Any advice on good amps for 'Metal' ?

[Nephilim]

OK, now I'm in a dilemma. There's a Peavey 5150 combo going for £399 on Ebay, but the reverb doesn't work; and another starting at £380, but it hasn't been used in years. What are your opinions? Or should I stay as far away from them as possible? I'll list their descriptions below:

This is the one starting at £380...


This was packed away for some years until house move brought it to light again.
Not sure when it was aquired but it was part of some part exchange deal.
I am a keyboard player hence did,t know much about it until recently that it is a guitar
collectors dream peice of gear and highly sort after. Nice, tried it out but dam things
too loud for me and seriously, can i say it, its awesome and frightening in sound.

Looks in good nick and i can remmember being told it has never been gigged. Thats all
I can say.

I can ship it any where in uk or europe if need be.

Two 12 inch speakers, 60 watt valve. Sounds much heavier than the 120 watt head version something to do with the  wireing I am told.

Has manual with it and foot switch, nice
[/b]
This is the one going for £399...

This 60W combo has great sounds, and is built to strict specifications set up by Mr Edward Van Halen. Features a footswitchable lead/rhythm channel select. Master controls include a 3-band EQ, resonance, and presence. Rhythm channel utilizes pre/post gain controls and bright/crunch switches. Lead channel has pre/post gain controls only. 2 Sheffield 1200 12" speakers in an enclosed-back cabinet. .

The 5150 series amplifiers and enclosures are the result of extensive research and development with guitar legend Edward Van Halen to produce the ultimate products for guitarists. The 5150 212 Combo delivers super rock crunch, harmonic-rich sustain, and screaming drive like you've never heard before.

Features

60W
5 - 12AX7 preamp tubes
2 – 6LC power amp tubes
2 - 12" speakers
2 footswitchable channels
3-band EQ
Resonance
Presence
 The amp has hardly been gigged or abused.  There are no rips or tears on the covering. The guy who had this before me hardly used it and unfortunately I haven’t used it much.

This amp absolutely rocks and the tubes are awesome.   the reverb doesn’t work and wasn,t working when i bought it ,i haven,t checked it as i use outboard effecte through the loop.


Footswitch and Cover is included

Pick up preferred or can deliver within 50 miles for a fee

What are your honest opinions? I've also been eyeing up the Peavey 6505+ Combo as well.ell.

[Nephilim]

OK, now I'm in a dilemma. There's a Peavey 5150 combo going for £399 on Ebay, but the reverb doesn't work; and another starting at £380, but it hasn't been used in years. What are your opinions? Or should I stay as far away from them as possible? I'll list their descriptions below:

This is the one starting at £380...


This was packed away for some years until house move brought it to light again.
Not sure when it was aquired but it was part of some part exchange deal.
I am a keyboard player hence did,t know much about it until recently that it is a guitar
collectors dream peice of gear and highly sort after. Nice, tried it out but dam things
too loud for me and seriously, can i say it, its awesome and frightening in sound.

Looks in good nick and i can remmember being told it has never been gigged. Thats all
I can say.

I can ship it any where in uk or europe if need be.

Two 12 inch speakers, 60 watt valve. Sounds much heavier than the 120 watt head version something to do with the  wireing I am told.

Has manual with it and foot switch, nice

This is the one going for £399...

This 60W combo has great sounds, and is built to strict specifications set up by Mr Edward Van Halen. Features a footswitchable lead/rhythm channel select. Master controls include a 3-band EQ, resonance, and presence. Rhythm channel utilizes pre/post gain controls and bright/crunch switches. Lead channel has pre/post gain controls only. 2 Sheffield 1200 12" speakers in an enclosed-back cabinet. .

The 5150 series amplifiers and enclosures are the result of extensive research and development with guitar legend Edward Van Halen to produce the ultimate products for guitarists. The 5150 212 Combo delivers super rock crunch, harmonic-rich sustain, and screaming drive like you've never heard before.

Features

60W
5 - 12AX7 preamp tubes
2 – 6LC power amp tubes
2 - 12" speakers
2 footswitchable channels
3-band EQ
Resonance
Presence
 The amp has hardly been gigged or abused.  There are no rips or tears on the covering. The guy who had this before me hardly used it and unfortunately I haven’t used it much.

This amp absolutely rocks and the tubes are awesome.   the reverb doesn’t work and wasn,t working when i bought it ,i haven,t checked it as i use outboard effecte through the loop.


Footswitch and Cover is included

Pick up preferred or can deliver within 50 miles for a fee

What are your honest opinions? I've also been eyeing up the Peavey 6505+ Combo as well.

[Roobubba]

I haven't tried the combo in person, though I know a few people who've got one and make awesome sounds with it.
Personally, I like the utter fatness and fullness of the 120W head version. There's no experience quite like playing through a full-stack (or larger!). :)

[dave_mc]

And regarding the US/UK thing: How come you recommend one for one country and another for the other. Can't you buy both wherever you are? I'm in the UK, btw.

It's due to where they're built, and therefore whether they have to be imported by the distributors, which bumps up the costs considerably.

Marshalls are made in the UK and are relatively affordable here, whereas Mesas (for example) cost an absolute fortune in the UK but are ten-a-penny in the US (exaggeration!).

Having said that, most guitar equipment seems to be relatively more expensive in the UK, compared with the US, anyway.

exactly, couldn't have put that better myself.

i'd say 5150/6505 assuming you can get one for a decent price.

[JacksonRR]

The 5150 combo doesn't have the 5150/6505 preamp, it's the 5150II/6505+ pre. Both fine sounding flavors. Not sure how much you care about reverb, but if the rest works like it should, get it and sort it out later. I would.

[JacksonRR]

I haven't tried the combo in person, though I know a few people who've got one and make awesome sounds with it.
Personally, I like the utter fatness and fullness of the 120W head version. There's no experience quite like playing through a full-stack (or larger!). :)

Have you tried running a line from the "line out" into your bass player's rig? It's awesome. Put on a diaper first though.

[Alex]

You can get a JVM 100 Watt Top for less than that Mini Rectifier in the UK. That, I think, says it mostly. Mesa's are the worst when it comes to the extra markup in Europe. Peavey are more as well, but you can sometimes get good deals (which is why I used a 5150 for many years).

At the moment ebay prices are low (typical for summer), things will get more expensive from now on until Christmas. IME you get the cheapest deals during summer and the biggest amount of good gear on offer in December/January, when people shift a lot of gear.

[Roobubba]

I haven't tried the combo in person, though I know a few people who've got one and make awesome sounds with it.
Personally, I like the utter fatness and fullness of the 120W head version. There's no experience quite like playing through a full-stack (or larger!). :)

Have you tried running a line from the "line out" into your bass player's rig? It's awesome. Put on a diaper first though.

haha no need, I have a home-made 2x15"/2x8" (4x12 size) cab to handle the low end :D

[Philly Q]

At the moment ebay prices are low (typical for summer), things will get more expensive from now on until Christmas. IME you get the cheapest deals during summer and the biggest amount of good gear on offer in December/January, when people shift a lot of gear.

That's an interesting observation - you reckon it's seasonal, and not just the general state of the economy? 

It's definitely true that prices are low, I've been stung on some recent sales.  Of course, it also means there should be lots of bargains to be had - but I'm still stupid enough to pay over the odds :( .

[JacksonRR]

I haven't tried the combo in person, though I know a few people who've got one and make awesome sounds with it.
Personally, I like the utter fatness and fullness of the 120W head version. There's no experience quite like playing through a full-stack (or larger!). :)

Have you tried running a line from the "line out" into your bass player's rig? It's awesome. Put on a diaper first though.

haha no need, I have a home-made 2x15"/2x8" (4x12 size) cab to handle the low end :D

 :lol: I'm playing through the Randall XL cab with the 2x12 1x15 config! Here's to selfish guitar tone!  :drink:


Another good way for used gear to enter or leave your life is through Craig's list or some equivalent. I hadn't noticed eBay patterns, but I always find that my stuff gets sold much faster with no hassle right near the start of college semesters. I'd imagine the opposite would be true for buyers. Lot's of gear goes in and out during schooling, take advantage of it. I've bought from lots of kids just looking to eat for the rest of the term.

[Alex]

At the moment ebay prices are low (typical for summer), things will get more expensive from now on until Christmas. IME you get the cheapest deals during summer and the biggest amount of good gear on offer in December/January, when people shift a lot of gear.

That's an interesting observation - you reckon it's seasonal, and not just the general state of the economy? 

It's definitely true that prices are low, I've been stung on some recent sales.  Of course, it also means there should be lots of bargains to be had - but I'm still stupid enough to pay over the odds :( .

I'm guessing a bit, but would say, yes, seasonal. More people on vacation in the summer, less on the internet. Towards Christmas people need money (lots of sales) or want gifts (lots of buying). In January people unload stuff they don't need anymore.

[asianaxeman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc6TXK71pxY

edit- this is a better clip for metal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F48N3HV3iGo

Laney ironheart looks wicked. loads of features for only 541 quid new (60w version), I'd wait to try that before buying secondhand. The 60w version will be more economical in the long run because you'll only need to change 2 power valves as opposed to 4. If your budget had no limit, then of course, I'd go for anything that says 'Engl'!

[Miek]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc6TXK71pxY

edit- this is a better clip for metal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F48N3HV3iGo

Laney ironheart looks wicked. loads of features for only 541 quid new (60w version), I'd wait to try that before buying secondhand. The 60w version will be more economical in the long run because you'll only need to change 2 power valves as opposed to 4. If your budget had no limit, then of course, I'd go for anything that says 'Engl'!

Of course Laneys have to be a pain in the ass to get for us Americans :(

[Alex]

That Ironheart looks really cool actually. So I could run the 60 Watt at the same low volume like an Orange Thunder 30/Tiny Terror, but actually have a real EQ on it? For almost the same price??? Sounds too good to be real!

[Nephilim]

The 5150 combo doesn't have the 5150/6505 preamp, it's the 5150II/6505+ pre. Both fine sounding flavors. Not sure how much you care about reverb, but if the rest works like it should, get it and sort it out later. I would.

Sorry that's confused me a bit there, lol. the 5150 doesn't have the 5150 preamp? And you said it's the 51501 II/6505+ preamp? The 5150 II/6505+ has 6 tubes and the 5150/6505 has 5 tubes, am I not right? The 5150 combo also only has 1 shared EQ. Oh and btw,

I've bought the Peavey 5150 2x12 Combo :)

The one with the working reverb of course. What do you guys think? Have I made the right decision? My mate said it was dodgy buying an amp that has been stored away for years. Is that true, or is he just jealous? lol. I've asked him every question I can about the amps condition, so if he's lied about anything, he's required by law to give me a refund. But hey, let's hope it doesn't come to that :)