Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

[Francisco_BR]

I am buying perhaps this month my first tube amp. I do not have a lot of money to spend, and I also live in an apartment, what means that I do not need anything really loud (and nor I like to screw my ears).

Anyway, I came up with both of these tube amps from Laney: the LC15R and the VC15. What is your opinion about them, and which one do you think I should get?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

VC15. I think there's no comparison. The VC15 just sounds beautiful. The LC is way cheaper and still a good value, but the VC15 is just a step higher. Though again it's been a long time since I played through a LC.

In case you can't tell, I LOVE my VC15


But both will be way too loud for an apartment.

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Man, a VC15 seems to be very interesting! I have to check one out.

Is the combo very bright sounding? I heared Laneys tend to sound a bit harsh?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Nope. The VC15 is pretty well rounded EQ wise and there is a 'tone' control as opposed to a presence control that works quite well.

On these amps the clean channel is gorgeous, but the drive is pretty light. However with a boost or two in front, it's just screaming.

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

I know that Pierre only swears by his VC15, but the LC15 is not as crap as he want people to believe.

I use mine in my flat and it works quite well. It is loud though and it is true you have to use fairy fingers to set the volume knob between not enough volume for the sound come through and the neighbour unfriendly roar. But it is doable.

Sounds good for classic rock ZZtop, AC-DC kind of stuff.

I think for the price you can't go wrong. It is true though that if you have more money to throw in it could be worth checking out the VC15 or the Blues pro/ junior from Fender.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Eh I never said it was crap! On the opposite I just stated it was a good value.

 

[Francisco_BR]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Now, don't kill me please guys, but what about Marshall valvestate amps?
It may sound like a contradiction (after all, I am after a valve amp), but how do you rate their sound compared to a small full-valved Laney?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Nothing in common whatsoever. A single preamp valve does very, VERY little to the sound of the amp. Certainly doesn't make it sound like a good full blown valve amp.

There also are bad valve amps out there mind you. I don't think either the LC nor the VC are though. They're good great values with good sounds.

The valvestates are packed with effects and stuff though so eh, if that's your thing. The ONLY thing that matters is which YOU prefer. So go out there and try stuff. If you prefer the VS, go for them

 

[Ringlund]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Nope. The VC15 is pretty well rounded EQ wise and there is a 'tone' control as opposed to a presence control that works quite well.

On these amps the clean channel is gorgeous, but the drive is pretty light. However with a boost or two in front, it's just screaming.

Can you get some heavy tones out of it? Metal, but a real tone rather smooth and big then way too much gain, with an overdrive?

And how does it handle pedals, fuzz distortion?
I really wish I could try laneys out

 

[Pierre]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

No. No heavy tones from neither LC nor VC. Maybe enough for FF style hard rock if you dig in hard, but that's it. You'd need a proper metal distortion pedal.

My VC15 takes pedals pretty well. But it's an EL84 style amp so stuff like some Marshall emulations will never sound exactly as intended for instance. But I'm **** glad about how mines takes all of my 5 gain pedals

Their drive channel IS pretty smooth sounding actually. Lovely tones out of both.

 

[Ringlund]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

What do you mean with "FF hard rock", sorry for my ignorance. Wont a overdrive get you some heavy tones, or is the drive channel that weak..
Could you change out the valves to el34?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Like Foo Fighters stuff, where it's distorted, but not really metal tone, if you see what I mean.

An overdrive will push the drive channel very nicely. At least on my VC15, the drive channe; responds to a boost in a really nice way. But it still won't really do metal without a seperate distortion pedal on the clean channel.

Why could you change the valves to EL34s...? The amp uses EL84s, they're completely different valves with different sockets, sizes, requirements, output... really nothing in common.

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Now, don't kill me please guys, but what about Marshall valvestate amps?
It may sound like a contradiction (after all, I am after a valve amp), but how do you rate their sound compared to a small full-valved Laney?

I am actually selling my old valvestate 80W from the 90's. It has definitely nothing in common with a small all valve amp. The valvestate is more modern sounding.

The valvestate clean is not bad but feels a bit cold in comparison to the cleans of the LC15R. Where the lone valve kicks in is on the dirt channel. I still find the OD/disto section of the valvestate (at least on my old one) quite good, if not a wee bit ice picking on the edge... but it has its application. But you are way better off with the valvestate if you want to venture in the metal field.

I bought a Marshall Jackhammer to still get the distortion from the valvestate but from the Laney (pretty good actually for a modern Marshall sound in a box). Disto is nice and I can get good sound to play Guns/Snakepit stuff. But the palm mute are still a bit off. It seems the LC15 is just not meant to be played PMed, unless you go for a very heavy metal pedal that will colour the sound like mad.

I think Pierre nailed it, give them a try and see for yourself, that is the best advice we can give you.

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Now, don't kill me please guys, but what about Marshall valvestate amps?
It may sound like a contradiction (after all, I am after a valve amp), but how do you rate their sound compared to a small full-valved Laney?

I can't say much about Laneys since I have little experience, but the Valvestate amps are not bad, but go for one of the earlier models, before they started adding in all the FX. I had a VS100H and it was a nice amp. I gigged with it for years in fact.
I have to agree that the cleans are a bit cold, but not Bad by any means, and their distorted tones were very usable, and I would agree that they can get a bit ice-pick-ish.

Not Great examples, but the links below are some live clips, of some stuff my old band did. It's all my VS100 and a VoxAD120.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cZND4TnSRHQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MH0Zt5NnaRQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8-cgEFw99Sc

 

[Ringlund]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

I´v never played an amp with el84, but I love el34! Dont know much about different tubes, kind of got obvious

For the record I like the foo fighters tone but that is not the typ of music I play.

Sorry about the thread hijack (and oh I got to try out that marshall jackhammer, from what I´v heard it rocks!)

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

I can't say much about Laneys since I have little experience, but the Valvestate amps are not bad, but go for one of the earlier models, before they started adding in all the FX. I had a VS100H and it was a nice amp. I gigged with it for years in fact.
I have to agree that the cleans are a bit cold, but not Bad by any means, and their distorted tones were very usable, and I would agree that they can get a bit ice-pick-ish.

Not Great examples, but the links below are some live clips, of some stuff my old band did. It's all my VS100 and a VoxAD120.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cZND4TnSRHQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MH0Zt5NnaRQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8-cgEFw99Sc

Oh yeah! The valvestate is not a bad amp at all. It just doesn't cover the kind of sound I am after these days.

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

VC's are great, more voxish then anything else. the LC are a bit nicer if your a metal head

 

[Francisco_BR]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Yea, I like the fact that the valvestates have a buttload of built-in effects. Anyway, don't you think I could supplant (in a satsifactory way) that in a VC15 (I have from now on disconsidered the LC15II) with a couple of pedals or effects units?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Laney tube amps: LC15R or VC15?

Yeah I guess. Dunno. I don't like effects in general but compression, phasing and overdrive/distortion. So I wouldn't know. I prefer a dry tone.