How to imrpove the 5150 without modding?

[smucarolina]

So I know I mentioned a thread earlier how I was done with big rack and excess effcts pedal boards. However, I don't rule out noise gates and overdrives. What peices of hear that only accentuate the tone and do not take away from it or change it are out there...remember I want simple.

This includes pickups, cables, string. od or noise gate pedals. and other gadgets even new cabs that project the amp better then my JCM 800 1960. My new gear will not have more than two pedals...if that. I am undanced.

 

[smucarolina]

PS I LOVE THE AMP...post gain past 4 is one of the best metal tones over.

 

[5150clone]

I've never had any luck with gain, distortion, boost pedals in front of my peaveys. I tried a bunch too. Not for me I guess plus, unwarranted with these amps IMHO. I haven't tried any noise gates though. The best thing I ever bought for my rig was a suhr minimix II.

 

[vultures]

Noise gate and a simple boost. That's it

I used a ISP Decimator pedal, and a modded BOSS SD-1. What it did was really tighten my tone up, gave it bite and a little extra edge I needed. I literally could not play my amp without the boost. It sounded so loose

These are the mods I did, very fun and easy to do. On Step 5 of the 808 mod I used a standard white LED instead of just jumping.
https://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k84/x ... /SD808.gif
https://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k84/x ... ix-406.gif

But you can prob get the same results with a Maxon808 or TS-9

 

[5150clone]

If there be one thing I would improve if I could would be to tighten up the low end a little. I know boost pedals can do that but it added so much noise and funky eq I ditched that idea. .maybe try different tube combination

 

[D-Rock]

A good good cab with V30's really help pump up these amps. I like my Mesa Stilleto 4x12 with my 6505. These amps really benefiet from a solid, and very tightly built cab.
The amp sounds great boosted, although I've been playing straight in lately only a Decimator out front. (Lots of resonance and very little lows on the eq helps with the loose feel)

 

[Mudder]

I got my best tones from a 6505+ by going into the low input jack, then setting and boosting from there. I found the same to be true of my Ultra, the low input rocks on it.

 

[mchn13]

I loved mine through my old 800 cab with 75's, but it was crushing and punchy as hell through my mesa cab with their v-30's. I could use mine with or without a boost. It was actually quieter with the gain low and my maxon as a boost, so I used it like that more than not. The secret on mine was keep the gain as low as humanly possible. Like 3 out of 10, then boost it.

 

[D-Rock]

I got my best tones from a 6505+ by going into the low input jack, then setting and boosting from there. I found the same to be true of my Ultra, the low input rocks on it.

No low input on the +/II model dude....

mchn13, that's is the key when boosting drop the pre gain to 2-3 on the lead chan, 5-6 on the rhythm chan.
You get a pretty typical and fierce tone by boosting these amps. Although it is a common and dare I say unoriginal tone when boosting the 5150/6505.

I'm a big booster, but I've been getting some nice dynamics and better feel from straight in with the lead pre at 6. Cut the lows, boost the res and pres, healthy mids, medium level highs = WIN
I feel like the resulting tone is more of "my own" that way, and less generic IMO.

 

[7 Stringer]

An EQ in the loop does wonders for it, or any amp for that matter...IMO

I have an MXR Kerry King 10 band and it gets the amp tighter or looser and anywhere in between. The GE-7 does wonders too, i have one i did the sniper mod on it and it kills. But i tend to like the MXR a tad better.

Very cheap option and an EQ is always good somwhere.

 

[Spaceboy]

I use a MXR 10-band EQ, only using it to notch out around 2-4db in certain areas, never boosting or getting wild with it.

 

[Mudder]

I got my best tones from a 6505+ by going into the low input jack, then setting and boosting from there. I found the same to be true of my Ultra, the low input rocks on it.

No low input on the +/II model dude....

I'm retarded. Mine wasn't a plus. I just thought you'd all like me more if it was....

 

[mchn13]

I got my best tones from a 6505+ by going into the low input jack, then setting and boosting from there. I found the same to be true of my Ultra, the low input rocks on it.

No low input on the +/II model dude....

mchn13, that's is the key when boosting drop the pre gain to 2-3 on the lead chan, 5-6 on the rhythm chan.
You get a pretty typical and fierce tone by boosting these amps. Although it is a common and dare I say unoriginal tone when boosting the 5150/6505.

I'm a big booster, but I've been getting some nice dynamics and better feel from straight in with the lead pre at 6. Cut the lows, boost the res and pres, healthy mids, medium level highs = WIN
I feel like the resulting tone is more of "my own" that way, and less generic IMO.

I liked my blockletter better without the boost in the end as well, but like I said, with the gain at 2or3, and the boost it had a lot less noise than with the gain on 4-4.5 and no boost. And its a noist pig...
Cutting the lows helps without a boost too. I had mine at about 4 or so and it was still heavy as hell

 

[D-Rock]

I got my best tones from a 6505+ by going into the low input jack, then setting and boosting from there. I found the same to be true of my Ultra, the low input rocks on it.

No low input on the +/II model dude....

I'm retarded. Mine wasn't a plus. I just thought you'd all like me more if it was....

You know your stuff bro, I was just being a stickler for details..

 

[D-Rock]

I got my best tones from a 6505+ by going into the low input jack, then setting and boosting from there. I found the same to be true of my Ultra, the low input rocks on it.

No low input on the +/II model dude....

mchn13, that's is the key when boosting drop the pre gain to 2-3 on the lead chan, 5-6 on the rhythm chan.
You get a pretty typical and fierce tone by boosting these amps. Although it is a common and dare I say unoriginal tone when boosting the 5150/6505.

I'm a big booster, but I've been getting some nice dynamics and better feel from straight in with the lead pre at 6. Cut the lows, boost the res and pres, healthy mids, medium level highs = WIN
I feel like the resulting tone is more of "my own" that way, and less generic IMO.

I liked my blockletter better without the boost in the end as well, but like I said, with the gain at 2or3, and the boost it had a lot less noise than with the gain on 4-4.5 and no boost. And its a noist pig...
Cutting the lows helps without a boost too. I had mine at about 4 or so and it was still heavy as hell

For sure man, a lot less noise if boosting. That's my main complaint about straight in, the noise with the added gain setting.
I tried a gate up front and in the loop, and it cut that noise nicely. But whenever I plug into the return jack I get this annoying low audiable hum. Could never figure that out. Heard others with that issue too.

 

[wwhhaatt]

take off the logo. Peavey haters will instantly think it sounds great.

 

[MississippiMetal]

take off the logo. Peavey haters will instantly think it sounds great.

 

[mniel8195]

most people who use these amps use a maxon 808 and a n2-2 or a decimator. you could also try a eq through the loop as well. v30's seem to be the speaker of choice for this head as well.

 

[hunter]

Don't use the loop
Plug straight in
Turn up loud

 

[glpg80]

Turn up loud

One thing 5150's are not is bedroom amplifiers. Can they do it yes, but being the incest cousin of the SLO they are made to be cranked!