What do I do with my 5150?

[newfinator]

Right now my main amps are a Carvin Legacy and a 5150. I’m finding that I play the 5150 very little due to becoming used to the, more mid-centric, tone of the Legacy and finding the 5150 somewhat thin sounding in comparison. I like the aggressive nature of the 5150 but wish it was less mid-scooped.

I guess in an ideal world I’d have an amp that could do them both and everything in between. So, I’m left with a few options, in my mind. I can figure out how to fatten up the 5150 and/or getting a third amp that would supply the thicker singing tone of the Legacy and, optionally, be as aggressive as the 5150.

As far as the third amp option is concerned, from what exposure I’ve had, I was thinking that a Mark IV might fit the bill but I have limited experience with them. I get the impression that it could touch on both tones.

Any options or thoughts?

 

[Crucified]

sell me the 5150 for next to nothing. buy a bogner ubershall.

 

[newfinator]

sell me the 5150 for next to nothing. buy a bogner ubershall.

sounds like a plan but it looks like you already have both

 

[ibznorange]

magic solution
biamping

 

[newfinator]

magic solution
biamping

I used to do that and it was very cool but now they are in different locations.

 

[budda]

well if they're in different locations.. what exactly is the problem? you rock out on the legacy when you're at that place, and you rock out on the 5150 when you're at that place.

what's your EQ on the 5150?

 

[ibznorange]

you could sell the 5150 and get another legacy?
you could get the 5150 modded

 

[newfinator]

well if they're in different locations.. what exactly is the problem? you rock out on the legacy when you're at that place, and you rock out on the 5150 when you're at that place.

what's your EQ on the 5150?

I guess I want to have more tonal options than just the Legacy and I don't want to dump the 5150 but, right now it just seems too thin to me. If I could make the 5150 darker, beyond simply the EQ settings, that would help. Maybe what I really want is a third amp that has a mix of both. Any comments on how the Mark IV would fit in?

 

[Shaman]

I guess I want to have more tonal options than just the Legacy and I don't want to dump the 5150 but, right now it just seems too thin to me. If I could make the 5150 darker, beyond simply the EQ settings, that would help. Maybe what I really want is a third amp that has a mix of both. Any comments on how the Mark IV would fit in?

Krank up the resonance for a fat tone and use the presence to bring the brightness. This way you don't need to use a lot of treble while still having a bright tone.

Something like: resonance: 7
Presence: 8
Treble: 3-4

 

[LordOVchaoS]

j/k

 

[The Dark Wolf]

Did he say "Krank?"

 

[LordOVchaoS]

Did he say "Krank?"

Nah, I've just never got along with 5150s... AT ALL!

Don't know what it is about them that I dislike but whatever it is sucks! I wish I liked them! They're a lot cheaper than these fucking Engls I've been buying!

 

[The Dark Wolf]

Not you... Shaman. He said "KRANK up the resonance..."


heh. LOL

 

[LordOVchaoS]

Not you... Shaman. He said "KRANK up the resonance..."


heh. LOL

Oh! Sorry, it's too damn early.

I DO know that KRANKing the resonance is a BAD idea unless you're playing really quiet and not with a band! This applies to pretty much any amp.

 

[noodles]

Sell both, buy a Recto. Seriously.

You'll keep the agressive nature that you like about the 5150, and also be able to switch to Vintage mode and get the sweeter sonic character you're looking for. Rectos are like Swiss Army knives, they do a bunch of different things.

The Mark IV is a cool amp with some great lead tones, but you're not going to get that rhythm grind out of it, either. The Recto and 5150 are both heavily based on the Soldano SLO100 preamp design, so they you're going to get the same vibe with the Recto on modern mode. Unlike the 5150, though, the Recto has two more modes per channel, so you're not stuck with just one sound.

 

[TomAwesome]

VHT amps have a pretty dynamic midrange and are aggressive as hell.

 

[kmanick]

throw an mxr 10 band EQ in the loop and boost the lower mids up.
I used to do that with my 5150 and it really thickened up the lead
channel and made the amp sound huge.
without it I thought the lead channel sounded a little thin.
With it, it sounded great.
I wish my JSX had a 4th channel (the lead channel of the 5150).
then that amp would be almost perfect (for me)

I actually do this with my JSX too, as it lets me dial down the mids
on the amps EQ (which is upper mids) and I can dial the lower
mids back in.
My JSX sounds so much thicker this way
(they should have included an EQ on the amp IE: Mark IV style)
try that before you give up on the 5150 you may be surprised.

or buy a recto (Zimbloths partner in crime is selling one in the classifieds right now).

 

[Drew]

Rectifier? It's crunchy as hell, a la a 5150, but has a lot more midrange than people generally assume, provided you don't scoop them.

 

[Jeff]

Sell both, buy a JSX, and swap the tubes for JJ 6L6's.

 

[Crucified]

sell everything you own and buy a bogner, you'll be so happy with life.