Peavey 5150 Harsh High End?

[RuxinCaldwell]

I absolutely despise my 6505 when I am just playing it at home by myself...

Just goes to show you that one is subjective....once I hit on the right guitar/pup combo, the 6505 turned into my favorite amp ever.

To the OP.....a lot of good advice above, and consider this as well....I dug the amp ok enough to keep it around for awhile while using EMGs and Blackouts, but after putting BKP Holydivers into a really HEAVY LP, this has turned into something I'll never get rid of....I'm actually looking around for another for a backup, and more BKPs for my other guitars.

Change out the EMGs for something a little higher end and passive, and see what you think. The HD's really tamed down the things I didn't like about this amp, while highlighting the things I did.

I've used EMG's for the past 5 years. My ear for tone has improved dramatically since then. It is a possibility that my ears are starting to pick up these harsh, sterile sounds. I'm not saying 100% that it is without a doubt the culprit, but I am open to other pickup options. What are some of the favored pickup options for this set up?

Thanks for the replies so far by the way guys!

 

[Steinmetzify]

I think it was a very insightful post. Most of the 6505's fizz factor is 13-15khz which does disappear in a band mix due to the cymbals taking up so much of that space. That frequency range actually has zero benefit in a recording context as well, so you can just LP that area and end up with a beefy and bright tone.

Since its basically just a useless, harsh treble frequency, wouldn't an EQ pedal be a simple fix for this issue?

Shit, forgot to add I run a 10 band EQ in the loop. Helps a lot.

 

[Metal1977]

I think it was a very insightful post. Most of the 6505's fizz factor is 13-15khz which does disappear in a band mix due to the cymbals taking up so much of that space. That frequency range actually has zero benefit in a recording context as well, so you can just LP that area and end up with a beefy and bright tone.

Since its basically just a useless, harsh treble frequency, wouldn't an EQ pedal be a simple fix for this issue?

Shit, forgot to add I run a 10 band EQ in the loop. Helps a lot.

+1

 

[RuxinCaldwell]

I think it was a very insightful post. Most of the 6505's fizz factor is 13-15khz which does disappear in a band mix due to the cymbals taking up so much of that space. That frequency range actually has zero benefit in a recording context as well, so you can just LP that area and end up with a beefy and bright tone.

Since its basically just a useless, harsh treble frequency, wouldn't an EQ pedal be a simple fix for this issue?

Shit, forgot to add I run a 10 band EQ in the loop. Helps a lot.

I've never used an EQ pedal before, so I'm sort of a noob to it. Does it adjust a wider range of frequencies that the 5150's EQ cannot control?

 

[Metal1977]

I think it was a very insightful post. Most of the 6505's fizz factor is 13-15khz which does disappear in a band mix due to the cymbals taking up so much of that space. That frequency range actually has zero benefit in a recording context as well, so you can just LP that area and end up with a beefy and bright tone.

Since its basically just a useless, harsh treble frequency, wouldn't an EQ pedal be a simple fix for this issue?

Shit, forgot to add I run a 10 band EQ in the loop. Helps a lot.

I've never used an EQ pedal before, so I'm sort of a noob to it. Does it adjust a wider range of frequencies that the 5150's EQ cannot control?

Yes, the MXR M108 is a good one.

 

[Dimebag11]

My pickup suggestion would require a description of your guitar....and what style you play the most.

 

[RuxinCaldwell]

I think it was a very insightful post. Most of the 6505's fizz factor is 13-15khz which does disappear in a band mix due to the cymbals taking up so much of that space. That frequency range actually has zero benefit in a recording context as well, so you can just LP that area and end up with a beefy and bright tone.

Since its basically just a useless, harsh treble frequency, wouldn't an EQ pedal be a simple fix for this issue?

Shit, forgot to add I run a 10 band EQ in the loop. Helps a lot.

I've never used an EQ pedal before, so I'm sort of a noob to it. Does it adjust a wider range of frequencies that the 5150's EQ cannot control?

Yes, the MXR M108 is a good one.

I would much rather go with the EQ pedal than searching blindly for a new set of pickups.

 

[Steinmetzify]

I've never used an EQ pedal before, so I'm sort of a noob to it. Does it adjust a wider range of frequencies that the 5150's EQ cannot control?

Yeah it does.....seems to my ears that there are a lot of 'flyaway frequencies' in the tone of 5150s/6505s...the 10 band seems to get those under control and allows for a tighter, more focused tone throughout. Big difference if I forget to hit that button, man.....I'll sit there for a minute wondering wtf?

I have to say I don't really enjoy playing that amp without it; it's just not very pleasing to my ears with the extra noise.

 

[RuxinCaldwell]

My pickup suggestion would require a description of your guitar....and what style you play the most.

I have a LTD EC-1000 Deluxe EMG 81/60 currently and plan on buying a LTD H-1001FM EMG 81/85. The style I play is sort of a djenty/metalcore blend. Tight bass, apparent mid attack, smooth highs. The highs are what's killing me right now. So harsh.

 

[mniel8195]

pickup change. puting in an 85 or blackouts will work. not sure about how the het set sounds.

 

[Dimebag11]

Maybe a Duncan Distortion? and add in the eq pedal and preamp tubes and you should be good to go.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

EMGs are a cool familar tone but harsh
BKs = solved
I am 99% certain this is your issue
Tube changes will be expensive & yield minimal change
EQ is masking the real issue

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I thought the 5150 I's were known for being biased cold from the factory?? that'll make anything sound shitty...also maybe lowering negative feedback resistor would help? worked om my 2204?! look up 5150 bias mod..

 

[Heritage Softail]

You can look up preamp tubes, specifically a 5157 type. There is plenty of info.

It is a slightly lower output tube and in V1 it often tames some of the high end sizzle a bit. There are NOS higher $ tubes and current production. For a $15 tube you could get the amp to calm down a bit, in a good way.

Add that to the pickup considerations and you may find your tone.

I don't have a problem with forking out a little more money for a good, balanced tube for the V1 slot, I just wasn't crazy about the idea of buying ALL expensive tubes for each slot. I've heard good things about Mullards in the V1 slot. Can anyone recommend some good V1 tubes to get the most out of the amp?

Just42dave on this forum sells tubes. I have bought many tubes from him, including a few mullards.

 

[RuxinCaldwell]

EMGs are a cool familar tone but harsh
BKs = solved
I am 99% certain this is your issue
Tube changes will be expensive & yield minimal change
EQ is masking the real issue

By "BK's" I'm gonna assume you're talking about Blackouts? If EQ is the main culprit, I have no problem with buying a MXR 10 band EQ.

 

[glpg80]

Try turning off the overdrive pedal and raising the amp gain just a bit if necessary.

If that doesn't work, the next step I'd take is trying guitars without 81's in the bridge, or if you have an 85 in the neck try swapping to the bridge. The 81 can be fairly trebly pickups IMO -- good for helping tightness, though.

Another thing would be to try through a different cab/speakers. I like V30's, but some people find them harsh-sounding, though I hear the Mesa versions are supposed to be better about avoiding that.

Pretty much all of this ^

 

[Dimebag11]

BK=Bare Knuckle Pickups.

 

[Metal1977]

Bring-it to Jerry (FJA mods), let him do some magic on your 5150.
I got the Metal Mod on mine and no more harsh high end.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I'm sure there are many threads about this across the internet, but I was looking to get some direct answers or information to my particular issue. So I recently went from a Framus Cobra to a Peavey 5150 mk1. My ears were getting exhausted to the overall dry voicing and honky midrange of the Cobra, along with the huge pain in the ass it's been with reliability. I can tell that the 5150 has a voicing that suits me, as I've always gone for a tighter, more mid-range based sound (A Rectifier being the opposite sound I'm after, I hate fizzy scooped tones). However, no matter what I have my treble/presence set to, there is always a harsh, high end sizzle that's really hindering me from achieving my ideal tone.

My gear is:

Peavey 5150
Mesa Traditional 4x12
Boss NS-2
Maxon OD808

Guitars are ESP/LTD guitars with EMG 81's in the bridge.

Could anyone steer me in a direction of killing this harsh high end? I have already done the bias mod to the amp, all though there is improvement, the harsh high end is still there. The tubes in it aren't the best, but I planned on a re-tube once I sold my Cobra. I also found tube swapping to be a very minor difference in tone.

Tone chasing is exhausting

So the harshness is there even when the treble knob and presence knobs are set very low or off?

Have you ever played a 5150 before this one?

I'm wondering if it is the crossover distortion your ears are not use to that is the offending factor and not the high end at all...

 

[rcm78]

I would turn off the 808 and lower the resonance knob on the amp to tighten up the bass response. Adding an EQ is just masking an issue. Find the source of your problem.