amp I ever had with EL34...I could dial up amazing tones from the amp...from the preamp section...but as soon as those Poweramp tubes kick in and compress and shit..I lose whatever coolness I dialed up..

6L6s have more of a scopped sound to them to my ears which I prefer because guitar freqs are all mids any way...and when loaded with EL34s...it goes into UBER-Mid...HONK HONK!! [img]/images/graemlins/eviltongue.gif[/img]

at least 6L6s / 5881s...give you some tight bottom end and a pretty sharp edge...not all midrange HONK!

I can see why EL34s are great for amps without alot of gain...amps like old Marshalls that need stomps and crap in front of them...the "compression" makes those amps "sing"..

but NOT high gain amps...EL34s MUSH up and the low end is lacking...NOTHING but all MIDS...No bottom...No edge!

But I'm fucking with the Uber as stock...I got it sounding better at louder levels..I'm trying to keep it stock...I really don't want to fuck with it. I'll just sell it if I ever find a worthy replaceement...but so far ..NOPE!!

I still didn't get a chance to do the Uber VS Powerball thing...too busy playing with my "Summer" toy...the ALMIGHTY AC Cobra [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]

I could EASILY see that an UBER would SUCK ASS with Vintage 30s...jeez...yeah that would be great MORE midrange...OH PLEAS NO!!!!!...that is why I'm not even interested in a Uber cab...I'd rather stick to my 75 watt celestion loaded 1960b cabs....I like those speakers MUCH better..

I wouldn't take FREE Vintage 30s and EL34's if you kept throwin' 'em at me all day long...I have NO use for them..not my taste in tone whatsoever! [img]/images/graemlins/refuse.gif[/img]

Those are the two elements I consistantly have a problem with ..

BTW I retubed my two 5150s with groove tube 6L6s back in '92...and I thought the stock Sylvanias were MUCH better to my ears..I did NOT like the groove tubes at all...I heard ED used GTs in all his heads...so I had to try it.

we didn't have forums like this back in 1992...it was all trial and error ...On our own...remember that crap..

remember all the wads of wasted money on modding and fucking up our shit...that really sucked! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

nahhh ..if i don't like an amp the way it is designed to sound..I'll move on until something better comes along...no more fuckin' with shit...NO WAY!!! [img]/images/graemlins/nono.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/refuse.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

The E34L's are not really a mod, they are a EL34 with a higher bias and a mix between the EL34 and the 6L6, so you might want to try them.

I was never a big fan of groove tubes either, you have to remember, ed gets the choice pick on them, they probaly give him ones with solid gold filiments [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

As to midrange and amps, remember how you said that when you put your uber up against a bandmates/friend recto, you said you got lost in the mix, that is because of the lack of mid's, as much as you dont like mids, unless you are doing that wall of sound thing, you need them. I like mid's but i am more of a rock player these days that dabbles in my old metal ways.

By the way if someone throws vintage 30's at you, take them and give them to me, they sell for a good price on ebay [img]/images/graemlins/idea2.gif[/img]

But serious, i prefer the 6L6 for metal too, even for rock, hell look at all the rock albums that were written with fenders too, they use 6L6's. Also alot of the 80's metal were 5881 marshall amps as well, just goes to show you.

[JerryP]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
BBE 422...IN THE LOOP!!!!!

try it...what do you got to lose ...NOTHING!

BBE 422s...would be a very hot comodity right here on the JCF if you don't like it...but you will...you'll NEVER play a 5150 without it again...

Trust me...been there twice...got the T-shirt to proove it..

OR

take your chance and have some fucktard butcher your amp for half the cost of the head.....sure you could do that too...it's your amp...your call..go for it. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm hardly a fucktard, asshole maybe. I have a pretty good rep for my work with 5150's. If a BBE works for you, that's great. It may not work for everyones tastes. My mods might not be for everyone. If everyone liked the same stuff there'd be no need for any mods or BBE's. Some guys want something different. Sometimes a tube change is enough, other times it's just a bias mod, for others the BBE does the trick, and then there's some that like the mods. To each his own.
A BBE can't add anything to an amps tone, it can only work with what the amp already has.
The price for my standard 5150 mod is about $200 with shipping. My mods doesn't add gain, it lowers it. My mods are totally reversible and don't involve any hacking or drilling holes (unless I add a 3rd channel). My mods don't take away from the signature 5150 grind like some other mods do. My goal is to take what the amp already has and make it a little better and address some of the common complaints players have come to me with.

The 5150 can't run EL34's without mods. It will need a bias mod, upgraded screen grid resistors, and the ground connected to pin 1 of V9 at the very minimum. For what it's worth the 5150 sounds like total ass with EL34's. Very muddy unless the amp has been modded and revoiced to use them.
Jerry

[siggy14]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
BBE 422...IN THE LOOP!!!!!

try it...what do you got to lose ...NOTHING!

BBE 422s...would be a very hot comodity right here on the JCF if you don't like it...but you will...you'll NEVER play a 5150 without it again...

Trust me...been there twice...got the T-shirt to proove it..

OR

take your chance and have some fucktard butcher your amp for half the cost of the head.....sure you could do that too...it's your amp...your call..go for it. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm hardly a fucktard, asshole maybe. I have a pretty good rep for my work with 5150's. If a BBE works for you, that's great. It may not work for everyones tastes. My mods might not be for everyone. If everyone liked the same stuff there'd be no need for any mods or BBE's. Some guys want something different. Sometimes a tube change is enough, other times it's just a bias mod, for others the BBE does the trick, and then there's some that like the mods. To each his own.
A BBE can't add anything to an amps tone, it can only work with what the amp already has.
The price for my standard 5150 mod is about $200 with shipping. My mods doesn't add gain, it lowers it. My mods are totally reversible and don't involve any hacking or drilling holes (unless I add a 3rd channel). My mods don't take away from the signature 5150 grind like some other mods do. My goal is to take what the amp already has and make it a little better and address some of the common complaints players have come to me with.

The 5150 can't run EL34's without mods. It will need a bias mod, upgraded screen grid resistors, and the ground connected to pin 1 of V9 at the very minimum. For what it's worth the 5150 sounds like total ass with EL34's. Very muddy unless the amp has been modded and revoiced to use them.
Jerry

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree and disagree with you on this. My biggest grip is people that complain about amps tone, if you dont like an amps tone buy one that you do like! My favorite thing on websites that do mods are "my mod gets rid of the buzziness", well hell most people like the buzziness unless you are playing classic rock!

In my opinion there are only two real mods i would ever do, one would be splawn mod or mod like it to my 1987 to get more gain and a master volume or a higher gain mod to any other amp. The second mod would be a bias pot on my recto or any amp without the bias option.

My point is there are so many amps out there, unless you are a endorsee and you have to use that amp and cant stand the sound then i dont really see a reason to get it modded.

This also confuses alot of people, they feel there amps are bad because they here about these "mods" that change the tone and make it sound better! The question is better to who's taste? Someone that is buying a 5150 more then likley does not want less gain and they want that brutal "buzzy" distortion.

Dont get me wrong, i am not attacking your mods, i am just saying that alot of younger musicians get confused because they here about these mods, where the truth is the big mod hay day was back in the 80's when every wanted more gain out of amps that had little or needed a master volume.

[horns666]

Re: Looking to mod...Peavey 5150H

ahhhhh...I simply suggested to try using a BBE 422 BEFORE having some "fucktard" (not you) fuck with his amp...

are WE clear now..? [img]/images/graemlins/brow.gif[/img]