Ayrton
New member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
What is truly funny, is that you assume we have no experience with Laney.
I am done here.
What is truly funny, is that you assume we have no experience with Laney.
I am done here.
Marshall vs Laney
- Thread starter Yngwiestein
- Start date
Yngwiestein
New member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
I didn't say that. Don't twist my words. I don't think you demonstrated your knowledge though.
I didn't say that. Don't twist my words. I don't think you demonstrated your knowledge though.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
It's the best one I've heard out there. While Line6 may have better models of other amps than Vox, Vox stomps all over them when it comes to the Marshalls, IMO. The JCM 800 model, or UK 80's is right there just with some more gain. It's voiced more as a hot rodded 800.
The US High Gain is a model of the Soldano SLO, which is what I use most of the time now. I guess with the SLO, you can say it's a model of a hot rodded Marshall. The tube in the Vox adds that warmth in there that the others are missing to my ears.
There's also the UK 70s model which is a take on the "High Treble" channel of a 1971 50 Watt four input Marshall. A bit too much honk, but it's still a great sounding model.
There's a JTM45 model in the old blue grill series, the AD60 and AD120, which have been discontinued.
I haven't messed with many Boss modelers to be honest, aside from the Bassman and Deluxe Reverb pedals. When I got the AD50, I need an amp, so naturally Boss was out of the running anyway.
It's the best one I've heard out there. While Line6 may have better models of other amps than Vox, Vox stomps all over them when it comes to the Marshalls, IMO. The JCM 800 model, or UK 80's is right there just with some more gain. It's voiced more as a hot rodded 800.
The US High Gain is a model of the Soldano SLO, which is what I use most of the time now. I guess with the SLO, you can say it's a model of a hot rodded Marshall. The tube in the Vox adds that warmth in there that the others are missing to my ears.
There's also the UK 70s model which is a take on the "High Treble" channel of a 1971 50 Watt four input Marshall. A bit too much honk, but it's still a great sounding model.
There's a JTM45 model in the old blue grill series, the AD60 and AD120, which have been discontinued.
I haven't messed with many Boss modelers to be honest, aside from the Bassman and Deluxe Reverb pedals. When I got the AD50, I need an amp, so naturally Boss was out of the running anyway.
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Marshall vs Laney
As far as Laney being a SOLID COMPANY? Maybe now, But they have changed ownership several times since the 60's. If you contact Laney for information on your pre-AOR PRO TUBE. They refer you to a mom&pop electronics shop in England who bought all the NOS stock when Laney changed hands sometime in the mid 80's. Nowhere on the net could I find a schematic for my Pro Tube, But low and behold looking at the circuit and a Marshall 2204 schematic... It was identical aside from one inductor and two resistor value's. IMO Laney's are good amps.Maybe even more constant than some of the older Marshall's(The JCM 800 series) that seemed every amp had it's own personalty Good ,Bad or Indifferent.Now if your talking resale value & just plain Mojo... Marshall wins hands down.
As far as Laney being a SOLID COMPANY? Maybe now, But they have changed ownership several times since the 60's. If you contact Laney for information on your pre-AOR PRO TUBE. They refer you to a mom&pop electronics shop in England who bought all the NOS stock when Laney changed hands sometime in the mid 80's. Nowhere on the net could I find a schematic for my Pro Tube, But low and behold looking at the circuit and a Marshall 2204 schematic... It was identical aside from one inductor and two resistor value's. IMO Laney's are good amps.Maybe even more constant than some of the older Marshall's(The JCM 800 series) that seemed every amp had it's own personalty Good ,Bad or Indifferent.Now if your talking resale value & just plain Mojo... Marshall wins hands down.
bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: Marshall vs Laney
I voted Marshall... and I have played Marshalls and Laneys. The old non master volume Marshalls are just wonderful.
I think if you look at the poll results, it might be biased (no pun intended) toward Laney because of the number of shredder/metal players on the board who voted....but, I could be wrong :smash:
I voted Marshall... and I have played Marshalls and Laneys. The old non master volume Marshalls are just wonderful.
I think if you look at the poll results, it might be biased (no pun intended) toward Laney because of the number of shredder/metal players on the board who voted....but, I could be wrong :smash:
Yngwiestein
New member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
Resale value is definitely something Marshall has. You can still find DSL 401 amps selling for around $700-800. Laney's really do not have much resale value except for the Lionhearts. I might venture to say that Lionhearts have been their most successful amps to date in terms of how widely regarded they are for as long as they've been out.
Lots of shredders use Marshall. Yngwie, Paul Gilbert etc. I think it probably has to do more with people on this board being more of gear heads than the typical Guitar Center shopper.
Resale value is definitely something Marshall has. You can still find DSL 401 amps selling for around $700-800. Laney's really do not have much resale value except for the Lionhearts. I might venture to say that Lionhearts have been their most successful amps to date in terms of how widely regarded they are for as long as they've been out.
Lots of shredders use Marshall. Yngwie, Paul Gilbert etc. I think it probably has to do more with people on this board being more of gear heads than the typical Guitar Center shopper.
J Moose
New member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
Toooooooooooooooooooooooo funny!
Golden Boy - you kill me man.
I doubt it's an alien conspiracy theory...
Well, maybe.
I heard it had to do with orders issued by Jimmy Hoffa less then 48 hours before he fell off the planet...
Now then!
(why am I even bothering, have better things to do... but...)
Riiiiight. Aspiring rappers... what's that got to do with rock music & guitar amps? And private studios owned by rockstars?
Just my opinion here... but if I owned an ran "store" that was selling really expensive gear like PRS & Budda, I'd want people to know my name, and have a real phone number that people could call with questions & if there's a problem... like something getting smashed in shipment. I personally can't put any trust into a person who's running a shop and won't tell me if they're name is Ed, or Fred, or Jed... If you ain't got my trust, you ain't getting my money.
Even Musicians Friend has a phone number so I can call & speak to Mr. Ed.
Well, I guess my career has given me more experience & exposure to lots of things... but that doesn't make me a better person. I mean, sometimes I don't scrub between my toes even though I try & treat people fairly & honestly. I learn stuff from everyone on here! It's all valid... never stopped learning & won't until my mortal coil has been reclaimed by the Earth.
You want logic?
My logic is that, in a decade of live & studio audio production with a LOT of friends as musicians, (known & unknown...)
From the bar bands to the rock stars, & among other things I was the production manager for Create A Vibe & Mexicali Blues through 2005... advanced shows & mixed FOH/monitors/broadcast for; North Mississippi All-Stars (who were touring w/70s era PV amps!); Living Colour, Derek Trucks, Dickey Betts, Leftover Salmon... Jerry Cantrell, moe., Karl Denson, King Diamond, Allman Brothers...
Never. Ever. Once. Saw. "Laney Amp". On. A. Rider.
Not closed off to 'em... just don't see 'em out there on the battle front.
Hence, the lack of experience.
It MUST be a conspiracy.
No other explanation!!!
(...plonk...)
:dunce:
Toooooooooooooooooooooooo funny!
Golden Boy - you kill me man.
I doubt it's an alien conspiracy theory...
Well, maybe.
I heard it had to do with orders issued by Jimmy Hoffa less then 48 hours before he fell off the planet...
Now then!
(why am I even bothering, have better things to do... but...)
Riiiiight. Aspiring rappers... what's that got to do with rock music & guitar amps? And private studios owned by rockstars?
Just my opinion here... but if I owned an ran "store" that was selling really expensive gear like PRS & Budda, I'd want people to know my name, and have a real phone number that people could call with questions & if there's a problem... like something getting smashed in shipment. I personally can't put any trust into a person who's running a shop and won't tell me if they're name is Ed, or Fred, or Jed... If you ain't got my trust, you ain't getting my money.
Even Musicians Friend has a phone number so I can call & speak to Mr. Ed.
Well, I guess my career has given me more experience & exposure to lots of things... but that doesn't make me a better person. I mean, sometimes I don't scrub between my toes even though I try & treat people fairly & honestly. I learn stuff from everyone on here! It's all valid... never stopped learning & won't until my mortal coil has been reclaimed by the Earth.
You want logic?
My logic is that, in a decade of live & studio audio production with a LOT of friends as musicians, (known & unknown...)
From the bar bands to the rock stars, & among other things I was the production manager for Create A Vibe & Mexicali Blues through 2005... advanced shows & mixed FOH/monitors/broadcast for; North Mississippi All-Stars (who were touring w/70s era PV amps!); Living Colour, Derek Trucks, Dickey Betts, Leftover Salmon... Jerry Cantrell, moe., Karl Denson, King Diamond, Allman Brothers...
Never. Ever. Once. Saw. "Laney Amp". On. A. Rider.
Not closed off to 'em... just don't see 'em out there on the battle front.
Hence, the lack of experience.
It MUST be a conspiracy.
No other explanation!!!
(...plonk...)
:dunce:
Usurper666
New member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
Is it OK to like BOTH??? Geeze, this thread is like being in the 7th grade again! My amp can beat up your amp, lol!! I own a Marshall JCM800 2204 and it's by far MY favorite amp, but I also love me some series 1 Laney AOR 50 watt crunch too. Both companies have made great amps and still do today, why does one have to "vs" the other? Whatever works for you is what you should use and f*** everyone else.
Cheers,
CJ
Is it OK to like BOTH??? Geeze, this thread is like being in the 7th grade again! My amp can beat up your amp, lol!! I own a Marshall JCM800 2204 and it's by far MY favorite amp, but I also love me some series 1 Laney AOR 50 watt crunch too. Both companies have made great amps and still do today, why does one have to "vs" the other? Whatever works for you is what you should use and f*** everyone else.
Cheers,
CJ
Yngwiestein
New member
wixedmords
New member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
I really don't think this thread is about a poll between Laney and Marshall anymore.
I really don't think this thread is about a poll between Laney and Marshall anymore.
Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: Marshall vs Laney
...and I have a feeling a least part of that is that the Lionhearts are the first Laneys in living memory (which, for me dates back to those horrible looking AORs) that don't look cheap and cheesy. They actually appear to have had some decent work put in to make them look cool. Of course this has no bearing on how the amp sounds, but it does make a difference when it comes to persuading consumers to buy one.
side note: I was over at my amp tech's place this week and I asked him about Laneys. He said the modern stuff wasn't particularly well made and he sees a reasonable number in for repair.
It'd be interesting to have this discussion on a UK-based board, where Laneys are far more prevalent and Marshalls don't have the same aura/semi-rarity/resale as they do in the States...
...and I have a feeling a least part of that is that the Lionhearts are the first Laneys in living memory (which, for me dates back to those horrible looking AORs) that don't look cheap and cheesy. They actually appear to have had some decent work put in to make them look cool. Of course this has no bearing on how the amp sounds, but it does make a difference when it comes to persuading consumers to buy one.
side note: I was over at my amp tech's place this week and I asked him about Laneys. He said the modern stuff wasn't particularly well made and he sees a reasonable number in for repair.
It'd be interesting to have this discussion on a UK-based board, where Laneys are far more prevalent and Marshalls don't have the same aura/semi-rarity/resale as they do in the States...
richard parker
Active member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
I'm in the UK and have had many Marshalls and Laneys. I had an original Valvestate combo which I replaced with a Laney GC solid state combo (my first Laney). The Laney ate the Marshall for breakfast. I later bought two valve Laneys - VC30 and VC50. I played these amps through the JCM900, DSL and TSL years and the Marshalls didn't come close in terms of tone. Prior to the Valvestate I had some good Marshalls notably a 70s 2 x 12 MV combo (sounded wonderful but too loud) and a Studio15 (great tone but no bottom end).
I'd take a Laney over any modern Marshall but I don't like the sound of modern Marshalls. I used a JCM900 twin MV combo for a few gigs and found it had an okay tone but was rather dull and uninspiring. I also gigged a Jubilee combo which I thought was a lot better but (like the 900) was very quiet for a 50w amp. It sounded much better at lower volumes than it did cranked. I played a DSL recently and hated it. I never played through a TSL but there was a period when every local band was using them and I never heard one that didn't remind me of a Peavey Bandit. I knew loads of guys that had the TSL and not one of them still uses them. They all say that they came to hate them after the honeymoon period.
Just my experience. Once spoke to a Laney rep and he said that they couldn't afford to hand out the endorsement deals that Marshall did.
I'm in the UK and have had many Marshalls and Laneys. I had an original Valvestate combo which I replaced with a Laney GC solid state combo (my first Laney). The Laney ate the Marshall for breakfast. I later bought two valve Laneys - VC30 and VC50. I played these amps through the JCM900, DSL and TSL years and the Marshalls didn't come close in terms of tone. Prior to the Valvestate I had some good Marshalls notably a 70s 2 x 12 MV combo (sounded wonderful but too loud) and a Studio15 (great tone but no bottom end).
I'd take a Laney over any modern Marshall but I don't like the sound of modern Marshalls. I used a JCM900 twin MV combo for a few gigs and found it had an okay tone but was rather dull and uninspiring. I also gigged a Jubilee combo which I thought was a lot better but (like the 900) was very quiet for a 50w amp. It sounded much better at lower volumes than it did cranked. I played a DSL recently and hated it. I never played through a TSL but there was a period when every local band was using them and I never heard one that didn't remind me of a Peavey Bandit. I knew loads of guys that had the TSL and not one of them still uses them. They all say that they came to hate them after the honeymoon period.
Just my experience. Once spoke to a Laney rep and he said that they couldn't afford to hand out the endorsement deals that Marshall did.
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: Marshall vs Laney
If you're suggesting that Marshall gives amplifiers away to musicians, you'd be wrong. Every Marshall you've ever seen on a stage has been bought and paid for...Jim Marshall believed that no professional musician should be given free amplifiers subsidized by the sales of amps to amatures. If you're a pro, you can afford to buy your amplifiers.
If you're suggesting that Marshall gives amplifiers away to musicians, you'd be wrong. Every Marshall you've ever seen on a stage has been bought and paid for...Jim Marshall believed that no professional musician should be given free amplifiers subsidized by the sales of amps to amatures. If you're a pro, you can afford to buy your amplifiers.
ericmeyer4
New member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
Interesting read... from 4 years ago.
Interesting read... from 4 years ago.
Re: Marshall vs Laney
I just gotta add, I love the sound of the vintage modern amps. Very warm but sparkly. Best crunch sound I've ever heard. I used to have a 2466 head (100 watts), great sound but too powerful for my needs. I now have a 2266 (50 watts) and love it... gorgeous tone.
If you don't love the tone of the Vintage Modern, you don't know tone.
I just gotta add, I love the sound of the vintage modern amps. Very warm but sparkly. Best crunch sound I've ever heard. I used to have a 2466 head (100 watts), great sound but too powerful for my needs. I now have a 2266 (50 watts) and love it... gorgeous tone.
If you don't love the tone of the Vintage Modern, you don't know tone.
Re: Marshall vs Laney
I found this thread through a Google search. I know it's a necro, but whatever.
Both these amp companies have made some good amps, and also some clunkers.
Along with a few other amp brands, I've owned a Marshall JCM900 and have played through a few JCM800's and a DSL100 in the past. I currently own a Laney GH50L, and I play hard, stoner rock, like Sabbath and Clutch.
To me, the Laney's do not get that fat, round, mid-rangey Marshall tone. Not even close. The Laney's have their own thing going on, and it's cool in it's own right. If I had to describe it in comparison to the JCM800/900, I'd say it's tone is 'fuller'. What I mean is that to my ear there is a more equal representation of lows, mids and highs in comparison to the focused mid-ranges of the Marshall. The Laney is just kinda even all the way across the tonal spectrum. Thick lows, thick mids (though not like Marshall), and clear highs. I've noticed that for a lead amp the Marshall really cuts through (not that the Laney can't, but it's just different). But the Laney strikes me as a better rhythm amp with a really thick and balanced tone.
After years of playing a lot of different amps including Marshall's, I really like the different tone of the Laney. And it's kinda cool having an amp that you don't see on stage every day. I've gotten tons of compliments on my tone from both guitar players and sound guys. One sound guy even said that I had changed his mind about Laney's being P'sOS.
Is one better than the other? That all depends on what kind of tone you're looking for. I think they're just different and that makes me happy because I like variety. As always, the best thing to do before deciding that a Marshall is way better than a Laney for any and every reason is to try one.
And at least here in the states the reason Laney isn't as popular is 1) not many famous players use them, and 2) they have had terrible recent distribution (Hohner). In 2010 though they signed a dist deal with MDG, and since then they've been getting into more and more stores that I've seen.
I found this thread through a Google search. I know it's a necro, but whatever.
Both these amp companies have made some good amps, and also some clunkers.
Along with a few other amp brands, I've owned a Marshall JCM900 and have played through a few JCM800's and a DSL100 in the past. I currently own a Laney GH50L, and I play hard, stoner rock, like Sabbath and Clutch.
To me, the Laney's do not get that fat, round, mid-rangey Marshall tone. Not even close. The Laney's have their own thing going on, and it's cool in it's own right. If I had to describe it in comparison to the JCM800/900, I'd say it's tone is 'fuller'. What I mean is that to my ear there is a more equal representation of lows, mids and highs in comparison to the focused mid-ranges of the Marshall. The Laney is just kinda even all the way across the tonal spectrum. Thick lows, thick mids (though not like Marshall), and clear highs. I've noticed that for a lead amp the Marshall really cuts through (not that the Laney can't, but it's just different). But the Laney strikes me as a better rhythm amp with a really thick and balanced tone.
After years of playing a lot of different amps including Marshall's, I really like the different tone of the Laney. And it's kinda cool having an amp that you don't see on stage every day. I've gotten tons of compliments on my tone from both guitar players and sound guys. One sound guy even said that I had changed his mind about Laney's being P'sOS.
Is one better than the other? That all depends on what kind of tone you're looking for. I think they're just different and that makes me happy because I like variety. As always, the best thing to do before deciding that a Marshall is way better than a Laney for any and every reason is to try one.
And at least here in the states the reason Laney isn't as popular is 1) not many famous players use them, and 2) they have had terrible recent distribution (Hohner). In 2010 though they signed a dist deal with MDG, and since then they've been getting into more and more stores that I've seen.
NecroPolo
New member
Re: Marshall vs Laney
You must love Zombie threads for a reason or two.
On the topic, most of my life as a player was about to play amps from one or the other company and loved both. I appreciated Marshalls wide sonic spectrum, bite and response while I appreciated Laneys reliability and distinctive tone. When I sold my last tube amp head this summer it was a Laney AOR. It served me for over a decade. It carved holes in hundreds of stages without any problem and I give it to that really hard, man!
When I sold it I realised that despite that I favoured JCM Marshalls (always coming and going), my true amp was the AOR really. I just let all the others pass without any feelings, but selling this old trusty beast was like losing something. So I guess, after all those years, I realised that during my touring tube amp years I was a Laney man.
You must love Zombie threads for a reason or two.
On the topic, most of my life as a player was about to play amps from one or the other company and loved both. I appreciated Marshalls wide sonic spectrum, bite and response while I appreciated Laneys reliability and distinctive tone. When I sold my last tube amp head this summer it was a Laney AOR. It served me for over a decade. It carved holes in hundreds of stages without any problem and I give it to that really hard, man!
When I sold it I realised that despite that I favoured JCM Marshalls (always coming and going), my true amp was the AOR really. I just let all the others pass without any feelings, but selling this old trusty beast was like losing something. So I guess, after all those years, I realised that during my touring tube amp years I was a Laney man.
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Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
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