Author Topic: LANEY GH100L / VH100R differences please? (Read 14015 times)

ACHIEVE PERFECTION · « **on:** March 09, 2008, 08:19:47 PM »

Hello everyone,
i am thinking seriously about buying a Laney VH100R. A friend of mine has the GH100L and i love it - it's distortion is very very nice. However i can't listen to the VH100R since i don't know anyone that has it in Greece. Since i really need a clean channel i decided to go with the VH100R. I read somewhere that the drive channel of the VH is the same as the GH. Is that true? Is it official? What do you think of the amp? My other amps are Engl Powerball, Lee Jackson XLS-1000 and Marshall 6100LM with 5881 tubes. No one of them had this brittish Laney tone that my friend had.. Thanks a lot!

Stevepage · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2008, 05:53:54 PM »

Yes the VH100R is pretty much the GH. Just with a clean channel. Though I hear some people say the VH is slightly more aggressive than the GH but I don't hear the difference.

ACHIEVE PERFECTION · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2008, 06:57:57 PM »

Thanks Stevepage,
some say the GH has more gain than the VH, others say it is the same. You are the 1st to tell that the VH might be a bit more aggressive. That suits me to be honest since i like high gain amps generally. Is there an official statement somewhere?

@Stevepage: have you AB'd the VH/GH? What is your personal opinion? Apart from the gain amount, is the voicing the same? Thanks! :D

Stevepage · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2008, 08:30:54 PM »

I've not A/B'd the GH/VH together but I have played both seperately (and I own the VH100R) and they sound very very similar from what I can remember. The VH is obviously more versatile.

I did however A/B the VH against an ENGL Screamer and the Laney TT and chose the VH over both of them. It was more 'in your face' sounding and had a certain 'roar' that the other two didn't have.

Chris_G · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2008, 09:31:56 AM »

I've owned the VH and GH100 + 50 amps. They're all great (especially the GH50) but they all sound pretty much the same. The VH100R is possibly the heaviest (in terms of weight) amp I've ever owned.

I wouldn't say its more versatile - it just depends on whether you like channel switching or using the volume on your guitar. The only addition is that of reverb.

If I was to choose one I'd go for the GH100 - its got plenty of headroom and can achieve some excellent blues/rock/metal tones as well as having a nice shimmering clean sound. Its a much simpler beast and will probably stand up to gigging longer.

Oh, and one more thing about the VH - the footswitch connector is a 5-pin and VERY flimsy. When I had the amp it would randomly switch channels! This may have been a dud but its worth noting - simplicity wins out for me.

sambo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2008, 10:51:22 AM »

Machinehead have got a GH100l and matching Laney 4x12 cab for £699 at the moment. Thought that was a pretty good deal.

Chris_G · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2008, 11:09:36 AM »

Its funny you should say that... since selling my GH50 I noticed the standard price for these heads had gone up slightly. Apparently their new Lionheart range is really good and they seem to have shaken off most concerns about reliability now...

ACHIEVE PERFECTION · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2008, 03:30:42 PM »

Thanks for all the replies !
Simplicity and reliability apart, however, do you think the sound of the VH/GH is the same? Is the amount of gain the same? I really want the clean channel (as long as the drive channel suits me), so if the VH is good enough i would go for it

ACHIEVE PERFECTION · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2008, 06:53:39 PM »

Hi, Laney sent me an email saying "The VH100R drive channel is very similar to the GH100L, although the
VH100R has slightly more gain" . So can anyone tell me differences in the voicing/compression or anything else? Thanks

Chris_G · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2008, 01:13:50 AM »

Ok, basically you're not going to notice the extra gain on the VH. I'm speaking from my own experience of the amp so other impressions may differ but to my ears the VH doesn't cover much ground the GH isn't capable of except for maybe reverb and the obvious switching options.

Again, if you need the convenience of multiple channels then the VH is probably best (though I wouldn't buy one again). If, on the other hand, you're after a simple, reliable amp with a great tone I'd go for the GH100.

Its a tough one as I'm more into single channel amps so this may not be too helpful. The GH amps gave me what the VH did without the problematic footswitch, the noise (more apparent in the VH) and the weight.

If you know the GH sound then you know the VH sound. Its just a case of choosing between simplicity or apparent flexability :)

LazyNinja · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2008, 08:37:17 AM »

I own a VH100R and I agree with the majority of what's been said here.
However, I wouldn't be put off from buying the VH because you think it might be less reliable than the GH. Both amps are well built with chassis mounted valve bases. If you buy your amp new Laney offers 5 year warranty anyways.

I wouldn't call the VH's clean channel an apparent flexibility though. It's one of the best cleans I've heard and not just out of the high gainers. If you like your cleans clean without any dirt then it's definitely worth considering the VH.

My amp has now done 20+ gigs in just over a year knocked about in our drummer's van without missing a beat and I use it regularly at home too. The footswitch hasn't given up on me yet either. The little plastic ring just behind the 5 pin jack came loose but it was an easy fix. :)

ACHIEVE PERFECTION · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2008, 09:53:47 AM »

Thanks guys! I think i lean towards the VH.. Last question: The noise is much more in the VH?

Twinfan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2008, 10:01:37 AM »

Enough already - buy the VH! :lol:

LazyNinja · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2008, 07:58:47 PM »

Quote from: ACHIEVE PERFECTION

Thanks guys! I think i lean towards the VH.. Last question: The noise is much more in the VH?

I'd have to be honest here, my VH does have a fair bit of hum at high gain settings (both gain knobs past 7~8 ), but I'd say it's no more than any high gain valve amp that doesn't have built in noise gates. No idea of the amount of noise in comparison to the GH100L. Maybe Chris_G could help there? I keep my gain at about 6 and use a TS808 clone to boost the amp. It's much quieter (as in less hum), tighter and juicier this way. :twisted:

Go and get one! Just bare in mind that the resale value for these is pretty cr@p so make sure you like it before you buy it. On the other hand, if you can find one used it's usually a bargain!