Quote:
Originally Posted by Crucified  the 5150 2 or the 6505+ are terrible compared to the 6505/5150. i don't know what they changed but there isn't as much gain and the eq sounds different. You can still get decent sounds but if you have the option go for the 5150 or 6505 |
Utter shite.
The 5150 and the 6505 are IDENTICAL. The 6505 name was introduced when Eddie Van Halen took his endorsement contract from Peavey to Fender, and taht included the 5150 name. (6505 comes from the anniversary of Peavey's inception - 1965-2005).
The red channel on the 5150/6505 is mind blowingly good. Sweet, huge and gainy, but with the capabilities to be hard edged or silky smooth depending on pickup choice and how you dial it in. The 'green' channel on the 5150/6505 is NOT a true clean channel - it is more apt as an orange - it will do cleans with the preamp gain down and the master up, but it isnt Fender glassy territory.
The 5150II and the 6505+ are again new and old versions of the same. They are functionally idential to a) each other (the 5150II has EXACTLY the same circuit as the 6505+) and the basic preamps are almost identical - the ONLY exceptionbeing that the 5150II/6505+ contains one extra preamp tube (for a total of six 12AX7's) that allow it to handle true cleans. While it doesn't have more channels, the 5150II/6505+ comes with a three way footswitch (as opposed to a two-way on the 5150/6505) that adds a 'crunch' boost besides the channel and fx loop switches. The crunch boost basically gives you lead 'rhythm' and cleans all at the tap of a foot. Also, the 5150II/6505+ has individual EQ's for each channel, including seperate Resonance and PResence controls.
The 5150/6505 is an incredible amp, but its partners, the 5150II/6505+ have enough extra that they are worth the extra outlay IMO. I wish I'd saved up extra for the 6505+.
FINALLY - the reason 5150's and 5150II's sound 'better' than the 6505/6505+ are for two main reasons:
i)The 5150 is over a decade old now. You won't find one with stock tubes. And non-stock tubes are much better than the stock Ruby Tubes that come with the 6505 = this is where the main discrepancy lies. Second hand 5150's are just better equipped.
The stock Ruby's aren't great - they aren't awful or unusable by any means...just not great.
ii) 5150 owners are the real problem here. Second hand 5150's and 6505's traditionally have lost a fair bit of value. However, since demand for them is consistent (everyone wants one at some point) the prices are stable - but not as high as other resale values for similar amps - its a buyers market. You will NEVER have a problem selling a 5150 though. When the 6505 came out 5150 owners the world over took it upon themselves to advertise their amp as 'the original version, before they remade it as the 6505' and this has, through time, like a game of chinese whispers turned into the age old 'original=better tone' argument. Think of whining Fender/Giibson players and you see what has happened here.
Hope that helps dude!