Peavey 5150 212

Features are 2 channels, reverb, 2x12, 60w. It has been described well enough on other reviews.
The only other feature I wish it had is a footswitch for the clean/crunch switch. Other than that it's good.

I use it with Gibson guitars and a strat with a HSS pickup configuration. It sounds great. I have been playing 1/2 stacks all my life and it's the first time I am able to get a decent heavy distortion out of a combo. I am happy to finally be able to downsize. The amp sounds really good but I had to swap the speakers (with Celestions) and the tubes to get it where I wanted it to be.
The stock speakers were too bright and harsh and the stock tubes were too noisy. I replaced the speakers with an old Celestion GH12-70M and a new Vintage 30. It sounds much better now. The tubes were repalced with JJ 6L6s and a combination of NOS RCA, JJ and GT tubes in the preamp. With this mods, I can give the amp a 7 in the tone department. Without them it would be a 3 and I would probably end up selling it, but I really like its tone now.

One good thing about this amp is that even though it has tons of gain, it still lets the character of the guitar shine through. My strat still sounds like a strat, the Gibsons sound like Gibsons etc.

It's really a shame that Peavey chose such crap speakers and tubes for this amp. A lot of people will pass on it because of it.

Well I bought it just a few weeks ago and just had my first band practice with it last week. So far so good. I have had good experience with Peaveys in the past as far as reliability goes so it should be ok. It looks like it was well built, very solid and bulky.
I wouldn't gig without a backup ever with any amp. I always carry a small POD for a emergency situation.

This is out of warranty so I would just take to a local tech. Peavey does have a good website and all the manuals are available for download, even for discontinued products.

I've been playing guitar for 26 years, I am 33 years old now. I played metal for a long time but now I lean more towards classic rock, funk, blues and hard rock. I'm just getting old, I guess.

I am very happy with this amp. I still have my Marshall stack at home but I will probably sell it at some point because this amp sounds just as good and it's a lot easier to carry around (as long as it's on casters, it is a very heavy amp). I got it used for a killer price, normally they sell for a little more than the 450 I paid for it. At this price, it's an absolute steal. This is really a pro grade amp that will deliver tones that are good enough for any rock band or situation. Many top pros use 5150s and for a good reason. They're really top-notch amps. The stock speakers don't do the amp justice and an upgrade is mandatory if you want to get the best out of the amp. New tubes will also improve the tone and reduce the noise level on the gain channel.

I always wanted to find a combo that gave me the same power and tightness I used to get from my stacks and that's the first amp that really delivers it. Also it's one of the few amps I could plug straight into it without any effects and play a whole gig with it. The clean channel sounds really good and the drive channel is really amazing. I have my gain set to 5 and that's all the gain I need for shred solos and chunky rhythm.

One complaint I have is about the effects loop: the channel master volumes will affect the signal level going into the loop, making it a pain to use rack processors to it, because you have to constantly keep adjusting the in/out level on the rack every time you turn the amp volume up or down. My Marshall has the channel volumes past the loop so the rack levels stay the same regardless of the amp volume. That's much better.

Other than that I have no complaints about the amp, I like its size, tone and versatility. This is a real good choice for anyone planning to downsize from a 1/2 stack.

Made in 2000
Hits my style just fine.(southern rock,i.e. Lynyrd Skynyrd,Molly Hatchet,etc.)Also will get a good classic rock sound (ac/dc)or over the top gain.
Very simple,2 channels,1 E.Q. high,low gain input.1 trick pony,and thats the way I like it.
I use all the features,dont leave any out.
I use it at home.Dont gig.
Has enough power (60 tube watts)to blow your head off,etc.

Hi gain,Low gain,Classic rock,Metal,etc.
Not much variety.Again thats o.k. with me.
Does not really have a clean channel.
Distortion will rip your face off if you want !!
Epi.Les Paul Standard,(burstbuckers,and all new electr.etc.)Epi.Shearton 2,(Seymour Duncan,and all new electr. etc.)Great Guitars,"Crap" electronics !!!!!!!!
Stated above,style etc.
Changed speakers out for Celestion Vintage 30s, and JJ low gain tube option.(Helps settle the gain and hiss down,just a bit)Thanks Bob P. at Eurotubes !!

Very dependable. No problems at all. Would use it with out a back-up.
Never broken down. This thing is a Mack Truck !!!
I do live 1 hr.south of Meridian Ms. So if any problems come up Peavey is some-what in the back yard. These guys are "great".

Stated above,Very,Very good !!!
Will e-mail you,or call back very quickly !!!

Been playing off & on for 31 years.Peavey Mace 212BW combo,Peavey Delta Blues 210.The Mace is 30 years old.1977 model.
I would buy again.
Change the tubes,and speakers if you want. Have Fun !!!

I believe this is a 2003 model (according to the back at least). I play metal mainly and the 5150 is made perfectly for that style. I dabble in a bit of clean spacey stuff and some old school hard rock as well and this combo keeps up nicely for both of those types as well.

It is a 2 channel combo with a rythm and lead channel with shared eq. The rythm side has a bright and crunch switch as well as a overall resonance and presence control as well as built in reverb (which is the worst sounding reverb I have ever heard.) It has an effects loop as well as external speaker out and footswitch jack. My combo has Fender tubes in it for what thats worth as does my 5150 head. I thought it was kind of strange that both 5150s I have bought used had the same power tubes in them. Interesting.

This amp has plenty of power and will keep up with every half stack I have put it up against.

I am using a Washburn V with emgs in it as well as a Schecter 006 beater guitar with the emg passive. Both guitars sound really good thru this amp. I can get a good variety of tones (esp compared to the 5150 head which I also own). A good clean sound can be had; just bring up the rythm channel master volume and keep the pregain down around 2 or so with crunch off. If you do engage the crunch you can also get some good mild hard rock tones (if you back off the bass and resonance knobs). It can pretty boomy otherwise. The lead channel is sizzle heaven (in a good way). Very chunky for a combo and tight as well. It doesnt quite have the gut punch of the head with a 4x12; buts it REALLY close. I have toyed with the idea of selling it; but I like it too much to part with.

The only con I can find is that the treble is very very icepicky witht stock speakers. Ihave it and the presence on like 2 tops and that is it. I keep the bright switch off and it works good. With a speaker swap I would give it 9.

I havent gigged with it yet but I have practiced multiple times and it is pretty solid like every other Peavey I have had. It is sturdy and heavy as hell!!!

I havent needed customer support yet...

Overall I would rate this amp a 9. I have had A Dual Rec.; various older Peaveys (VTMs etc) and Orange AD 140 (Loud as Hell also!!!) and lots of rack stuff. The only amp I regret selling over the years was my Hafler Triple Giant Preamp (the one by Bogner). I have been thinking of selling this amp to buy something a little different than the head I own; but it sounds so damn good I cant bring myself to do it. I know I would regret the sale just like the Triple Giant; so I am keeping it. The only thing I wish it had were better speakers which down the road I might replace anyways. If you're looking for a good metal tone out of a combo; this is it period.

I don't know what year this amp was made in.

It is a very versatile amp, I have played jazz, blues, death metal, and it has so much gain that I never turn the dial above 5. if you open the back of the cab, you can get decent cleans and get rid of that "thumpy" sound.

it has 2 channels, I wish it had a real clean channel, but if you turn the rythm gain to 3 and unclick the crunch switch there is a very sweet clean tone. the reverb is very sweet. I never use the effects loop but it is there. and it has an extension jack just in case you have an audience outside of a 5 mile radius that isn't quite deaf yet.

it was a very good deal on a tube amp (I got mine used). it has everything but a clean channel.

If you can't find a good tone on this amp, sell your guitars now...you dont deserve them, maybe try the drums.

The clean channel is the rythm channel, so it can distort, but the master volume never goes above 1 or 2 (and the tubes still sound good!!!)

I play metal on a strat with the gain between 5 and 6. if you need more distortion than this amp has... what the heck are you doing to your poor guitar?

I mostly play classic rock (5150...VAN HALEN), with some blues and metal when I feel like it.

It can be noisy, but I just put in some new tubes and it is very quiet now, so maybe it was just the old stock tubes.

It sounds superb now, but it was only ok before the tube change, so I give it a 9.

It weighs nearly 100 pounds!!!! This thing is built like a block of concrete.

It is a tube amp and you should change them ever year or so, but when I got it the old tubes had been in it for almost four years and the amps still sounded decent.

I have never had to deal with peavey directly... I have heard that they can be rude though.

I have been playing about 5 years I use a lp and a strat.

stolen or lost... HA, HAHAHA, HAHAHAHAHAH, HO HO HAHAHA. ROFL.
I can only imagine someone trying to run down the streen with a 90 pound amp the size of a large television. And I hope I never get drunk enough to lose such a large piece of equipment. Even so, I probably would not buy another one, It is great and all.. but I would really like a nice bogner or a celtic.

For power tubes, I would recommend Eurotubes.com, the guy will pick through his stack and send you tubes to set the bias on the amp properly. and he sends the tubes the day you order with an e-mail from the owner himself.

I wouldn't recommend Electro Harmonix preamp tubes unless you like the icepick-in-the-ear feeling.

The layout of the controls is like every other regular combo: Gain and master volume for both channels, low, mid and high controls, presence, and the resonance control which is less likely to be found on other amps. Both channels share the same eq, but the clean channel has a "bright" switch. If you prefer a dark sounding distortion, you can use this switch for your clean channel. Reverb and an effects loop is also included.

Three features on this combo that I don't like:
1. The effects loop cannot be operated with the footswitch, which is only possible with the 5150 head.
2. The amp weighs about 90 lbs / 45 kilo. You are supposed to lift this weight with a single plastic handle. Get yourself some extra handles and wheels and a roadie.
3. The footswitch that comes with this amp is horrible, the cable breaks too easily and is too short for big stages, it's made of plastic and the plug doesn't look too solid either. I'd replace this with a Boss footswitch and a 6 meter stereo cable.

I use this amp with an Ibanez Universe of an Ibanez RG7421 with Di Marzio Evolution 7 pickups. I mostly play metal and rock.

About five years ago, I had the 5150 head, and I really liked it. When I quit my previous band, it had to go because it was too big for my living room. Now I play in a band again, and I was looking for the same thing in a smaller package. Enter the 5150 combo...

This amp can make any sound you like, but it is built for high gain rock and metal tones. First of all, plug your guitar in the low gain input. The pre-amp produces more gain than you would ever want from a guitar amp.

For a good clean tone, turn gain up to about two or three and the volume as you desire. The clean channel can also be used for good overdrive tones especially with the "crunch" switch.

The lead channel provides high-gain distortion tones with lots of sizzle and rumble. I'm happy that the sizzling sound can be reduced by turning gain no further than 6, High at 3 and presence at 4-6. Use lots of mids and add lows as you see fit. This channel does produce some noise, but the signal to noise ratio is still quite good. The key to dialing in low end rumble is using the resonance control.

Don't worry about volume. This amp is L-O-U-D !!! The speakers that come with this combo match the amp better than anything I've heard before. I like to play this amp with resonance control set at 8, and when it is cranked at concert volume, it rumbles, growls and screams. If you want, you can have bandmates and sound engineers begging for mercy. You might even blow away people who play full stacks.

Compared with the 5150 head, this combo sounds much better. The 5150 head had a fixed bias set for very low current, and the combo runs at a higher current than the head, causing the power amp to perform way better. The head I owned had groove tubes in both the pre- and power amp, and the combo still has the original nameless chinese tubes. Go figure.

With the head I owned I played gigs with it every week. I expect the same from this combo. It is built like a tank.

However, the footswitch that comes with the amp needs to be replaced to make it an 100% dependable amp, but I still give it a 10.

I sent Peavey a mail once wit a simple question, and I got my answer within a day. But I don't know how they handle serious problems.

The lead channel provides excellent high gain tones, and it's the only amp I know that is both affordable and capable of handling deathmetal style riffing without using a distortion pedal. This makes the 5150 a unique amp.

There are a few flaws as mentioned in the "features" section, but I'll rate it top notch anyway. The reason I do this, is that there's nothing like it for this price, and this amp oozes attitude!

just purchased used a few weeks ago. Serial number indicates a manufacture date of 2002.All tube of course. The amplifier is versatile enough for my style which is classic hard rock and metal, blues, some clean jazzier type stuff, and some older country. I have a completly different rig for the clean tones. I use the 5150 only for dirty tones. Basically has two dirty channels. One a little brighter than the other. You can get a clean sound out of it but it is a nice "dirty" clean that has its own character and is very nice for straight up blues. Cool reverb, not too overbearing. The effects loop works well although I don't use alot of effects other than the built in reverb. I plan on gigging this amplifier heavily. I am in two different bands at the moment and needed a new powerhouse rock amp to go with my other dirty amps. Judging from what I have gotten out of it the past two weeks this amp should do fine. The amplifier has plenty of power. I run it through a marshall 4-12 cab and it gets loud enough for any situation. Compresses and smoothes out very nicely at higher volumes. This amp has great features for what it was designed to do, dirty tones.

I use a Gibson Les Paul Standard with Dimarzio super distortions, A stock fender american stratocaster, an old kramer Baretta, A peavey Wolfgang, and a musicman Axis stock. The amp suits hard rock and metal very well. It was a little hissy on the high gain lead channel with the gain set above six but this was mitigated by using higher quality preamp tubes. Nice and quiet now. The amp is one of the best amps for distorted tones that I have heard. My other amplifiers are a Mesa Rectifier-from the first year of production, Boogie mark III/w graphic eq, A Soldano SLO that I have had since 1993, and a Marshall Mk II 50 watt combo that I have owned since 1978, a Fender twin, and a Music Man HD-130 2-12 for clean stuff. The distortion that the amp produces could be called "brutal" ( I love these modern Nu Metal terms, they crack me up). I used my Marshall primarily from 1978 up until I purchased my Soldano in 1993. The 5150 sounds alot like the Soldano which is one of the reasons that I purchased it. They have almost the same tone but a little different at the same time. But they both are nice and smooth at higher volumes, nice and creamy. Good job Eddie. He and Peavey practically nailed the Soldano tone. ED still uses Soldano's by the way.

I have had this amplifier for just under 3 weeks now. I have played with the master volume above 3 most of that time with no problems. I am very impressed with the build quality. Very well made and solid. I believe that the amp should hold up very well for many years.

Have not used

I have been playing profesionally for 25 years, gigging, recording, jingles, etc.... If the amp were stolen, I might replace it due to the 5150 moniker; hopefully I won't deal with that situation. I have alot of other things that I could still use. I like the fact that it sounds very much like a Soldano but at a much lower cost. I have not found anything that I don't like about it yet. a nice solid amplifier and certainly one of the best sounding tube amplfiers out there in my experience. Very cool. Has a great vibe to it that just makes you want to play more and more and more..... One thing I have found from experimenting with the amp is that if you disconnect the internal speakers and run a 4-12 off of the amp it sounds awesome. The internals speakers are great for portability but the 4-12 really makes the amplifier thump and brings out the power of the amp. This is not to say the 2-12's don't sound great, they do. It's just that a 4-12 is a little more fun!

Dunno the year of manufacture. It has 60 watts, so it's enough for reharsal or live situations.

It has channel switching, effect loop, spring reverb, resonance control. Rhythm channel can be used as a clean channel or a crunch channel just by pressing one button.

There's also a bright switch to add more top end to clean tones too. This also leads me to understand that its design derives from a Soldano SLO infact when you set the distortion control way up, it add little extra low end just as the SLO.

One Hi gain input and one Low Gain input for clean tones. You can't ask for more in this price range.

It also can be used with a 4x12 external cabinet but there's no impedance control (16 Ohm min)

I use it with a lot of guitars but the Peavey Wolfgang and the Les Paul Custom are the ones I use the more with this baby. It works better (only?) for Heavy Metal and Hard Rock genres, maybe for a little blues music.

Little noisy: sometimes it starts to feedback even at low volumes. Anyway I said before that this amp to me sounds similar to a Soldano SLO (I own one) but the differences are that with the SLO you don't nearly have all that distortion but it's way more dynamic and you can really use the clean channel for clean tones.
I cannot use the Peavey 212 with the lead preamp pushed more than 5 because there's too much distortion and it become too much thick and harsh losing definition. Anyway it has a really good sound even at low volumes at home. Not really the first VH kind of tone, but you can work it out...

As I said before this babe doesn't have a good clean channel, but you can definitely get better clean tone by changing preamp tubes (I use JJ 12AX7 tubes to get rid of the harsh distortion from chinese tubes).

My amp has a little problem: sometimes more or less after an hour playing, it does a circle hum and the volume gets down to zero. I switch it off, and on again, and it works great for another hour or so...

Anyway I found it lying alone in dust in a guitar store and I paid few bucks for it, and I own 5 amps, so I'm happy with it.

Never dealt with.

I play guitar for 17 years, now. I'd buy it again but maybe, if stolen, I'd prefer the head because this amp is really, really, really heavy. I love it's lead tone beacuse it is just good right when you switch it on. I wish it had a impedance control and two handles and maybe 4 small wheels...

2 Channels (Rhytmn & Lead), with High and Low Inputs. Really doesn't have a "true" clean channel, but thats not what you're buying this amp for anyway. You only have one set of EQ knobs for both channels, which can be a problem depending on what kind of sound you want, but on the other hand, with the extra Resonance and Presence controls (ultra low and ultra high freq. controls) it more than makes up for it. It's listed at 60 watts, but is probably loud enough to blow the side of a building off. More than enough power for anyone not playing stadiums.

I use a Peavey Wolfgangs, and it seems like this guitar compliments the amp completely (which would make perfect sense, seeing as they were both used by the same artist) My band plays a variety of hard rock cover songs, and this amp can nail almost any of the sounds I need. Once again the clean channel isn't much to get excited about. It's there, and it works good enough. But the distortion kills. I use this on the Low Gain input with the Gain set on 3-4, and its still brutal. More distortion than anyone could ever possibly need. Many complain that it lacks bass, and at lower volumes, it does. But cranked up, it sounds awesome. It's only really noisy if its turned up past 4, but thats what noise gates are for. It does make a hissing noise while not being played, but supposedly new tubes fix this problem (I have yet to try).

It's a tube amp, so there's always the risk of tubes dying, but then again, with only 2 power tubes, theres not a lot to replace, which makes my wallet happy. It's built like an ox (weighing in at near 100 lbs.) No problems with it yet, and I don't anticipate any anytime soon.

Never dealt with Peavey, for the 5150 or my Wolfgangs, which says something for their reliability if nothing else.

I've been playing 5 years, and this is the best amp I've played yet. I know its not a boutique amp which seems like all the rage these days, but as a modern guitar player in a modern world, thats not what I want. If you're looking for a warm, overdriven sound, and pristine cleans, look elsewhere, but if you want a balls to the wall rock sound, the 5150 is your daddy.

This one was made in 2004. It's not versatile. This is a heavy metal amp. If you want clean sounds then you need to change the tubes and that kills the whole point of this amp. 2 channels. Rhythm and lead. The rhythm channel is pretty good. Lead channel lacks definition to me. The resonance dial combined with the closed back cab does generate a f**kin' heavy sound. This is not for someone who needs to play a multitude of styles. It's a metal amp. Don't run distotions or too many other effects thru it.It isn't designed for that. Trust me the amp distortion is amamzing. I see too many people spunking loads of money for a class valve amp and then they run a Boss GT6 thru it! * shrugs * Why?
I used it for reharsals and live venues in London.

I always use Sg's or Lp's. Suited what I was playing. i.e. metal.
Being a really high gain amp this thing is noisy! It's always a trade off. Invest in a quality noise gate like the ISP decimator especially if using stompboxes. If you're using a GT6 or some other bit of digital crap with this amp then shame on you.
Clean!? forget it. It's not what it's designed for!!!
The distortion is extremely brutal and just squashes any other combo I've tried. Whether that's good I don't know. Maybe too much power and no finesse?
I have sold it on as I'm now playing in a band with a "lighter" sound.

Seemed well built. All switches and dials are on top of the combo and not on the front panel. Simple footswitch works well but is plastic. Not sure how long this would last.
No problems with it while I owned it.

Never answered my e-mails. Thanks Peavey!

Great amp but a one trick horse. I now use a Marshall TSL 602 which I think is superior and suits the band I play in. But that is just my taste. Both great amps. The Marshall just has more tone and versatility.
The amp's bloody heavy but that's part of the sound and character. I used to think I Was going to snap my spine lugging this thing about!
Could do with castors and side handles! If you haven't got space or the transport for a stack then this is a good choice. It sounds like a 4x12!

Bought this amp in 2002 and has been able to play to my perfection. The features are great because of the resonance and presence mode. Plus this is Eddie Van Halen's model so you know it will kick ass cuz he is the best.

THIS AMP IS &^%$#!& LOUD, which is good for metal shredders. I am a guitar luthier (build guitars) I also have experience in building amps, I am still on a quest to find the perfect amp and this may not be it. but it is for the time being, what a lot of guitarist don't realize is that the hissing can be stopted with noise gates specifically the boss ns-2 and it will sound perfect, I know I know, why spend extra money on a pedal to hush hissing when I can buy some other amp such as a marshall or mesa boogie, because those two amps sound like $%^& compared tp the 5150 so stop your whining and if the amp hissing bothers you, buy a noise gate.

This has never let me down sound wise, although it does weigh areound 90 pounds which is heavier than most amps, also does not have handles on the side of the amp likes most but one on the top which is $%^&ty, personally it looks really goofy picking it up like a lunch box and can possibly damage your back if moving it up and down the stairs buy your self like I have, but I have never worked out a day in my life so what the &^%$! maybe I should.....

Sounds fantasic which is the most important part, but lugging this amp around on tour, on and off of a van, up and down stairs, and in and out of venues every night with no help will give you quite a workout. Plus the wheels will slide the amp around in the van killing every band mate so put it on it's side even though it only has one shitty handle on the top!!!