NAD! Peavey 6505+

[Badronald]

You guys finally wore me down. I've been thinking about one of these (5150, 6505, EVH) for a long time.

I finally sold my Marshall 1987x, I've been moving away from vintage tones for years, and wanted something with crushing tone. Well, I got it.
I know I'm late to the party, but this thing is ridiculous. Absolutely killer tones. Huge low end but the highs slice like nothing else. Can't wait to run it with my Triple Rectifier and a couple cabs.

Question. For years I've used an NS-2 and with a pedalboard running mid gain pedals it works well. However, in the loop of the Triple and 6505 it really doesn't work that great. You have to crank it way up and it clamps down too quick. It also opens kind of slow. Just doesn't work as well in this application.

The obvious solution seems to be the Decimator. Is this correct? That's what I see most of the time with guys using very high gain heads.

Anyway, I got a great deal. This was a backup amp that has sat in it's box for 3 years. Brand new condition. Great price. Couldn't be happier.

Crappy pic:

 

[garey77]

I'm looking to pick one of these up as well to use as a backup for the rhodes.

 

[DAMIAN The MAN]

I only use a Ns2 in the front. More pleased than the ISP. I guess it depends on you pedals/chain profile, but for me the NS is a winner!

 

[university81]

grats =)

have you tried the x-pattern with the NS-2 ?

might be worth a shot

explained with diagrams here :
http://casualblogiscasual.blogspot.com/ ... nting.html

 

[spguitar]

I've wanted one since i heard Islander(with a sonic maximizer and orange cab) used them on their new record.
I bet it would sound monstrous paired up with my Herbert.

 

[dooredge]

ISP (get the II) in the loop or out front will work. I've used mine both ways with great results.

Oh, and HNAD!

 

[Badronald]

I'm looking to pick one of these up as well to use as a backup for the rhodes.

You can't go wrong with it!

 

[Badronald]

I only use a Ns2 in the front. More pleased than the ISP. I guess it depends on you pedals/chain profile, but for me the NS is a winner!

I want it in the loop to cut the preamp noise as well as the guitar.

 

[Badronald]

I've wanted one since i heard Islander(with a sonic maximizer and orange cab) used them on their new record.
I bet it would sound monstrous paired up with my Herbert.

That sounds great. They've been used so much on recordings you cannot deny their impact. I finally gave in!

 

[the4thlast1]

I love mine , I've owned all the big name boutique amps out there and the high gain tones on the 6505+ can hang with any of them...The clean and mid gain tones on this amp isn't bad either.

 

[Mailman1971]

Congrats on the new amp man!
The crunch channel on these amps are so awesome. Worth the price of admission alone!
Like to get me a good beat up 6505/5150 again someday.

 

[John4021]

...so whats a good deal used for one?
Craigslist has one for $500

And is the bias adjustable?

 

[Badronald]

...so whats a good deal used for one?
Craigslist has one for $500

And is the bias adjustable?

I got mine for $650 ($1,300 new). Like I said, mine is basically new. Three years old but sat in its box for its entire life. Guy told me it may have 3 hours total on it. He was a great guy, no reason not to believe him. It's minty.

It has the bias controls on the back panel. Accessible.

 

[Badronald]

Congrats on the new amp man!
The crunch channel on these amps are so awesome. Worth the price of admission alone!
Like to get me a good beat up 6505/5150 again someday.

Thanks!
It really is intoxicating. The massive wall of sound that hits you when you smack a chord and the sustain when ripping leads. I kick on the Flashback and it just sings. But nice and bitey.

 

[Badronald]

grats =)

have you tried the x-pattern with the NS-2 ?

might be worth a shot

explained with diagrams here :
http://casualblogiscasual.blogspot.com/ ... nting.html

I'll try this. So it's in the front and loop at the same time?
Cool.

 

[7 Stringer]

Nice amp man,i got the 5150 II and love it also, but, i have the 6534+ and damn, better IMO. Nobody talks about that amp, it has better cleans for one. I can`t say the lead channel is better, but different, clearer and more articulate. Different mid character and a bit less bassy. Smoother but cuts like a MOFO, less noisy too.

In a two guitar band, they complement each other so well (6505+&6534+)

Glad you dig it and welcome to the clan

Chris

 

[university81]

grats =)

have you tried the x-pattern with the NS-2 ?

might be worth a shot

explained with diagrams here :
http://casualblogiscasual.blogspot.com/ ... nting.html

I'll try this. So it's in the front and loop at the same time?
Cool.

yep in the front and loop at the same time using the one pedal, definitely worth a try before investing in something else

i have the mxr smart gate myself but use it only in front of the amp, the ISP decimator is otherwise king

 

[DAMIAN The MAN]

grats =)

have you tried the x-pattern with the NS-2 ?

might be worth a shot

explained with diagrams here :
http://casualblogiscasual.blogspot.com/ ... nting.html

I tried this 2 times/2 different amps, I don't know why, but the gate only worked in the loop, in the front it had no effect

 

[RJF]

The 5150 has a fixed bias

 

[the4thlast1]

The 5150 has a fixed bias

The 5150II (6505+) does not have a fixed bias...It has a bias trim pot on the outside of the amp near the power tubes. It also has bias test points on the rear panel. The sweep on the bias trim pot is small but I find the 5150s in general to sound good with a low to medium bias setting (not super low) but not high either, it starts to get undefined if you get the bias up high where some other amps might sound find this amp shines in the 20ma per tube range.


The ISP decimator II is hard to beat, it works great in front of the amp. The ISP G-string also works great. At the moment my live rig has two Decimator IIs one in the loop and one in front. I would be fine with just one in front to kill feedback but its nice to also kill the hiss after the preamp.