Eddie Van Halen’s Striped Peavey 5150 2×12 Combo Amplifier

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This is a rare amplifier! This is Eddie Van Halen’s striped Peavey 5150 2×12 Combo, serial number 08246166. The amplifier was originally striped prior to final assembly at Peavey’s former Plant 3 facility between 1994 and 1995. The work was performed under the direction of James Brown, the original designer of the 5150 model. It was then painted and sent to Eddie Van Halen as a fully functional amplifier. Only a very small number of 2×12 combos were included in the original EVH striping process. According to John C. Fields who was the MI Amp Engineering Manager at Peavey, the amplifier may have been used as a practice amp or for a photo shoot while on tour, possibly during Van Halen’s Balance tour. The amplifier was eventually returned to Peavey and sold to an employee in 2009. It was subsequently serviced and re-tubed on December 23, 2009.

Importantly, Eddie Van Halen’s Peavey contract specifically prohibited the delivery of any other striped amplifiers to customers, including custom orders. Therefore, these specially striped amplifiers were made exclusively for Eddie Van Halen.

Accompanying the amplifier is a detailed letter dated May 15, 2014, from John C. Fields, MI Amp Engineering Manager at Peavey Electronics Corporation, documenting the amplifier’s history and confirming these details.