LANEY GH50L vs LH50R

[mic_n]

hi,
i'm new here, i found some laney users here, so maybe someone can help me with this question.

can someone compare for me GH50L and LH50R head, mainly soundwise?

i have a chance to buy one of them and i can't decide, unfortunately i cannot try it out and have to decide quickly.. i know the LH50 is a two channel, which is a plus, plus it is cheaper, on the otherhand in my band i use mainly one slightly crunch sound and one overdrive sound - so i don't know if the clean channel will be of any use for me. i read there is a big volume jump on the GH50 when switching on the gain so that's a minus..

will i be able to get a crunch sound on the clean channel?

is the overdrive sound for these two heads different?

is there a difference in the loudness - do they both sound good when you turn the volume up (almost max?)

maybe better to buy the LH50 and some tube drive preamp - that way i will have 2 channels with the posibility of crunch even on the clean channel - anyone ever tried this?

i've been using other laney stuff several years, so i roughly know what the quality and sound will be, i just can't decide between the two

thanks for any ideas

mic

[Davey]

hi,
i'm new here, i found some laney users here, so maybe someone can help me with this question.

can someone compare for me GH50L and LH50R head, mainly soundwise?

i got an LH50R and test driven a GH50L

i have a chance to buy one of them and i can't decide, unfortunately i cannot try it out and have to decide quickly.. i know the LH50 is a two channel, which is a plus, plus it is cheaper, on the other hand in my band i use mainly one slightly crunch sound and one overdrive sound - so i don't know if the clean channel will be of any use for me. i read there is a big volume jump on the GH50 when switching on the gain so that's a minus..

as yourself how important is the clean channel for you. do you need it, will you need it.
the GH doesnt have that high of a volume jump, unless you overdo it with the gain and boost. but laneys are really silent, then there's a big volume jump, then it gets louder gradually

will i be able to get a crunch sound on the clean channel?

only with an overdrive pedal

is the overdrive sound for these two heads different?

not very much, if you use 6L6 tubes in the GH50. but the GH gain structure is laid out slightly differently (as far as i know) and is a bit tighter

is there a difference in the loudness - do they both sound good when you turn the volume up (almost max?)

i found that maxing out the volume wont do you much good. it will just burn your tubes faster. i think the sweet spot is somewhere around 7 -8

maybe better to buy the LH50 and some tube drive preamp - that way i will have 2 channels with the posibility of crunch even on the clean channel - anyone ever tried this?

not a tube preamp, but i have a custom pedal, that does really good on the clean channel. it gives it a slight crunch and when you turn it full tilt and engage the boost (on the pedal), paired with the warpig, it gives a real nice rockish crunch

i've been using other laney stuff several years, so i roughly know what the quality and sound will be, i just can't decide between the two

thanks for any ideas

mic

i think you only need to decide, how much you need a clean channel. and if you would want to use it as a separate, low gain channel.


my insight, i find it much more versatile having the clean channel, even if the gain channel is a touch too loose for uber metal.
why..
when you have a couple of pedals (of course the purists will say othervise) you can get a really nice set of sounds out of it.
you got:
clean
slight crunch (blues type) with an overdrive
low gain that cleans up really well (and you can shape the sound differently, due to the separate EQ and volume)
medium to high gain, with the OD and boost engaged
then you add a distortion pedal (i had great results with the ibanez SM7 .. even though it did only one sound) and you get a really tight, cutting, focused, high gain tone from the clean channel.

[Fourth Feline]

Hi Mic,

I think Davey has expertly summed it up.

The only thing I have to add ( as a LH50R -II owner ) - is that the clean channel on a LH50R can be 'Fender' clean and very sweet, especially with the first 12AX7 replaced by a good Jan/Philips 5751.

This simple mod adds detail and shimmer to single coils - and the added detail also gives the bass strings more growl on humbuckers. The 5751 has only about 3/4 of the gain of an ordinary 12AX7, so there is of course a slight drop in volume with a 5751 in V1 position.

I would say that either channel on the LH50R ( using 6L6 output valves ) is smooth, not gritty.

Sadly, I have never tried a GH50L yet.

Cheers !

F.F.

[mic_n]

thanks a lot!
i've got the LH50R at home already and it sounds great!!!
i might try to experiment with changing the tubes, this seems interesting.


btw does anybody have a manual for this laney head?

thanks!

[Twinfan]

I think you can download one off the Laney website..

[Indigoresonance]

I realize this is an old post but I thought I would add some information in case anyone is interested. The main difference between these two heads is that the GH50L does not have a reverb tank and the LH50R does. I have tested both of these amps using 6L6 power tubes but to my knowledge most of these amps are loaded with EL34 tubes which to me are more of a heavy metal rockers tube..  I tried using EL34 tubes in my LH50R and to me the amp pretty much lost all of it's sparkle and chime.. So I switched back to 6L6 tubes and this amp shines. The great thing about both of these amps is you can use either power tubes in them so depending on the sound that you are going after both of these amps can be utilized to your tastes... if you want raw grit go with the EL34 tubes.. if you want pristine sparkle and chime then use 6L6 tubes.. In my opinion Laney amps offer the best sparkle and chime I have found.. I used to be a Fender amp guy but after using Laney amps I have gotten rid of all my Fender amps as they do not have the sparkle and chime that Laney delivers. I am currently using an LC30II that had EL84 power tubes that sounds as good as a $2700 Matchless Avalon which is one of my favorite amps.. and I am using an LH50R head with 6L6 tubes which offers just a little bit more low end and warmth.. I have thought about selling one or the other but every time I play them I realize they are both incredible amps... So I still have them and nothing I have put them up against has delivered the clean tone that either of these amps offer. I even tried a Fargen Blackbird which is also a $2700 amp and the both Laneys to me are more pristine in what they have to offer.. and as far as crunch goes.. everyone knows Laney delivers.. So to conclude.. Both the GH50L and the LH50R are amazing amps..  I prefer the LH50R simply because it has the onboard  reverb tank.. however if you really need reverb on the GH50L you can either put a decent pedal in front of it or use the effects loop to insert a quality reverb.. I would say the LH50R would be geared a bit more towards the Fender Black face tone and excellent for Pink Floyd, Ambient music.. and also great for Blues and rock... where as the GH50L I feel is a bit more geared towards heavier rock players especially with the EL34 tubes installed.. so for my style it's the LH50R all the way.. I hope that sheds a little light on their differences.