Any experience with Laney Amplification?

[Gdntoneguitars]

Hey all, been a while since I've posted, I know, but I just recently bought a Laney VC30-210 (30 watts, 2x10" speakers).

It's a great sounding amp, and probably the warmest clean channel I've played in memory.

I got it used (as I do most things) and there's a little rattle when the volume's up around 3 or 4.

I turned the Bass knob down, and that relieved some of the rattle, but it's still there. I checked the speakers, and there aren't any tears that I can see, and they're bolted in pretty tight, so I wouldn't think it's them rattling.

With my experience with tube amps in general, I always go with replacing the tubes, and see if that fixes it, but I wanted to see if anybody has had any experience with the Laney lineup, or this amp in particular, and knows of any common issues like this (rattling or buzzing).

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

It sounds like a physical rattle GTG?

EDIT: Not a sound issue? Just looking for clarification.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

I've aa VC15 (1x10) and it's super yummy! Rattles are mostly chassis against cabinet. Sandwich some heatresistant foam or rubber in there and rock...

 

[TwelveGauge-GT]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

Check everything is screwed into the chassis right, especially the transformer. You could be in a bit of trouble if it works itself loose.
Make sure you unplug the amp from the wall first!

 

[Gdntoneguitars]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

It does sound like a physical rattle to me. My 5150's used to rattle the speakers loose, but it doesn't sound quite like that did.

When I turn the Bass(knob) down, it does decrease, but with the overall volume up, the rattle is still present.

I checked the speakers and they're nice and snug. I could try the amp through one of my other cabinets, but I don't think it's the speakers.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

It does sound like a physical rattle to me. My 5150's used to rattle the speakers loose, but it doesn't sound quite like that did.

When I turn the Bass(knob) down, it does decrease, but with the overall volume up, the rattle is still present.

I checked the speakers and they're nice and snug. I could try the amp through one of my other cabinets, but I don't think it's the speakers.

I think the cab trick could help you narrow it down. Things that can be loose is the rear screen on the back of the amp, the reverb tank, any of the cables, or even the clips that hold the EL84's in. You may also have one of the preamp tube covers loose. You could zip tie the speaker and reverb cables out of the way to a staple to stop them from hitting anything. Also, check the screws that hold the chassis in the amp. Those may be on the side of the amp. You don't want to over-tighten them, but the chassis wants to be snug in the cabinet without movement.

 

[Gdntoneguitars]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

Wixedmords,

I took a look at the tube covers, and they and the clips seem pretty snug in there. I got the speaker cable outta the way. The reverb tank does seem wicked loose (in a dark bag kind of material and loosely attached to the bottom).

Are the 'verb tanks supposed to be so loose? I can lift the bag/tank up and fit my hand under there easily.

I'll plug it into another cab and see how it goes.

Thanks again.

 

[Gdntoneguitars]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

Okay, quick update (just a few minutes found a couple things).

I'm thinking it's tube related.

If you can lightly tap on a tube while the amp is on, and hear that through the amps speakers, that tube has most likely gone microphonic, correct?

Reason I ask, is that the tube furthest from the power switch does that, as does the tube two spots to the left (when looking at the back).

Any thoughts, or is an order from Eurotubes a safe bet either way?

Thanks.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

It does sound like this is a microphonic tube. Is it the covered tubes you are finding this issue with or one of the uncovered tubes which are bigger?

 

[walt]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

Check everything is screwed into the chassis right, especially the transformer. You could be in a bit of trouble if it works itself loose.
Make sure you unplug the amp from the wall first!

AND GROUND THE TRANSFORMER BEFORE EVEN TOUCHING IT TO AVOID SHOCK!!

 

[Gdntoneguitars]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

WixedMords,

They're the covered tubes. Those are the power amp tubes, correct?

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

WixedMords,

They're the covered tubes. Those are the power amp tubes, correct?

Yes you are correct. I am not personally a fan of all JJ's in the preamp as it usually makes the amp dark and muddy. That isn't to say JJ's are bad tubes, but in my experience all JJ's are a no-no in most amps. You could buy a few JJ ECC803's and a few JJ ECC83's and something brighter like a few EH 12AX7's and play with them in different positions. If you do replace the power tubes, JJ makes a reliable EL84. You don't need to bias preamp tubes, nor the power tubes in that amp because it is cathode biased.

Look for other opinions on tubes. Never hurts to hear what others say. :bigthumb:

 

[Gdntoneguitars]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate the heads-up. I'll mess with some different tubes, and if it turns out there are any other issues, I'll know who to come to!

-Andy

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

You will find the small tube (preamp) furthest away from the big tubes (power) has the most effect on the overall sound. The next closest to the power tubes has the next most effect.

From my experiences you can't put Yugoslavian (Ei and some others) power tubes in Laney EL84 amps, as they are wired different.

The good thing about this amp, is you can mod it to be more like a Marshall, with tubes and a speaker, but you would likely have to boost it to get into high gain territory, or you could head in the direction of Vox with chimey tubes accenting more treble, and a speaker accenting the same.


Playing with with tubes are fun!!!!! Enjoy

 

[Gdntoneguitars]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

I'll let the peavey's I have handle the high-gain territory.

I may throw a tubescreamer in front of it every now and again, but tubes and possibly speakers like you said are probably all I'll end up messing with to get the sounds I like out of it.

 

[TwelveGauge-GT]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

wixedmords, I think I would like to stick with JJs in my AOR preamp, do you think I should get two 83Ss and two 803Ss?
What are the main sound and gain differences between the two?
I don't have a lot of money to spare buying valves from different manufacturers, unfortunately.

Also, I get a scratches and rattles from the head now when I am playing low notes and palm muted riffs. Is this likely to be valve related?

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

wixedmords, I think I would like to stick with JJs in my AOR preamp, do you think I should get two 83Ss and two 803Ss?
What are the main sound and gain differences between the two?
I don't have a lot of money to spare buying valves from different manufacturers, unfortunately.

Also, I get a scratches and rattles from the head now when I am playing low notes and palm muted riffs. Is this likely to be valve related?

I have never heard any real gain difference between the two tubes. Some of the tube vendors do test their tubes for higher gain and you can purchase a higher gain tube. The two tubes do have a different eq though. The ECC83S had more mids as opposed to the ECC803S being more balanced. An alternative view could be that the ECC803S has a stronger bottom and top. They mix well together IMO and don't lead to "as" dark a situation as all of one tube or the other. But, JJ's are dark by nature. A brighter tube in the mix will help. This isn't a blanket statement of course because you can have a horribly bright amp where a mix of ECC803S and ECC83S may work well. But, if it is that bright, you will likely need to look at the speakers also. There is no magic potion for preamp tubes, you have to buy them and try them. Sound is such a personal subjective thing and each amp reacts differently.

The scratches can be a number of things, tubes, speaker. It may not be a bad thing to look into cleaning the tube sockets. But, I usually say if the tube age is unknown, get some new power tubes installed and biased (if needed) and buy a few preamp tubes so you can swap them out and see how the change effects the sound. Having a few preamp and poweramp tubes around is needed for troubleshooting purposes if you have a tube problem. There are just times you need to pop in another known good tube if you are troubleshooting.

 

[TwelveGauge-GT]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

Yeah, I get where you're coming from.
My AOR is quite bright at the moment, not overly, but a set of darker tubes might make it just right.
It's not the speakers that are bad because my Peavey Studio Pro sounds fine through the cab. (...well, as fine as it can sound.)
I think I'll get E34Ls for the power and 2 each of the above for the preamp. I'm guessing the normal 83Ss will sound better in the gain stages with more mids.
If it's too dark I could mix in one or two of whatever is in there now to brighten it up a bit.

 

[Gdntoneguitars]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

Thanks for all the help all.

I just did a full retube on the Laney, and rattled a few things off the walls shortly after.

I did notice a small buzzing still, but there's any number of things that could be at that volume.

I put Sovtek 12ax7's in and EH-EL84's. I'll hold onto the Sovtek EL84's that I took out since they weren't bad at all (in case I need to do another tube diagnosis down the road).

After a review, the amp is very bright, sounds great (still warms up nicely) when on the clean channel, and now has a good deal more grit when on the drive channel.

 

[TwelveGauge-GT]

Re: Any experience with Laney Amplification?

Can't beat good bit of wall rattling! The bad thing is that my half stack is right under a shelf of model cars at the moment...
I've been hit a couple of times so now I just stand out of the way.

Glad you like the Laney, they are great amps!