You're going to love it here! We've got Gretsch Guitar forums, photo galleries, classified ads, and more for you here.
You can read posts as a guest but posting and participating here requires that you register. But, don't worry, registering is quick, easy and painless. Why not register today?
For me it is, by a large distance, the best solution I've come across for taming a valve amp that's too loud.
I agree it's the best IF you have the chops/skills to do it, or can have a qualified person do it for you for a good price. You obviousally have the skills and knowledge. Not everyone does.
But, I have heard VVRs suck treble, even seen some scopes showing it. Wonder if those were just VVRs added between preamp and output, not for the whole amp, as you did. Granted, not as much as MOST Attenuators (specially the simple rheostat types). Though on my MiniMass, depending on the amp I either use just the minor 3db treble boost, or none at all.
I might have to accept pcb's as part of the circuitry. I'd like to find a good amp and not trade around anymore. Over the last 3 years, I've had a Crate v30, Roland Cube, 8" Crate combo with M-audio Black box, Peavey Vypyr 75 and used my brother's Peavey XXX and Mesa Boogie Mark 4.
Both the XXX and Mesa have failed due to a $2 part on a pcb. The V30 was so blasted loud I couldn't get good tone without deafening myself and the neighbors a mile away. The Vypyr would screw up if you turned it on with the cord plugged in or if you touched the pedal just right. I'm tired of messing around with amps. My WIFE is tired of me messing around with amps!
The local music store is a Laney dealer. If I remember from last visit, they had a Laney VC30-212 on sale for $450 or so. What's the consensus on this amp? Is it too loud for playing in the living room? I didn't really check it out very well when I was in last time.
Are Laney amps reliable?
Chris
You asked about the Laney VC-30. I can't speak to that one but I have a Laney VC-15 and I am extremely happy with that amp. A single coil guitar driving it makes it sound particularly good.
I really like the footswitch feature (channel swap and reverb on/off) plus plugging it in to a cab bypasses the 1x10 (which sounds good in its own way) and makes it a nice 15w head. It is a good at home amp which, with the addition of an external speaker cab, can be versatile.
I haven't looked inside but I imagine it's not point to point, so I didn't recommend it earlier on. But, mine has been steady as a rock. I'm a fan.
Or look for a used deLisle. I say used, because they are a little out of your price range new(and they don't seem to come up used often) . Then again we are talking hand wired, turret board construction, highest quality parts, built in the U.S, fantastic support. So perhaps you might want to spend a little more. The base Nickel deLisle (5w combo) is one heck of an amp. Starts at the $730 mark, and you can get add-on features to customize it.
But even the base features are pretty darn good.
5 Watts Single-Ended
• Single Input
• Boost Switch
• Bass
• Treble
• Volume
• Master Volume
• Power-Standby Switch
• Line-Level Out
• Headphone Out
• Built-In Attenuator
• JJ/Tesla 12AX7 (1)
• NOS EF86 (1)
• JJ/Tesla EL84 or 6V6 (1)
• Cathode Biased
• Eminence Private Jack 12" Speaker
• American Made Transformers
• Hand-Wired, Turret Board Construction
• Star Grounding
• Shielded Input/Grid Wiring
• DC Elevated Heater Supply
• Silver Plated Copper / TFE Teflon Wire
• Aluminum Chassis
• Dimensions: 20W x 18.75H x 9.5D
• Solid Pine Cabinet with Dovetail Joinery
• Blonde Tolex Covering
• Brown Grillcloth
Many deLisle owners on the board, and they can attest to the top quality. Me being one. And you won't find better support.
Well, yesterday, I went back and forth between the Fender Super Champ XD, Marshall Class 5, Fender Blues Junior III and a Laney VC30 212. I used a new standard Corvette to approximate my Stump.
What I found was that the Class 5 is flippin loud when you crank it enough to break up. Too loud for my living room with others in the house. I liked the tone though. $399
The Super Champ XD was loud and I didn't really like the sound . Yeah, you could roll through different amp models but it felt like the Vypyr. No soul of its own. $299
I liked the Blues Junior III tone but it was sort of like the Class 5. I had to crank the master up to break up, then barely touch the master to keep the volume low enough for living room playing. This is a nice amp. I felt it had nice articulation as I rolled off the guitar volume. $500
The Laney had beautiful chimey cleans on the clean channel and nice breakup on the distorted channel. It included a foot switch. I found that I had more room for adjustment of the master volume while using the low input. 2 channels was nice. I was really pleased with this amp. It just felt alive. They said it was originally $999, then marked down to $799, now $700. It's the only Laney in the store, in the corner, under 10 soft guitar cases. I had to dig it out to look at it.
I went in thinking the Class 5 would be the one. But, I was hoping to find something in the $350 or less range. The Laney is way more than I need.
To add more fuel to the fire, a local guy advertised a new Fender Champion 600 for $120.
There was a posting here somewhere about the pawn shop amps from fender. The small red one sounds like it breaks up too early, but the 15 watt , i think its called gretta, or something like that, seemed to have a great blues sound when used with a strat, at least it did in the fender promo video. Anyone try one of those? 300 for the big one, 200 for the smaller 2 watt one.
__________________
Never pet a dog that is foaming at the mouth.
I have a pair of VHT Special 6 Ultras at home and i find them really nice. It has a pentode/triode switch that can switch between 6 or 3 watts but that is not really usefull since it only muddens the sound.
It does however have a watt controller which works a lot better to get overdrive at lower volumes but with retained clarity in the sound. You can see if a store nearby has them in stock and try one out.
The character of the sound is quite comparable to a Fender Champ.
EDIT: Forgot to mention that it is PCB-free!
Someone here (Marlin) told me about Laney's, I made my way watching tone of video and test, their all very impressive (vc15/30, lionheart, etc...).
yep, that's me
I just had my VC30 retubed and rebiased. It's lovely having it back, it's a fab amp. I practice with mine in the house, and even with the extension cab plugged in, I can get it to preform quite nicely at low volumes.
Mine is the 2x10. I have a 1x12 extension cab. I replaced the original HH Speakers with a pair of G10 Vintage 80th Anniversary Celestions in the amp combo, and a Celestion Q12 1517 in the sealed back Extension cab. I originally had a G12-65 (1987) in there, but it didn't like the sealed cab.
It sounded good before, but with these replacment speakers, it's really ballsy.
Pitfalls of this amp. The handle is prone to pulling. I replaced the handle on mine, and reinforeced with better screws, and large washers to spread the weight. Much better. Also, the 'hi' and 'lo' inputs are pretty cheap, and mounted directly to the PCB. So, with lots of use, the connection to the PCB can break. My 'lo' input stopped working, so (while being retubed) had the inputs replaced with top quality components, and wired with good cable to the PCB, so the connection won't break again.
other than these niggley things, it's a cracking amp, and pretty much nails the AC30 tone. They're great value for money.
Good luck with your amp quest.
Marlin
__________________
The Marlin
The love of money is the root of all evil.....damn, I could use some really rather naughty right now.....
I'm surprised there aren't more De Lisle clips up on YouTube or there site. I've heard lots of great things from users just not much examples that I can find.
Regarding the laney vc30, it's been a floor model. I don't think it's been played often because it was buried in the corner. When I checked the tubes, they looked new. They didn't look as though they have ever been hot.
The brochure that was in the back was a 2007 print! If it's been on the floor for 5 years, would Laney even warranty it? How can I tell when it was manufactured?
The speakers are probably the best way to date it. Warranties usually start from the date of purchase, so best to varify this with the retailer. Next time you go to look at it, take a photo of the serial number with your mobile phone, then email Laney. They'll be able to tell you when it was manufactured and shipped. Depending on how long it's been hanging around in store, you might be able to do a deal with the retailer to get it for a knock down price. You see these on ebay, new for around $800. You've been offered $700. I'd say there is wiggle room there to haggle further, particulaly if you can find out how long it's been floating around. Floor models always go for less. If you can get it for $600, you're doing well.
Good luck
Marlin
__________________
The Marlin
The love of money is the root of all evil.....damn, I could use some really rather naughty right now.....
Someone recently posted about a Fender Greta in the "pawn shop" line. The greta is a 2w 4" tabletop. It goes for 199.
Also in the line is the Excelsior. It is 13w with 15" speaker. Has some nice little features and will be 299 when they start hitting stores in the next month. Ive been looking for a lower end tube amp for practice. This is the first in the price range that has made me want to buy new.
Someone recently posted about a Fender Greta in the "pawn shop" line. The greta is a 2w 4" tabletop. It goes for 199.
Also in the line is the Excelsior. It is 13w with 15" speaker. Has some nice little features and will be 299 when they start hitting stores in the next month. Ive been looking for a lower end tube amp for practice. This is the first in the price range that has made me want to buy new.
Here is a vid of the Excelsior
It sort reminds me of a Premier amp I used to have.
Offline
