Peavey 5150 NAD fun

[SQUAREHEAD]

I got this on trade and I have to say, these are really great bang for the buck amplifiers… I don’t think I have ever had one in this great shape, I would give it a solid 9.5 out of 10… Yes, they are loose in the low-end, but I think they sound good when they get cranked up to very loud volume. A clean boost works wonders also…
I think they were a very cool looking amplifier 28 years ago.
I put quad of Sylvania STR415’s, a nos Tungsram, 3 1980’s Beijing’s and a long smooth plate telefunken in the phase inverter just to hear the potential… pretty raw and aggressive sounding.
Took the Sylvanias out, can’t waste them on this amp, the Messa boogie STR440 tubes do not sound as good as the Sylvanias. Got to do the bias mod. Power tubes are running at 12-14-13-14 mA LOL - no wonder these things never came back for warranty work, they’re running so cold they could double as a freezer.
A relatively cheap amplifier, with lots of balls… feel like a 16-year-old today.
Tomorrow I will feel like I’m in my 50s again, LOL

 

[glassjaw7]

I always thought they stayed pretty tight, even without a boost. Great amps! Psychodave put up mods awhile back..I always wanted to grab one and try them out.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

HN-OLD-AD!!!! Badass

Of all the amps I've owned, I've yet to take possession of a 5150/6550. I will someday soon

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

I always thought they stayed pretty tight, even without a boost. Great amps! Psychodave put up mods awhile back..I always wanted to grab one and try them out.

Yes, I know that this amplifier has potential to sound really good once it’s biased properly, there is so much loose crossover distortion running it this cold, it should be up around 40mA, Not 12!

 

[fearhk213]

That does look really clean.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

HN-OLD-AD!!!! Badass

Of all the amps I've owned, I've yet to take possession of a 5150/6550. I will someday soon

Yes! Everyone should have at least one of these during their lifetime, lots of fun, very forgiving, easy to play…Even I sound pretty good through it!

 

[Exo-metal]

Very nice, but I don't think a 5150 punishes power tubes like some other amps putting out higher voltages.I could be wrong...good score Keith.

 

[Fitrocker33]

That almost looks like it could qualify as a time capsule 5150. Nice score!

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Thanks guys, I did not check when I had it all apart,
What is the plate voltage on these things?

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

That almost looks like it could qualify as a time capsule 5150. Nice score!

Thanks Fitrocker,
Ya, It’s one of the cleanest ones I have ever seen…
Looks almost brand new.

 

[RedB4Black]

Looks awesome! I'd love to find a clean 5150 like that, more just to have an iconic amp.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Looks awesome! I'd love to find a clean 5150 like that, more just to have an iconic amp.

Hi Matt. That’s why I think I’ll keep this one… It’s kind of special.

 

[jc986]

Nice score! The bias on newer 6505’s is much closer to where it should be. I just got a brand new one last month and it is running at around 32.6ma per tube all stock and sounds great.

 

[SomedudeinTX]

Nice! I have a script 5150 in almost as nice condition but not quite. I have put it up for sale often due to GAS but always pull the ad. Just too much fun and it was also my first tube amp so kind of sentimental I guess.

 

[MYLILSS]

Happy NAD ! If you ever decide to get rid of it, I’ll trade you a Soldano HR50 for it ! Haha, worth a shot

 

[Rick Lee]

I gigged with one once, but wasn't a tone snob back in those days. More recently, I was at band practice with my '72 Marshall 1987 and it blew a fuse, so I borrowed the studio's 5150 beater. It got the job done, but I didn't have time to really dial it in. This is one of those amps I will buy when a ridiculous deal falls into my lap when I really, really don't need it.

 

[glassjaw7]

I always thought they stayed pretty tight, even without a boost. Great amps! Psychodave put up mods awhile back..I always wanted to grab one and try them out.

Yes, I know that this amplifier has potential to sound really good once it’s biased properly, there is so much loose crossover distortion running it this cold, it should be up around 40mA, Not 12!

Absolutely! I prefer el34/kt77 in rectos for the same reason. It really growls and warms up once the bias is up a bit.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

I’m doing an experiment on reverb, so please don’t say, ‘look at this guy, he’s nuts’!
I put it up for sale at 1295… I don’t think it will sell, but I just wanted to see what would happen…
I’ve got it out of my system now…
Have a great weekend you guys!

 

[sleewell2]

looks brand new, congrats!!!

 

[Bad.Seed]

Not sure what you paid, but I pulled $650 out of my last 2 Block Letter 5150 Amps, and they were not in as good as condition as yours. If you have the original footswitch, you may be able to pull $800-1000 out of it if you get the right buyer.

I agree that the 5150 is pretty loose in the lows, compared to some more modern or boutique amps. A boost helps tighten, as do the right guitar, pickups and cab. It can definitely get tight. These are iconic, and for good reason. One of the meanest sounding tube amps of all time! They have their issues, for sure. But so many people have modded them, and even the right tubes can clean up a lot of the complaints