6534+ bias findings

[Loudness250]

those siemens are bad ass tubes! One of my local shops has some of the mesa branded ones, I'm going to get them as soon as I get the money together. good thing about that shop is no one really goes there for tubes, i'm not worried about them getting sold anytime soon. plus not many people no what they are.

 

[Toshiro]

Peavey for some reason thinks EL34s should be biased right, and 6L6 not.. My 3120 biased up fine with just the knob on the chassis.

 

[DEWD]

Tawlks - I'll try and get some pics up in this thread in the next day or two. Honestly though, it looks just like the 6505+ other than the logo.

gbsmusic - So how are you liking yours? I'm still amazed by this amp. I've spent a small fortune on amps in the past and this one continues to kick my teeth in.

I think it sounds better w/ the Winged C's. It's a little richer tone and more articulate. The Rubys are real nice too though. I'm happy with either set in it. I haven't even opened the preamp tube panel yet. I'm sure once I get to that, I'll be able to improve the tone even more. I'm kind of going by the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" motto for now until I get bored.

Matt - Now you have me wanting to buy some Siemens EL34's. Can you describe what they do for the amp vs. the Winged C's?

I didn't want to ask a stupid question but I was wondering where the hell the Pre's were? So they are inside the panel and enclosed in hugh?

They are horizontal behind the panel screwed on the back faceplate. Mine had all JJs pre and power as stock tubes.

I wonder why it yours came w/ JJ's and mine w/ Rubys. IME, Peavey is pretty consistent in what tubes they use.

I'm real close to pulling the trigger on some Siemens EL34's. I would've already done it but putting $300 tubes in a $900 amp is hard to justify.

 

[RedB4Black]

I'm real close to pulling the trigger on some Siemens EL34's. I would've already done it but putting $300 tubes in a $900 amp is hard to justify.

Yeah. Not sure I would had I not already had the tubes. Actually, I probably would never have bought them in the first place had I not heard how good they made my Uberschall sound.

 

[gbsmusic]

Tawlks - I'll try and get some pics up in this thread in the next day or two. Honestly though, it looks just like the 6505+ other than the logo.

gbsmusic - So how are you liking yours? I'm still amazed by this amp. I've spent a small fortune on amps in the past and this one continues to kick my teeth in.

I think it sounds better w/ the Winged C's. It's a little richer tone and more articulate. The Rubys are real nice too though. I'm happy with either set in it. I haven't even opened the preamp tube panel yet. I'm sure once I get to that, I'll be able to improve the tone even more. I'm kind of going by the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" motto for now until I get bored.

Matt - Now you have me wanting to buy some Siemens EL34's. Can you describe what they do for the amp vs. the Winged C's?

I didn't want to ask a stupid question but I was wondering where the hell the Pre's were? So they are inside the panel and enclosed in hugh?

They are horizontal behind the panel screwed on the back faceplate. Mine had all JJs pre and power as stock tubes.

I wonder why it yours came w/ JJ's and mine w/ Rubys. IME, Peavey is pretty consistent in what tubes they use.

I'm real close to pulling the trigger on some Siemens EL34's. I would've already done it but putting $300 tubes in a $900 amp is hard to justify.

no shit!!!! i had no idea they are that much. but if the tone is that much better its worth it hugh?

 

[Moshaholic]

I got mine on Friday... One bad ass amp!

Sounds killer with my rear loaded Bogner Uber Kab and it loves alder guitars like my USA Strat with a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and my new ESP neck thru Rob Arnold guitar that has a single EMG81 in the bridge...

Actualy that Rob Arnold LTD is one BAD ASS AXE! It has this sick ass 80's tone to it in spades and plays and feels like a 2k guitar no BS.

I have not really looked in to tubes yet as it sounds great out of the box and I have been too busy getting a boner playing the damn thing to stop and take it apart

Oh ya...My buddy who really does not a care for 5150/6505's very much, popped some throbbing wood whilest playing it last night and wanted to run out and buy one, so ya that says alot about how much more musical this version of the amp is now...

Total fricken keeper IMO!

UPDATE: I just looked in the back quickly and mine has Gay-J's it looks like...

WOOT!

G.

 

[Dimebag11]

So, Moshy does the 6534+ sound as HUGE as the 6505? Boosted crunch channels.....describe the difference please sir

 

[7 Stringer]

So, Moshy does the 6534+ sound as HUGE as the 6505? Boosted crunch channels.....describe the difference please sir

Yeah, i can`t wait to hear this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris

 

[Moshaholic]

So, Moshy does the 6534+ sound as HUGE as the 6505? Boosted crunch channels.....describe the difference please sir

Personally I think this amp is much better than any of the 5150/6505 amp I have ever owned and I have owned at least a dozen of those heads in all flavors

Much smoother with no fizzy hair like the other versions... Very Big 6505 sound with lots of gain on tap and you can easily tell it has EL34's and has been re-worked a bit because of the sweet bite and upper mid thing going on...

You can crank the gain up to like 6 on the clean channel and it stays nice and spanky on the neck pup with my usa strat and the tone just gets warmer but does not break up like it used to...

Yep, the clean is 10x better, still a bit peavey-ish but I really like it where as I hated the clean of the older versions...

It does like my Maxon OD-9 and all, but I really like the amp "as is" with just a cable, a delay and chorus pedal in the loop...

Best amp buy out there period IMO... with a killer cab and a decent axe this amp brings it so ya there is really no need to run out and spend big bux if you know what I mean...

I'm just getting in as much riffs as I can right now to keep my spirits up these days... I go into the hospital tomorrow for 1/2 a day under general anestesia for a proceedure to get things all squared away for my major surgery I'm having the following week in which I'm looking at a really fun and exciting hospital stay and 3 week recovery if all goes well...

This is for sure a really tough time for me right now but I have no choice as I'm fedup with continually going in and out of the hospital, putting things off and arguing with doctors...

Music is good mental medicine for times like these...

G.

 

[RedB4Black]

I agree with Giles. The 6534+ sounds best without a boost to me. I only used the boost on the 6505 to tighten it up. The 6534 is pretty tight as is.

 

[Digital Jams]

So, Moshy does the 6534+ sound as HUGE as the 6505? Boosted crunch channels.....describe the difference please sir

Personally I think this amp is much better than any of the 5150/6505 amp I have ever owned and I have owned at least a dozen of those heads in all flavors

Much smoother with no fizzy hair like the other versions... Very Big 6505 sound with lots of gain on tap and you can easily tell it has EL34's and has been re-worked a bit because of the sweet bite and upper mid thing going on...

You can crank the gain up to like 6 on the clean channel and it stays nice and spanky on the neck pup with my usa strat and the tone just gets warmer but does not break up like it used to...

Yep, the clean is 10x better, still a bit peavey-ish but I really like it where as I hated the clean of the older versions...

It does like my Maxon OD-9 and all, but I really like the amp "as is" with just a cable, a delay and chorus pedal in the loop...

Best amp buy out there period IMO... with a killer cab and a decent axe this amp brings it so ya there is really no need to run out and spend big bux if you know what I mean...

I'm just getting in as much riffs as I can right now to keep my spirits up these days... I go into the hospital tomorrow for 1/2 a day under general anestesia for a proceedure to get things all squared away for my major surgery I'm having the following week in which I'm looking at a really fun and exciting hospital stay and 3 week recovery if all goes well...

This is for sure a really tough time for me right now but I have no choice as I'm fedup with continually going in and out of the hospital, putting things off and arguing with doctors...

Music is good mental medicine for times like these...

G.

Cool read Giles, sounds like that amp is killer.

Mojo your way too bro.

 

[gbsmusic]

So, Moshy does the 6534+ sound as HUGE as the 6505? Boosted crunch channels.....describe the difference please sir

Personally I think this amp is much better than any of the 5150/6505 amp I have ever owned and I have owned at least a dozen of those heads in all flavors

Much smoother with no fizzy hair like the other versions... Very Big 6505 sound with lots of gain on tap and you can easily tell it has EL34's and has been re-worked a bit because of the sweet bite and upper mid thing going on...

You can crank the gain up to like 6 on the clean channel and it stays nice and spanky on the neck pup with my usa strat and the tone just gets warmer but does not break up like it used to...

Yep, the clean is 10x better, still a bit peavey-ish but I really like it where as I hated the clean of the older versions...

It does like my Maxon OD-9 and all, but I really like the amp "as is" with just a cable, a delay and chorus pedal in the loop...

Best amp buy out there period IMO... with a killer cab and a decent axe this amp brings it so ya there is really no need to run out and spend big bux if you know what I mean...

I'm just getting in as much riffs as I can right now to keep my spirits up these days... I go into the hospital tomorrow for 1/2 a day under general anestesia for a proceedure to get things all squared away for my major surgery I'm having the following week in which I'm looking at a really fun and exciting hospital stay and 3 week recovery if all goes well...

This is for sure a really tough time for me right now but I have no choice as I'm fedup with continually going in and out of the hospital, putting things off and arguing with doctors...

Music is good mental medicine for times like these...

G.

I hope all goes well for you! You'll be in my thoughts man!! And you're so right in that music is good mental medicine!!
I'll tell you guys, I'm so glad to hear you are liking your 6534's as much as when I got mine and played it what little I was able to. The tone is great!! This amp is for sure a keeper!!

 

[Tawlks]

Tawlks - I'll try and get some pics up in this thread in the next day or two. Honestly though, it looks just like the 6505+ other than the logo.

Yay! In that case though I'm not so concerned, I own a 5150 II so yeah. I thought you were saying that the bias points were different in a 6534?

 

[Dimebag11]

I agree with Giles. The 6534+ sounds best without a boost to me. I only used the boost on the 6505 to tighten it up. The 6534 is pretty tight as is.

Well, I never used a boost in front of the lead channel of the 5150 FWIW but, you guys are telling me you prefer the lead channel unboosted to the boosted crunch channel? or you guys just dig the unboosted crunch channel?

 

[RedB4Black]

I agree with Giles. The 6534+ sounds best without a boost to me. I only used the boost on the 6505 to tighten it up. The 6534 is pretty tight as is.

Well, I never used a boost in front of the lead channel of the 5150 FWIW but, you guys are telling me you prefer the lead channel unboosted to the boosted crunch channel? or you guys just dig the unboosted crunch channel?

I like the crunch channel unboosted on the 6534. I think the crunch channel on the 6505 sounds better when boosted compared to the boosted 6534 crunch channel.

 

[Dimebag11]

I agree with Giles. The 6534+ sounds best without a boost to me. I only used the boost on the 6505 to tighten it up. The 6534 is pretty tight as is.

Well, I never used a boost in front of the lead channel of the 5150 FWIW but, you guys are telling me you prefer the lead channel unboosted to the boosted crunch channel? or you guys just dig the unboosted crunch channel?

I like the crunch channel unboosted on the 6534. I think the crunch channel on the 6505 sounds better when boosted compared to the boosted 6534 crunch channel.

Ok, so between the 6505 Boosted Crunch, 6534 unboosted Crunch, and 6534 unboosted Lead channel...which one sounds the best for you?

I know the difference in LOW end between the 6505 crunch and lead channels was massive....lead channel sounded thin and weak in comparison.

 

[RedB4Black]

I agree with Giles. The 6534+ sounds best without a boost to me. I only used the boost on the 6505 to tighten it up. The 6534 is pretty tight as is.

Well, I never used a boost in front of the lead channel of the 5150 FWIW but, you guys are telling me you prefer the lead channel unboosted to the boosted crunch channel? or you guys just dig the unboosted crunch channel?

I like the crunch channel unboosted on the 6534. I think the crunch channel on the 6505 sounds better when boosted compared to the boosted 6534 crunch channel.

Ok, so between the 6505 Boosted Crunch, 6534 unboosted Crunch, and 6534 unboosted Lead channel...which one sounds the best for you?

I know the difference in LOW end between the 6505 crunch and lead channels was massive....lead channel sounded thin and weak in comparison.

I like the 6534+ lead channel the best - no boost. I'm thinking about send the 6505 back because I'd really rather just plug into the 6534+. Yeah the low end with both amps is something I'm getting used to. They don't have quite the bottom end I've been accustomed to with my Herbert and Uberschall.

 

[7 Stringer]

Sun of a b...

I just bought one for christ sakes.

Thanks you guys

I`ve got a damn Meathead coming soon and i just bought one of these................


Chris

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Sun of a b...

I just bought one for christ sakes.

Thanks you guys

I`ve got a damn Meathead coming soon and i just bought one of these................


Chris

i know!


i'm thinking about it, and i'm knee deep in way too much stuff this year!

 

[gbsmusic]

You wont be sorry you bought one, even with the Meathead coming. This is a rocker!! It ain't no Meathead thats for damn sure but it does a hell of a nice job for $1000 As far as the low end goes, I dont know that I'll ever have another amp that rattled my house like my Herbert did!!