Laney VC50

LANEY VC50 2x12 Combo. Where to start? I have 2 off these and play everything from jazz to rockabilly rock n roll to rock to heavy rock and the amp also does metal if needed. First off you gotta fit decent speakers asthe originals are very bright and hurt! - I use vintage 30's which I fitted ( you MUST slide the amp section out to get clearance to fit them!!)

And these transform the sound ( when broken in). Next fit decent valves (I use mesas all round) and get it biased.

Finally look on the back and set the effects loop switch to insert. The small effect level knob now works as an overall am master volume control !!!!!!!! This means that you have footswitch control over effectively a 4 channel amp with an overall master vol. Once you have found your set up for Channel A's Clean and Driven Clean (I set this to give the same volume as clean to give clean and over driven rhythm channels) I then use Channel B's options as loud cleanish lead and overdriven lead. Once you've found your tone and set up volumes then use a bit of tippex or whatever to mark knob positions so that set up is easy and use the rear master volume to set the required vol level. Gig set up now takes 2 mins!!!! The footswitch is a little temperamental so I replaced the cheap switches myself (took about an hour) and I also desired in a stereo jack which allows me to select lead and dirty lead from a boss 2 switch footswitch which runs out on a 1 or 2 metre cable and makes it easier to hit the right button at dark gigs. I use a Brain Setzer pre-amp which is on for all settings all the time and I use a Strat, Tele and Gretsch 6120. It just sounds great with any guitar. You'll have to get used to folk asking how you get such a great set of tones when you're trying to relax with a beer after your gig. Now, sit back and congratulate yourself that you have an amazingly powerful 4 channel handwired british amp which has amazing flexibility for silly money. Now pick up the phone and call the gym to enrol. The VC 50 is a heavy lump but you'll get to love it!!! I have based my 5 stars and review on 2 years experience of gigging and rehearsing with two different but identically modded VC50's which have been 100% reliable.