Author Topic: Laney amp? (Read 7692 times)

Petre · « **on:** April 21, 2006, 07:00:49 PM »

Is the Laney LC50-II any good? I have a cr@ppy marshall practice amp which im pretty fed up of. Its 15 watt and isnt really cutting it with the sound. I play quire a range of stuff. All metal, but i like low end rob zombie chugging, and children of bodom with clear distortion and good lead tones. So its quite a variety but high gain definately. I have an uber metal if worst comnes to the worst, but id love to hear peoples opinions.

Im not in a band and dont gig, i just want something that can sound relaly nice at bedroom volume ( and a little higher, i crank a little on weekends) but also that can have the colume to jam with my friend and maybe push to be able to gig with it in future?

Any input at all would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Petre

The amazing Phil · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2006, 07:15:58 PM »

The LC-15 is loud enough for any bedroom. Bear in mind 15 watts of solid state practice amp is a lot less than 15 watts all valve. You'd need to kick the front end with an OD if some description for metal that heavy, but it's a good sounding amp.

50 watts in a bedroom is going to be uncrankable, and you'll never get your moneys worth if you don't play out with it.

dave_mc · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2006, 09:23:05 PM »

i hear the lc series aren't great for metal, but i haven't tried them.

sambo · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2006, 11:19:23 PM »

yer daves right... i have an lc30.... its not a metal amp by any means...

sounds great for classic rock stuff..

and also, like phil said... 50 valve watts is gonna be bloody loud... not for bedroom playing AT ALL..... 30 valve watts isnt really suitable either... but for in between bedroom and gigging- maybe gigging in the future... 30 watts (valve) could be a good compromise...

Davey · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2006, 01:09:55 PM »

my lc15r is in town today, i should get it on monday, so i'll chime in when i got it.

Petre · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2006, 04:02:30 PM »

So you guys think 50Watt is a serious overkill? If thats the case im pleased, coz it saves me money :P . Got so much else i need to buy such as pedals and BKP's!! <-- !!!! :P

But you guys think it wont be great for metal? Id be more than willing to stick an OD pedal infront of it. Would this get the tones im after? I like my sound pretty scooped and such. Just i wasnt aware that laney had a good metal equivalent to this amp. Anybody got any suggestions? Im pretty new to the market of amps right now. I heard laney were good and my friend chris has a laney 30 watt, but not valve.

So yea, any input or equivalent amps that would suit my style would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys
Petre

P.s., does this mean a 15 watt valve would blow a 30 watt non-vavle out of the water?

P.S MK-II. I do like quite a nice clean sound too. I dabble in some quite ambient music styles. I recorded a track with vst-i's and a guitar with reverb cranked.. however if clean is sacrificd at the expense of a better metal tone thats fine.

edit - oh and cheers davey, let me know!

Skybone · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2006, 05:15:11 PM »

If you're thinking of purely a bedroom practise amp, then 50w probably is too much, however, if you're thinking of joining a band, then 50w is a good place to start.

Saying that, a good halfway house would be a 30w amp, like the LC30.

Petre · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2006, 05:26:34 PM »

cheers for response skybone. I did have a think about the 30W but I think i may have decided on what im gonna do. I think for now i'll get the LC15R. I'll use that for bedroom playing and recording, but then maybe when i get into a band buy a 4x12 cab and run it thru that? Then if things get serious i might get a pre-amp or head to go onto the cab and keep my LC15R for practice and recording. This way, i wont have an amp thats too big for what i want if i dont get into a band any time soon.

Any thoughts? And also are there any equivalents of this amp by other makes that may be better for metal or anything?

Cheers
Petre

Responses are much appreciated!

_tom_ · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2006, 05:37:32 PM »

I would probably get a 30w valve amp and get a hotplate aswell so you can run it how it sounds good, but at a reasonable volume.

indysmith · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2006, 05:39:24 PM »

the cheapest full-on metal combo around is the Ashdown fallen angel, and right now the 1x12 combo seems to be going for £449 :? i remember a time wen the half stack was £419...
this is probably (nowadays) a bit expensive for you? they have OODLES of bass and gain

Davey · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2006, 05:39:38 PM »

Quote from: Petre

P.s., does this mean a 15 watt valve would blow a 30 watt non-vavle out of the water?

that and then some.

i'll put it through its paces next week (next weekend its holidays here, so i'll make more detailed reviews and such then)

i have a 2x12 cab that i intend to use it with.

i paid 357 euro for mine, shipped from germany.

Petre · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2006, 06:23:37 PM »

the 30W and a hotplate sounds a little more of an expensive option. I think in the long run a 15 W would be better if i then purchase a cab. that way i dont have to try and get a 30W to run at low volumes and then at really high and such. Thanks for input but i think i would prefer a small amp then upgrade. I know at first i said i wouldnt mind an amp that could do both, but i done a little more research into prices. The LC15R wouldnt be such an immense dent in the bank which means i can use it as a stepping stone.

However, thanks alot indysmith :roll: . That ashdown fallen angel looks like it suits the bill down to the ground, but bloody expensive! At that price i really would have to use it as a stepping stone. So bit of a dilemma, but an enjoyable dilemma none-the-less.

I can either go LC15R and then purchase a cab down later down the line, and finally upgrade with a head (ashdown fallen angel head?)

OR

I can save up even longer and the 40W ashdown FA then get a hotplate for room volumes, then use it for gigging too when the time comes.. then get stuck in a financial rut when it comes to upgrading :( ... and leave me short in the short-run for buying BKP's and pedals

I think ill bide my time and see what Davey thinks of it ;)
Thanks for input all! You have been a tremendous help
Like i said, im new to the amp market :lol:
Petre

P.S. Davey u reckon u could pm me when u've tried out the amp or were u planning on posting reviews and such?

The amazing Phil · « **Reply #12 on:** April 22, 2006, 06:50:35 PM »

I gotta say, I wouldn't touch Ashdown at all. I've had bad experiences with their customer support that stemmed from them denying there was something wrong with their amp, an amp which they had to take back.

The real snag is that they sent it back to the people who's design they'd used (Matamp) to find out what they'd done wrong!

If you use a good boost or OD in front of an already overdriven medium gain amp, you will get good sounds from something like an LC 15 for metal. It's like a JCM-800 not being the most metal sounding thing..... but with Zakk Wylde's set up, running powerful pickups and an SD-1 into the front end, bam, high gain and "fvckin metal".

Also, a 15 watter will be cheaper to revalve.

Davey · « **Reply #13 on:** April 22, 2006, 08:25:38 PM »

Quote from: Petre

P.S. Davey u reckon u could pm me when u've tried out the amp or were u planning on posting reviews and such?

i'll post a review for sure.

i'll do side by side comparison with all the gear i got

crate gx65 alone, clean and dirty channel
crate on clean w/ ibanez smash box
crate clean w/ zoom 9050 DSP

all this x2 (once with and once without the cab)

then repeat everything with the laney and for the end a volume comparison, so it'll be pretty in depth

if ya do it, do it right!

sambo · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2006, 11:46:18 PM »

kool! nice one davey... ill be interested in that too...

how do you find the crate? i have a GT65 and personally think its an awesome amp for the money....

anyway, petre.... i think what youve (almost) decided on is a good choice- lc15 then cab later.. then like you said... you can upgrade to something else to run through the cab IF you need to....

and it leaves you with plenty of cash in the mean time...