On 2004-03-08, Brent gave this Laney Guitar Amplifier a 5...(8203)
Purchase: Bought in Sydney for AU$1400. I needed an amp that sounds good and suits my plauing style.
Pros: It is very basic and simple amp with an incredible sound. Some say the drive isn't enough, but I find this very strange because I never go ever 2/3 and can do any type of lead in this setting. This amp is not for people who can't play well as the amp will show all bad playing very clearly. However for people who play well (like me), this amp is a "god sent". It lets me do things like subtle expressions etc like no other amp and I've had a lot of them the high end ones and actually have sold my Fender to replace it by V30. The sound is full, thick and bright yet creamy. It's loud enough for any un-miked gig. Like I said it is simple amp and that's what I likwe about it. No nonsense like EQ or multiple tone or drive controls which when it comes to live playing often become more of a pain than a usefull features. I wanted a great sound in a siple package and VC30 is just that.
Cons: Nothing I don't like about it when it comes to usability, sound and operation.
Oh yeah there is one thing. The big LANEY plastic logo makes the amp look "cheap" in my opinon and doesn't reflect it's sound quality. I wish they used smaller chrome logo. I took it off and replaced it with nice old tube radio badge. Now it looks as it sounds - personal thing really....:-)
Quality: Ok, I hate the handle because it's too soft and bends too much while carying the amp and that hurts my hand. I've fixed that by strapping rod over it so it done't bend and it's great now.
The Tolex covering is not thick enough and can tear easy but it's not a reall problem and if it brings the price of the amp down I'm all for it.
The amp chassis get very hot and being an tube amp builder my self I know that is not that great for component life in the long run. I've installed smal PC fan at the bottom rear of the cabinet and now it's fine and I feel better.
What I don't like the most is that the new model 2003? don't use HH Invader speaker anymore but apparently Celestion. With this new speaker the VC30 seems to lose some of the live sound and I think I'd be forced to buy 2th hand amp if something happend to mine.
Apart from that I've had this amp for nearly two years and so far no problem eccept one tube blown in the first 6 moth of usage. It was a faulty one because the plates got loose and shorted the tube.
Summary: If I'll need to buy another amp again it'll be VC30 and nothing else. I play with a lot of people who use Fenders, after one rehearsal with me some of them wen't out and bought VC30. What else is there to say?
Last thing I'd like to add is amnp might not be for everyone. If you want Marshal or Fender sound get those. You won't get VC30 to sound like them, it's an amp in class of it's own and the only thing that comes close to is
AC30.
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On 2001-12-20, Jim Peterson gave this Laney Guitar Amplifier a 5...(1256)
Purchase: The Laney VC30 amp can be purchased at Flying Pig music via a simply phone call for a mear sum of £399. Flying Pig offer a friendly customer attitude and provide high level of service which has been mantain throughout the years.
Pros: The VC30 has nothing flash about it. It's a two channel amp (clean and drive) with endless amounts of volume. The warm valve tone becomes brighter and more excitable the more you grank the amp. It has the option of adding an extension cabinet (2 x 10" or a 1 x 12") and offers you with a classic valve A-class amp without having to take out a morgage.
Cons: Unfortunatley the VC30 does not have many downsides other than the distinct lack of gain. This can be fustrating but can quickly be rendered by simply placing a decent stomp box or processor in front of it.
Quality: The amp offers nothing but the best in British craftmanship. Theres nothing to fault in its excellent build quality. With its 'chicken-head' knobs and well placed padded handle, the ergonomics of this amp are superlative. Laney offer two options of speaker set ups that the VC30 can come in. You can choose out of either the 1 x 12" or the 2 x 10". These H/H invaders do not only provide with a high quality sound but also the reliability that most modern day amps cannot. A bright button is placed neatly in the panel roof of the amp to add that sparkle to any clean or cutting guitar solos.
Summary: This is a must for all A-class fans. If you want pure full whipped cream tone and more volume than your parents will ever allow you to use, this is the one for you....
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