5150 Cabs. any good? worth me getting for practices?

[Tawlks]

So I'm just wondering.. when I got my 5150 II another seller who had a halfstack package deal offered me the cab he had left from selling the head for £100 OBO (This isn't the same guy I got my 5150 II off by the way)

And I've seen another one today for £100...

Just thinking, for practice purposes, would it be worth getting a 5150 cab cheap and leaving it there? I'm getting a car soon and I doubt It'll be big enough to fit a head, 2 guitars, pedalboard, box of cables, and 2 of my buddies in PLUS a cab.

What can you tell me about the cab? I haven't heard amazing things so far. How does it compare to a Marshall 1936 and how does it compliment my head? I do also have the option of just buying a Marshall either 212 or 412 cheap, but not nearly as cheap as this!

Thanks.

 

[ShaneV]

New they are a poor investment, but that's because they have absolutely no resale value which means that (as you've discovered) you can get them for a song used. The speakers are pretty idiosyncratic and people tend to either love them (rarely) or hate them (almost always) BUT even if you keep an eye out for a used quad of V30s or some other speaker of your choice and pop them in a cheapie 5150 cab you'll still come out ahead financially.

 

[Tawlks]

New they are a poor investment, but that's because they have absolutely no resale value which means that (as you've discovered) you can get them for a song used. The speakers are pretty idiosyncratic and people tend to either love them (rarely) or hate them (almost always) BUT even if you keep an eye out for a used quad of V30s or some other speaker of your choice and pop them in a cheapie 5150 cab you'll still come out ahead financially.

Hmm. I've never actually played a 5150 cab, but I've heard bad things about the speakers, apparently they record well.

Do you know how they are voiced? and compare to V30s or t75s. I'd love to get some V30s. I saw a Marshall 1960a with V 30s for £300 which is a great deal but I don't have £300 at the moment and a 5150 cab pretty much meets my budget for a cab at the mo.

 

[glpg80]

ive got two 5150 cabinets, one straight and one slant. ive got access to a third straight cabinet that i play all the time over at a friends who's band is signed to virgin records, and also borrows my straight cabinet all the time.

they all three have the stock sheffield's, and they sound better, much better, than celestion 65's.

they sound great cranked up - a perfect match for the 5150's.

the magnets on sheffields are huge. they are a high power capable speaker with a sit in the mix that is simillar to celestions, but without an obvious mid emphasis at all - they are well balanced to my ears - but not an inherient character of clarity like EV's or eminence (WYSIWYG if you get what i mean?)

they also sound much better in open rooms. i have always noticed its a huge difference with these speakers for some reason? especially outside.

however at low volumes and soaked with effects - they are the worst sounding speakers i can imagine. i would much rather have some eminence splawns, v30's, or G12H30's, or G12M's.

the cabinets though are fucking top notch. for the money they are hard to beat - and dont have a woofy-ness that some people describe unless you have the bass on your amplifier turned too high.

however, these cabinets can take a beating volume wise - ive had my 5150 II on 10, and the 5150 cabinets laughed and begged for more. i was shaking concrete basement walls and rattling the windows and the cabinet never had a problem with it.

for their going price, sure - why not. the speakers though you need to play through and get some air moving with them. they are tuned right (to me), i found that out when i played it back to back with the original 1982-1983 65's i mentioned - but there are better combinations available if you are willing to spend the money on speakers.

FWIW - i will always own my 5150 straight cabinet. i will never sell it in my entire life.

 

[Rogue]

I don't know if it was the cabinet or speakers (I always suspected speakers), but I thought the 5150 cab had an obnoxious nasally sound to it.

 

[glpg80]

I don't know if it was the cabinet or speakers (I always suspected speakers), but I thought the 5150 cab had an obnoxious nasally sound to it.

nasally?

probably the speakers. the ones i own and have access to are broken in big time. if the cones are stiff, i would suspect that might have something to do with it.

also even though the speakers are the same - they dont sound the same. between each 5150 cabinet there is a total of 12 sheffield speakers, and they all sound different to one another - each character is different.

one is spikey somewhat, the other has a muffled loose character, the other is bass heavy but sits well in the mix. they are all well broken in. so that could also be the reason.

 

[RaceU4her]

peavey sheffields are terrible. there is a reason every guitar store in america is littered with stacks of sheffield 4x12s for 150$. theres plenty good cabs out there for cheap like a carvin, crate bv, old randalls, even old peaveys with celestions that are way way better. how many people do you see using 5150s with the matching cab??

 

[Zacman0126]

Get some V30's to use with your 5150. It's seriously the best thing ever for that amp.

 

[jabps]

Just to follow up on what glp80 said...they're are very solid cabinents. All 11 ply birch (EVH's) specs barring the back which is particle. No biggie...even though that is a huge arguing point among some.

The 5150 Sheffields are only offered in the 5150 cabs...these were voiced to EVH's specs years ago and based off his worn out celestions. To me they sound more in that GB range.

And again..to further glp80...I slammed them with volume for years...never had one fart out on me...course that's an easy fix...just screw down the center post to the back.

I used them solid for 10 years when I played 5150's...even kept one around when I moved on to other amps. In fact it's really been only the last 3 years that I haven't owned at least one 5150 cab since they first came out.

Like others have said...they have horrible resale value but great for someone looking for something for dirt cheap that pretty much stands up to anything out there. I've owned alot of cabs...VHT's, Splawns, Boogie's, Marshall's vintage and new and the 5150 cabs hold they're own just fine.

 

[Bishop5150]

peavey sheffields are terrible. there is a reason every guitar store in america is littered with stacks of sheffield 4x12s for 150$. theres plenty good cabs out there for cheap like a carvin, crate bv, old randalls, even old peaveys with celestions that are way way better. how many people do you see using 5150s with the matching cab??

Well, I'm one of them. I've had my 5150 stack since 93' and the cabinets sound great. Definitely broken in. I've used my Marshall 4x12 cab with it also and I prefer the 5150 cabinets. Call me crazy I guess. The cabinets we're designed to work well with the heads.

 

[glpg80]

peavey sheffields are terrible. how many people do you see using 5150s with the matching cab??

its all opinion - some hate them, some love them. and another guy right here

 

[tbdmlog]

The construction on my old one is great, but the speakers are ehhhh.

 

[Jimmie]

I own a 5150 4X12, bought it from a guy over on the MTS forum for a whopping 100 bucks, shipped.

At low volume it sounds ok, not great...but when I start pushing it harder, (ART SL2 running 200 watts per side) it starts making a low distorted “fwapping” sound like the Sheffield’s are home stereo speakers over-driven to the point that the pistons are ceasing in the chamber. Doesn't matter if its on the clean or distorted channel, I get the same nasty tone.

I also own a Randall and Marshall 1960A 4X12 cab as well and neither one of those has the same problem. Am thinking about shit-canning the Sheffield’s and trying out some Scumbacks or something comparable. Cab is built very well though, just sounds like shit.

Anyone else experiencing this problem?

Jimmie

 

[RaceU4her]

peavey sheffields are terrible. how many people do you see using 5150s with the matching cab??

its all opinion - some hate them, some love them. and another guy right here

you're right it is all opinion, but when i know people who have tried to trade/sell them to multiple different stores and get turned away from all of them cause they each already have five of them they cant sell and 95% of 5150 users dont use the matching cab, i think thats gotta say something about the overall thought on sheffields. they get to a certain volume which is far lower than whats needed to jam with any band ive ever been in and turn in a farty disgusting mushy mess. id seriously put them on the level of a low line crate or one of those marshall mg cabs

 

[RaceU4her]

I own a 5150 4X12, bought it from a guy over on the MTS forum for a whopping 100 bucks, shipped.

At low volume it sounds ok, not great...but when I start pushing it harder, (ART SL2 running 200 watts per side) it starts making a low distorted “fwapping” sound like the Sheffield’s are home stereo speakers over-driven to the point that the pistons are ceasing in the chamber. Doesn't matter if its on the clean or distorted channel, I get the same nasty tone.

I also own a Randall and Marshall 1960A 4X12 cab as well and neither one of those has the same problem. Am thinking about shit-canning the Sheffield’s and trying out some Scumbacks or something comparable. Cab is built very well though, just sounds like shit.

Anyone else experiencing this problem?

Jimmie

yeah dude, thats trademark sheffield tone you are experiencing

 

[jabps]

I own a 5150 4X12, bought it from a guy over on the MTS forum for a whopping 100 bucks, shipped.

At low volume it sounds ok, not great...but when I start pushing it harder, (ART SL2 running 200 watts per side) it starts making a low distorted “fwapping” sound like the Sheffield’s are home stereo speakers over-driven to the point that the pistons are ceasing in the chamber. Doesn't matter if its on the clean or distorted channel, I get the same nasty tone.

I also own a Randall and Marshall 1960A 4X12 cab as well and neither one of those has the same problem. Am thinking about shit-canning the Sheffield’s and trying out some Scumbacks or something comparable. Cab is built very well though, just sounds like shit.

Anyone else experiencing this problem?

Jimmie

yeah dude, thats trademark sheffield tone you are experiencing

I never had one issue with my 5150's...not one. Sounded great for many years...many years of compliments. But then again V30's sound like crap to me...again, it's preference. I love GB's, GH30's, 65's.

Just because music stores are loaded with something doesn't mean it's good or bad...5150's were mass produced...I mean I could say the about 1960A cabs here in Nashville. They're like ants...everywhere. Heck there was a time that JCM800's could be gotten for not much more than a pack of gum and were as abundant. Just sayin...

 

[hawk45]

Anyone mix/match speakers in these cabs? Two Sheffelds and say two V30's?

 

[glpg80]

peavey sheffields are terrible. how many people do you see using 5150s with the matching cab??

its all opinion - some hate them, some love them. and another guy right here

you're right it is all opinion, but when i know people who have tried to trade/sell them to multiple different stores and get turned away from all of them cause they each already have five of them they cant sell and 95% of 5150 users dont use the matching cab, i think thats gotta say something about the overall thought on sheffields. they get to a certain volume which is far lower than whats needed to jam with any band ive ever been in and turn in a farty disgusting mushy mess. id seriously put them on the level of a low line crate or one of those marshall mg cabs

why would you continue to state a reply with nothing more than more opinions?

i think its fucking stupid that people rave about the herbert, axe fx, celestion 65s which sound like mid-heavy ass to me with mid-emphasized amplifiers, and countless other gear products. so that must mean ignore my opinion because its not like the other 95% of people's opinions?

i think it has alot to do with the amplifier you played through it? my 5150 sounds good through sheffields, but sounds like ass through 75's - but that doesnt mean 75's sound like ass. i have played V30/75 mix cabinets through an egnater and sounded great. the 5150 cabinets were made to match the 5150, SLO, or a marshall. most people who have played them and have nothing major to complain about - own 5150s in this topic.

i have nothing wrong with the speakers other than what i described about their inconsistency speaker-to-speaker with subtle differences.

if you think they sound as bad as MG series cabinets - its again - all opinion. around the merry-go-round we go

 

[glpg80]

Anyone mix/match speakers in these cabs? Two Sheffelds and say two V30's?

i dont believe they would mix well at all in the same cabinet. they have a character all to themselves that stands out in the crowd of choices. you would be better off mixing more common speakers like V30/75, V30/G12M's, etc

 

[jasonP]

I had a pair of 5150 cabs, one straight and one slant. Personally, I thought the Sheffield speakers sounded like shit, so I replaced them with Celestions. The cabinets sound good and are built good as well. I ended up selling them for $200 a piece...of course I took out the Celestions and put back in the Sheffields

Yeah I would have to agree. The Sheffield speakers to me are smoother and darker sounding in the mid to high end then other speakers I've tired with the 5150 and also my least favorite. Peavey Speaker cab I thought was made very well for the money. I like the Celestion v30/75 combo when using this (5150) amp in a band.