HOLY HELL! 6505 MINI You Won't Believe How Good It Is!

[Speeddemon]

I bought the 6505 mini and ending up selling it. I liked the features but felt the tone lacked balls and was a bit thin sounding, especially as compared to my EVH 5150 LBX. As far as your comments regarding the Mesa Mini Recto and Mark 5 25 watt, I have to disagree there as well. The mini Mark sounds just like it's big brothers to me. Of course it doesn't have quite as much low end as the larger amps due to tubes and the size of the transformers, but you can easily make up for it with the graphic Eq and your cab selection. I have the Rectoverb 25 as well. Again, sounds like a Recto to me. I actually run a Mesa 5 band eq in the loop of this one and it really livens it up. My comments are based on the fact that I have owned several larger Rectos previously as well as a few Mark IV's, a Mark II C+ and a Triaxis.

The 6505 mini "lacks balls" and "thin sounding" isn't going to be part of the vast majority of people who've used it. I never said the Mark V5 or Mini Rect didn't sound like their larger counterparts. I said the Mini Rect just made me want to go back to the 100w rectifier. That has a lot to do with the EL84 tubes, and I mentioned not being a big fan of EL84s too. As for thar Mark V25, it's subjective, but I know I'm not the only one whose made similar comments about the feel.

One of my personal pet peeves is having a really good clean channel. So far the 6505MH demo's left me wanting...my Mark V:25 however ranks among the best (having owned a Mark IV rev A as well). Yes, it doesn't have the same girth as 'larger glass/larger iron' amps, but that's easily remedied. Taking off 40 lbs of the Mark IV and making R2 less lack lustre is a lot less easy remedied. The Mark V:25's Crunch channel however ROCKS!

 

[D-Rock]

It's a win for Peavey no doubt because they were successful in downsizing the 6505 while still very accurately replicating the signature 6505 high gain tone. (Makes you wonder why they couldn't/didn't put reverb on the original 6505 like they did with the mini version)

For me, that high gain tone is not one I'm after anymore and I've long since sold off my original 6505 as a result. Plus, I don't want to have to boost it to get to where I want it to be.

 

[Viper]

I got my rig this past Christmas, $350 for the 6505mh and $250 for the Mesa 1x12 oversized cab, not bad for $600.

I love it, it does the clean channel a lot better than my block 5150 did, the crunch channel is awesome, boosted, it does the low gain thing very well without sounding weak. I love the red channel, sounds just like a 5150, and I keep it at halfway on the volume and there is no fizz whatsoever.

 

[SavageRiffer]

I bought the 6505 mini and ending up selling it. I liked the features but felt the tone lacked balls and was a bit thin sounding, especially as compared to my EVH 5150 LBX. As far as your comments regarding the Mesa Mini Recto and Mark 5 25 watt, I have to disagree there as well. The mini Mark sounds just like it's big brothers to me. Of course it doesn't have quite as much low end as the larger amps due to tubes and the size of the transformers, but you can easily make up for it with the graphic Eq and your cab selection. I have the Rectoverb 25 as well. Again, sounds like a Recto to me. I actually run a Mesa 5 band eq in the loop of this one and it really livens it up. My comments are based on the fact that I have owned several larger Rectos previously as well as a few Mark IV's, a Mark II C+ and a Triaxis.

The 6505 mini "lacks balls" and "thin sounding" isn't going to be part of the vast majority of people who've used it. I never said the Mark V5 or Mini Rect didn't sound like their larger counterparts. I said the Mini Rect just made me want to go back to the 100w rectifier. That has a lot to do with the EL84 tubes, and I mentioned not being a big fan of EL84s too. As for thar Mark V25, it's subjective, but I know I'm not the only one whose made similar comments about the feel.

One of my personal pet peeves is having a really good clean channel. So far the 6505MH demo's left me wanting...my Mark V:25 however ranks among the best (having owned a Mark IV rev A as well). Yes, it doesn't have the same girth as 'larger glass/larger iron' amps, but that's easily remedied. Taking off 40 lbs of the Mark IV and making R2 less lack lustre is a lot less easy remedied. The Mark V:25's Crunch channel however ROCKS!

Yeah, but we're talking $499 vs $1499. Come on man. However, the distortion channel of the 6505m to me is better than half of the distortion channels on the Mark V25.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I bought one of these and returned it within 30 minutes. I am a huge 5150 fan, particularly the 212 combo. And this one just did not stack up. Super flubby in the low end. I also disagree about it not sounding like a small amp. It sounds like a small amp to me. I massively preferred the Mark V 25.

 

[SavageRiffer]

I bought one of these and returned it within 30 minutes. I am a huge 5150 fan, particularly the 212 combo. And this one just did not stack up. Super flubby in the low end. I also disagree about it not sounding like a small amp. It sounds like a small amp to me. I massively preferred the Mark V 25.

Bullshit. I'm going to have to call you on it. First of all, you did't even describe this amp correctly. It doesn't have a flubby low end, and that's not subjective, it's just a fact. Second, what kind of goof buys an amp then only gives it less than 30 minutes of playing time and returns it? I guarantee you a seasoned player would need more than 30 minutes to give an amp a fair run, especially if you only played it through one cab. Your massive preference is your preference, and you can disagree all you like, but your post sounds like bullshit to me. I don't think you've even played one. I think you're a dude who owns a Mark V25 and felt a little butthurt that you spend $1000 more than an amp I said sound better on half of the channels. If you weren't full of shit, you'd have something specific to say instead of just disagreeing and mischaracterizing the amp.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Bullshit. I'm going to have to call you on it. First of all, you did't even describe this amp correctly. It doesn't have a flubby low end, and that's not subjective, it's just a fact. Second, what kind of goof buys an amp then only gives it less than 30 minutes of playing time and returns it? I guarantee you a seasoned player would need more than 30 minutes to give an amp a fair run, especially if you only played it through one cab. Your massive preference is your preference, and you can disagree all you like, but your post sounds like bullshit to me. I don't think you've even played one. I think you're a dude who owns a Mark V25 and felt a little butthurt that you spend $1000 more than an amp I said sound better on half of the channels. If you weren't full of shit, you'd have something specific to say instead of just disagreeing and mischaracterizing the amp.

ROFLROFL holy shit. I cant even count how many people on this forum can vouch for me.

I no longer own a Mark V25 BTW, but I had no issues spending the $1300 for a new one from SW when they came out...just like I had no issues spending the $500 on one of these. I just feel its important that people researching amps get opinions from everyone who has tried one, not just people that love it. 5150s are not difficult amps to dial in, and I have owned many of them over the years.

Its no secret that while I love 5150s, I always felt the regular series had a flubby low end. This one was no exception. Doesnt have the tightness in the attack that the 212 combo or 5150II has.

Anyway...Im not trying to come in here and talk a bunch of shit or shit on your happiness. Im glad you like the amp. Great for you. I just disagree with your opinion on it and the Mark V25.

Trust me...I wanted to love this amp. I have been saying for years that if Peavey made a small 5150, I would buy it in a heartbeat. For recording at home it would be so perfect for me...it just didn't live up to what I hoped it would be.

 

[dooredge]

C'mon Raf, stop being a butt-hurt snowflake... you know you love the mini.

 

[NinjaRaf]

C'mon Raf, stop being a butt-hurt snowflake... you know you love the mini.

ROFLROFL

Im so butthurt its not even funny. My snowflake fragile feelings are hurt now. Im gonna take my Mark IV and throw it in the trash now because its not as good as a 6505mh, and the low end isnt nearly as tight, and the 2 EL84s that make up 20 watts sound equally as massive as a 4 6l6 Mesa power section. My gear is inferior and I should be ashamed.

 

[Crunchtime]

I bought one of these and returned it within 30 minutes. I am a huge 5150 fan, particularly the 212 combo. And this one just did not stack up. Super flubby in the low end. I also disagree about it not sounding like a small amp. It sounds like a small amp to me. I massively preferred the Mark V 25.

Bullshit. I'm going to have to call you on it. First of all, you did't even describe this amp correctly. It doesn't have a flubby low end, and that's not subjective, it's just a fact. Second, what kind of goof buys an amp then only gives it less than 30 minutes of playing time and returns it? I guarantee you a seasoned player would need more than 30 minutes to give an amp a fair run, especially if you only played it through one cab. Your massive preference is your preference, and you can disagree all you like, but your post sounds like bullshit to me. I don't think you've even played one. I think you're a dude who owns a Mark V25 and felt a little butthurt that you spend $1000 more than an amp I said sound better on half of the channels. If you weren't full of shit, you'd have something specific to say instead of just disagreeing and mischaracterizing the amp.

Sorry, but I consider Raf to be one of the world's leading experts on the 6505/5150 tone and all things regarding tight low end.

 

[SavageRiffer]

C'mon Raf, stop being a butt-hurt snowflake... you know you love the mini.

ROFLROFL

Im so butthurt its not even funny. My snowflake fragile feelings are hurt now. Im gonna take my Mark IV and throw it in the trash now because its not as good as a 6505mh, and the low end isnt nearly as tight, and the 2 EL84s that make up 20 watts sound equally as massive as a 4 6l6 Mesa power section. My gear is inferior and I should be ashamed.

LOL. Man when you exaggerate stuff like that it makes it sound like you're just being a naysayer. It's not flubby or shitty in any way. It's not perfect, nor did I ever say it was exactly the same as a full-sized amp, but it's a good little, affordable amp that performs well for metal. To say anything wildly different is just taking it way too far. If you would have said, "it's not nearly as tight as I thought it would be" or something like that wouldn't be disagreeable. If you come along like "It sounds like a shitty ass with flies on it and it's girlfriend sucks my amp's dick" then well I gotta call it out.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Sorry, but I consider Raf to be one of the world's leading experts on the 6505/5150 tone and all things regarding tight low end.

haha Thanks dude! I was the founder of the whole ninja lows thing way back in the HCAF days.

LOL. Man when you exaggerate stuff like that it makes it sound like you're just being a naysayer. It's not flubby or shitty in any way. It's not perfect, nor did I ever say it was exactly the same as a full-sized amp, but it's a good little, affordable amp that performs well for metal. To say anything wildly different is just taking it way too far. If you would have said, "it's not nearly as tight as I thought it would be" or something like that wouldn't be disagreeable. If you come along like "It sounds like a shitty ass with flies on it and it's girlfriend sucks my amp's dick" then well I gotta call it out.

Well, I mean...look how insane your post comes across lol. I only jumped on the being facetious train because of how ridiculous your reaction was, and the fact that dooredge (who I talk with on a very regular basis outside of the forums) jumped in, too. Also, did I say any of that nonsense about it sounding like a shitty ass with flies or whatever? No. I said the low end was flubby. That is my opinion, and a very strong one that I have YEARS of experience to back up. I am extremely particular about low end response being tight in a specific way. Some amps have it, most dont, and I know if an amp has it within the first 5 minutes of playing it. To state that the low end being tight is fact, as you stated, is just not true. Its tight compared to what? Compared to a Mark series? Not even close. Compared to a 5150II? Nope, its not. Compared to a KSR? Again...not even close. Its all about your preferences and experiences, and mine just do not align with your praise on this amp.

Also, my first post was not an exaggeration in any way at all. I had an RMA from Zzounds within 45 minutes of the amp arriving. Main reason was the low end response being loose and flubby. It just didn't sound or feel tight at all to me.

 

[braintheory]

I agree 100% with all of Raf's descriptions of the 6505mh. I thought it was cool at first and like it captured the sound of it's bigger brother, but then I tried the 6505+ right after, and even at lower volumes, it just blew it away. It sounded so much more robust and I also prefer the + or II version to the standard because it's tighter and has more upper mids

 

[SavageRiffer]

Sorry, but I consider Raf to be one of the world's leading experts on the 6505/5150 tone and all things regarding tight low end.

haha Thanks dude! I was the founder of the whole ninja lows thing way back in the HCAF days.

LOL. Man when you exaggerate stuff like that it makes it sound like you're just being a naysayer. It's not flubby or shitty in any way. It's not perfect, nor did I ever say it was exactly the same as a full-sized amp, but it's a good little, affordable amp that performs well for metal. To say anything wildly different is just taking it way too far. If you would have said, "it's not nearly as tight as I thought it would be" or something like that wouldn't be disagreeable. If you come along like "It sounds like a shitty ass with flies on it and it's girlfriend sucks my amp's dick" then well I gotta call it out.

Well, I mean...look how insane your post comes across lol. I only jumped on the being facetious train because of how ridiculous your reaction was, and the fact that dooredge (who I talk with on a very regular basis outside of the forums) jumped in, too. Also, did I say any of that nonsense about it sounding like a shitty ass with flies or whatever? No. I said the low end was flubby. That is my opinion, and a very strong one that I have YEARS of experience to back up. I am extremely particular about low end response being tight in a specific way. Some amps have it, most dont, and I know if an amp has it within the first 5 minutes of playing it. To state that the low end being tight is fact, as you stated, is just not true. Its tight compared to what? Compared to a Mark series? Not even close. Compared to a 5150II? Nope, its not. Compared to a KSR? Again...not even close. Its all about your preferences and experiences, and mine just do not align with your praise on this amp.

Also, my first post was not an exaggeration in any way at all. I had an RMA from Zzounds within 45 minutes of the amp arriving. Main reason was the low end response being loose and flubby. It just didn't sound or feel tight at all to me.

Come on man, you know that's exaggerated. I've already posted some videos which shows it's clearly not the way you describe. Someone who complains that the 6505 mini is too "loose and flubby" would complain that their girlfriend is too loose and has a flubby low end.

 

[NinjaRaf]

That low end tightness that they introduced in the II/+ is what makes those amps so fucking great to me. It cleans up everything and gets rid of this overwhelming, messy sounding low end that I felt plagued the originals. For some reason, the 212 combo sits with the II/+ in that sense, but it still has that slightly more aggressive nature of the originals...combines the best of the 2, IMO, and is why its my favorite of all the 5150s.

Shit, I even owned a 5153 50 watt for a few months, and a 5153 Stealth for a couple of weeks, too. And I still find the 5150 212 combos to be the best sounding of the series. Though the Stealth was REALLY REALLY close...almost identical in tone to my combo, I thought, but I couldn't justify 5x the price for the same tone I was dialing in haha.

 

[magh8]

I agree 100% with all of Raf's descriptions of the 6505mh. I thought it was cool at first and like it captured the sound of it's bigger brother, but then I tried the 6505+ right after, and even at lower volumes, it just blew it away. It sounded so much more robust and I also prefer the + or II version to the standard because it's tighter and has more upper mids

Fact!!!!! El84 just don't deliver.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Come on man, you know that's exaggerated. I've already posted some videos which shows it's clearly not "loose and flubby." If you really think that then you'd probably complain that your girlfriend's vagina is too loose and flubby too.

Sorry, but no, it is not an exaggeration. I completely disagree. It was loose and flubby.

Girlfriends lol...not sure what they have to do with gear. My wife is awesome and doesn't give a shit what gear I buy as long as the bills are paid. And she gets excited when I get new shit because I am excited about it. I couldn't ask for anyone better, and if you want to start talking shit about her, then I will start getting pissed.

Look, you don't know me. And you have only been around the forum for about a year. I don't post a ton on RT anymore, but once in a while I do check back in because there are people on here that I have grown to care about IRL, and there are still a lot of interesting topics in spite of my lack of time to spend on here most days, so I get all that. But you don't know me or my history with amps or what I look for in an amp the way some people that have known me on these forums have for the last nearly 10 years, so how can you presume anything about what I think about an amp and what constitutes loose and flubby low end in my eyes.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Fact!!!!! El84 just don't deliver.

hashtagnonalternativefacts

 

[SavageRiffer]

Come on man, you know that's exaggerated. I've already posted some videos which shows it's clearly not "loose and flubby." If you really think that then you'd probably complain that your girlfriend's vagina is too loose and flubby too.

Sorry, but no, it is not an exaggeration. I completely disagree. It was loose and flubby.

Girlfriends lol...not sure what they have to do with gear. My wife is awesome and doesn't give a shit what gear I buy as long as the bills are paid. And she gets excited when I get new shit because I am excited about it. I couldn't ask for anyone better, and if you want to start talking shit about her, then I will start getting pissed.

Eh, no one is actually talking about your girlfriend genius. It was meant metaphorically.

 

[magh8]

Sheeeeit!!