Peavey 5150 Serial Number Lookup
I have tried and tried to find info about the production times of this ax or info on serial numbers but never turned up nothing. Here 4 years latter am still wondering. The serial number is 6111018. Include the model name, color and serial number. A representative will reply to your email within several days. Use a book such as 'The Peavey Revolution: Hartley Peavey: The Gear, The Company and the All-American Success Story' by Ken Achard. Search through the photographs of Peavey amplifiers from the 1950's to present. Hi folks, I've just been re-united with an old Peavey amp that I used to own. I've been told by a somewhat unreliable source, that it's over thirty years old, and that it was previously owned by the bass player of the Stiff Little Fingers.
Every Fender EVH guitar I've seen so far in person has looked just fine. No binding issues, finish was flawless, etc. I've only actually picked up and played 2 early-run standards - and they both felt pretty nice. Not amazingly different (or better) than my Peavey Wolfgang, but they did seem like nice guitars and they played well. I only got to play one through an amp, and I dug it for the limited time I had to try it out in the store. I have seen and heard plenty of horror stories online of EVH Fenders (mostly specials) with MAJOR issues.
On the other hand, the EVH 5150 III 100Watt amps sound AMAZING. In fact, I think that amp can sound even better than how Ed has sounded using it since the 2007 tour and on the new album. It's just an absolute beast of an amp in every way, and is also MUCH more versatile overall compared to the Peaveys. I love the Peavey 5150 line for what they do, and they do about 2 sounds/tones super, super well; but not much else. The 5150 III sounds great going for tons of different tones, and in all the 'inbetweens'. I'd love to see a 4 channel amp built that has the 5150 lead channel in it, with a switch that converts it to the 5150 II lead channel (so you have both tones onboard) and then the 3 channels in the 5150 III. So like, clean, crunch, gain, and other gain.
That amp would be into the 'ultimate amp' kind of territory and tonal variety. Sounds like a project I should try building.
Setting tone aside, as for durability, I know there were issues with the first run of 5150 III heads. Fender took care of them right away, but it happened.
I should also note that despite the Peavey's reputation for being bullet proof, the same thing happened with the very first run of Peavey 5150's. And Peavey also took care of the problem quickly.
And as we all know, the Peavey's are widely known as and have lived up to being some of the most durable and roadworthy amps ever made. Since the initial 5150 III problems, I've heard mostly positive reviews. There are a lot of bands now touring with them and they don't seem to be having problems. Most people that I've talked to that personally own them report a solid amp. I haven't been able to crack one open an examine the guts, so I can't report anything one way or the other as to its layout, construction, or parts selection.
(Anyone wanna post some hi res pics??) The issues really seem to be coming from only the 5150 III 50 watt head. I have NOT yet seen one of those in person, but now I'm gonna seek one out to try. There would be no reason to make them significantly 'crappier' overall compared to the 100W head. It would be odd to have the 2nd amp in a flagship-type line be junk. As for EVH itself.
I know a guy who was a dealer VERY early on with them. He has a massive store, and sold 11 of the first 5150 III half stacks ever shipped out from the factory (I believe they were all serial numbers in the 200's and 300's), and then he sold a bunch of the first shipment of Wolfgang Standards when they came out. After selling off his remaining stock of Wolfgangs and a 5150III stack he had left in stock, he jumped ship as fast as he could. And he absolutely loved the 5150 III too, but he just couldn't deal with the company anymore and their dealer/pricing policies apparently. I recall hearing something about warranty problems not being addressed through Fender promptly too. So hearing all that from a well-respected, giant private guitar shop owner told me a lot about the company. So after using my Wolf special for 3 month it feels great.
No issues out of the box. Not fret wires sticking out. I love the feel and playability of the neck. The guitar sounds very good unplugged. I then went to try the more expensive model and did find issues. I know there can be many reasons for issues.
The one I played did have fret issues and sounded dead unplugged. I thought it was strange but I only played one. The special i bought has worked out great so far. No issues with the bridge, I think it is the same as the American made one.
The tuners are cheaper but work well and it's not an issue with the locking nut anyway. The initial price was kinda high in my opinion. I waited and pick up a perfect demo online at a price I was happy with.
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The only complaint is the flat body style does not have a arm rest. So when play my are rests on the sharp edge of the guitar. Not knife sharp but you know what I mean. I just used the 50 watt on a recording session and the green channel was just what we needed for nice big clean guitar chords. I was really impressed with the sound and to that end it's a keeper, however I do agree that it does feel 'cheap'. The tolex quality is not so hot and the switches used for channel switching are really loose and flimsy feeling.
Peavey 5150 Serial Number Lookup
I haven't used the 100watt so I can't compare the build quality. There's a two month wait on the ivory 50 watt head (I'm in Oz). I'm left wondering why there is such a wait, quality control/ production issues? Or just really popular?I'm also interested in getting a ivory 50W head and making a mini stack with two 1x12' boxes. I rang a shop in Melbourne yesterday and they have a few 50W heads on order which they were hoping to get in the few weeks. The guy told me that EVH/Fender were moving manufacturing from Vietnam to Mexico, hence the delays in getting stock here. If Ed had gone with Marshall, I think we'd end up with the same sound as the 5150 III, but with a crazy price tag.
He's been on a crunch kick since the F.U.C.K. Album and I think the 5150 III is the pinnacle of that sound. I had occasion to gig with a 5150 III last month and it was an awesome amp, almost too easy to get the current VH sound, but still a far cry from the classic VH brown sound. If he were to go with Marshall and make it sound like his old Plexi, well, then that would be something worth paying what it costs. Excuse me while I go play. I think my Soldano is warmed up now. So I held both Japan and China specials in my hands and did a side by side comparison at the local GC.
I found no desernable difference in the two. In fact, the necks felt identical. I did not see or feel a differnce in the finish of the necks. Both also had the same amount of birseyed on the fingerboard.I was reading an article several years ago about the whole outsourcing thing, and they included Fender as an ethical participant in the practice. They mentioned that there are many jobs in the US which are still key to the entire operation. As I understand, it's, either Fender themselves, or at least their wood supplier ships Fender specified materials to the locations of their factories wherever in the world their guitars are being made.
At least on their mid to high priced 'Fender' tagged stuff. This included the Japanese reissues, and many Mexican made Strats, and Tele's.
(Squier can still be a bit questionable, but I haven't seen a plywood body on them in years.That's a good thing.) So the Birdseye on the Chinese models should be of the same grade as the Japanese models. At least that's something. Compare this to other manufacturers budget lines who may call a wood mahogany, but in actuality, it's just a cut of wood with a similar grain appearance. They shall remain nameless.but you don't have to guess too hard. I have a 2009 USA EVH Vintage White Wolfgang, a EVH 5150 III 100 watt with 4x12 cab and now have the 5150 III 50 watt and the 1x12 little cab.
I have had virtually no problems with any of these items. The amp heads are solid as a rock. The guitar has a serial number under 200 and after taking it off the rack and getting it home-I noticed the thru the neck bolts that hold the nut to the neck where slightly loose-no big deal. No jagged fret issues, finish issues etc.
The toggle switch would cut out when switching between pickups but I also have a 2009 USA Charvel San Dimas that was doing the same thing when I first got it. After inspecting both toggle switches-I determined them to be the exact same switch-so I played the Hell outa the Charvel. Switching back and forth thru the pickups more so then I would normally. After a few days, the problem was gone. So, I then played the Hell outa the Wolfgang and after a few days the problem was gone. The 4x12 cab has the EVH/Celestion 20 watters and they sound awesome. The 1x12 has the 70th Anniversary Celestion and I liked them so much-I went out and got 2 more and put them in an old 1990 Peavey Sheffield 4x12 cab.
I will more than likely get 2 Scumbacks to replace the other 2 original Sheffield speakers. I am using the 50 watter to push the old Sheffield cab and it is more than capable.The 5150 III 50 watt has a volume difference when switching between channel 1 clean and channel 1 crunch but that is to be expected. I usually change pickups and role the volume for cleaner tones anyhow. The EVH/MXR phaser, flanger, and wahwah operate as they should and have yet to start tone sucking or screwing up in any way. They are incorporated into my board with several other effects and devices ect. Please understand-I have many other guitars and amps and I have found that I just prefer the EVH stuff I just can not find any real complaints about any of the EVH gear I have!!!