Help with a 5150!!

**againstthewind** · 04.04.07, 03:35 PM

Just bought a used 5150 combo. Getting a lot of background noise. Bad tubes?? My first thought was to change them out, but is there anything else I should look for? I paid 7hundred for it used. Should I just take it to a local tech and have him work it out?? I've put tubes in before, and from what I remember, (it's been a few years) it's basically like plugging a cord into a socket?? It is just when I am not playing, I get a nasty hum, almost like I was playing a single coil, and when I am playing, I am sure that hum/noise is affecting it....sounds busy if you get my drift. I don't remember the 5150 I owned years ago having this problem. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

**guitar08man** · 04.04.07, 03:54 PM

5150's are generally pretty noisy, but if your experiencing single-coil like hum id definently take it in to see a tech. If you do not know what you are doing, do NOT mess with stuff in your amp. it could litterally kill you.

AT · 04.04.07, 07:17 PM

Yeah, it's easy to change both the pre-amp and power tubes. (Handle them with a thin, clean cloth, though; you want to avoid getting oil from your hands on them.) But your problem sounds like it could be something more. Have a tech check it out.

**HipCat5** · 04.05.07, 05:30 AM

When I bought my 5150 combo, I too thought it was having problems because of the noise. But, unfortunately, most of them are noisy and working just fine. Try tube rolling first (an extra set of tubes is always a good thing to have) and see if it helps. Otherwise, I invested in a good noise gate and that helps a lot. The hiss from those amps is unbearable. Good luck

**Filthy 150** · 04.05.07, 07:39 AM

They ARE noisy.
Try switching from the hi gain input to the low gain and see if there is a difference.
If you are using the hi gain w/ alot of distortion, its gonna be noisy.

**againstthewind** · 04.05.07, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by Filthy 150

They ARE noisy.
Try switching from the hi gain input to the low gain and see if there is a difference.
If you are using the hi gain w/ alot of distortion, its gonna be noisy.

Yeah, I did that Filthy, it did help, but I just don't remember my other one being this bad. I think it has gotten somewhat better than when I first received it, maybe because the tubes were cold coming off the delivery truck? I't colder than shit here in MI. I'm going to change out the tubes anyway. Any suggestions from anyone on good tubes for this amp?? What kind of tubes did they come with stock? Thanks again everyone.

AT · 04.05.07, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by againstthewind

Yeah, I did that Filthy, it did help, but I just don't remember my other one being this bad. I think it has gotten somewhat better than when I first received it, maybe because the tubes were cold coming off the delivery truck? I't colder than shit here in MI. I'm going to change out the tubes anyway. Any suggestions from anyone on good tubes for this amp?? What kind of tubes did they come with stock? Thanks again everyone.

I think they originally came with Svetlana tubes. (Wasn't there some sort of supply issue shortly into the 5150 run?) My '97 5150 head still has the original pre-amp tubes. I'll try and remember to check it out.

The music store I teach at stocks them, so I've been replacing the tubes in my 5150s with Electro-Harmonix. (Anyone know who makes them and where?) They've been consistently reliable and sound great. A short time ago I changed the pre-amp tubes in my 5150 II to the Electro-Harmonix and it sounds arguably better than what was originally in there. My 5150 combo has JJ pre-amp tubes (installed by the previous owner), and they seem to be okay. I tried Sovtek power tubes in the original 5150 head once, and they fried out faster than anything I've ever used.

**Filthy 150** · 04.05.07, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewThomas.net

I think they originally came with Svetlana tubes. (Wasn't there some sort of supply issue shortly into the 5150 run?) My '97 5150 head still has the original pre-amp tubes. I'll try and remember to check it out.

The music store I teach at stocks them, so I've been replacing the tubes in my 5150s with Electro-Harmonix. (Anyone know who makes them and where?) They've been consistently reliable and sound great. A short time ago I changed the pre-amp tubes in my 5150 II to the Electro-Harmonix and it sounds arguably better than what was originally in there. My 5150 combo has JJ pre-amp tubes (installed by the previous owner), and they seem to be okay. I tried Sovtek power tubes in the original 5150 head once, and they fried out faster than anything I've ever used.

Mine is a combo.
Not sure what year, whatever the first year was.
And it has the original tubes.
I have replaced the fuse once(it blew during TLWII).
I used to get a bad hiss, but after toying w/ it for a while I can get it tolerable. I guess I'm just used to it.

BUT, playing it next to six's Line 6 it sounds like a hive of bees.

AT · 04.05.07, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Filthy 150

Mine is a combo.
Not sure what year, whatever the first year was.
And it has the original tubes.
I have replaced the fuse once(it blew during TLWII).
I used to get a bad hiss, but after toying w/ it for a while I can get it tolerable. I guess I'm just used to it.

BUT, playing it next to six's Line 6 it sounds like a hive of bees.

Was '95 the first year of the combo? Ed was using them on the Balance album and tour. I think the improved clean channel is what inspired work on the 5150 II head (which has a much better clean channel).

What kind of fuse was originally in your combo, glass or ceramic?

**Filthy 150** · 04.05.07, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewThomas.net

Was '95 the first year of the combo? Ed was using them on the Balance album and tour. I think the improved clean channel is what inspired work on the 5150 II head (which has a much better clean channel).

What kind of fuse was originally in your combo, glass or ceramic?

Glass.

And I guess i bought it in '97.

Maybe I was off on being the 1st year. It might have been the 1st year I could afford one.

**tommywho5150** · 04.07.07, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewThomas.net

I think they originally came with Svetlana tubes. (Wasn't there some sort of supply issue shortly into the 5150 run?) My '97 5150 head still has the original pre-amp tubes. I'll try and remember to check it out.

The music store I teach at stocks them, so I've been replacing the tubes in my 5150s with Electro-Harmonix. (Anyone know who makes them and where?) They've been consistently reliable and sound great. A short time ago I changed the pre-amp tubes in my 5150 II to the Electro-Harmonix and it sounds arguably better than what was originally in there. My 5150 combo has JJ pre-amp tubes (installed by the previous owner), and they seem to be okay. I tried Sovtek power tubes in the original 5150 head once, and they fried out faster than anything I've ever used.

i also tried sovteks and found them to be great!!! mine was on an early 5150 head, but later on i used groove tubes and most recently ive gone back to svetlana's now i can get my hands on them again.

a good option to reduce noise is always a good noise gate i rely on mine whenever im using the 5150, but if this doesnt help take it to a tech.