Peavey 6505+. Questions.

[1meanplexi]

I have been checking out this head. It sounds really good on the YouTube clips. I have an opportunity to grab one up. It is a made in the USA model. For those that it applies to. Effects loop? Taking pedals out front? Any history of issues? What does it pair up with well (speaker cab wise). Keep the stock tubes or swap them? Thanks crew.

 

[mchn13]

I have been checking out this head. It sounds really good on the YouTube clips. I have an opportunity to grab one up. It is a made in the USA model. For those that it applies to. Effects loop? Taking pedals out front? Any history of issues? What does it pair up with well (speaker cab wise). Keep the stock tubes or swap them? Thanks crew.

They’re killer heads and pretty decent for rock but amazing for metal. I play mini heads now but used them for years. IMO, lead channel doesn’t take a boost well, or really need one. The crunch channel boosted is killer though. The loop worked great on mine, and the last year I had it I only used an eq and a reverb delay in the loop and switched the loop on/off with the footswitch.
It’s actually pretty versatile with a pedal or two,and the switchable loop, and separate eq’d Channels.

 

[Crunchtime]

I guy once told me the effects loop jacks are known to go bad. Not sure if that is true.

I did have one and thought it sounded great especially with my MXR 10 band EQ in the loop.

One thing I did not like was how the preamp tube sockets are mounted. When inserting a preamp tube I could see and feel the board flex.

 

[CP5150]

Loop. The first 5150 occasional had issues. I run pedals in the loop. Pedals in front. All sound great. Other than that drop that head off a building and play a gig that night with it. Built like tanks.

They have a rep for being metal amps. They are great for rock. Just back the gain off a little. Love the punch and thump from these amps! And there isn't no clean channel. It's as labeled. Rhythym and Lead. I got passable cleans with a Strat and the guitars volume control. But it's not made for clean sounds. I think the amp isn't way more versatile than people give it credit for.

 

[Exo-metal]

Here's the secret, greenbacks in a marshall bottom. It is a combo that ultimately slays and is ever reliable. You can toss a 5150 down the stairs and it might sound better. Machinehead has used peavey heads and marshall cabs for years, there's a reason...

 

[Kordoba]

Here's the secret, greenbacks in a marshall bottom. It is a combo that ultimately slays and is ever reliable. You can toss a 5150 down the stairs and it might sound better. Machinehead has used peavey heads and marshall cabs for years, there's a reason...

This. I usually run a greenback loaded Marshall TV cab with my 6505+.

The effects loop jacks can corrode over time, and can be cleaned by spraying Deoxit on a 1/4 cable and working it in and out of the jacks. I've owned a 6505 2x12 combo, a 6505 head and currently the +. Never had a problem with the effects loops on these amps, but it has been an issue in the past on my VTM and Rockmaster preamp. An issue that was fixed with Deoxit.

 

[1meanplexi]

Here's the secret, greenbacks in a marshall bottom. It is a combo that ultimately slays and is ever reliable. You can toss a 5150 down the stairs and it might sound better. Machinehead has used peavey heads and marshall cabs for years, there's a reason...

This. I usually run a greenback loaded Marshall TV cab with my 6505+.

The effects loop jacks can corrode over time, and can be cleaned by spraying Deoxit on a 1/4 cable and working it in and out of the jacks. I've owned a 6505 2x12 combo, a 6505 head and currently the +. Never had a problem with the effects loops on these amps, but it has been an issue in the past on my VTM and Rockmaster preamp. An issue that was fixed with Deoxit.

Thoughts on the Cabs loaded with the EVH branded speakers?

 

[Exo-metal]

Basically the same trip. A top notch set of tubes and it shall kill(forged in fire speak)

 

[Kordoba]

Here's the secret, greenbacks in a marshall bottom. It is a combo that ultimately slays and is ever reliable. You can toss a 5150 down the stairs and it might sound better. Machinehead has used peavey heads and marshall cabs for years, there's a reason...

This. I usually run a greenback loaded Marshall TV cab with my 6505+.

The effects loop jacks can corrode over time, and can be cleaned by spraying Deoxit on a 1/4 cable and working it in and out of the jacks. I've owned a 6505 2x12 combo, a 6505 head and currently the +. Never had a problem with the effects loops on these amps, but it has been an issue in the past on my VTM and Rockmaster preamp. An issue that was fixed with Deoxit.

Thoughts on the Cabs loaded with the EVH branded speakers?

Sorry, never tried those.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Here's the secret, greenbacks in a marshall bottom. It is a combo that ultimately slays and is ever reliable. You can toss a 5150 down the stairs and it might sound better. Machinehead has used peavey heads and marshall cabs for years, there's a reason...

This. I usually run a greenback loaded Marshall TV cab with my 6505+.

The effects loop jacks can corrode over time, and can be cleaned by spraying Deoxit on a 1/4 cable and working it in and out of the jacks. I've owned a 6505 2x12 combo, a 6505 head and currently the +. Never had a problem with the effects loops on these amps, but it has been an issue in the past on my VTM and Rockmaster preamp. An issue that was fixed with Deoxit.

Thoughts on the Cabs loaded with the EVH branded speakers?

Assuming your talking about the Celestion EVH, I have an EVH 412 with those speakers. They are re-labeled Heritage Greenbacks; amazing tones regardless whether I'm playing 60's-70's inspired rock n roll, thrash metal or death metal. Warm, crunchy to grinding, punchy, tight but not too tight and very present but sweet highs. I've been playing numerous high gainers and a Germino Club 40 through them and all amps sound phenomenal.

 

[1meanplexi]

Here's the secret, greenbacks in a marshall bottom. It is a combo that ultimately slays and is ever reliable. You can toss a 5150 down the stairs and it might sound better. Machinehead has used peavey heads and marshall cabs for years, there's a reason...

This. I usually run a greenback loaded Marshall TV cab with my 6505+.

The effects loop jacks can corrode over time, and can be cleaned by spraying Deoxit on a 1/4 cable and working it in and out of the jacks. I've owned a 6505 2x12 combo, a 6505 head and currently the +. Never had a problem with the effects loops on these amps, but it has been an issue in the past on my VTM and Rockmaster preamp. An issue that was fixed with Deoxit.

Thoughts on the Cabs loaded with the EVH branded speakers?

Assuming your talking about the Celestion EVH, I have an EVH 412 with those speakers. They are re-labeled Heritage Greenbacks; amazing tones regardless whether I'm playing 60's-70's inspired rock n roll, thrash metal or death metal. Warm, crunchy to grinding, punchy, tight but not too tight and very present but sweet highs. I've been playing numerous high gainers and a Germino Club 40 through them and all amps sound phenomenal.

Yep....those are the ones. I always like to roll preamp tubes. The one thing I did take notice of, is the layout.

 

[glpg80]

I always like to roll preamp tubes. The one thing I did take notice of, is the layout.

+1 to this

I've been able to get very nice cleans out of the clean channel running a specific 12AU7 in the clean only stage. You can roll tubes to get the clean/crunch channel to be more towards the clean, or more towards the crunch.

On that note, you have to roll your own tubes and know the tube layout to make a 5150 II go from average to great. If you do this, they are very VERY versatile and cover a lot of ground. Take pedals great, effects loop is great, you name it.

 

[the4thlast1]

Killer amp ! For Metal and Heavy Rock its really hard to beat , I have had several amps that have come and gone that cost 4X the price, thats the part that blows my mind. On recordings and live situations it really kicks ass, Imo it also has one of the best sounding loops, very little change in tone and can be switched in or out of the signal path.