|
Laney GH50L
|
* Power RMS: 50 Watts -
* Inputs: Hi & Lo Jacks -
* Channels: 1 - with footswitchable Gain -
* Equalization: Bass, Middle, Treble -
* Master Presence Control: Yes -
* Switchable Resonance: Yes -
* Preamp Valves: Premium ECC83 -
* Output Valves: Premium EL34 -
* Switchable valve bias (5881 / EL34): Yes -
* Class: A/B -
* Link Jack (Line Level Slave): Yes -
* Footswitch: FS1 (Not included) -
* Speaker connections: Connections for 1 x 16 ohm, 2 x 16 ohm, 1 x 8 Ohm, 2 x 8 ohm -
* FX Loop: Yes (Switchable Insert / Side Chain) with return level -
* Weight: 44 lbs. -
* Dimensions: 26.6 x 9.4 x 9.96 inches
|
Searched Laney GH50L in Reviews
Single channel, Huge Tone 
| Sound |
I use a LTD Viper with passive EMGs when playing this amp. Also an Epi LP with a Duncan JB in the bridge. I play Modern Rock/Metal and like to have one good core high gain tone. The single channel is great for that. The amp can be bright ans has lots of midrange, so conservative treble settings are needed. Bright guitars or pickups can sound thin and harsh, which is whay the darker passive EMGs's sound great with this amp. I keep the treble low @ 2 and have the presence high @ 7. The amp has a Resonance switch which I keep on, and the bass is @ 9 to added some needed thickness. The amp seems to breathe better with the mids set higher so they are @ 7-8. If they are lower the amp tends to sound stuffy and sterile. The stock EL34's were distorting too much at high levels, being 50 watts. So I put in some different ones and they sound thicker and have more headroom for loud, tight, high gain riffing. I boost the amp with an overdrive pedal with the gain and boost dials set @ 5. The gain by itself is fine for classic and alternative rock, but lacks character and depth for modern tones. But a boost pedal helps change that.
|
| Reliability |
I find the build quality excellent, easy access to the preamp tubes from the back for swapping and experimenting. I like the dials and they seem very sturdy.
|
| Customer Support |
Never dealt with Laney for service.
|
| Liked about it |
Simple circuit and layout.
Effects Loop can be series, parallel or removed from signal path.
Classic British gain voicing mixed with modern edge sounding gain.
|
| Didn't like |
May have liked a 100 watt version instead for increased headroom at high volume.
The tolex is somewhat fragile, almost paper like.
I don't like the look of the silver steel amp corners.
Would have liked a resonance dial instead of switch.
|
|
| Overall satisfaction: |
|
4.0 |
Was this review helpful to you?
Report this review
|
Laney GH50L
| Sound |
Mainly i play my Ibanez 7420 with stock pickups into it. This amp is a tone MONSTER, from crushing metal to blues to pristine cleans, it can do it all, with some help. I boost mine with a TS-9 and a SD-1 and it sends it into metal heaven! It's very articulate for shred passages and fast riffing. As much gain as this beast has, (a gain knob and drive!) it is VERY quiet. Having two gain knobs is great, if you wanted you could turn the drive down to achieve a clean tone, but yet boost to still get a good rock tone.
This amp is perfect for leads also, vai-esque tones are NO problem. For the price of this amp, you can't beat it! It can do just about anything you want.
I included a clip of the metal tone capable. Also should note, i use a mxr 10 band EQ.
A REALLY cool feature is the ability to blend the amount of the effects level into the amplifier via a knob on the back.
|
| Reliability |
I feel i could depend on it without a backup, it feels VERY sturdy and very well put together.
|
| Customer Support |
At this point no i've not dealth with Laney but if i ever had to hopefully there service is top notch!
|
| Liked about it |
The gain, the articulation, volume, FX blend. There's so much to love in this amp.
|
| Didn't like |
Only one channel, but that's not so bad as long as you have another amp for cleans.
|
|
| Overall satisfaction: |
|
5.0 |
Was this review helpful to you?
Report this review
|
Best amp for under £500
| Sound |
I currently use a Jem7v and a JS1000, both with their stock pick-ups and I've found that I can near enough play anything through my Laney. It's got me covered from the dirtiest of distortions to the crystal clear cleans, though I have to say the amp's distortion is definitely its strong point. I even sold my DS1 Pedal because with the gain AND the 'boost' button (a great button) it hardly made a difference.
I've played stuff by Hendrix, Satch, Vai, SRV, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Eric Johnson (his softer numbers, Manhattan and East Wes) and many more - the amp is fairly versatile.
When I practice at home, I sit fairly close to the amp and even then there is hardly a buzz from it. When you turn the gain and volume up, that's when you need to move back a bit, but it's no problem. It's worth it!
It's a sound that Paul Gilbert loved - He used the GH50L/GH100L for a while.
|
| Reliability |
Well. I bought the Laney second hand - I think it was about 2 years old. I've had it for 3, gigging with it every now and again, and it's still in tip-top condition.
A very sturdy amp indeed.
|
| Customer Support |
Haven't dealt with them yet, hope I won't need to. However, I would say that the Laney website is quite handy - It has all of the manuals on. So if you buy it without a manual, you know where to go!
|
| Liked about it |
The 'boost' button: My favourite button ever. Just incredible. It manages to take an already considerable distortion to a mind-blowing distortion.
The effects loop: I use a TC Electronic G-Major and it was very simple and easy to put in. It doesn't effect the sound of the amp. If anything it improves it!
The price!: I think you can buy these for £450 (I got mine for £275) and I all I can say if you're on a budget, this amp is perfect for you. It will be with you for years. And when you finally get that Mesa, it'll still be as loyal as ever as a backup amp.
|
| Didn't like |
The fact that it only has one channel is a bit upsetting. You can't easily change between distortion and clean. The 'footswitchable gain' just turns the boost on and off, and if you have the gain up, you'll find it's still distorted. I can live without it though.
|
|
| Overall satisfaction: |
|
5.0 |
Was this review helpful to you?
Report this review
|
internal use: spec82 spec403
|
|
