Peavey 5150 212

we all know the features, and if you dont, look at the 80 other revuews

i use a Fernandes Vertigo Deluxe, with stock pickups, not the best pickups but still good, i play Death Metal like God dethroned, Arch Enemy, and Pantera. the reason i got the amp is cause it seems like every death metal show i go to, all the best bands use a 5150, and now i see why. For this kind of music the 5150 is the best amp, its unreal, my friend just spent $1500 on a Marshall half stack and some crappy marshal head, and my 2X12 blows it away, not just in sound, but also in volume, this thing is LOUD, i was thinking about getting a 4X10, and am i glad i didnt. i put some JJ's in it from EUROTUBES.COM (by the way, the nicest guy your ever gonna meet) the distortion is not compareable, its too good, all the gain your ever gonna need, now for the down sides, it is NOISY NOISY NOISY, anything over 3 on the master volume and there is major noise and feedback, and also of course the clean channel, it sounds pretty bad at high volumes, but im sure getting a little stomp box EQ can help that out, but who cares, no one is gonna get a 5150 for clean sounds, the amp is all metal, im COMPLETELY in love with it

i bought it used on Ebay, and wasnt in the best looking condition, so i was kind of freaked out that it might not work, works perfect, never given me any problems, and i would have no problem gigging with out a back up

never had to contact them

the best buy ive ever made, its the best amp i could have, sounds amazing, dont hesitate to buy this amp if your into serious metal, not some faggot limp bizkit or linkin park faggotry, again, 5150 is the best Death metal amp under $8000

There is only one thing that is perhaps not so good with this amp, and that would be that the closed 2-12 cabinet tends to compress the sound too much. In fact, the first time i played it with the band, I had to crank it up to 6 or 7 on the power amp, just to cut through. BUT I FOUND THE CURE, AND IT IS SIMPLY TO REMOVE THE BACK OF THE CABINET. IT REALLY OPENED UP THE SOUND, AND IT CUTS THROUGH EVEN AT A LOW MASTER VOLUME SETTING. THE CLEAN SOUND IS ALSO IMPROVED WHEN APPLYING THIS LITTLE TRICK. I CAN GET SPARKLING CLEAN SOUNDS FROM IT IN A MANNER THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE BEFORE. TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT

Unsure on the year, It has the cursive EVH writing on it. Tube amp, uses 12ax7 preamp tubes and 6L6 Power tubes. I've put JJ tubes in recently and it sounds great. Amp can be very versitile due to the Resonance, Presence and low gain, hi gain inputs. This amp doesn't clean up very well so I'm running it A/B with a Fender M-80. Low gain can pull off some blues, has built in reverb also. I mostly play rock and some metal (Collective Soul, Nickelback, Bush, Metallica, AC/DC, Zeppelin). Has two channels, Rhythm and Lead with the option for a footswitch although there is no headphone jack. You don't really need one, this amp sounds good loud!!!! I wish it had a good clean channel with gain so again I had to remedy by using an A/B switch and a fender amp.

I play a fender strat and a fender toronado w/ stock pickups. Amp sounds a little beefier with a humbucker than it does single coils but thats true for all amps. Distortion is the 1 reason you must own this amp. It gets dirtier than mary jane rottencrotch on a first date. Noise is a factor, w/ so much gain theres a nice steady hiss, i'm thinking about putting a hush pedal in the effects loop just to see if it makes a difference.

I bought it used and one of the tubes was already out so got some JJ's from Bob Plekta @ www.eurotubes.com. Amp is a fixed bias so you just pull the old tubes and plug the new ones and your ready to go, easy easy maintnance. Amp is built like a tank..It weighs 85 lbs!!I would go without a backup, maybe just bring a set of tubes b/c you never know when one of them can go..

Used, never dealt with Peavey

I've been playing for about 4 1/2 years now. Play fender strat/toronado >> Jim Dunlop Crybaby Wah >> Ibanez TS-7 Tubescreamer >> Ibanez SM-7 Smashbox >> Kork AX1000G >> A/B to Peavey 5150 and Fender M-80. Stolen i'd be mad b/c I would probably never find one used again for that cheap.

Same as below (other reviews) good selection of features

I just wanted to get my 2 cents in here.
I used to own a 5150 combo.
I was hoping this is it, my search is over, I always thought Eddie had the best rock tone ever.
I never felt like it was the amp I was looking for, and after having it and playing live with it for 6 months it was time to say goodbye.
It is a decent amp, and really distorts well, but mic's up horribly, and needs thickening over all, I like more mid's especially low mid's. I now own a Marshall 1971 Super Lead I'm in heaven now...sorry

This is a new amp, made in 2003. This amp has two channels, Rhythm and Lead. This is a 60 watt all tube combo, shared EQ, and footswitchable Channels/reverb. I play Current rock alternative to Classic rock and this amp does the trick. Since I play most songs with distortion, rhythm channel can be coaxed into playing clean, but breaks up nicely,

Some say its soo LOUD, I find it just right, with all the reviews I have read, I thought it'd be much louder in a live situation, I play the Pre- Lead on 4-5 the post Lead around 2-3, and thats enough to cut through the mix, it does start to feedback when you get louder than that.

I use a Fat Strat, straight in, lets say I just wanted tone, This amp is good for almost any type of harder rock situation, might not be suitable for Jazz or Country though.

I do find that the best gain settings are to the Pre-lead channel below five, otherwise is does get a little noisey, just hisses a little, nothing major in my opinion. But theres lots of gain on tap if you need it, I am happy to keep the gain around 4-5

The Rhythm channel sounds best to me when its set clean but with a nice break up, to try to get an awesome clean sound would be a chore, maybe just a bit stale, but thats ok with me, I wouldn't try to get a Fender Clean sound, out of a high gain amp like this.

I might get a compressor, that might help the clean channel stay clean, but for now I am having fun playing with what I have in front of me.

Its a PEAVEY, they build amps for the working musician. You can get Service anywhere, I have never had too many problems with my gear since I try to take care of everything I use, but the 5150's are rugged, I'd use it without a backup

I haven't had to do anything to the amp, don't expect that I'll need to.

I think when its time for a tube change, I might try the JJ's, most people think they might be the best for this amp.

I purchased this after seeking a good tube amp, the Fender Devilles would have been my second choice. The Devilles have a great clean channel and I figured I could put a good pedal in front of it, but then I thought...since 95% of the songs I play require distortion...why not get a great tube growl........I did consider Mesa f-100 2x12 combos, they are a bit pricey, and maybe a bit overrated. I have been playing a Fender Ultimate Chorus with a Zoom, and I could get some wicked sounds out of it, but I grew out of all the digital stuff and wanted a Great Plug in and Play amp, no tap dancing for me anymore.

I'd probably buy it again if it were stolen.

Its a Monster, looks kind of RETRO with the chicken head knobs, and the face plate being on top.... I Like that alot, but it is Heavy. I have seen these amps pictured with only one Handle on Top, mine has three (I think all newer ones do), so that makes it easier to carry alone or if you have a bandmate that can grab an end.

I did buy Earnie Ball Casters (pop ins) and installed them. Trust me, Don't leave the store with this amp without getting casters. Not sure why Peavey wouldn't include Casters, and a slip cover would be nice as well. I think the covers are cheap like $20, but they of couse didn't have them in stock when I bought the amp.

I do have to say that I am not terrible fond of the Plastic Footswitch, its functional allright, but to make something that I am going to stomp on allnight out of plastic is beyond me......but ...no problems yet.

The amp is a 97 model. We know the rest of the features

Guitar Gibson Les paul custom
perfect for hard stuff and has a really decent clean tone
The amp is a little bit noisy but a noise gate will take care of that

Havent had it long enough but its lasted so far

I doubt i will ever contact them if something goes wrong because there is something called the interenet that helps us now.

I have been playing for 15yrs and have tried alot of tube amps, this one is the best so far. It sounds great at low volumes and even better cranked. The only thing this amp lacks is more bass it seems, but ive heard from everyone that has added a 2x12 cab to it that it solves that problem

I think everyone knows the features by now. I'd say the EQ and reverb are both just OK - passable but not great. Everything else, though, is sensational.

I mostly play through an Ibanez with a Dimarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton, but I also play with a Steinberger with EMG's and a home-made strat from time to time, along with a Kramer Condor (very) semi-acoustic. I play 80's rock (EVH), prog rock, and some classical and celtic finger picking stuff. Whatever is interesting at the time. My rig is Morely Wah-Volume - Amp - RP100 (effects loop - just effects, no amp models).

I am not a tube freak. Unlike a lot of guitarists, I've think technology has gotten better since the 30's. I have played mostly transistor-analog and digital amps for the past 12 years, and I was quite content. I thought tubes amps sounded a little better, but not enough to warrant the hit to my wallet, the maintenance, adding things like "bias" and "plate voltage" to my vocabulary, or throwing out my back lugging one around. The 5150 has changed my mind.

The clean tone is good - not great, but good. If you are looking for a wonderful clean tone, there are better amps for it. But it's still good, and plenty for my needs.

The lead channel floored me. The lead tone is balanced, maintains it's character without turning to mud, and is really, really warm. I mean really warm. Whether doing rhythm playing or soloing, it flat sings. And that was with the stock (a.k.a. shit) tubes it came with. I retubed it with electro-harmonix preamp and power amp tubes, and it is even better - same warmth, a little more definition. It sounds great at bedroom volumes (a concern to me, as I didn't relish buying an attenuator), although the thing will crank. Great speakers, great bass response with the closed back cabinet. Wow. Just, wow.

It's great for my needs. It isn't buzz-saw distortion, and I'm not sure if a buzz-saw pedal would make it so, nor do I particularly care to find out. It's just great, warm, hard rock distortion.

The only knock is the noise. It has a lot of tube hiss, even with good tubes, even on the clean channel. It isn't even pickup or cable related - even with nothing plugged into it, niagra falls. Personally, I don't give a rip, but if you're a guitar-cable-amp purist, it may get on your nerves. I use a Digitech RP100 in the effects loop for noise gate, chorus et. al., delay and reverb, and the noise gate effectively gets rid of the problem. It works with the RP100 quite well by the way (just effects - no amp or cab models).

The lead is a 10. The clean is a 7. I'll give it a 9.

I haven't had it long enough to give an opinion. It's built like a tank, and weighs nearly as much (85 lbs.). I think it's 10-11 ply wood, and it feels solid. If I ran into it with my Hyundai, my money would be on the amp. But it's a tube amp. They're sensitive....

I bought it off of Ebay. Beats me.

What can I say, I really like this amp. I've owned, played through, and listened to a lot of amps, and this one does it for me. It might not do it for you, so I'd go check one out before you buy it. It may be too much for jazz/blues players, and it may not be enough for death metal types. But for me, it's perfect.

I don't think it'll get stolen. It's too heavey to abscond with.

Really basic set-up... just what I am looking for.

American Standard Tele & a Steinberger Spirit

For those looking for a Marshall or Soldano type of sound, this works very well. If you are looking for a Mesa sound, get a Mesa.

When I bought it, I played it side by side with a Mesa Dual Rec Tremo-verb (open back w/celestions). The 5150 seemed alot more like I was playing an amp. The Mesa probably would have sounded better with a closed back, but at twice the price, I sided with the 5150. Plus, I'm trying to get away from the dark/compressed sound.... too many bands today have 'that' sound!

It does get a little hissy if you have the gain above 5, but like others have mentioned, just get a gate or suppressor.

CHANGE THE TUBES! I switched over to a matched set of JJ's, and that tightened everything up; clear, clean, focused. The Sovtek's just don't cut it. Sound before the change, a 6.

The clean is just that, clean... it does the job, but not as good as a Fender.. this is rock amp though, so it's really not an issue.

The distortion is just like I stated above, very Marshall or Soldano like. You could probably get an EQ to make it sound like a Mesa, but if you want 'that' sound, just get a Mesa.

Overall an 8. Next up are adding Celestion V 30's (they just sound sweet). Sounds best with humbuckers (good ones). I wish it had a 3rd channel. If it were stolen or lost, I would want to kill the prick.

Been playing 17 years, recently with a Boss GT6 straight to PA. Sold that to go back to a REAL AMP... and it feels great!

Excellent, but would like EQ for both channels
Has a EVH signature on it
212 speakers
Reverb is weak, i cant really tell the difference when its on or off

Guitar has EMG 81 at bridge:

I can play anything on this amp. The clean sound is a bit saturated, but unlike other reviews ive seen here, i can a loud clean tone.
I can get a "nirvana - smells like teen spirit (intro)" clean tone nailed to a tee. All i have to do is reduce the guitar volume to get clean. I can also get a nice and warm bassy clean tone with a neck pickup configuration.

Same channel, i crank the guitar volume, crank the preamp a bit, and i get a superb classic rock from Bluesy to AC/DC tones. With the right EQ, and right settings (crunch and bright pushed in) i can even push channel 1 into heavy metal territory. The crunch at this point is melodic and nicely saturated. With a 412, it gives it the extended bass that makes it sound more like 80's metal. Excellent Crunch from rythm channel. The distortion on this channel is more than enough.

Lead channel. I thought rythm channel had distortion, but this is just insane. Right out metal times 10. I get an " And justice For all album (Metallica)" tone when i dial it at 6 , and still have more to go ! This is the most monster distortion i have heard. It has pretty much the same amount of distortion of a dual rectifier, if not more, but at this point, it doesnt really matter anymore.

I didnt think this thing could be so loud ! I have been a sound guy for shows before, and i can say this thing is enough for any kind of venue. Dont really need to mic it at small venues , slight ajustments for medium venues just so the sound spreads evenly, not just directed in one area.

The only flaw i have found, is the damn hiss. It is always there when i stop playing. Even with my guitar unplugged. It is a little louder than other tube amps, but it can be attenuated with a good noise gate. But on the bright side, the hiss completely dissapears when i jam with the band. The only time i hear it is when everyone stops playing for a couple seconds.

Tank. Has had 1 tube change in about 8 years, still sounds excellent.
One blown fuse.

They answered me when i inquired about the hiss. Gave me a couple options. But when i asked how to modify the amp to reduce the hiss, they didnt give me a relevant answer ...
But at least they answer

I've been playing for about 5 years. Improved pretty fast, went from a 10 watt microphone amp to DOD 15 watt, to peavey special 150, to traynor 20W tube , to 5150 212. I stick with this amp, solid sound. I have tried other tube amps, like DSL100 and dual rectifier, but on the stage, i was surprised at the fact that this amp can stand against any 100W tube amp it is put against, tone-wise and volume-wise. This thing sounds amazing with a 16ohm 412 extention.

Try it, it is a very good professional instrument of choice.
I suggest this amp if you want to gig. Country even bluesy western to Classic rock to Heavy metal and beyond.

Late 90s and it is like new.
Yes this is very versatile and really rocks.
2 channels I wish it had a 1/2 power switch.
I never use reverb it is for people who dont know what to do when there guitar is taking a break.
I use this in clubs and bars.It is plenty of power
all tube I have own just about every type of amp there is and I love this thing.

I use a strat that has duncans and a gibson 500 t modified to the hilt. And a tele that is also tweaked.It is nice for any type of rock. It is noisey if you turn up your gain to hot.
The distortion will make your mom cry. It is Swicked with a S If you keep your gain down it is not to noisy but if it is cranked it will become noisy.

AWESome I dont take back up never have I just baby my stuff.

Don't know never dealt with them?

25 years playing to much gear to mention in less you have a lot of time.I would buy another one in a heart beat.The overdrive is rich. I have owned many amps ,ampeg , Marshall, Fender, old Peavey stuff, crate , line 6 , laney , This is the best for the money and peavey is reliable VERY did I say VERY!!!!!!!!!!
I wish it had 1/2 power so my neighbors would not hate me.