The Peavey 6505 II is a Peavey amplifier, currently around $1699.99. Close alternatives include the Randall Thrasher 120W 2-Channel Head and the Randall Thrasher 50W Head. It pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff and the Suhr Shiba Drive.
Peavey 6505 II
Peavey · amplifier
The Peavey 6505 II is a 120-watt all-valve two-channel head, an evolution of the legendary 5150/6505 that became a cornerstone of modern metal and hardcore. With six 12AX7 preamp tubes and 6L6 power, it delivers a tight, aggressive, high-gain rhythm channel and a searing lead channel, plus added features over the original like channel-independent EQ and an effects loop. Its saturated, cutting gain defined countless heavy records.
What stands out
“The community treats the 6505 as the benchmark high-gain metal amp, prized for its tight, percussive chug and brutal lead saturation, with the II adding welcome flexibility”
— from the community notes
“high-gain rhythm channel and a searing lead channel”
— from the listing
“aggressive”
— from the listing
“cutting gain defined countless heavy records”
— from the listing
“it delivers a tight”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“a boost or tube screamer out front is near-essential to firm up the bass and”
— from the reviews
- lead
- high gain
- aggressive
- cutting
- tight
- metal
- low end
- tube
Good for
- Live
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Peavey 6505 II is commonly used in
- Metal
- Hardcore
- Metalcore
- Death Metal
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Peavey 6505 II
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
21% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
20% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Stack Suhr Shiba Drive on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft
Boss
19% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Keep Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft after Peavey 6505 II in the signal chain, clear of Peavey 6505 II's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Shin's Music Dumbloid
Shins Music
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Shin's Music Dumbloid takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Goes in front of the amp
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
17% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
What Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio brings here leans toward tight — that's worth building a pairing around
Goes in front of the amp
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → slapback)
Keep Peavey 6505 II's high gain voice out front: MXR Analog Delay goes in Peavey 6505 II's effects loop so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Peavey 6505 II's high gain voice out front: Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2 goes in Peavey 6505 II's effects loop so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
MXR CAE Wah goes in front of Peavey 6505 II — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Cheaper alternatives
Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
Mesa Boogie
57% similarityShared character: effects loop, metal, mix
Marshall JCM900 2100
Marshall
55% similarityShared character: high end, metal, bright
PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head
PRS
52% similarityShared character: original, sustain, metal
PRS MT 15 V1 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head
PRS
49% similarityShared character: sustain, mix, aggressive playing
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
Randall Thrasher 120W 2-Channel Head
Randall
59% similarityShared character: metal, mix, aggressive playing
Randall Thrasher 50W Head
Randall
58% similarityShared character: metal, mix, aggressive playing
Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head
Randall
58% similarityShared character: high gain settings, metal, mix
Randall RD100H Diavlo 100W 3-Channel Head
Randall
57% similarityShared character: metal, mix, response
EVH 5150 III
Evh
53% similarityShared character: high end, sustain, metal
Randall Lynch Box
Randall
53% similarityShared character: metal, bass, response
See all alternatives to the Peavey 6505 II (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Peavey 6505 II?+
The closest matches in character are the Randall Thrasher 120W 2-Channel Head, the Randall Thrasher 50W Head, the Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head. Budget picks: Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier, Marshall JCM900 2100, PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head. Boutique upgrades: Marshall JCM800 2203, Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt.
What pairs well with the Peavey 6505 II?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff, Suhr Shiba Drive, Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft — Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward.
How much does the Peavey 6505 II cost?+
Around $1699.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).