Can the 5150 Iconic fool the pros? 6505 1992 Original vs 5150 Iconic BLIND TEST

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[@TobyKBTY]

Hundreds of amps in Sweetwater and Kyle makes a shootout on 5150's. Never change, bro.

[@TheCyberMantis]

No kidding. I would have been looking for a BadCat LYNX, but I don't think Sweetwater sells BadCat.

[@JosephHunt-h7f]

James Brown in black man and white amp builder 👶🎤🙏👶🎤🙏

[@MrBikboi]

@@TheCyberMantis Wow your tastes are soooo refined dude!

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@MrBikboi Actually not. I have a Boss Katana head, and I am quite happy with it.

[@greg24hoareau]

James Brown did a great job...one of the best amp designer.

[@Reverend_Taco]

I’m very upset that he unfriended me on Facebook.

[@riokinsey2134]

@@Reverend_Taco he did?! Why?!

[@bbck15]

Really like the long back an forth you guys were having describing the different tones these amps produce

[@27retrodaze]

Don is who taught me how to use a preamp through the return of the effects loop many years ago... Simple now, but at the time, to me, it was incredible...

[@manicmurph]

What is it that you do?

[@jackbootshamangaming4541]

​@@manicmurphyou run the preamp into the amps power amp input, which for most amps is only there as the effects return. I run preamp out from other amps to other power amps, and I'm looking at getting an IR-J now from Friedman even. I have a Chug Preamp and it's great, especially for solid state. I'd like to get more tube preamps though

[@JasonMcNamara]

Your knowledge and ability to dial in those tones was sublime and you totally fooled Don. Well done Kyle!! 🤘

[@SAMARIUM_Taylor]

I love the two of you doing your thing. Very grateful to have such amazing footage of some tone loving demons! 🤘🏻

[@mustangmaster94]

Hey Kyle, You and Don should do more videos together!!! Amazing content 👌 👏

[@ErikAnders]

Hell yes

[@savoirfaire8979]

At first glance, Kyle looks like the type of dude who listens to “Jock Jams” but ends up being cool to hang out.

[@Whydoineedoneyo]

You could call hardcore jock jams, so you weren’t wrong 😂

[@rickycompton2610]

Killer video Kyle, you know your amps Bro and Don Carr is a monster player who never gets enough credit, It just goes to show if you know how to dial an amp in its hard to tell the difference.

[@Twy7chTec_Shop]

This is just another vid of proof that taking time dialing in your Amp/Head, can truly payoff...also is headache too lol 😆 😂 this was a really great vid today dude!

[@darylhicks7008]

I bought both the EL34 and the 6L6 last Saturday. I set them both up next to my JCM 800 and I have to say, the EL34 gets pretty close to the JCM 800 tone on the green channel with overdrive on and drive set about 2. With a TS9 Tube Screamer in front of it with level dimed, tone at 6 o'clock and drive at 0. Eq Settings were Low at 8, mid 4, trebbile 8, resonance 2, Prescence 6. Kick in that TS9 and closed my eyes, and A-B back and fourth to my 2203 JCM 800 and sounds incredibly close On red channel, same eq settings and red channel drive at 2 with a Boss SD1 overdrive in front, drive at 0, tone at 6 o'clock and level dimed it has a killer tone for the heavier stuff. I don't like the burn button, it is just way to much. I also running a CE5 Stero chorus, HOF Reverb, FlahBack2 delay and a EH 720 Looper in the effects loop and do not use the amp reverb. In front I am running Les Paul Custom Shop into a TU2 tunner, into Boss 200EQ to better shape the tone, into Morley Mark Tremonti Wah, then to Phase 90 MXR, OC5 Octave, SD1 Boss OD, and TS9 Tube Screamer. Last in Chain is NS2 Noise gate. The EQ pedal allows you to refine the tone really well. After 5 days of having both, I settled on the EL34 and returned the 6L6. The EL34 is just a little more reminiscent of the classic Marshall tone. A bit warmer, and not as harsh as the 6L6. If I was a hardcore metal player, then the 6L6 would have been my choice. For me, the EL34 is a winner. And I forgot to mention the clean channel. Same EQ settings, but I do have a dedicated eq channel on the boss EQ 200 just for clean that gives probably the best clean tone I have ever heard from any amp. I have a fender twin reverb, and a 1977 Roland Jazz Chorus 120 I usually A-B with my JCM 800 for cleans, and the tone I got out of the EL34 with the eq pedal, is surprisingly better. No need for me to lug multiple amps to the gig now. Being a diehard vintage amp snob, I was very reluctant to give this a try. But wow!! I am glad I did. The vintage stuff can stay at home now where it is safe, and this will now be my gigging amp. Less to haul around to achieve great tones all in one head versuses A-B ing 2 amps, two mics in front and two channels to dial in on front of house board. This is a win for me. Never thought I would say this, and immediatley hated it until I gave it a try. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. PS: I spent about 6 hours total, tone shaping with EQ 200 to each specific channel to achieve the tones I finally dig. TS9 on Green Channel with Overdrvive engaged, and SD1 for Red Channel no burn button. The burn will never be used. And one final tweak, I removed the front grill and took off the 5150 and EVH logo and put behind the grill. Looks a lot better estetically. Now it's a custom lol

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Great sounding amps...I have a PV 5150 II and have loved it since they came out...

[@gtrman69777]

I would love to hear how the EVH 5150 lll models compare to these.

[@pikatchufleur7188]

Plus sombre et plus plein dans les bass notamment mais plus creuser dans les mid. Le evh est meilleur que le ionoc

[@mastersteve78]

I picked the Iconic on both! I really want one now. 5150 Iconic just has a certain sweet sound to my ears, loving the chugs and chops from it. ❤

[@kennethjolley]

Dude iconic is getting so much love now. Seemed like everyone hated it at first.

[@emartinezr]

Because nobody had played it, reasonably heard it, or heard someone who knows what they're doing dial it up properly. There's a few KZbinrs with amazing tones with the Iconic. It does have a distinct tone/voice. If you want to tame a bit of the highs and upper texture, don't go high with Presence and don't get super bright strings.

[@AuntAlnico4]

😂 People in the n internet were trying to kill it before it even came out over it only having 2 pre amp tubes but clearly it sounds like an EVH product so it rocks !

[@danthegreaser71]

I bought an Iconic 40 watt combo a few months ago and at first I wasn’t to crazy about it and was considering returning it but I kept reading reviews where people were saying give it time to let the speaker break in. I’m glad I didn’t return it and followed this advice. This is my favorite amp now and the one I use the most!

[@RokDAWG1]

Mighty fine shootout! Kyle I’m waiting for Peavey to give you, your own model. 🤘🤘

[@Doc-zg3xm]

Great video, and you guys worked well together. No big heads just, just a fun comparison.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Killer demo. Thanx. This is the detail we need.

[@xiwiwix]

Damn, Kyle, you are my favorite KZbin Guitar Personality. You just have this "oh, Kyle, yeah, we go way back, he's a homie" attituded/lovable quality about you. Thank you, thank you for all the videos you've made, all the knowledge you bring, and all the good chuckles to hardiful laughs you bring, bro. GREAT FRICKEN VIDEO! \m/

[@xiwiwix]

Thank you, Don, you were great in this video!

[@ErikAnders]

You had me fooled too Kyle 😂 sick video

[@antilaw9911]

Really liked this video with both of you!

[@KingStudiosCollective]

Killer video. Had to sub. I’ve seen your gear for sale a lot on FB market place ! My studio is not too far. I’m in Allentown 👌

[@Riffs4Serotonin]

This is A+ content, my dude.

[@bloozer666]

I have an original first release peavy 5150 and and original first release 6505 and LOVE them both.. And people who say they don't do cleans... I can get fender cleans out of both no problem.

[@OurWorldinChaos]

This was cool to see you guys compare these amps ❤❤❤❤ awesome vid

[@jasonmayse5585]

I own the iconic and am very pleased for the price, sounds great too..once you EQ to taste and balance your ODs in front this amp its killer 🤘🏻

[@chacha134]

I did this as which one I liked better and glad to see I picked the same amp both times. I will say when Kyle dialed them in they sounded super close.

[@guitarandmore69]

Might want to consider a noisegate when doing these. Or put them on standby during the talking parts.

[@bolillo5013]

Without know which one was which, I liked the Iconic better. Which is good, because I’ve been thinking about getting that as my first tube amp stack setup.

[@Powermad-bu4em]

Do it. Put an eq in the loop to tame the top end and you won't regret the choice.

[@elus1ve0ne64]

Awesome shootout !

[@antilaw9911]

Feel definitely matters! Part of warm tube tone

[@JInfinity7]

You can use a Parametric up front for the cocked wash sound too

[@TheFaustianMan]

Oh this fucking ROCKED! Dude, it's all the dialed in. And you nailed it!

[@philfrank5601]

Difference is night and day, this wasn't a challenge. The Iconoc has so much more compression, gain, whatever, but you hear it immediately.whem compared. Great shootout!

[@sweezyjackson4935]

Way back in like 2006 I had a chance to buy an original mint condition RG550 with the maple neck and the misty pinkish color for $175 and the guy also had an original block letter 5150 combo for $200 and I didnt have the cash for both so I took the RG550 and still wished i had the cash for both. The 5150 is a dream amp that always seems out of my financial reach.

[@markkinney5030]

That was so cool watching this just now road test both amps! Nice!

[@okayestguitar66]

Great video Kyle and Don! Very cool amp. I would like to see a head-to-head between the iconic 40w combo and the 15w combo through their individual speakers and through the same speaker and/or load box/impulse.

[@bjstein4242]

Cant get enough of this stuff man.. keep it coming..

[@ronnymilianowicz5228]

Man, you are a great host! More of that!

[@licccio2133]

It's insane how much alike they sound. I even preferred the Iconic on the first part of the shootout.

[@WyattScott]

just got the 40 watt Iconic combo. Great amp, replaced my Blackstar MKII Club 40 combo.

[@rollingstart_90s]

The 40 watter is insanely loud, even while set on 1/4 power. Too bad the amp does not have a smooth master volume. Actually no master at all. That would help with dialing in the sound and overall volume.

[@Z17xMachine]

I had an Iconic and couldn't trust that I would get one that didn't have issues.

[@iwannarockon2010]

Killer shootout! 🤘

[@iwiggs6870]

Honestly, in a mix,. if you can tell the difference between any 5150, you're either guessing or bullshitting.

[@mikestroud9969]

Both sound great. Good video. 😎👍✌️🎸🎸

[@ragadeemann]

Great video 📹 I throughly enjoyed it. 😊

[@glaucosouza1971]

What a blast!!! A joy to watch. Killer video!

[@russelw.6288]

great content. Considering you can get a 6505 for around 600€ used, 1992/ iconic or just a standard made in usa 6505?

[@jasonhoneman1272]

This is so clever and genius!!

[@TobyKBTY]

I owned an Iconic that I actually super loved. It just turned out to be a lemon, and eventually got a refund for it so I bought a Peavey 5150 lmao but honestly the Iconic more than holds a candle to my OG 5150. Great amp, I just hope the QC issue on mine was an isolated case because I would own one again if I ended up 5150-less

[@profanepropane]

Just a question but what does a lemon mean? Is it just a bad apple or is it a term for when something is vastly different in quality than the other copies?

[@TobyKBTY]

@@profanepropane oh well i guess bad apple is more appropriate lol. It had internal issues and would lose low end and just sound randomly. Had the option to return it since it fell under warranty and chose to do so.

[@profanepropane]

@@TobyKBTY ahh I see

[@jackbootshamangaming4541]

Im debating buying a 6505+, I got the 6L6 Iconic though already.

[@kilsoo]

i bought an iconic 80w head about 2 months ago as a stay home amp. it has been fantastic paired with an old 1960av and a charvel.. all the usual suspects!

[@rollingstart_90s]

Isn't that an insanely loud amplifier for home use? Separate atenuator, maybe?

[@sloughboundrecordz]

I was thinking of getting the 6505 1992 model.. would you recommend this one over the standard 6505? I want to get a death Metal black metal tones I’m sure it’ll do no problem..

[@ripley7t429]

I never have much of a problem determining what amp is which. There is something with the Iconic that sets it apart. Not that it is bad, just something that I can identify easily.

[@tedmen1123]

There is a high end sizzle in there that you can hear on the iconic. Like you say, its not bad just different.

[@rollingstart_90s]

@@tedmen1123 Could it mainly be the speaker that creates that sizzle? Could a Greenback speaker make it a bit softer/smoother? The original 5150 amp from the early 90's was created for Eddie with the Greenbacks in mind, which is what Eddie used. I don't know... I'm just guessing Greenback or Creamback would be the answer?

[@worldssickestmedia2713]

Hits one note "I thought it was in tune". Nope. It's a Gibson.

[@PRP-YT]

Kyle is master at dailing amps so, its not easy, but if the comparison was between the iconic and the regular 6505 it was even more hard do distinguish both amps

[@maraudermusic2714]

Diggin the Iconic! Was surprised.

[@Leo_Fender]

“This was his idea, not mine”

[@jeremydeats9406]

It's all about taste, but these amps do sound very different. To me the 6505 has the mojo and frankly the history, countless bands have used it on recordings and tours, it's a legendary amp now.

[@mattlucas4046]

Please, everybody, don't judge the Iconic from all the "drama" the amp had when it came out. And, I will say, there is a certain KZbinr that gave the amp a bad review after "playing" it at a guitar store, and told everyone "don't buy it". The guy's to listen to are Kyle, and ToneWars. If you want a FAIR & HONEST review those 2 dudes are the ones to listen to.

[@rollingstart_90s]

A lot of people do not realise how much amp technology has advanced since theoriginal 5150 days. Guitarists can often be some of the most stubborn creatures, downplaying new things that they have not even tried. The fact that this amp has hybrid technology is the thing that rubbed a lot of purists the wrong way, even tough the product wasn't even out yet. But again.... it is a tube amp + technology has gone really far. I just had a chance to test the 15 watt combo at a local store and I was absolutely stunned by how great these things sound. Does not sound like a solid state amp, beacuse it isn't one. I had the amp set on 1/4 power mode and it was LOUD. I only had the volume turned around 9 o clock. I was also surprised how GREAT the clean channel is, which was something that the old Peavey heads could never do. They were probably neve intended to do so anyway, but seeing this improvement on the Iconic is a huge bonus.

[@lawrencenelson9426]

I bought one as soon as they came out, I couldn't get rid of it fast enough, just because I liked my Ultra 120 teal stripe way better. I've got a 6505+ now that I like, I think the original was way louder, though. It was a beast, but it had this kind of fuzzy distortion that I didn't care for at all. An EQ probably would have helped a lot.

[@ronvest1968]

Kyle, can you find out what preamp and power amp tubes are being shipped with the New 6505? Thanks for the content. Awesome stuff!

[@belligerentamateur]

Jj

[@joegoliver3]

Kyle look at that imposter above you on every comment.

[@yeti1002]

@@joegoliver3 the imposter is pretty common on Kyles channel . By Reporting the imposter , you can delete him .

[@AtomicMeatballGuitar]

I think they're 12AX7 preamp tubes and 6L6GC power amp tubes

[@ronvest1968]

@@AtomicMeatballGuitarI was curious as to what brand of tubes. Kyle answered with JJ tubes. Thank you, though.

[@jketterman6054]

Kyle, if you are putting in a EQ pedal in the loop, what settings do you have?

[@JasonSmith-wj2ht]

#2 sounds more scooped & more compressed. #1 has more sizzle.

[@TheGreenTuna]

I think where people are messing up is not understanding how well they can do death metal. I have the amp/cab currently with no boost or noise gate (just for ease, live I use both) and I can get the sickest tones out of it. I can emulate stuff like Dying Fetus or Decapitated with ease. Use the amp for whatever you want, but if you're limited on money and want something for extreme metal, this is the way to go.

[@nickharper8145]

Always happy to see some 5150 videos from you. Any chance of ever comparing a 6534+ to a 6505 II with el34 tubes? Supposed to be identical but for all of us looking for that unicorn 34+ it might be best to go with a 6505 II and get it ready for a tube swap. \m/

[@emartinezr]

Geez when Don was trying to pick them apart, it was impossible. They were pretty much exactly the same.

[@aalidas8951]

Why not have a regular 'ol 6505 in the mix too??

[@ThePermanentCase]

Never thought I’d see a video of Kyle Bull playing a boomer riff, yet here we are.

[@tgchan]

Good job, Kyle you made them almost identical xD I had hard time differentiate which one is which. You should more colabs.You're great with others/

[@partriotsfight5039]

I had an original 5150 Block letter they had to change back in 1995 or 96. I sold it and it’s the one I let get away. I wish I had never sold that one

[@Cheesusaurusrex]

Im not in the market for a 5150 thesedays, but if the iconic is good enough for the guy from the black dahlia murder, then its good enough for me.

[@keithpins1]

What a killer vid man!

[@mooferoo]

5150 Iconic, but a Les Paul going out of tune is pretty iconic as well.

[@TheCyberMantis]

The 6505 needs an overdrive in front of it. Pick your favorite one, they all do the job.

[@boxfan6656]

Phil pounding the door because he didn't do it first?

[@place_desjardins]

Nice video

[@svogender]

On this clip I liked the 6505 best..!! 👍

[@johncoker13]

I'm finally looking to drop some serious money on an amp after playing since the 80's and everyone is saying how affordable this is... I just can't catch up no matter what SMH

[@TheLounabomber]

The iconic is a sick amp for sure

[@nathancloud6344]

Awesome content !!!!!! This is what it's about!!!!

[@Ottophil]

I just prefer peavey as a brand.

[@Iowaboy745]

I’d say it’s my 6505 or my Rantall actually I think I like my Randall a little bit better

[@Scotty_AV]

If youre watching this wondering what to get, just get a 6505+ with the 2 EQ channels. Its incredible

[@jimmiethompson3637]

Damn good video man

[@manicmurph]

Shit I thought the first comparison was the Iconic. Did they say if they're using boosters or not? To me they both sound extremely similar. I played one at guitar center and I thought my EVH 6L6 50 watt sounded better. Not saying that it sounds bad but it's just not for me. Maybe if they put a booster pedal in the front it would sound not as thin sounding.

[@michaelbarber590]

Crazy that the Iconic sounds so much clearer and more dynamic. 6505 sounds a bit muffled and flubby in comparison.

[@rollingstart_90s]

Yes. Over 30 years has passed since the 6505 first came out. Amplifier technology has advanced immensely since the old days. Brown worked magic on the Iconic series.

[@Derpadeedooda]

The Iconic has more scooped mids and more treble. Add more mids and less treble, then it's identical to old 5150

[@belligerentamateur]

I wouldn't say identical, but man, they can get DAMN close!!

[@brownsfan7753]

This was fun!!

[@j-rod166]

Engl Fireball 100 for the win!!

[@Rforce78]

Have you ever tried a bad cat amp

[@DavidMadeira29]

Some other people is counter phasing the B string because of C notes?! I don't know. Namastè.

[@TheSweezer]

SO whichever one yall dont want feel free to send it to me

[@s.w.matteo6679]

Nice job dialing those tones in Kyle.

[@planetcaravan93]

The real winner here was the Goldtop

[@guitarguts666]

Shame they don't sell the Bad Cat Lynx

[@theariesexperiment4642]

The Iconic sounds incredible to my ears. It's so fat and saturated. Glorious.

[@ChrisEck13]

I thought the Iconic was better in both situations. I really didn't care for the 6505 at all.

[@MXP250]

Are you at all related to Matt Damon? You look and sound like him. 😂

[@lodougherty]

a les paul going out of tune immediately. Also iconic.

[@peterschaefer1665]

If you are using them IR's, you could probably fool some people