NAD: Original 5150 Block Letter

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marl3y

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Not really in the market, and almost walked right by one in a local shop. Irrespective of whether the block letter vs script thing is voodoo or not I find myself passing up script logos, but made an offer on this block letter. Got it for at really good deal. Didn't even bother to play it in the shop. Got it home and pulled the chassis. All original tubes, both preamp and power. All boards and internals are original and unmodified. Completely dumb luck as I was hoping score a Strat of some sort. That said, it sounds fantastic. I've got a SLO Clone with Onetic transformers and. 5150III 50 watt, although there are circuit similarities they are different animals.

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They are cool amps. I've had mine since bought new in the mid 90s :thumbsup:
 
nice score! It is, however, a Bulgera until pics/clips appear
 
Congrats. I have one as well. A very early '92, all original, loaded with original Peavey branded Sylanias and C8s. Cool amps.
 
Happy NAD!!
As far as the legend of the block letter vs the script version, I've had both at my place at the same time and they are IDENTICAL. When these amps first started shipping (block logo) Peavey was using NOS Sylvania 6L6's in them. Then right around the time they got sued by Electro-voice and had to change to the script logo, they ran out of NOS Sylvania's and started using CP tubes. Of course the block letter amps with the Sylvania's sounded a bit better, but it's nothing to do with the circuit.
I would HIGHLY recommend a bias mod of some sort though. They sound way warmer and less fizzy with the bias in the right range. They are biased really cold stock. I usually just change R68 from 15k to 10k and that gets me right where i want to be. You can also install a combo of an 8.2k resistor and a 10k pot in place of R68 to make the bias adjustable.
These amps sound fabulous with current production TAD 6L6's, as the TAD's are designed as copies of the old Sylvania's. When it's time to re-tube, I'd recommend those.
=C= 6L6's sound great in these amps too, but a little smoother, with a bit more squish than the TAD's.
 
I've had a 5152 and a sig 5150. Both awesome in their own right but sent them down the road for various reasons. Waiting for the right mint 5150 block to cross my path to permanently add to my collection.
 
Where are my manners? Pics added above. Thanks for the tube recommendations. Love my tube amps, but to contribute to the ongoing controversy... I'm still digging the Katana as well.
 
RJF":ptzuu94f said:
I've had a 5152 and a sig 5150. Both awesome in their own right but sent them down the road for various reasons. Waiting for the right mint 5150 block to cross my path to permanently add to my collection.
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That's exactly what I did with the one I have. All stock, '92 EVH Block Letter, etc. I don't use it too much, but it's fun to plug into and I like having an old "original" in the stable.
 
congrats, nice score. I see these sometimes come through on craigslist and almost pull the trigger, but never have.
 
I scored one really cheap on CL and wasn't really looking for one either but it was so cheap I thought wtf. Glad I did, fun amp to play. I just recently put TAD 6L6s in it and agree with the above post (I didn't change bias but I did request a 'hot' set of tubes). I've tried different preamp tubes and in my case nothing beats the original C8s, even the microphonic ones are still in the amp because they just can't be bested.
 
OK, got it in it's new home. Did something I don't normally do, for obvious reasons given the space... connected both 4x12 cabs. Yeah, that sounds alright. Thanks for letting me share.

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Nice man!! :rock:
Love the Seminar head and the Lynch box!

I had 3 of the Lynch's. Still have two Lynch box 4x12's. :D
 
Heh, there are probably lots of Easter eggs in that photo. :-) I modded it to be three discrete channels. The lower set of pots are for the green channel. Could also take that opportunity to voice the green channel tone stack to that of the 100W version. Works fantastically well and makes a super versatile small package all tube solution.
 
marl3y":1wdcygql said:
Heh, there are probably lots of Easter eggs in that photo. :-) I modded it to be three discrete channels. The lower set of pots are for the green channel. Could also take that opportunity to voice the green channel tone stack to that of the 100W version. Works fantastically well and makes a super versatile small package all tube solution.
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Very cool! :thumbsup:
 
Wish I had your skills to mod ,love what you did to the EVH 50 watt very cool.
 
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