Peavey 5150 212

The is a nice little beast. Raw, simple balls out power. 212 Sheffields are better than I expected and handle the power this amp throws out well. The quater stack design is great and gives its a ballsier feel then a normal combo, plus the 60 watt head is frikkin great. Enough controls to tweak 2 very nice tones on each side of the switch.

Using 85 strat (emg89,sa,sa), 1988 kramer usa (duncan distortion tb, hot rails, hot rails) and 2002 Les Paul (emg85,89). Play mainly metal.

Dont get this amp if you play anything that doesnt demand a heavier guitar sound. There is no clean channel, the rythym channel is dirtier than most marshalls tube amps, the lead channel is off the page gain, ive never heard this much gain outta tubes before in my life, heeping slabs upon slabs of dirt. You really have to hear it to understand how filthy it can get.

When i first got it the stock tubes had been blown to bits and sounded like it, best thing to do with this amp is too have the tubes replaced immediately.....the rubys are terrible. I have the new Sovtek 6L6 WXT+ installed, for preamp one EH, for rythym side install cleaner sounding tubes! like sovtek 12ax7a's , and for lead ax7b's.....you want as contrasting tubes as you can get in these slots.

After tubes are done this way youll get much better tonal variety and power than you had off the floor. and thats when this amp is gonna kick your ass. it will still be hissy on the lead channel at high dirt but there is no way you can get that sweet assed gain without a little noise. use your footswitch and gain controls right and you wont have any problems.

this amp is great for anyone who plays metal, or real dirty blues...you will never get a truly clean sparkling sound out of it like you would with a laney tube head, but you can get some nice rich cleans.

as for volume....i jam with full bands with my post gains on 3. this thing will get you noise complaints and will cause hearing loss =-)


some people have commented than the reverb is weak...maybe but i like tight reverb so i think its great....nice to have control of it on the stomper too

would use it to record, but havent tried a mic on it yet so cant comment

you cant hurt it without resorting to power tools...same construction as a full size cabinet basically, weighs a ton and is a pain in the ass to lift around.
electronically its top notch, fixed bias.

havent had the need but ive easily found the schematic and owners manual online

ive used everything imaginable in my 20 years of playing and i know a good amp when i hear it, this amp is frikkin great, not for everyone but great in its own way. You wouldnt get a jcm900 to play with a church band so dont get this and expect to play george bensons greatest and then complain. this amp is loud and dirty.

for the price i got it at i couldnt have gotten anything better.
highly recomended if you play metal.

Purchased new in 1996. Everyone else has already listed the specs. No need to relist them. A versatile amp? For many people no, but for me yes. I play various types of rock-based music and can get get pretty much the tones I need. Some complain of having only one EQ for both channels, but I have a Boss GE-7 to take care of that. I wish it had a line out and/or a headphone jack. I also wish the crunch was footswitchable (like on the 5150 II) instead of the having a switch for the reverb (kinda useless if you ask me). Otherwise, it has pretty much what I need. I'll give it an 8.

By now, you probably know that this amp was designed for its distortion (LEAD channel) more than anything else. It has plenty of gain to give. Some players feel it has too much. A simple solution is just don't put the knob on 10 (I rarely go past 6 or 7). Like any amp, you need to keep making adjustments until you find what you like. The RHYTHM channel, or what some people mistakenly call the "clean" channel, is more versatile than most would realize. The clean sound is less desirable than the sound you'd get from most other amps. But with the right settings, you can get a decent clean sound. (But make no mistake, this amp is a high gain amp and will not do cleans like a Fender tweed or a Roland Jazz Chorus.) The RHYTHM channel has a crunch switch which give it very nice overdriven tones. Being a high gain amp, it has a tendency to be noisy. I changed the tubes (SEDS for power and c9's for preamp) and the amp cleaned up slighty. I recently started using a Boss NS-2 (Noise Suppressor) and the amp is a lot quieter now. (Try it out!) Right now there seems to be a trend of getting this amp modded, but since I'm able to get a lot of usable sounds, I give it a 9.

Never had a problem with it. Personally, I think people who can afford a backup amp would bring one. People who can't afford one, don't use one. Kind of a silly question to me.

Never used them.

I've playing for 16 years. I haven't played through a world of amps, but I'm pretty happy with mine. Seems like most people either love 'em or hate 'em. If it were lost, I may get another one. However, I've had it for 8 years now. I'd probably go see what else is out there. Yeh, and it's big and heavy. I don't have a problem with it, but if you think you would, find something else. It really excels at what it was designed to do, lots of volume and lots of gain. For it's price, it's a good purchase. Overall, I'd give it a 9.

Basic features. 2 channels, 3 band EQ, presence and resonance controls, spring reverb, and effects loop.

I really wish it had a line out. Recording with this amp is a real pain. It doesn't mic up well, and a line out would make things much easier.

My setup is my '88 Charvel Model 4 straight into the 5150. I don't use any effects, just my guitar and amp. Simpler is better.

I play in a couple bands. One is a punk-thrash type band. The other is a lighter rock band with some jazz and blues influences. I need an amp with a brutal distortion, as well as a sweet clean.

I don't see what everyone is talking about when they say the clean sucks. I actually like it a lot. It sounds just as good as my other guitarist's Classic 50. I keep the bright switch pushed in. With the crunch switch, you can drive the tubes into distortion.

The distortion can get extremely heavy. I usually keep my lead preamp at around 7, and it can handle the heaviest of metal. It's not quite as good at doing light distortions, but it definately can be done. Rolling back the volume on my guitar I can get a nice blues lead tone.

This amp is very noisy. When not playing on the lead channel, it's a constant hiss. When playing this isn't noticible, so it's not a big deal. A noise gate could probably help with this.

It doesn't mic up well for recording.

I've gigged with this amp many times in the months that I've had it, and I've never used a backup. It's built very well, and as a result is heavy.

Never dealt with.

This amp is very good. It would be great if it had the simple addition of a line out.

Brand new 2004. I think you know the features by now. No on board effects is what I needed. No use in paying for an overpriced amp I won't use. I gave the features a 5 because...well there aren't many. But it's a 10 for me.

I'm playing a Jackson Rhoades PS3T, with EMG's 81,85 with a Boss Metal Zone pedal. I play metal and that's all I play. Well, maybe a little blues. (You can actually get an overdriven blues tone out of this amp) With some tweaking, you can get a decent clean sound also. The distortion on this thing is sic! It can get very saturated. I find the lead tone to not be of much use for me. I like the tone I get for my rhythm and lead. I gave it a seven because I don't like the lead tone. Maybe I need to mess with it some more.

It seems tough! It is very heavy!! It's still new so I wouldn't know yet.

Warranty is 1 yr. I think

I sold my Marshall VS265R in search of tube tone. I tried a JCM900, TSL2000 and a Line 6. The line 6 just blew for me. The Marshalls were ok sounding but I didn't want to go through the reliability issues I've been hearing about them. I plugged into the 5150 and was blown away. This thing sounds badass if you play metal. The knobs are very touchy and you can get alot of sounds out of it. The footswitch is kinda cheap. It's plastic, definitely not as durable as a Boss pedal. Jamming in the room, I haven't had it much past 1. I cranked it for a second and it got disturbingly loud. I'm sure that this amp will get obscenely loud. At the music stored I played the 5150 half stack and the combo sounds identical if not better. If you need to, you could hook an external cab to it and just let it rip. Like i said though, I haven't had it that long, I like it so far though

You have clean and OD on the same EQ with pres and reso. Not a hell of alot you can do with this amp.

I play Jacksons and and Les Pauls with EMG 81s. This amp is good for playing riffs like "for whom the bell tolls" CHUG CHUG CHUG, CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH. Very good for plam muting.

The closed back 2x12 cab has almost no low end responce.

The peavey speakers sound crackly and fullrange.

It does not mic up well.

The bias is very cold, have it hot roded.

The tubes are not very warm, Get new tubes.

The clean channel is bla.

Its good for weight lifting.

This was my first tube amp I ever owned and it was great to learn about tubes and how they sound. Befor I played BOSS GT-6s and PODs. After a few years with them, I was not liking the way my tracks sounded compared to studio records. It was then realized there is no way digital amps can create that type of full think sound. So I learned all about mic placments and recorded with this amp.

I know it is tuff finding the tone in your head. You will have to travel all over, play every amp, criticaly listen to recordings, Experimenting with mics, and stay up all night trying to figure out what it is your after. Its all part of being a musican. Gear is as important as your physical playing I think.

Good buy for the price though! Great amp under 1000. Loud as hell, good for playing out. But I think I am going to save up for amps like Bogner H&K Soldano and whatever else I can find that sounds like heaven and will make my bank account $0.

Build like a tank, but I bought it with the resonace control not working, so somethings still can go wrong.

Took them 30 days not to fix my broken control.

Good Amp! Not totally a peice of junk, it will sound better then PODs if you have a good mic preamp and a good mic. But Not what Im looking for. I am going to save up and get the best amp I can find. Screw it you only live once!

If anyone wants to talk amps, E-mail me. Id be glad to exchange information.

Features are in the previous reviews.
TUBES TUBES TUBES.
MASSIVE SOUND.

My guitars:
Fender 57 Reissue Strat
Malmsteen Signature Strat
Gibson Les Paul standard
Effects:
Korg AX1500G, Boss DS1,NS2,GE7,Morley Bad horsie Wah,Fulltone FD2
Amps:
Fender Hotrod Deville,Line 6 Flextone 2
"NO MARSHALLS! Except for the JCM800, Marshall Amps sux bigtime!"
My playing style is diverse: blues, rock, heavy metal, some classical and some jazz.

I do not see the big fuzz about the clean/rhythm channel. It is good enough, you just need to take it easy on the "Pre" settings... The only complaint is the HISSing sound from the tubes. But nothing is perfect I guess. My dream amp would be: the power and distortion of the 5150, Clean channel of the Fender Deville and the weight of the Line 6.
I simply love this amp, that I am intending to sell my other 2 amps. I think my love affair with this amp will last for a long time!!

The amp looks indestructible...I might need to carry a screwdriver, extra fuses and a couple of tubes. But I aint carrying another AMP, as the 5150 alone is such a pain to move around.

The Peavey Forum is very helpful. Its really like a community where people help each other out.

Been playing guitars for almost 15 years now. Gigging half of that. Been around plenty of AMPs and I think the tone and sound really depends on the person. Reviews are helpful, but do not simply based your decision on what other people say. Sound,like beauty, is in the eye(EAR) of the beholder...But if you are looking for a MASSIVE sounding amp, GROUND-SHAKING distortion, then get this monster!!
Greatest advise of all is: DONT EVER GET A VALVESTATE/SOLIDSTATE MARSHALL!

60 watts all tube 6L6 powertubes, 12ax7 preamp.
effects loop, footswitchable channel and reverb.
presence and resonance controls.

I wouldn't say that this is a one trick pony, but it is definitely best suited for heavy metal...I was able to coax a bluesy tone out of it, but it took a while. This amp is CRAZY loud...i turn it up to 3 and the neighbors start getting pissed. The clean channel is only OK, it seems a bit brittle, but that may be the tubes. Also, the reverb is weak as hell. As others have described, the amp hisses like a snake. even the clean channel is pretty noisy. I've heard that changing tubes can help with the hissing, or a noise gate.

This amp is like an M1-A1 tank...it is indestructable. Consequently, it is heavy as hell. All you'd really need is some back up tubes to gig with...you never know when a tube will go.

N/A

I've been used to playing thru crappy modeling amps for a while, and to hear real tube distortion sure is nice. this amp is great for hard rock/metal sounds, but if you want crispy cleans, look somewhere else. I wish the effects loop were foot switchable. I would buy it again if i ever lost it...though i can't imagine how the hell one would lose this thing.

this amp is made only for hard rock and metal, nothing else. the amp has tons of power for only being sixty watts, i can shake my basement walls with this thing. i find the bright switch on the rythem channel to be useless, but i dont care i dosent even sound that good.

im using a gibson sg standard with the amp. i love swedish metal such as in flames, at the gates, arch enemy, ect.. so this amp is perfect. the amp is very noisy but you learn to controle it while playing, and you cant hear any hum or hiss while playing. the clean channel is alright, and the cruch channel does not sound good at low volumes because off all the cross over distortions. the lead channel sounds good at bedroom level, but once you get it pass four or so the sound will just punch you in the face and take your knee caps out with a crow bar.

i have only had the amp for a month, and it has not done anything funny yet. it took the company a month to ship the amp, so i was not happy about that.

good good

for the price/playability nothing else comes close. i personally think this amp could smoke a triple rect. in tone. dont let the sixty watts fool you this amp will make your ears ache.

It's a 60 watt 2x12 all tube combo with two footswitchable channels: rhythm and lead (see the Peavey site or some of the other reviews for full details). I mostly play hardcore/metal styles, though I occasionally like to play a little classic rock and blues too; and this amp handles practically all the tones you'd ever need for these styles and all the shades of grey in between. I get all my sounds out of the rhythm channel, the lead channel is just too high gain: great for solo playing and for thrash type sounds like early Metallica, but it lacks bottom end and definition. The rhythm channel won't do shimmering clean sounds, though I doubt this amp appeals to players who want that kind of sound. However, it will do is everything from a nice, mildly overdriven sound all the way up to that metallic 'chug' sound that so many players search high and low for, and this is where its resonance control really comes into it's own; crank that thing around two thirds of the way up and you'll have the heaviest sound in town, without sacraficing clarity. I was inspired to buy this amp when I read that Machine Head had used it for their first album, and that sound is precisely what I got. Very tight, clear distortion with loads of bottom end and power. I'm also a big Helmet fan, who're well known for playing some pretty big chords through lots of distortion. The 5150 handles it brilliantly, you get the benefit of all the harmonic richness you get when you distort complex chords, without losing definition and clarity and without having to crank the highs up to the point that it's taking your head off. I've used this amp at home, rehearsals, studio and live and it's never let me down. It IS a heavy bitch, and the carry handle is a joke - it's really a two man job to move the thing comfortably - but that's the only down side. It certainly isn't the most versatile amp ever made, but it isn't designed to be. If your main style falls into the metal/hardcore bracket, you'll love it and there's enough versatility in it to serve you well when you feel a bit more mellow - just learn to use your guitar's volume.

I use a late 90's Gibson Les Paul Studio straight into the amp. I keep the same settings all the time and get all the tonal variety I need by using my guitar's controls. As I said, I only ever use the rhythm channel, and that is very quiet. The lead channel seems much noisier but then the amount of gain on that is phenomenal, you can't have that without a bit of noise. It would be unfair to call this amp a one trick pony, because you can get a lot of quality overdriven and distorted sounds out of it. But, it lacks the versatility to switch between a lot of sounds. The lead channel is just that, it's not really up to playing rhythm parts for the styles I play. So, I have the rhythm channel cranked to almost full tilt and use the guitar's volume to back of the distortion a little. That's it. Again, it's all a matter of your own personal style, but if you play in a band that demands a lot of versatility - look elsewhere. For what I use it for, it's unbeatable and I would change anything about it.

Totally dependable. As with all tube amps though, have a few fuses in your kit bag and look after your valves. And don't switch in on and off all day, use the stand-by.

Never needed it, doubt I ever will.

I've been playing for 10 years and use a Gibson LP Studio and also a "frankenstein" Yamaha RGX (my first electric, now something of a mess but much loved). This amp is killer, there's no doubt. However, it is expensive if buying new and I've never seen one used as cheap as I got mine. I saw it, had the money and had to have it - it's that simple. If I lost it, I doubt I could afford to replace it at the moment but if money were no object - I wouldn't think twice. I give it an 8 overall simply because it isn't THAT versatile.

60 Watts RMS voiced to Edward Van Halen's specifications and identical to amps used by him for touring and recording
Five 12AX7 preamp tubes and two 6L6 power amp tubes
Footswitchable lead/rhythm channel select and reverb defeat
3-band EQ, resonance and presence controls
Rhythm channel: pre-/post-gain controls, bright/crunch switches
Lead channel: pre-/post-gain controls
Two Sheffield? 1200 12 inch speakers voiced to Edward Van Halen's specifications
Closed-back cabinet
Footswitch included

I have a highly modified strat, a USA Wolfgang, and a PRS santana se with seymour duncan 59s (have played Gibson Les Pauls and SGs and USA strats though this amp as well) and I play real music, unlike the no guitar solos, toneless, detuned, with dual rectified mesas with distortion pedals linkin biskit crap. I think this amp is perfect and obviously so does Ed. Eddie has TONE! I am putting in my two cents worth here because I want to explain some things here. I do not want ANYMORE reviewers here to say, This amp hisses too much, or don't say that it is too heavy, Please, if you have to have the music store guy take it out to your Subaru for you, go pick out a different amp, I would suggest maybe a Line 6 Spider or Tech 21 trademark 10. (Tech 21 rocks BTW) The sound this amp gets is because it is heavy and has big transfomers and big magnets on the speakers, you cannot make a lightweight amp sound like this does. It is the reason that a Lincoln Town Car rides alot better than a Toyota Corolla. They are both nice cars but fit different needs. When I played in bands I used to take my old Marshall half stack up and down stairs, back and forth to practice. I didn't grip. I had tone. Tone is heavy. It is part of the deal. Get a roadie. They will never figure away around this fact of physics. Big sound come from big speakers. Don't say this amp is too heavy. NO MORE!

My dear wife dropped one of her 7 pound workout dumbbells on top of it one day, after that the lead channel sounds very thin. I have taken it apart to look and can't see anything obvious wrong so I may get it fixed someday, but probably not because I never really used that channel much anyway.

No comment, no opinion.

I have played since 1975. I have had and still have too much gear really to list. I love this amp, did I mention that it is kind of heavy? This is the best kept secret in the guitar industry. Get one if you can carry it home!