Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 4 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $1,660
High-end/Boutique
$300
$801+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Unleash the power of your guitar with the Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head, a sonic powerhouse that's designed to deliver an array of tonal options. Originally branded as the EVH 5150, this high-performance amp head offers two inputs, enabling versatility for various playing styles and setups. It also boasts a "bright" and a "crunch" channel, offering distinct sonic landscapes perfect for those seeking to create a rich and immersive sound palette. Whether you're chasing clean, transparent tones or craving for a more gritty, aggressive sound, this iconic amplifier head is your reliable partner on stage and in the studio.
Key Features:
- Dual inputs for versatile playability
- "Bright" and "crunch" channels for diverse tonal options
- A 120-watt power rating for robust sound projection
- Originally produced between 1995 and 2004, offering a vintage appeal
- Suited for both stage and studio use
- Highly responsive to different guitar pickups and playing techniques
Product specs
| Brand | Peavey |
| Model | 5150 "Block Logo" 120-Watt Guitar Head |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1990s |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Color Family | Black |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 4 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 2 Inputs |
| Output Power (Watts) | 120 |
| Power Tube Type | 6L6 |
| Powered | Unpowered |
| Reverb | None |
FAQs
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What kind of music is the Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head best suited for?
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The Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head is renowned for its high-gain capabilities, making it ideal for rock, metal, and hard rock genres. Its powerful tone is favored by guitarists seeking aggressive and dynamic sound.
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Does the Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head handle pedals well?
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Yes, the Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head is known to take pedals well, particularly overdrive and distortion pedals, enhancing its versatility and tonal range for various playing styles.
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What is the core tonal characteristic of the Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head?
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The Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head is characterized by its high-gain, aggressive tone with tight lows and cutting highs, perfect for achieving powerful and articulate distorted sounds.
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How many channels does the Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head have?
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The Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head features two channels, allowing players to switch between clean and lead tones for versatile performance options.
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What type of power tubes does the Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head use?
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The Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head uses 6L6 power tubes, which contribute to its robust, high-gain sound and overall tonal character.
Videos
Riffs, Beards & Gear
THE TRINITY! 5150 Amp Shootout! (2021)
THE TRINITY! 5150 Amp Shootout! (2021)
Riffs, Beards & Gear
HEAD TO HEAD - Peavey 5150 vs 6505 - Are They Really The Same?!
Kyle Bull
Reviews
PROS
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Iconic for 90s melodic metal sound
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Original Block Letter model highly praised
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Rare Sylvania tubes enhance performance
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Replicates desired metalcore and heavy metal tones precisely
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Good distortion quality
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Some find the clean channel satisfactory
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Seen as a collector's item
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Inspired by Eddie Van Halen's preferences
CONS
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Perceived as a "one trick pony" by some
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Expensive on the used market
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Requires additional cab for full setup
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Not as versatile for genres beyond metal
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head.
Comparisons
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The 5150 is frequently used with a Mesa OS cab and SM57 microphone for metal recordings, indicating a common professional setup.
Source -
The 2x12 combos with Vintage 30s are noted to perform better than 1x12 versions by some owners, potentially due to build origin differences (USA vs. China).
Source -
The 60W 2x12 combo is criticized for sounding "flabby" at volume, lacking the tightness and depth of the 120W head.
Source -
The Peavey 5150 is often compared to the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier for heavy sound, with some users preferring 5150 for its distinct tone.
Source
User experience
Use cases and applications
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The 60W combo is often modded to enhance its usability, converting it into a more effective 3-channel amp.
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Owners note that the 5150 is ideal for metal and heavy genres but not suited for clean tones; alternative amps or channels are recommended for cleaner sounds.
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This amp excels in producing tones suitable for both classic Van Halen and modern metal bands like Killswitch Engage and Arch Enemy.
Source
Build quality
Mods and upgrades
Features and functionality
Setup and maintenance
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A power attenuator is highly recommended for bedroom playing to manage the amp's high volume levels effectively.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 6 Reviews and 44 Ratings
93
The best tube amp I have ever heard
The best tube amp I have ever heard,great metal amp, great clean channel,just great,I have only played for like 3 years but just great amp, the tone i want i just get, the 6505 is the exact same thing, if you can't find this,get a 6506,also have the cabinet with some speakers better than vintage 30s I forgot what the speakers in my 5150 cab are called but just great.
41029
yeah, the 1st version is really close to a SLO100 circuit with ingerior PCB material, more readily available comonents, off the shelf transformers and a slight voicing tweak to up gain and smooth the high end to be less razor-like... yet somehow those changes add up to make it very little like the SLO
202
Yes.
If you've heard of this amp, you know what it does. There isn't an amp in the world that does it better.
41029
except the soldano SLO100 that its knocked off of with a few voicing mdos to suit EVH
Artist usage
Add artist
Here is a picture from "Some Kind of Monster", a documentary about the making of St. Anger. We see a Peavey 5150 sitting under one of James' Marshalls. It's unclear whether this actually belonged to James.
Eddie Van Halen used the Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head during the recording of the "Balance" album, as evidenced by images found through Google search.
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Used on Alice in Chains' self-titled album in 1995.
I also used a Les Paul through a Peavey 5150 amp. Ed [Van Halen] gave me three stacks after we did the tour with him a few years ago. He'd just come out with his new Music Man guitar and the 5150 heads, and I asked him if I could maybe buy one off him. When I came back home after the tour, there were three stacks waiting for me in the fucking garage! [laughs] The guy was totally f-ing cool! Plus, he gave me a couple of his guitars, too.
In this Guitar Player interview, Satriani states that he “ha[s] a few original Peavey 5150s”. The article goes on to share signal chains from Satriani's personal notebook, which reveals that the 5150s were used on "Smooth Soul" and "Forever and Ever".
“Smooth Soul”
Melodies: MCO#1, Peavey 5150 Solo: KSR Orthos Rhythm Guitars: Gibson Custom Shop goldtop, Korg G4 Rotary Speaker, Fender ’59 Tweed Twin, Wells amp into Fender Deluxe
(...) “Forever and Ever”
Intro/Outro Guitar/Rhythm Guitars: JS25ART #47, Mezzabarba M Zero Melody: MCO #1, Peavey 5150 Solo: JS25ART #47, Peavey 5150
Another one of Satriani's Peavey 5150s was sold on Reverb.com via Bananas at Large.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-CwfTXN4fE
Spotted at 6:02.
Thurston can clearly be seen playing the amp throughout this show.
In a 1990s photo from Photobucket, Buckethead is shown using a Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head amplifier.
In this interview with Guitarworld, Alex talked about his gear on previous albums. He mentions a Peavey 5150 he used on Counterparts.
I used a Peavey 5150 and a 100-watt Marshall JCM800. I had a [Roland] JC-120 as well that I used for some clean things, but primarily everything was done on the Peavey and the Marshall.
in this video of a concert in 1996, you can see pat smear using a peavey 5150 mk1. he used this in the very early days of the band, and possibly could have been used to record there first album. there is a clear shot of it at 4:15.
In this picture taken from one of MCR’s earliest gigs, you can see Ray playing through a Peavey 5150 120w Head.
A peavey 5150 head can be seen to the left of Lee, whilst recording sempiternal
Album Usage
The Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head has been featured on the following albums:
Burn My Eyes (Live-in-the-Studio 2019)
Machine Head (2021)
Alphaville (Bonus Tracks Edition)
Imperial Triumphant (2020)
Medusa
Paradise Lost (2017)
Svart
Feared & Feared (2017)
Walk the Plank
Zebrahead (2015)
The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart
Sepultura (2013)
Common Courtesy
A Day to Remember (2013)
Sempiternal (Expanded Edition)
Bring Me The Horizon (2013)
Impulse
Erra (2011)
The Hymn of a Broken Man
Times of Grace (2011)
Unto The Locust
Machine Head (2011)
Bringer of Plagues (Bonus Track Version)
Divine Heresy (2010)
For Darkest Eyes (Live in Krakow)
My Dying Bride (2010)
The Apostasy
Behemoth (2007)
Bleed the Fifth
Divine Heresy (2007)
Serious
Richard Hawley (2007)
From The Ashes
Pennywise (2003)
St. Anger
Metallica (2003)
Statement
Nonpoint (2000)
Antipop
Primus (1999)
Still Life (Remastered)
Opeth (1999)
My Arms, Your Hearse
Opeth (1998)
Words From The Exit Wound
Napalm Death (1998)
Something Wild
Children of Bodom (1997)
Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind (1997)
Alice In Chains
Alice in Chains (1995)
Balance
Van Halen (1995)
Counterparts (2004 Remaster)
Rush (1993)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Community setups
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