Author Topic: My new Laney (Read 2569 times)

LazyNinja · « **on:** June 22, 2007, 11:43:10 PM »

I got this the other day.

30W AOR pro-tube with 6V6 power tubes. I've had a good amount of time playing it (but not at a rehearsal level) so I thought I'd report :D

6 Knobs: presence, bass, mid, treble, master and gain. The 3 EQs can be boosted by pulling the knobs.

On its own, it can cover anything from blues crunch to hard rock gain. Doesnt really do clean. It has plenty of gain but its never overly saturated. It doesnt have as much gain as my Vh100R but the treble boost can make it seem like it has more gain. With the mid and treble boost engaged it can do great 80's rock sounds. Bass boost is unusable, the words that come to my mind every time I try to engage it is "Holy ****".

My favourite setting so far is just engaging the mid boost, and using an OD pedal to clean(ish) boost the front end. I used Zoom PD01 which I think is a pretty nice pedal. If I back off the gain on the amp, crank the master, and raise the treble, I can get a very good ACDC tone. It can recreate that sagginess on the notes very well like you hear on riff raff intro.
Same setting, but if I back off the treble and plug in my strat I can get a very decent blues tone out of it. Nice and woody tone with the neck pickup. Stomp on the wah and it wails!! I was playing Hendrix riffs for hours and it was great fun!

Dare I say it, for mid-low gain, I think I prefer the AOR to VH100R. I think it's probably because of the lower wattage so I can hear the valve-ness more. The VH100R is much more refined, more versatile and has more capabilities but this amp is more RAWK :twisted:

I'm sure there are much better amps but for the price I paid for it, I'm very happy with the tone. Just proves that good tone doesnt have to mean big money! Now I want a 50W version with the AOR channel :twisted:

Ps. can someone tell me how to make words into links on these boards lol

indysmith · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2007, 06:08:16 PM »

nice catch, man! I've never come across one myself. congrats

dave_mc · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2007, 08:09:59 PM »

i dunno about this site, but on most other sites, you do (minus all the spaces)

[ u r l = whatever the link is ] word you want to be highlighted [ / u r l ]

very nice, though. how are you liking those 6V6's? i have a hankering to pick up that new fender champion to try them, though stupid thomann don't have it on the site any more (and i want to order one of those multi-guitar stands from them too, so i'd have free postage)...

LazyNinja · « **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2007, 12:19:16 AM »

I was expecting the 6V6s to sound more American in a way because I associate 6v6 with fender amps but it turns out its not so. I guess the voice of an amp has more to do with the preamp. I've never had a chance to try different valves in a single amp so I'm not the best one to listen to though!

I do like this amp a lot, IMO, it sounds bright and compressed but still has a lot of detail to the sound. Lots of tube sagginess that I'm really liking, but again I'm not sure if thats a valve characteristic or just because of the low wattage.

The fender champ reissue sure looks interesting. I've heard good things about it but I've never seen it in a shop yet! There seems to be a lot of new 5W amps coming out these days. Peavey is bringing out 3 :!: different models all 5W mini amps. The Royal 8, Nano Valve, and Mini Colossal. I think you should try them all before you buy the fender.

and thanks for teaching me how to do links!

Transcend · « **Reply #4 on:** June 25, 2007, 10:35:20 AM »

i still cant believe you won that one..... both me and adam.m were trying..... then again i was out when it ended so couldnt bid it up.

Glad to see its working out well for ya.

Any chance of clips??

LazyNinja · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2007, 12:50:38 PM »

Yeah I think I got lucky with the auction :) To be honest though, I don't think you'll have liked the amp very much. The overall feel of the amp is quite loose, saggy and vintage. It's great for classic rock and blues but not very suitable for metal. 50W/100W AOR with EL34s will be better for that. I'll try recording a clip tonight if I have a chance.

dave_mc · « **Reply #6 on:** June 25, 2007, 01:08:45 PM »

Quote from: LazyNinja

I was expecting the 6V6s to sound more American in a way because I associate 6v6 with fender amps but it turns out its not so. I guess the voice of an amp has more to do with the preamp. I've never had a chance to try different valves in a single amp so I'm not the best one to listen to though!

I do like this amp a lot, IMO, it sounds bright and compressed but still has a lot of detail to the sound. Lots of tube sagginess that I'm really liking, but again I'm not sure if thats a valve characteristic or just because of the low wattage.

The fender champ reissue sure looks interesting. I've heard good things about it but I've never seen it in a shop yet! There seems to be a lot of new 5W amps coming out these days. Peavey is bringing out 3 :!: different models all 5W mini amps. The Royal 8, Nano Valve, and Mini Colossal. I think you should try them all before you buy the fender.

and thanks for teaching me how to do links!

yeah, the sound of an amp is definitely not just in the power tubes. the power tubes definitely play a part, but the rest of the circuit does too.

I think i've only ever tried 6V6 in a rivera clubster combo... i thought they were 6L6 when i was trying it, lol. so my guess is they probably will sound quite american, if the circuit lets them, kind of thing.

I'd like to get to try a lot of those other amps, problem is they can be quite scarce here (peavey)... also, those peaveys are running el84's, if i'm not mistaken... and i'd like a bit of a change as my Valve junior already has that. Of course, this is probably contradicting what i've already said about power tubes not being the only thing influencing tone!

I'd really like to get to try that new windsor combo, too. that could help you realise how much power tubes change the tone. Hopefully.

:drink:

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #7 on:** June 25, 2007, 06:33:20 PM »

I have one of those! Was my first 'real' amp:

Transcend · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2007, 06:47:47 PM »

you wanting to sell that??? :D

LazyNinja · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2007, 09:31:07 PM »

Wow I have a same amp that TO owns... I feel privileged!

I recorded an ACDC clip with it and I posted it in the players forum but here's the link again http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=643186&songID=5490086

I opened the back and all the valves were called PM, does anyone know about these valves?

JamesHealey · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2007, 12:36:40 PM »

where abouts in leeds are you? we should have an amp jam u can try my Splawn out and i'll have a go on that Laney! :P

LazyNinja · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2007, 03:49:07 PM »

Heh against a Splawn there might be a bit of a class difference! I'd love to try your Splawn though but be warned I'm a completely shitee player! :lol:

I live in meanwood, it's in LS6, about 3 miles from city centre.

I bought a THD hotplate on ebay today. Should be with me by Monday. Can't wait to hear the amp cranked! :twisted:

Author Topic: My new Laney (Read 2569 times)

Transcend

TwilightOdyssey

Transcend