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→Peavey 5150 Block Letter (Mk 1) vs. Later Models
== Peavey 5150 Block Letter (Mk 1) vs. Later Models ==
The first version of the Peavey ''5150'' featured the letters "EVH" in a block-letter style on the right side of the control panel near the power and standby switches. Later models feature Eddie Van Halen's signature in the same location, known as the script version. Many believed that the circuit was changed in between versions, and the first version had a better tone.
Actually, the block letter version has the same circuit as later versions; however, the tonal difference is real, if slight, due to Peavey including different power tubes in the first version. This difference is moot by this point, as all such amps have more than likely been retubed, and those with remaining original tubes probably need to be retubed.
The ''5150 II'' is the same amp as the ''5150'', but with an extra pre-amp tube to add headroom for the clean channel. While the lead channel's circuit should be identical to the ''5150'', there could be different impedance differences that change the tone slightly.
After Eddie Van Halen quit his Peavey endorsement, the 5150 name reverted to him, and Peavey changed the ''5150'' to ''6505'' and ''5150 II'' to ''6505+''. To make matters more complicated, Peavey continued to expand the line with the ''6534+'', which is a ''6505+''/''5150 II'', but with EL34 power tubes instead of 6L6. Meanwhile Eddie founded his own EVH brand, which released the ''5150 III'', manufactured by Fender. This is a 3-channel amp with a different design, although bearing large similarities to the ''5150 II''. Some refer to the ''5150 II'' as "5152" and ''5150 III'' as "5153", making things more confusing.
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