peavey 5150 vs. Marshall??

[SilverSurfer2]

Hey all, been thinking of trying a 5150, i've never tried one before.
How does this compare to a Marshall 6100 in terms of gain/distortion, tone? I hear you don't even need a distortion pedal for the 5150......does it have that much distortion? And, is the 5150 good for blues, or just metal and thrash?

And which is better the original 5150, or the 5150II?
And i also hear the 5150 cabs are great too.......

Or should i wait till the peavey "satch boogie" head(i'm just calling it that) comes out?

I'd appreciate some advice and opinions. I'll try them out at guitar center

[Gearjunky]

The 5150 and the 5150 II have about 150% more gain than any marshall ever made including modded ones. Some of the gain is actually unusable.
I personally like the 5150 II better than the regular one. There is absolutely no need for a distortion box with the 5150 or the 5150 II.
Yes you can get great blues sounds out of either amp.
The distortion is much different than a marshall. It's more of a distortion than an overdrive sound.
You can't go wrong with either. It's just what you like to hear.
Check them all out and let your ears decide.

[JerryP]

I have clips of both on my sound clip page. Check them out. The 5150 is a great amp. They're pretty cheap compared to a Marshall.
Jerry

[JerryP]

I have clips of both on my sound clip page. Check them out. The 5150 is a great amp. They're pretty cheap compared to a Marshall.
Sound Clips
Jerry

[Petie]

The 5150 sounds dull to my ears, like a guitar with its tone control backed off. I'd rather go for a Soldano

[EnigmaUV7]

The 5150 has distinctly modern distortion, with lots of high end fuzz, compared to the Marshall, which has more cut and a much rawer sound with hot rodded classic British tone. I don't think I have ever played any amp with nearly as much gain as the 5150, it is just unreal!!! If I could only have one of these, I would take the 6100 in a heartbeat, but the 5150 is an awesome beast as well.

[Murray]

just wondering, how much does a 5150 or a 5150 II go for second hand?

[vaijem777]

Originally Posted by Gearjunky

The 5150 and the 5150 II have about 150% more gain than any marshall ever made including modded ones. Some of the gain is actually unusable.

There's so much wrong with that statement that it's not even funny.

The statement of "150% more gain than any marshall ever made including modded ones" is utterly ridiculous. Says who? You? Great opinion, but please don't attempt to pass it off as a fact. I find it very unlikely that you've played every modded Marshall out there. Seeing as how the majority of the Marshall mods I've seen have to do with increased gain, I'm willing to bet that there is somebody out there doing a mod that would give a Marshall every bit as much gain as a 5150, if not more.

The 6100 has plenty of gain for most applications between its 3 channels. Sure, a DS-1 makes a great BOOST pedal, but that's a matter of preference.

I've yet to hear a 5150 that I actually liked, but...I also try to avoid Peavey at all costs. Yes-they have a lot of gain. But gain doesn't equal great tone, or even great distortion.

Bottom line is that the 6100 and the 5150 are two very different beasts.

[JerryP]

I have a modded Marshall that will give the 5150 a run for it's money.
Vaijem777 have you heard the clips of my 5150? 5150 clips I welcome any opinions on the tone........ I think....be gentle.
Jerry

[vaijem777]

Oh, don't get me wrong- I'm definitely NOT saying that the 5150 isn't capable of some great tones. It's all a matter of taste and preference when it comes to tone anyway. BUT...the fact that the 5150 (or any other amp for that matter) has a ton of gain shouldn't be equated with having inherently great distortion or great tone.

I think that the reason Satch went with the 6100 for so long was that it had three distinct channels that worked for him. Plus, it was a Marshall that actually has a usable clean channel. The key here is that the 6100 is what worked for HIM. Your mileage may vary

The tone in your clip IS quite nice, Jerry.

[JerryP]

Thanks!
Jerry