Another Peavey 6505 thread

[legionserial]

So I got a 6505 a few months back now, and although impressed with the overall tone, and dead pleased with it, after spending some serious time on it, I don't seem to be getting as much distortion out of it as I would expect.

Plugged into the high gain input, on the lead channel, I would expect putting the pre gain to 10 would be far too much, but it's proving to not be giving quite enough saturation. I'm aware that the amps probably going to want a bit of cranking, and I have experimented at all sorts of volumes, sticking at an almost earsplitting volume will get me just enough for recording (ie less than normal) with the pre gain all the way up.

Would this indicate that there is something wrong somewhere? New tubes needed maybe? I'm pretty sure it's not my cables... I'm not really much of an expert when it comes to the technicalities of these things.

 

[amra]

What kind of pickups are you using? In the thread down the page, the one I heard was getting a deathmetal type distortion with just the amp's own gain. But it was cranked LOUD.

 

[IronFlippy]

I'd only use the high gain input if your guitar has active pickups. On the input section, the terms "high gain" and "low gain" refer to the output of the pickups, not the gain within the amp. I could be wrong about that, though, it's what I've come to believe using my little Fender Champ which has a similar input section.

 

[gbdweller]

5 gain stages should be producing almost un-controllable gain. Double check all cables and make sure they are all good and proper i.e. no speaker cable for instrument, no instrument cable for speaker connections. Check your guitar's pickup heights as well.

These amps are also prone to dirty effects loop jacks which can cause all kinds of strange behavior whether using the loop or not (they are switch jacks) With the amp off and unplugged, squirt a little electronics contact cleaner into the jacks and insert and remove a plug into it multiple times. Allow the cleaner to dry before plugging in and turning the amp back on.

As for the inputs, the high gain input is for massive overdrive. I play through my 5150 plugged into the normal input and never turn my pre past 6. That gets me massive gain and tone.

For best results, bring it to an amp tech. They can give the head a once over, evaluate your tubes and identify any serious problems. It's money well spent if the above quick fixes don't cure your problem.

Good luck...

 

[hoops]

Is there a level knob on the fx loop on the amp? If there is try playing with that even if nothing is plugged into it. Some times that makes a difference.

 

[metalhead28]

For comparison's sake - this clip was recorded with the pre-gain on about 6 and the master volume on about 2 using the rhythm channel.

Are you beyond that and still want more gain?

 

[legionserial]

For comparison's sake - this clip was recorded with the pre-gain on about 6 and the master volume on about 2 using the rhythm channel.

Are you beyond that and still want more gain?

lol Getting nowhere near that with the pre grain on 10 and the volume on around 2 aswell.

 

[metalhead28]

lol Getting nowhere near that with the pre grain on 10 and the volume on around 2 aswell.

I'd say that you definitely have a problem somewhere, you shouldn't be short on gain with that amp.
If all the cabling checks out, perhaps it's a tube issue. Did you buy it new?

Do you have anything in the loop? Any pedals out front?

 

[legionserial]

I'd say that you definitely have a problem somewhere, you shouldn't be short on gain with that amp.
If all the cabling checks out, perhaps it's a tube issue. Did you buy it new?

Do you have anything in the loop? Any pedals out front?

Bought it new, although I have a feeling it may have been played a bit while in the shop. Nothing else in the chain, just amp and guitar. Guess I'll have to take it to the shop.

 

[Thurgood]

Nice clip metalhead28. If that ain't enough gain what is? To the original poster try recording with less gain, you may be suprised.

 

[metalhead28]

Nice clip metalhead28. If that ain't enough gain what is? To the original poster try recording with less gain, you may be suprised.

Thanks, but in regards to the original poster - I think you misunderstand his problem.

 

[zed32]

Nice clip metalhead28. If that ain't enough gain what is? To the original poster try recording with less gain, you may be suprised.

Although that is good advice, as metalhead said, you might be missing the point of the original poster's problem. This amp should be able to produce some face-crushing distortion without having to crank the gain all the way to 10, that's for sure. Something is definitely not right, but the amp should be covered by a warranty if you bought it new, correct? I wouldn't think there would be any problems with corrosion within the amp since it is not an older model. Could be some type of manufacturer defect. Is the volume OK? Do you find yourself having to turn it up pretty high to achieve a loud sound? You said you leave the volume at 2, is it fairly loud at 2 (it should be pretty loud at 2, especially with 10 on the gain)? It sounds like possibly something in the preamp tube section is defective.

 

[legionserial]

It still damn loud. Normally for like bedroom playing sort of thing I wouldn't get it to 1. But I've checked it out at much higher volumes and still the problem with distortion.

To the original poster try recording with less gain, you may be suprised.

sticking at an almost earsplitting volume will get me just enough for recording (ie less than normal) with the pre gain all the way up.

 

[legionserial]

Well I guess the general consensus is that the thing is broken and needs to go back for repairs. That's just fucking typical. I'm not buying anything new again. Everytime I buy something new it's fucked. Used stuff always seems to work when I get it home. Guess it just goes to show whee the real crooks are in life. Either that or I'm just incredibly unlucky. Either way I'm willing to beleive. Fuck it, what a mission my shop is miles away

 

[metalj]

Well I guess the general consensus is that the thing is broken and needs to go back for repairs. That's just fucking typical. I'm not buying anything new again. Everytime I buy something new it's fucked. Used stuff always seems to work when I get it home. Guess it just goes to show whee the real crooks are in life. Either that or I'm just incredibly unlucky. Either way I'm willing to beleive. Fuck it, what a mission my shop is miles away

Well, maybe, but before taking it in, check it with a different guitar, and as others have mentioned check it with other cables. Even a bad input jack on your guitar could mess with the output of your pickups, not to mention a bad volume or tone pot. Peavey usually has like a 5 year warranty on their stuff if you fill out the warranty card on line, so you should be covered if it is indeed the amp. You wouldnd be covered like that if you bought used.

good luck.

 

[legionserial]

Well, maybe, but before taking it in, check it with a different guitar, and as others have mentioned check it with other cables. Even a bad input jack on your guitar could mess with the output of your pickups, not to mention a bad volume or tone pot. Peavey usually has like a 5 year warranty on their stuff if you fill out the warranty card on line, so you should be covered if it is indeed the amp. You wouldnd be covered like that if you bought used.

good luck.

Ya I have a couple guitars I checked it with. I thought it might be just my strat at first, it's pretty old and could do with a service (and yeah I put a humbucker in it), but my Ibanez is exactly the same, and the pickups on that have a bit more output. Plus it's only a couple of years old and I clean it a lot more than I play it, so I'm ruling out any problems with the pots or switches etc. Still the same problem. Also they still sound fine through my other amps. Checked it with a few cables now, most of them new, and still a problem.

One thing I have noticed, is a wierd staticy crackling sound, not really that loud. Kinda like intermittant background interferance now and again. Seems a little too quiet to be a basic problem with the input jacks. The pots on the amp seem pretty solid. Trying to wiggle them doesn't do anything.

I have a feeling, however, that, as the amp was on display in the shop, it may have been played through by a lot of people, and maybe for a while. In fat someone was trying it out when I went in to pick it up. Tubes could be old I guess? Again, I really don't know much about the inner workings of an amp.