NAD: Laney VC30

S

Stratovarious

New member
Had to unload my Blackstar HT-5 head and cab for something louder and a nice man brought over a VC30 and I gave it a shot

Instantly was into the trade.

The Cleans are....brilliant, truly, bright switch on or off, the cleans are incredible. With the bright switch off you get a thick but jangly tone that is just so full and lush, chords sound massive and playing lead sounds so weighty, it's just great. With the bright switch on you lose a bit of weight and it just becomes jangly as all hell and almost twangy fendery tone. It's just fantastic all around.

The Drive: Extremely vintage sounding through the Lo input. Thick and bitey with humbuckers or single coils, depending on your choice of attack, it can either growl but it can be really smooth too, it's fantastically versatile. Honestly all you'd ever need was a neck pickup and you would never be dissatisfied, it can just get so thick. Through the Hi input you get into hard rock territory and maybe a bit further when you crank up the master. Massively thick, not really Marshally at all, but very british. Can't fault it, just need to watch the treble as you up the volume it, as it is a bright sound.

Only complaint is the parallel effects loop! What were they thinking?

Anybody else got love for their VC30?
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

Use pedals that can remove their clean signal...seriel loops, how ever popular they are, suck!
VC 30 is one underrated amp...they sound just good and all that!
The extra 1x12" cab you can get for it just makes it even more useful.
Congrats!
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

I had to do a minor repair on one once and when i was playing through it later, it really impressed me. The core sounds were wonderful. Other experiences from hearing them since then have only reinforced my inital feelings. When i needed to get a small 'grab'n'go' combo not long ago, I bought a VC15 because i think the VC15 and 30 are great amps, and extremely good value for money. I don't worry too much about the dirt channels, i just dial them for the best clean tones and use a pedal.

I didn't like the Jensen 10" speaker in my little combo, seemed too brash and harsh, so i swapped it for a Celestion. Suits me much better .... rounder, darker tone. But either way, great amps.
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

Mine is an older one which is definitely made in the UK. Yeah if I need a more standard drive setting I have a Marshall Gv-2 , which I thought was an average pedal, but it sounds righteous in front of this amp.

I am using a multi fx pedal hence my distaste for the parallel loop, unfortunately that's all I have at my disposal at the moment!
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

Always been wondering if I should get a VC-30 or a more accurate VOX clone. The one I have played sounded great though and a drive channel is a cool bonus may still look for one for my next amp (if I dont get a Hayseed 30). Stock speakers? I wonder how much an improvement blues would make.
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

The stock speakers are the feared Celestion 70/80. Im sure a 'better' speaker would make a huge difference too, it's just a sweet sounding amp
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

The new VC and LC series are still made in the UK. I have an LC15 110, love it! The 10" Celestion G10 40 (think that's the designation) isn't a bad speaker at all.

I've been considering either an LC or VC 30.
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

I've had my VC30 2x12 for about 6-7 years now and still love it. I got it used and it already had a greenback and G12h30 in it. This is a great speaker combo for this amp. I've even built a 2x12 extension cab with the same speakers so I can move more air. As far as tubes, I like a JJ in V1 and Tung Sol reissue in V2. I also like the JJEL84's in the power amp or you can try the JJ EL844's for a bit less output and a slightly "smokier" vibe (think EL84 with just a hint of 6v6 tonality).

Enjoy, you got a really decent amp there!
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

The previous owner put Sovtek EL84M's in this amp so it's got some extra headroom , at breakup volume the tone is fantastic , but this is loud.

Good to see I wasnt imagining the good tone
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

I have the 2 x 10 combo and it is a fantastic amp. Both channels have great sounds. The clean channel is a wonderful platform for running drive pedals through. For a while I was running it like this - Boss OD3 with gain at zero just to add a bit of extra hair to the clean sound and a Blackstar Drive in front of the OD3 for solos. Sounds amazing.

I've also had 2 VC50s which are totally different but equally wonderful amps.
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

James Rock said:
Always been wondering if I should get a VC-30 or a more accurate VOX clone. The one I have played sounded great though and a drive channel is a cool bonus may still look for one for my next amp (if I dont get a Hayseed 30). Stock speakers? I wonder how much an improvement blues would make.
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I've heard more bad than good about the 70/80, which I think is what the LC30 and VC30 ship with. I'd give them a chance, of course. I'm guessing that if I pull the trigger on one of them (a 1x12 version), that nicely broken in Eminence Red Coat Pvt Jack that I have will be making an appearance in the cab.
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

I've had my VC30 2x12 for about 6-7 years now and still love it. I got it used and it already had a greenback and G12h30 in it.
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Really keen to save up for a VC30 do you know what impedance the speakers are because I got that combo (well WGS clones) in my speaker cab at 16 ohm each and would like not to have to buy new speakers straight away (may end up with some celestion blue clones in the end though).
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

^^^^^ Looking at the product manual on Laney's site indicates an 8 ohm load is preferred for the internal spkr cab. So, if you get the 2x12 version, a couple of 16 ohm spkrs will do the trick.
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

James Rock said:
Really keen to save up for a VC30 do you know what impedance the speakers are because I got that combo (well WGS clones) in my speaker cab at 16 ohm each and would like not to have to buy new speakers straight away (may end up with some celestion blue clones in the end though).
Click to expand...

Yes, two 16ohm speakers wired in parallel for an 8ohm load.
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

Anyone think it's a pity Laney hasn't jumped on the 'lunchbox amp' bandwagon and made compact head versions of the LC and VC series, especially the VC15?
 
Re: NAD: Laney VC30

Jeremiah said:
Anyone think it's a pity Laney hasn't jumped on the 'lunchbox amp' bandwagon and made compact head versions of the LC and VC series, especially the VC15?
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Oh yeah, I would love, love, love a VC15 head! I've even thought about buying a normal VC15 combo to chop it!
 
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