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Average Price: $1,300

High-end/Boutique

$300

$801+

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Standard

High-end

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Description

The Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head is a beast in the world of guitar amplifiers. Known for its raw, hard-hitting tone and rock-solid reliability, it's a favorite among hardcore and metal musicians. This amp head owes its robust and powerful sound to the 6 - 12AX7s in the preamp. The rhythm channel is versatile, offering pre/post gain and bright/crunch switches, while the lead channel focuses on pre/post gain controls.

This amp head isn't just about power — it's about control. The 3-band EQ, resonance, and presence controls on each channel allow you to tailor your sound with precision. Whether you're looking for a clean tone or a heavy crunch, the Peavey 6505+ has you covered.

A tribute to Peavey's first 40 years in the industry, this amp is more than a piece of equipment — it's a piece of musical history. So, if you're ready to make some noise, the Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head is ready for you.

Key Features:

  • 6 - 12AX7s in the preamp for powerful, punchy sound
  • Footswitchable lead/rhythm channel select and FX loop
  • 3-band EQ, Resonance, and Presence controls on each channel
  • Rhythm channel includes pre/post gain and bright/crunch switches
  • Lead channel includes pre/post gain controls
  • Preamp output
  • Footswitch included
  • Compatible with 4, 8, or 16 ohms
  • 120 Watts RMS into 16, 8, or 4 Ohm cabinets
  • 4 x 6L6GC power amp tubes
  • Named in celebration of Peavey's first 40 years (1965-2005)

Product specs

Brand Peavey
Model 6505+ 120-Watt 2-Channel Guitar Head
Finish Black
Year 2010s
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 1 Input
Output Power (Watts) 120
Power Tube Type 6L6
Reverb None

FAQs

What are the core tonal characteristics of the Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head?

The Peavey 6505+ amp head is renowned for its aggressive, high-gain tone, making it ideal for rock and metal genres. It delivers a tight low end, pronounced midrange, and cutting high frequencies, perfect for achieving a powerful and articulate sound.

Is the Peavey 6505+ suitable for live performances and gigging?

Yes, with its 120-watt power output, the Peavey 6505+ is more than capable of handling live performances, providing ample volume and headroom for larger venues and band settings.

Does the Peavey 6505+ work well with guitar pedals?

The Peavey 6505+ is known for taking pedals well, especially in the effects loop. It pairs effectively with overdrive, delay, and modulation pedals, enhancing its versatility in shaping your tone.

What is the difference between the Peavey 6505 and 6505+ models?

The 6505+ features an additional preamp tube compared to the 6505, allowing for more gain and tonal flexibility. This makes the 6505+ more suitable for players seeking maximum distortion and sustain.

How many channels does the Peavey 6505+ have and what are their uses?

The Peavey 6505+ has two channels: a rhythm channel for clean to crunch tones and a lead channel for high-gain, saturated sounds. This dual-channel configuration provides versatility for different playing styles.

Rob Chapman

Rob Chapman

Peavey 6505 Amps - The Big Ones!

Video thumbnail for Peavey 6505 Amps - The Big Ones! by Rob Chapman

Peavey 6505 Amps - The Big Ones!

Rob Chapman

Rob Chapman

Video thumbnail for Peavey 6505+ Guitar Amplifier Head - Peavey 6505 Plus by American Musical Supply

Peavey 6505+ Guitar Amplifier Head - Peavey 6505 Plus

American Musical Supply

American Musical Supply

Video thumbnail for Peavey 6505 Guitar Amplifier Head - Peavey 6505 by American Musical Supply

Peavey 6505 Guitar Amplifier Head - Peavey 6505

American Musical Supply

American Musical Supply

Video thumbnail for Peavey Invective .120 - 120-watt Tube Head Review by Sweetwater

Peavey Invective .120 - 120-watt Tube Head Review

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Video thumbnail for I just bought a Peavey 6505+ [120 watt head] by Doug Steele

I just bought a Peavey 6505+ [120 watt head]

Doug Steele

Doug Steele

Video thumbnail for zZounds.com: Peavey 6505 Plus Guitar Amplifier Head by zZounds

zZounds.com: Peavey 6505 Plus Guitar Amplifier Head

zZounds

zZounds

Reviews

PROS

  • Exceptional distortion and crunch tones, ideal for metal and hardcore

  • Surprisingly versatile, capable of producing clean to gritty blues tones

  • High gain channel provides clarity, even at extreme settings

  • Separate EQ for clean/crunch and gain channels enhances tone shaping

  • Durably built, likely to last through years of use

  • Extremely loud, suitable for any size venue

  • Presence and resonance controls add to tonal flexibility

  • Works well with a variety of guitars and effects

  • Good value for its price, especially compared to higher-priced amps

  • Can achieve great tones without needing additional distortion pedals

CONS

  • Some users find the clean channel lacking compared to other amps

  • Clean channel quality diminishes at higher volumes

  • Lacks built-in reverb, requiring an external pedal for those who want it

  • Can be too powerful for home or small spaces without an attenuator

  • High gain settings may necessitate a noise gate to manage hiss/hum

  • Not originally made in the USA, raising questions about price justification for some

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head.

Setup and maintenance

  • Pulling two power tubes can reduce the output to 60 watts, allowing for earlier breakup and potentially more manageable volume levels.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • The JHS Little Black Amp Box in the effects loop offers precise volume control, allowing users to achieve good tone at lower volumes.

    Source
  • The Bugera PS1 power soak attenuator is recommended for achieving whisper-quiet volumes without sacrificing tone.

    Source
  • Upgrading the tubes to EL34s on a 6505+ results in a more aggressive tone, appealing to those seeking a heavier sound profile.

    Source
  • Owners suggest using a power soak or attenuator for home use to manage the amp's volume without losing tonal quality, though they note it can be expensive.

    Source
  • It's recommended to run the tubes hotter for a warmer sound, though this may reduce tube lifespan slightly.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The amp can be played quietly by keeping master volume low, but achieving power tube distortion at bedroom levels typically requires an attenuator.

    Source
  • The 6505+ has been effectively used in heavy genres like metalcore and death metal, and is noted for maintaining clarity and presence in a mix.

    Source
  • The Peavey 6505+ is recommended for those gigging or practicing with a drummer due to its high headroom and ability to maintain clarity at show volumes.

    Source
  • Some owners have found success in trimming the bass and adjusting the presence when using Vintage 30 speakers for a tighter sound profile.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The amp's master volume control is sensitive, with just a small adjustment leading to significant volume changes, making fine tuning essential for home use.

    Source
  • The 6505+ head retains tight sound even with high preamp settings, unlike the 60-watt combo which can get muddy, particularly in heavier music styles.

    Source
  • The amp has a decent master volume taper, allowing for good sound at lower volumes, making it possible to use at home despite high wattage.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Peavey 6505+ is preferred by some over the 6505MH for its full-sized features like real 6L6 tubes and a 12AX7 phase inverter, despite the minimal 6dB volume difference.

    Source
  • Some players prefer the 6505+ head with a 4x12 cabinet over the 1x12 combo for its superior clarity and tightness, especially when playing heavy riffs.

    Source
  • The Peavey 6505+ offers more headroom and better low-end tightness than 50-watt amps, making it preferable for metal shows over smaller wattage amps which can sound compressed.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 11 Reviews and 59 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
dylan_pride

A great amp if you can find one under $500

What can I say, it's the modern 5150. Compared to the EVH and older Peavey 5150's it sounds less scooped in comparison with all the knobs at noon. The added presence and resonance controls are a great bonus.

Having both a series and a parallel FX Send may be confusing for some users, but it's a nice touch nonetheless.

Beware however, as these amplifiers are no longer made in the United States. As such, I find myself questioning whether or not they justify the $1k price tag. I managed to snag mine in excellent condition with the footswitch for $500 before shipping. I think it was a great deal, but I really wouldn't have wanted to pay much more for it.

chadwicktwofive

Metal Monster!!

Amazing tone and extremely loud! It's a staple in the metal community and in studios.

callum_freefall

My 100% go to amp. more versatile than people say!

You know how it is. You're always looking for 'that tone'. Well for thousands of people including myself this amp is that tone and it's an absolute monster!

Used by the likes of A Day To Remember, Bullet For My Valentine, Architects, Parkway Drive and many more it's quite obvious that they are perfect for 'that metal tone'.

The important part of the review. Now a lot of people say it's not got a good clean channel and where as I partly agree with that if you dial the right settings in and put a little bit of reverb on too it actually has a pretty decent clean tone. If you want an amp that has a dirty channel at the quality of this and a really amazing clean then you're going to be looking at spending a lot more money; at least double!

I genuinely would recommend this amp to anyone.

Cons: It's a noisy bugger so grab yourself a noise reduction pedal. (ISP Decimator). Like any high gain amp though, it's best to get a noise reduction pedal.

themetalviking

Powerful

The 6505+ head is very loud, unbelievably so, in a bedroom setting or in an apartment dont expect to even bring volume to 1. Overall it has a nice crisp sound for the cleans, has a good amount of tube breakup with the pre amp pushed on the clean channel, even more so with the crunch. The red channel is great with the gain pre at 5 being pushed with an overdrive pedal. Overall a good solid investment with a mind for budget.

noah_moore

Incredible

For the price, you can’t beat it. If you know how to dial it in, this amp has so much tone to offer. It’s also loud enough for any size venue, and again, it just sounds so damn good.

scott_charles_king

Workhorse!

With the array of guitars that I use, this amp can do it all. It's a workhorse and it really puts up with my abuse. Highly suggest doing a re-tube shortly after purchasing to get the real effects of what this amp can do. The EQ is really user friendly and I can easily get the tone I want. Only quarrels I have with this amp is the fact that it IS high gain, so it WILL hiss and hum with your higher output pickups. I have a NS-2 but I think I will be getting an ISP Decimator soon to alleviate that issue.

brianrainwater

Peavey 6505+ Head

These have a great metal sound that is raw and powerful but, a bit noisy. I add a Tube Screamer TS-808 and find it gives it a tighter/brighter sound. A good noise reduction pedal is recommended.

nikkiangelus

Not my favorite.

I absolutely HATED Peavey 6506+ at first because of the way some metal guitarists use it. A friend of mine bought this amp and I've spent a few hours at it. The clean channel is horrendous and the distortion sounds scooped to me. I understand why some people like it, but I wouldn't spend a 1000 on a tube amp that sounds like a solid state.

jimmarchi1

100% agreed... if you want some great hard rock channel switching look at a soldano hotrod 50 or 100+ or for a more vintage sound their Lucky13 model.... not much more than 1k used... not my thing but I was blown away by both when I tried them, they are some of the best fully featured modern amps for folks who find vintage-styles too limiting on stage

paddywatermountain

Heavy Metal Giant

no need to say anything about this great amp. The only negative aspect is the weight ;)

jason_shipp

This is a beast.

This is probly the best amp for metal out there.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Kevin Skaff uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Kevin Skaff

Guitarist

A Day to Remember

...
Verified via Guitargeek

Kevin used the 6505+ head on his 2010 tour, as shown in this GuitarGeek diagram.

See how Ryan Sitkowski uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Ryan Sitkowski

Guitarist

Motionless In White

...
Verified via YouTube

In the Ernie Ball video "The Sound of Warped - Motionless In White," Ryan Sitkowski is shown using the Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head as a backup to his Peavey 6534+.

See how Phil Demmel uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Phil Demmel

Guitarist

Slayer

...
Verified via Peavey

Phil Demmel of Machine Head uses the Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head, as confirmed by Peavey.com.

See how Ricky Olson uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Ricky Olson

Singer, Guitarist

Motionless In White

...
Verified via YouTube

Ricky used a 6505+ on the 2015 Summer's Last Stand tour

See how Terrance Hobbs uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Terrance Hobbs

Guitarist

Suffocation

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video "Suffocation - GEAR MASTERS Ep. 66" by Digital Tour Bus, at the 4:29 mark, Terrance Hobbs is shown using the Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head.

See how Adam De Micco uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Adam De Micco

Guitarist

Lorna Shore

...
Verified via reddit

In a Reddit AMA, Adam De Micco mentions using the Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head.

See how Acle Kahney uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Acle Kahney

Guitarist

TesseracT

...
Verified via YouTube

In the minute 1:23 , you can see in the background the Peavey 6505+ with a Mesa OS 4x12 Cabinet

See how Adam Darski uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Adam Darski

Singer, Guitarist

Behemoth

...
Verified via MusicRadar

In this TotalGuitar article published on MusicRadar, Adam “Nergal” Darski, lead vocalist and guitarist of Polish black metal band Behemoth, talks about his live setup with the band. His main amplifier is a Peavey 6505+, which he has switched to from Mesa Boogie and Bogner amplifiers. He speaks very highly of the 6505+, especially its reliability which the Bogner amplifiers didn’t have. He says; “But the problem with Bogner was it’s super sensitive; we’d get on the road and all the bumping and stuff would just fuck it up immediately. This [Peavey 6505+] is a Kalashnikov - you throw it into the water, you fucking kick it, you spill on it, spit on it... it goes through the mud, dust, blood... whatever. We use a lot of props onstage that can fuck up the equipment but this one has never let me down.“

See how James Murphy (Guitarist) uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

James Murphy (Guitarist)

Guitarist, Composer

Obituary

...
Verified via YouTube

Using it for overdub

See how Ryan Knight uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Ryan Knight

Guitarist

The Black Dahlia Murder

...
Verified via Peavey

The peavey website states that Ryan Knight from The Black Dahlia Murder uses a Peavey 6505+

See how Angel Vivaldi uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Angel Vivaldi

Guitarist

...
Verified via angelvivaldi

On his official website, Angel Vivaldi confirms using Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head.

See how Roman Ibramkhalilov uses Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head

Roman Ibramkhalilov

Guitarist

Jinjer

...
Verified via YouTube

At the 2:05 mark in the YouTube video titled "JINJER Guitar Rig" by Ukrainian Metal Bands, Roman Ibramkhalilov is shown using the Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head.

Album Usage

The Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head has been featured on the following albums:

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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1 alternative for Peavey 6505+ 120-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head, curated by the Equipboard community.

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