5150 Problems

[Toni RedGrave]

So lately I've been having issues with my 5150(sig). When I play it, It seems like it doesn't have the "hit" that it used to. I was already in the mindset that I'm going to bring it in for a fresh full set of JJ's. It currently has Groove Tubes and I don't really dig them.

A few nights ago, it sounded really wimpy. Like the bass sounded blown out and palm muting response was lame. I couldn't get it to sound right at all.

Another thing I noticed was that the last few times I've gone to play it, things were messed with. EQ settings changed, foot switch unplugged and most alarming was that the speaker cable wasn't in. First it was just hanging from the cab, and the second time, it was gone all together and thrown to the side and behind the rig. Both times I noticed this were AFTER I turned the amp on and tried to play something. I turned the power off and then started checking and that's when I saw the cable. I think it's that my nephew has been messing with it. He's at that age where kids, especially boys, like to mess with shit. I think he was trying to get the LED lights to turn on. I don't think much else is wrong besides it needing tubes, cause if the tranny was shot, it wouldn't make noise at all, correct?

I dunno. Regardless, I'm bringing it to my tech. I just wanted some insight.

The weird bass thing and the funny sounding palm mutes have me wondering if that's purely a tube thing.

Any replies would be appreciated.

-Ray

 

[marvcus]

Peavey 5150s, for the most part, were built pretty solid. I would be surprised if it needs more than a full tube change.

You might check to make sure the effects loop is working correctly -- maybe the nephew put something in the loop's jack(s) and
that is causing some of your issues? Doubtful, but possible. Probably just a tube issue, though.

 

[Toni RedGrave]

Thank's,Man. That's pretty much what I was thinking too. That it's mostly a tube thing. For the most part, I thought that when the fx loop is stuck, you just get no sound. Def worth looking into. I'm gonna have a nice little chat with him tonight. I didn't full on accuse him or yell at him. Just gonna let him know to stay away from my gear and then try to get my back up rig situated into my room. Again, thanks for responding.

 

[Anonymous]

output tubes.

i dont recommend JJ's for this amp...i think they're mushy, and the bottom end is mucky but to each his own.

i'd say get a set of sovtek wxt+ for laura (valve queen) and be done with it. i've tried numerous pretubes and output tubes in my 5150, and always go back to the wxt+

i've tried groove tube 5881s (they get mushy feeling at higher volumes in this amp with stock bias settings)
JJ6l6 (as i stated above)
some NOS sylvania and RCA (i can bias my 5150, and even then, these just didn't sound right, they could be close to end of their lives)
Ruby 6l6mstr -not bad, but still, not the response that the sovtek wxt+ provide

i've heard good things about the winged =c= 6l6 but have never tried.

i also tried some electro harmonix 6l6 and they weren't bad...better than the JJ's by far.

im not sure why everyone loves the JJ tubes (other than the ecc803s longplate), i find them blurry and not very defined in most amps. obviously, YMMV, but, i've tried a TON of tubes in my amps....for metal, you really just can't beat those sovtek wxt+

 

[Toni RedGrave]

Thanks man! I've heard good things about the Valve Queen. Gonna check her site soon and go from there. I run JJ EL34's in my Marshall and it sounds great, so I figured why not stick with them. But I'll def take your recommendation into consideration!

 

[Anonymous]

for some reason, the JJ 6L6 just dont cut it compared to the ruby or sovteks to my ears and hands.

 

[Toni RedGrave]

What about the pre's?

 

[Racerxrated]

Sometimes taking contact cleaner and spraying the fx loop I/O jacks will help..they get dirty and will cause signal loss. Spray them and immediately push/pull a cable multiple times in each jack. It's helped me with Marshall Jubilees and 2205/10s when I've had similar problems. Good luck!

 

[Toni RedGrave]

Sometimes taking contact cleaner and spraying the fx loop I/O jacks will help..they get dirty and will cause signal loss. Spray them and immediately push/pull a cable multiple times in each jack. It's helped me with Marshall Jubilees and 2205/10s when I've had similar problems. Good luck!

Awesome! I'll give that a shot too. Grab some on the way home tonight.

 

[prsplayer86]

If your feeling like playing the "tube swap and listen" game. My Fja 5150's always came back with Tube amp doctors 6l6's (short squatty guys) and I believe tungsol preamps. Sounds fan effn tastic

 

[Toni RedGrave]

If your feeling like playing the "tube swap and listen" game. My Fja 5150's always came back with Tube amp doctors 6l6's (short squatty guys) and I believe tungsol preamps. Sounds fan effn tastic

I'm leaning towards the Sovtek's in the power. Couple other friends recommended them as well. Figured since tubes come and go, might as well try stuff. Plus, Valve Queen has the quad for $76. I'll order those and some tungs for the pre and drop it off to my guy asap and hopefully be all good before Christmas.

The company I work for does a winter shut down kinda thing, so I get 11 days off for Christmas into the New Year. Plenty of time to play the shit out of my amps and dial em in.

 

[prsplayer86]

I had Sovteks in my Krank weren't bad at all !

 

[Toni RedGrave]

I had Sovteks in my Krank weren't bad at all !

Dude...Which Krank did you have??

I remember drooling over them when I first started playing guitar, but I never had a chance to play em. Is it worth getting one used, if I find a deal?

 

[prsplayer86]

Krank Rev +.

man, they get hella dogged on in forums, but the Krank Rev+ is a ridiculously good amp. I would definitely suggest getting one and retubing it with a premium set of 6550 Tungsol's and the Tungsol gold pin 12ax7's. (they shipped with sovtek's, but you can't beat the big nasty coke bottle tungsol 6550's!)

I've got less than 600 in mine (about 300 for the amp/ 240 on tubes) and it literally sounds as good or better than some of the 2000 dollar amps I have/had.

I would stick with the 6550 powered Kranks, They seem to be muuuuuccchhhh better sounding and versatile.

 

[Toni RedGrave]

output tubes.

i dont recommend JJ's for this amp...i think they're mushy, and the bottom end is mucky but to each his own.

i'd say get a set of sovtek wxt+ for laura (valve queen) and be done with it. i've tried numerous pretubes and output tubes in my 5150, and always go back to the wxt+

i've tried groove tube 5881s (they get mushy feeling at higher volumes in this amp with stock bias settings)
JJ6l6 (as i stated above)
some NOS sylvania and RCA (i can bias my 5150, and even then, these just didn't sound right, they could be close to end of their lives)
Ruby 6l6mstr -not bad, but still, not the response that the sovtek wxt+ provide

i've heard good things about the winged =c= 6l6 but have never tried.

i also tried some electro harmonix 6l6 and they weren't bad...better than the JJ's by far.

im not sure why everyone loves the JJ tubes (other than the ecc803s longplate), i find them blurry and not very defined in most amps. obviously, YMMV, but, i've tried a TON of tubes in my amps....for metal, you really just can't beat those sovtek wxt+

DUDE!

So I ordered the tubes from Laura ( shes rules btw ) and I slapped em in last night. Massive change so far. I have to play them a bit more to really see how I feel but from what I heard last night, I like them. I just couldn't play above 2 for volume cause I was at home. Get to really see what they can do this Saturday at practice.

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Anonymous]

hey man, no problem...glad to help!

something about those Wxt+ in that amp.

 

[prsplayer86]

I had Sovteks in my Krank weren't bad at all !

Dude...Which Krank did you have??

I remember drooling over them when I first started playing guitar, but I never had a chance to play em. Is it worth getting one used, if I find a deal?

hey man, Here is a link of my Krank, Pretty gnarly for a "budget" amp!