Best EL34 head sub-£1000

[HTH AMPS]

I've just had a look at the GH50L schematic, and it's actually got an extra gain stage compared to a 2204/2203 but it IS basically a 2203 with an extra gain stage.

The one I tried at Wembley Guitar Centre was a crackin amp - can't go wrong for twice the price.

[sambo]

I've just had a look at the GH50L schematic, and it's actually got an extra gain stage compared to a 2204/2203 but it IS basically a 2203 with an extra gain stage.

The one I tried at Wembley Guitar Centre was a crackin amp - can't go wrong for twice the price.

Awesome! Really tempted in that case.


So Laney definitely worth checking out. I need to get to try some Marshalls and Laneys.

Laneys:
Pro Tube
VH
GH

Marshalls:

JCM800
JMP
DSL?
Vintage Modern?

How do the old marshalls compare to the better new ones? (by better I mean, the best of the new)

[_tom_]

Sam just realised I have this recording of the old cover band, my mate uses a DSL50 and I use a GH50L so they're both on this clip. I'm mostly on the right speaker whilst the DSL is on the left, though I cant tell a huge difference in that clip it may be of some help to you (they mic'd us with SM58s and didnt really play around with the positioning too much so it probably could've sounded way better if they tried harder). He uses a marshall valvestate cab though which probably doesnt help things, but I think my GH sounds much better, even he said its much bigger and "beastly" than his DSL :lol:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=696695&songID=5310354

[sambo]

Cheers for that Tom.

You can really hear difference during/after the solo. The Laney is killing the Marshall overall to my ears!

[hunter]

I think my GH sounds much better, even he said its much bigger and "beastly" than his DSL :lol:

Hard to tell ... from this recording I would say the DSL has less bottom thump and oomph but more richness/harmonics in the upper mids. I actually think that they sounded really well together ... maybe two heads is the way to go in the end  :P

[Twinfan]

I pretty much agree with what everyone else has said, and my shortlist of amps to try would be:

JCM800 50w
JCM800 100w
Orange Rockerverb 50
Orange Rockerverb 100
Orange Thunderverb 50
Laney GH50L
Laney GH100L

[sambo]

Cheers for that shortlist Dave. Something cool about the Rockerverb 100 is that it has interchangable valves. Don't think the 50 watt has that feature though.

Oh and;

I'm picking it up tomorrow. :twisted:

[Twinfan]

No probs Sam, and nice one  ;)