Is the 5150 still The Best Metal / Death Metal amp?

[wizardy]

I wonder why the 5150 first gen Lead Channel is still the best metal amp tone used on every modern death metal albums ?
I've been trying many boutique amps to get that 5150 tone but none so far were able give me that liquid lead tight metal sound that cut so well in a mix without any boost or tubesreamers!

 

[JakeAC5253]

You bet your sister's sweet ass it is.

 

[RJF]

I can't agree. Yeah, the 5150 is great....boosted...
But I'd take a Framus Cobra, Herbert, Uber rev 2, or Uber TJ before a 5150.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Its only the best if you like that tone

 

[jc986]

I've been trying many boutique amps to get that 5150 tone

There's your issue. Why try to get the 5150 sound out of anything but a 5150, especially when the boutique stuff costs up to 7 or 8 times more.

I agree the 5150 sounds great, and it is definitely the industry standard for a lot of metal, but there are better amps IMO for metal and death metal.

 

[Starman22]

It is only outdone by its twin:

 

[Mailman1971]

I got that same Bugera amp. And your right.... It kills!!

 

[indespise]

I've been trying many boutique amps to get that 5150 tone

There's your issue. Why try to get the 5150 sound out of anything but a 5150, especially when the boutique stuff costs up to 7 or 8 times more.

I agree the 5150 sounds great, and it is definitely the industry standard for a lot of metal, but there are better amps IMO for metal and death metal.

This. I have a 6505 as well- it's a classic for a reason, but I wouldn't say it's "the best".

 

[Mailman1971]

no.....its GOOD!!
But not the best by far. At least for me.
(Always got one hanging around though)

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I've been eyeballing the 6505+ or 6534+ quite a bit lately. Kinda got the itch for one.

 

[Rick Lee]

I remember going to my first NAMM around 2009 and seeing all the posters at the Fender exhibit for other guitarists who use the 5150 III. They were mostly Norwegian church-burning metal bands, hadn't heard of any of them. They all seemed so far removed from VH-style music. And the Stealth is even more metal. VH is about as heavy as I get and I think my Stealth is almost too much for that.

 

[the4thlast1]

I've been eyeballing the 6505+ or 6534+ quite a bit lately. Kinda got the itch for one.

Shameless plug but Im selling a 6534 +

 

[messenger]

I don't think there is a "best" but it has been proven as a "great" choice time and time again.

 

[Inearthed]

If you like the tone it is hard to beat at the price point. It is definitely my go to recommendation if someone says they want metal tone on the cheap.

 

[7 Stringer]

Man i had a hell of a lot of amps and i play Metal all the time, yup, 44 years old too, and i still rock my 5152 and lately been on a 5153 trip , like 3 years strait with the band. I can't seem to top it for what i do. I need a nice clean, lower gained/volumed crunch and my brutalz rythm tone. I add some delay and a slight volume bump for leads.

It does all of that awesomely. I got an EQ and some delays and chorus and i could be set for life with thst amp. I just love it. Tried bumping it with el34 version last week but nope, cant be knocked yet.

Just re tubed it also last week and god damn, it is so very aggressive and crunchy, TAD 6L6, love these in there.

Great amps for metal, if not THE. best for METAL.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Only if it works for you. I personally hate the amp. For that topology id take an SLO or recto any day.

The real reasons it is popular are:

1: road worthy. Can't kill em. Toss them off stage every night, they fire up again.

2:affordable for the amateur and peavey handed them out like hotcakes as endorsements. I can name at least 20 pro bands I know/have worked with that got them usually two at a time completely for free, year after year.

3: the cold bias setup introduces crossover distortion into the power amp tone. Its the extra crunch many metal heads like. (remember the hm-2?!)

I hate the crossover and the bias mod for these amps addressed that crossover distortion. A/B them and you'll hear the differences.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I've been eyeballing the 6505+ or 6534+ quite a bit lately. Kinda got the itch for one.

Shameless plug but Im selling a 6534 +

Thanks man, but I'm not quite ready. Got two guitars on the way and will have to recover funds first.

 

[rottingcorpse]

best is subjective. defiantly a classic metal amp thats super road worthy. if i wanted a cheap solid amp to take on the road,that wouldnt freak me out if it was lost/stolen/broken...I'd grab two used 5150/6505 heads and be way more comfortable than dragging around my two diezel heads. but i wouldnt be as happy with the tone.

 

[fretout]

They're great sounding, tough amps, for sure, but I like other amps for playing that style of metal. But, they are undeniably a staple. No doubt. Every once in a while, I'll crank up my brother'a 5150, but I always gravitate to amps that have a little more thump.

 

[7 Stringer]

I've been eyeballing the 6505+ or 6534+ quite a bit lately. Kinda got the itch for one.

Shameless plug but Im selling a 6534 +

Thanks man, but I'm not quite ready. Got two guitars on the way and will have to recover funds first.

The 6534+ is one hell of an amp, had one for a while, loooved it. Sold it just because i could have a very similar tone with my JBE mod on my Friedman, of course the Friedman has more character and richness, but the 6534 is hard to beat for the $$$$$