5150 I/II Vs Framus Dragon Vs Cobra.

[Tawlks]

So I've heard alot of talk lately, and I own a 5150 II but I'm thinking about switching.

Since these Framus heads are so cheap (much like the 5150) I was considering buying one used.

How do they differ? I've heard very mixed things about all of the amps mentioned.

Peavey 5150, 5150 II (6505, 6505+)
Framus Dragon
Framus Cobra

 

[nighttrain69]

there great , and a real steal for what their selling for ,

 

[Anonymous]

I would be jumping all over a Cobra right now... but Ive got a line on a really clean 5150 EVH Blockletter, all original for $450!!! Im such a whore cuz Mailman already traded his to me for a Ibby that I had. Now I really need to find a Cobra for super cheap, or a dragon!!! Something tells me to pick Cobra over Dragon... just from what I can gather about the 2. What is the differences tonally between the 2 amps?

 

[Mailman1971]

I want another Cobra or Dragon myself........

 

[rottingcorpse]

i have had all three. dumped the dragon first. wish i hadn't.

sold the cobra next. just didn't dig the loop on either framus. i like running a decimator to silence the high gain, and just could not get the loop to work right....either clockwise or counter-clockwise i heard hiss.

i loved the tone from both amps. again, i wish i had kept the dragon. it was less noisy. even thought about scoring another one whenever they pop up here.

kept the 6505+. cheap, effective metal tones with an eq and decimator in the loop. bulletproof. replaceable at a moments notice in any city. a good road amp. i have also been told by people who have had framus heads on the road that they are very fragile, especially when hot....even in a good road case. (but that's just word of mouth from bros on the road, not experience on my part)

edit...difference between the cobra and the dragon? cobra has the mid switch(obviously) and the dragon seems a little less angry. deff less noisy. both have a mean, angry tone... but the cobra is a little more pissed. both amps are super easy to dial in a great sound. the bass knob on the channels is more of a super low mid, and the bass knob by the master volumes will add more bottom end than you can possibly use though a 12 inch speaker.....hooray for the isp guitar sub!!

 

[Anonymous]

Now thats some good insight! Besides noise... did you notice anything sonically different between the dragon and cobra? That sucks to hear that these amps might not be road worthy... well not for me, but for others!

i have had all three. dumped the dragon first. wish i hadn't.

sold the cobra next. just didn't dig the loop on either framus. i like running a decimator to silence the high gain, and just could not get the loop to work right....either clockwise or counter-clockwise i heard hiss.

i loved the tone from both amps. again, i wish i had kept the dragon. it was less noisy. even thought about scoring another one whenever they pop up here.

kept the 6505+. cheap, effective metal tones with an eq and decimator in the loop. bulletproof. replaceable at a moments notice in any city. a good road amp. i have also been told by people who have had framus heads on the road that they are very fragile, especially when hot....even in a good road case. (but that's just word of mouth from bros on the road, not experience on my part)

 

[roadifier]

The dragons circut on all channels are almoat identicle to a SLO, and it sounds like a much smoother recto too. I like it alot. And i got mine for 500, you can probably get it for 700 dollars. (they thought mine had a prooblem, thats why it was so cheap)

 

[Mailman1971]

Is it the Dragon or the Cobra that is almost identical to the SLO?
I read about this numerous times but thought it was the Cobra's crunch channel?
I never had the dragon but want to check out one someday!

 

[roadifier]

Is it the Dragon or the Cobra that is almost identical to the SLO?
I read about this numerous times but thought it was the Cobra's crunch channel?
I never had the dragon but want to check out one someday!

The dragon. I compared both schrmatics and the dragon is just lime the slo. And the crunch channel is like a marshall jcm 800 (sorry for spelling mistakes im on an Iphone.)

 

[Mailman1971]

Is it the Dragon or the Cobra that is almost identical to the SLO?
I read about this numerous times but thought it was the Cobra's crunch channel?
I never had the dragon but want to check out one someday!

The dragon. I compared both schrmatics and the dragon is just lime the slo. And the crunch channel is like a marshall jcm 800 (sorry for spelling mistakes im on an Iphone.)

Awesome! Now I am REALLY on the look for one!!

 

[nighttrain69]

just sold mine for 700 ,wish i didnt have to but hey,

 

[Mailman1971]

just sold mine for 700 ,wish i didnt have to but hey,

Screw it Man.......its just gear!

I sold and bought so much and regret some sales but hey........


Its ONLY ROCK N ROLL!!

 

[glpg80]

5150 II all the way. i love mine.

when you consider going to many gigs, traveling with cabinets and band practices, used my head to play in church music bands, road worthy construction was the basis behind owning my 5150 II. i always dreamed of owning one in high school and i dont regret the purchase one bit

 

[nighttrain69]

just sold mine for 700 ,wish i didnt have to but hey,

Screw it Man.......its just gear!

I sold and bought so much and regret some sales but hey........


Its ONLY ROCK N ROLL!!

not the sale that hurts its the price ,kills me to see them going so cheap

 

[Mailman1971]

just sold mine for 700 ,wish i didnt have to but hey,

Screw it Man.......its just gear!

I sold and bought so much and regret some sales but hey........


Its ONLY ROCK N ROLL!!

not the sale that hurts its the price ,kills me to see them going so cheap

I hear ya Brother........I hear ya.........

 

[Tawlks]

Thanks for the replies guys, it sounds like I'm after a Dragon, can they be modded to run Kt88s? How reliable are they? I've had a few issues with my 5150 II blowing tubes and a cold solder joint.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I sold my beloved 5150 II and bought a Dragon. Best move I ever made.

 

[Mailman1971]

I sold my beloved 5150 II and bought a Dragon. Best move I ever made.

Damn.........thats what I am talking about!!

 

[RJF]

I'll sell my Cobra head and matching cab. $2300.