Block logo 5150's vs modern day 6505

  • Thread starter Thread starter JakeAC5253
  • Start date Start date
SQUAREHEAD":14uvg3xw said:
(As Jerry points out)

The original 5150 Block Logo's came with Sylvania STR (387/415) 6L6's that were (are) KILLER!!! Get 4 of these matched for around $300 bucks and your Signature model 5150 will sound as good as the 5150 Block Logo ... period. (These tubes biased properly, last virtually "forever".... and tonewise - put Russian tubes to shame. (although that's not saying much... Russian tubes....hehehe)

https://cgi.ebay.com/PHILIPS-SYLVANIA-6L ... 3a63f52c63
Click to expand...
Right on...as my original block letter came with these exact tubes. Played them as long as they would last. And yes with these tubes the amp sounds better.

I had a first production run Block Letter with the above tubes and a Signature model several years later...owned both at the same time and they only difference i could hear was the tubes. As Jerry has pointed out...essentially barring tolerances they are the same amp.

Like squarehead said...you wanna hear what the amp is meant to sound like buy a quad of those tubes along with Chinese pre's as they are what came in my original Block as well.
 
This is a old thread but figured I would post my new find . I have owned over six 5150 heads from block letters to sigs. One of them had some weird pre amp tubes with super seven on them , this was when I was learning about amps and tubes , these are square getter 12ax7 Chinese tubes they are KILLER in any high gain amp that no current production pre amp tube come any where near to my ears. I use them in all my high gain amps now . Anyway it's hard to find a evh 5150 with original tubes power and pre . I just scored a 1992 5150 block letter with stock str 387 super 6l6 power tubes and all square getter pre amp tubes and this is the best sounding 5150 I have EVER herd in my life ! I'm blown away by it with my deadhorse up front it's just god like ! I also have a 6505 with stock ruby's that's my brothers and My 5150 with factory tubes takes a giant shit on his 6505 I can't explain it all I know is it's the tubes ! Lol. We put the 5150 tubes in the 6505 and the tone was pretty close . The 5150 circuits (resistors, caps, etc are better quality and have some years on them .

Just figured I would share my experience with (5150's ) and there stock GRAIL tubes . That's why people say The block letter is better etc etc etc . I'm sure Jerry would agree with what I'm saying because it's the truth !
 
jd267":3kbmac0d said:
This is a old thread but figured I would post my new find . I have owned over six 5150 heads from block letters to sigs. One of them had some weird pre amp tubes with super seven on them , this was when I was learning about amps and tubes , these are square getter 12ax7 Chinese tubes they are KILLER in any high gain amp that no current production pre amp tube come any where near to my ears. I use them in all my high gain amps now . Anyway it's hard to find a evh 5150 with original tubes power and pre . I just scored a 1992 5150 block letter with stock str 387 super 6l6 power tubes and all square getter pre amp tubes and this is the best sounding 5150 I have EVER herd in my life ! I'm blown away by it with my deadhorse up front it's just god like ! I also have a 6505 with stock ruby's that's my brothers and My 5150 with factory tubes takes a giant shit on his 6505 I can't explain it all I know is it's the tubes ! Lol. We put the 5150 tubes in the 6505 and the tone was pretty close . The 5150 circuits (resistors, caps, etc are better quality and have some years on them .

Just figured I would share my experience with (5150's ) and there stock GRAIL tubes . That's why people say The block letter is better etc etc etc . I'm sure Jerry would agree with what I'm saying because it's the truth !
Click to expand...

it's the same exact circuit, the 5150 and 6505 circuits that is. you're likely experiencing the differences between the two amps due to the older amp's components drifting and changing in value over the years, and it sounds better to your ears.

tubes make all the world of difference in most amps, and have in my 5150 also.
 
If you can find em these are what you are looking for, but the new EH6l6's sound good, I use them instead, tried the TAD 6l6gc str blackplates, they have some grunt too, they look like the old str387s.
 
Block letter 5150's and 6505's are NOT the same amps........






















One has 1355 more than the other one.
 
I used to own a sig 5150 and our other guitarist had a block letter. Both had a full revolve at the same time with the same valves.

The block letter sounded crap compared to my sig. Not saying that's the case with all, merely making the point there's no better version, they're all the same with slight differences in component tolerances.

The only reason people say block letters are better is because there's less of them and they're trying to flog them for twice the price. I personally wouldn't pay double just for a slightly different print on a faceplate but there are a lot of idiots out there.
 
Dave you still got the 5150 you modded some time back?
I remember the clips that amp sounding extremely good. :yes:
 
Mailman1971":2uvyv7zf said:
Dave you still got the 5150 you modded some time back?
I remember the clips that amp sounding extremely good. :yes:
Click to expand...

I sold it years ago.

I did hear a new 6505 that sounded killer. Makes me want one.
 
I had a bias modded block and that amp was awesome..blew most anything else away..deep ass chunk and great definition below 5 on the pregain.. had tung sol in v1 and Ruby/JJselects 6L6s...
Only thing I didn't like was always having to use a boost in front and a Decimator in the loop..and couldn't really get nice cleans out of it..but straight up metal...it was killer. Like someone else said earlier..I think that head was one of those 2 out of 10 that just had the "it" factor. Sold it to a friend so I still get to jam on it..never fails to bring the beef...compared to his 6505+...no contest..

Got rid of it for a Fireball 100...brutality...built in noise gate..and a really nice clean channel.
 
RJF":1tggnf91 said:
Block letter 5150's and 6505's are NOT the same amps........






















One has 1355 more than the other one.
Click to expand...


best answer so far!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top