Just got a 5150!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter BrentSSL
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BrentSSL

BrentSSL

Active member
Very excited for this amp currently being shipped from Cali however its used and it is the signature not the block letter. So i need help i am new to this head i need to know what kind of effects loop it has what kind of tubes i need and if i boost the crunch can i use it as a second overdrive channel and if the mods i see everywhere are important or not.
 
What style of music are you using it for?

Signature and block letter heads are the same, the only difference is the tubes they originally shipped with.

Loop is instrument level & serial.

Crunch channel is pretty gainy, likely won't need a boost for anything unless you're wanting to tighten up the sound or get into modern metal territory.

I don't think the mods are necessary for a good tone, but if you're wanting to experiment, give it them a try
 
I really liked mine with JJs and a choke installed. The choke tightens the amp up a lot and makes the clean (if you use the green channel that way) a little clearer. This is one of those amps that really benefits from a choke installation. Other than that, the bias mod just makes it so you don't have to solder a resistor in when you bias tubes. It makes your tech (or you) happy when you change tubes, but doesn't change the sound any. I like the gain, and tone as it is, so I wouldn't do any other mods off the jump. try it out and see how you like it.
 
BrentSSL":1e1nkhkg said:
So i need help i am new to this head i need to know what kind of effects loop it has what kind of tubes i need and if i boost the crunch can i use it as a second overdrive channel and if the mods i see everywhere are important or not.
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So you bought this amp already and now you're asking these questions?
 
well i am new to this amp trying to get away from mesa
 
I am going for Day to Remember /Trivium / Metallica and some grunge i guess
 
and yes i would be going for a more modern sound on the crunch channel for more of a "butt rock/radio rock feel" there and use the lead channel for the heavier stuff
 
I like rock. I like butts. I've got to check out this butt rock sometime...
 
haha its just my band calls our lighter set its the buttrock set lol
 
use it for a month or so, then if you want something out of it you're not getting, and don't want to do it externally (ie, boost or other pedals) you'll be able to narrow down what you want out of the amp mod wise.

i disagree with what bezo said though, i put the bias mod in, and IMMEDIATELY noticed a better response and a growlier midrange. wish i'd have just done that mod first, i might not have done any of the others.
 
yeti":3hl55mn4 said:
use it for a month or so, then if you want something out of it you're not getting, and don't want to do it externally (ie, boost or other pedals) you'll be able to narrow down what you want out of the amp mod wise.

i disagree with what bezo said though, i put the bias mod in, and IMMEDIATELY noticed a better response and a growlier midrange. wish i'd have just done that mod first, i might not have done any of the others.
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+1. The bias mod is a must. I put the pot on the chassis so that I could use a bias probe and my ears at the same time without pulling the chassis. Tweaked it until it sounded good and was still within spec. Way better than stock tone.
 
Totally agree. Play it for a couple months. If there is something that you'd like it to do differently go from there.
 
As some have said...play it a bit and then decide. You may feel it's just fine stock. You may feel you wanna tweak it.

I've owned a stock 5150 block letter, a Signature with the bias mod and 5150II pretty modded out plus the combo as well at one point. My favorite of the bunch...the stock block letter. I bought the Signature because I needed a backup...went ahead and did the bias mod but it still stayed the backup. Everyone's mileage will vary. Fact is I kept that block letter longer than any amp I've ever owned and still kick myself for selling it.
 
yeti":29asbc19 said:
use it for a month or so, then if you want something out of it you're not getting, and don't want to do it externally (ie, boost or other pedals) you'll be able to narrow down what you want out of the amp mod wise.

i disagree with what bezo said though, i put the bias mod in, and IMMEDIATELY noticed a better response and a growlier midrange. wish i'd have just done that mod first, i might not have done any of the others.
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All the bias mod does is replace the bias resistor with a pot. If you replace the bias resistor with another resistor valued the same as your "sweet spot" value, you would get the same results. The bias mod is not going to do anything that properly biasing your amp would do. Many people don't realize that you have to bias the amp for any specific set of tubes you get. No two tubes are alike. Most amps are biased cold so that the tubes last longer. If you bias the amp hotter, you get the results you described. Putting a resistor valued less than what came stock would accomplish this. All the bias mod does is make it so that you adjust the pot, instead of soldering in ther proper resistor every time you change tubes.
 
lol probably not gonna mod it just need to know what kind of tubes to get guys? But thank you for all the info
 
Um, the bias mod most DEFINITELY makes a large difference in tone, allows you to bias your tubes much hotter as these heads tend to come pretty cold from the factory.
 
Hey can someone tell me a good cab for the 5150 i have a peavey triple xxx cab but i was thinking marshall or just using the mesa one i have for it
 
Mullard RI pre Amp tubes
lps in the Phase inverter
tube amp doctor power tubes
Bias mod

DONE
 
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