Peavey Windsor Studio

[Guitarmattms]

Hey, Folks.

I recently downsized my amp but of course things didn't work out in Ames so I moved back home into my parents house. They don't mind my noise so I'm going to get back into a tube amp again.

Here's what I narrowed my choices down too.

Peavey Windsor Studio
Peavey 6505+ 112

The windsor has a lot more options and is only 12-15 watts instead of 60.

I have not tried out the studio yet but I did get to play the 6505 today. Which I loved but it's still quite loud for me.

However, I'm affraid the Windsor might not be loud enough. I just need something for a small bar/basement band. Would this be fine?

Thanks everyone!

[LonePhantom]

Windsor Studio will be loud enough.

I tried one at my local store when demoing new amps, and was left with a not so good impression. Mind you I think the transformer fried itself!

Look at the Blackstar HT-20 which is newly released. Amazing versatile amps. I have a HT-5, and am seriously considering getting the 20.

[SonicProvocateur]

The Windsor (personally) is a muddy piece of garbage... The powersoak function was useless, and the articulation was terrible. (btw, LonePhantom, I don't think the transformer fried itself, that's just the way the amps sound....)

The 6505 is a rock/metal machine, simply put. Its a downsized 6505 with an extra speaker outputs and an XLR out for recording. They are so sweet.

I think you are going to be INFINITELY happier with the 6505, man!

You can read my reviews of both of them here on Jemsite:

Windsor studio: http://www.jemsite.com/compare-guita...black/reviews/

6505 combo: http://www.jemsite.com/compare-guita...Combo/reviews/

[LonePhantom]

Originally Posted by SonicProvocateur

The Windsor (personally) is a muddy piece of garbage... The powersoak function was useless, and the articulation was terrible. (btw, LonePhantom, I don't think the transformer fried itself, that's just the way the amps sound....)

Oh I'm pretty sure the transformer or something fried itself. Unless the sound disappearing after 10 minutes, and the burning smell as part of the regular specs!

[SonicProvocateur]

Hahaha. Touche, sir.

Still. The Windsor is garbage. I have a Crate V18 that I love for my "dirty blues" type Black Keys sounds, and it honestly blows the Windsor out of the water in the $100 tube amp range, and it honestly has the same sound (better actually).

Spend the extra dough, and get something in the $500ish range. You won't regret it.

Lonephantom, you keep talking these Blackstar's up. I'm gonna have to track one down and try it. (I eyeballed their cabs on GC awhile back...)

[Philboski]

If you can swing it, there are some decent attenuators out there that would make the 6505 work a little better in a less volume dependent situation.

You could also look for a Peavey Triple XXX 40-watt combo on the used market. It'll do most of what the 6505 will do, and some stuff it won't, but at a lower wattage.

Being in Canada, I haven't seen or tried a Blackstar yet, but I have heard nothing but good things about the HT-5.

[smooth55]

The Blackstar stuff is awesome. I would shy away from the Windsor as I've yet to hear anyone praise it's tone and the build quality is certainly suspect. I'm not sure about the 1x12 6505 combo but if you're into really hard stuff, it'll probably do things for you. I won't recommend anything other than what's been said until you tell us about what tones you're trying to get though.

[racerevlon]

I have a Windsor head and I would describe it as a budget Plexi clone (both in terms of money AND tone). I think that's what they were going for, but they didn't get very close. I now use my Windsor as a power amp for another preamp--I run it into the effects return with an attenuator and it sounds great (understanding that you're getting a very basic 4 x EL34 circuit plugging in to the effects return).

I'm with smooth55--tell us a bit more about what type of music you play and what type of tone you're looking for, and we can make better recommendations.

Cheers,

Race