It's not louder ... but it's totally "clean" ( What's funny is that its a Fender-esque clean --- there's the clean channel everyone complains that is non-existant ). No hiss, no noise, but the volume is invariable, I can't adjust it at all using the gain knobs on both channels. At about a 15- watt practice amp volume.

I don't have any 12ax7 tubes lying around ... I've heard that I should replace the shitty chinese tubes sooner or later, so I suppose now is a good time. I just don't have the money at the moment.

I don't know, your name sounds very Brtish though!

Hmmm boy it's hard to say what's going on with your amp without hearing it myself. The hiss is normal for a 5150. The lead channel especially when you get the pregain up past 4 or 5. When you plugged into the loop return you were bypassing the preamp and going directly into the power amp, that's why it was clean but it should have been fairly loud. If you can find some other tubes I'd try them, preamp and power and see what that does. Maybe take some out of a friends amp just to test your amp? Other than that it might be time to see a tech.
Jerry

Preamp and power? That's around 60-70 dollars total, methinks. I get my paycheck tomorrow, I'll see what I can do. I've been looking at JJ's 12AX7's, which power tubes should go to match those?

I like the JJ 6L6 power tubes and the EH 12AX7 preamp tubes. I also like the JJ and Chinese 12AX7's. Give Doug's Tubes a shout and he'll hook you up. Doug has great prices, service, and product. He's real helpful in picking the right tubes for the tone you're after.
Jerry

Hmm ... I just uninstalled the tubes to have a good look at them, and someone had installed GrooveTubes.

And ... I asked the seller of the amplifier about this ... and he said it was playing perfectly. Before he shipped it.

So someone on the FedEx truck did'nt take their job that seriously. It's possible I could be reimbursed, as I was insured for the full amount. Then I'd have a 5150 and about 700$ to repair it with.

or that the seller is lying to you

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I've got him there too.

There are a few cosmetic damages he did'nt mention. So I could legitimately demand my money back.

sounds to me like you have the whole world by the testicles

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Money back might be the way to go then...
unless you can wring it out of fedex.
Either way fuck spending more money on what's really not your problem.

If it's the seller I hope he/she/it dies.

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I'm definitely not spending any more on this. Someone is going to pay for this.

If it's not the domestic version then the power transformer might be set up for 220V or some shit. The amp would still most likely operate if it's all analog, but would be very quiet. Just a stupid guess on my part but worth checking since you got it off e-bay...

http://www.peavey.com/search.cfm?c=3&term=5150

but how quiet is it?

just a thought.. but you were saying your avt is louder than it when cranked.. which could be that you're just overestimating it?

i dunno...

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Oh no, with both Pre and Post gain knobs on the lead/rythm channels on ten, the thing should be too loud for aural comprehension. But, it sounds like a slightly loud ten watt amplifier. And its not quiet at all. I know hiss is supposed to come with high gain amplfiiers, but the hiss is easily as loud as the guitar itself.

Sounds like what happened to mine. I'm pretty sure one of your speakers are blown. And teh way the speakers are wired in the 5150 combo, if one goes, neither of them work. Take it to a shop and get your speaker's tested.

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too loud for aural comprehension? i don't know about that..

as for the operation noise... with the gain at ten it's going to get very noisey. you might also have a ground loop, or a microphonic preamp tube.

hard to say... but you got screwd royaly.

no, his is working. it's just not loud.

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Well, in a small room with a functional 5150 on full blast, you could still decimate wildlife and turn small children into drooling vegetables. It's noisy at all levels.

Yes, when my speaker broke, I could disconect the speakers totaly and believe it or not you can actually hear what you are playing from the amp. Its quite faint, but its there. I'm telling you this sounds exactly like the problem I had.

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I missed your comment earlier that the volume is invariable. Basically that means that your first gain stage is most likely fucked and the guitar is bleeding through a little bit to the later stages that have no gain control. Until you get a new 12AX7, you might try rotating them to see if the failure mode changes...

EDIT - Everyone kept mentioning the hum as being normal on these. Just out of morbid curiosity does anyone know if the three position ground switch shown on the back in the manual actually helps reduce this hum like the manual claims it does?

ill try it tomorrow

but will it kill me? seriously i have 28 inches of titanium in my spine if i get a little shock im DEAD

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