gringopig's guitars
Laney Lionheart Loudpedal
A new product on the market, this Laney unit is an amp: a 60 Watt class D amp in a box. So compact and gig friendly!
It's a collaboration with Fusion legend Tom Quayle and one of two models, the other being Martin Miller's but this is the one I liked and is a lower gain option with the sound of a great valve amp and it fits into a rucksack too.
I played this speculatively recently at GuitarGuitar at the suggestion of one of the sneaky and persuasive sales staff and after about 30 minutes, I was already sold.
What appeals is that it is a complete solution: a 60 Watt loud amp with an impedance range of 8 or 16 ohm plus built in reverb, 2 channels and an XLR or USB C out which allows the 2 onboard Impulse Responses to be used when going straight into a DAW or out to a mixer live.
It's so compact though still requiring an external and supplied power supply unit and can easily be carried to gigs and used on the floor. There are a few of these units on the market now made by Strymon, Blackstar and so on and I have never even really considered them but I tell you what, this Laney unit also sounds fantastic. It sounds like a valve amp and I found I was completely forgetting I was playing through something which is no bigger than a Strymon Bluesky.
It's got the ability to set different gain characters and switch between them but has a shared EQ section comprising a global 'Tone' which seems like a Prescence control or the Cut control on a Vox and a 3 band EQ just like an normal amplifier. Plus built in Reverb and a 'Boost' function available via the third footswitch.
Very useful, although the shared EQ and shared Reverb and Boost may irk some. Just a limitation of this unit but the lack of annoying menus and whatnot plus the IR loader section via the downloadable software makes this a great thing to use really.
So better than words, I did a video walk through of the Loudpedal and then a no talking demo using 4 different guitars with fixed settings to showcase the sound. Check the videos out below!
Is it a pedal? Is it an amp?
It's a new thing. I know people who use Blackstar units live and are happy they aren't lugging a JCM800 and 4x12" cab around in the back of the car for gigs.
Now, I was so impressed at this solid state offering from Laney that I thought I would do a comparison to a full fat premium valve head: the Two Rock Classic Reverb.
The Laney isn't modelling or emulation or anything like that. It's an Old Skool™ analogue front end coupled to a 60 Watt class D amp. They say it's a real 60 Watt real world power amp and I think it's true as it is really really loud indeed!
Check out the video. It's a test if you will and you get to guess which one is which. Amp A or Amp B.
One of them is a £399 compact pedal form amp and one is (GASP) a £5299 monster head.
I plugged them both into a Two Rock 2x12" cabinet and used a Surfybear outboard spring reverb just so it wouldn't be too easy. It's quite tricky!
Have a listen and make your guess in the comments if you dare.
So now I have done the Reveal ™ video!
I reprise a test at the start with my Gibson Les Paul '68 re-issue then give the game away!
After that there is an annotated playout. Did you get it right?
Actually, my intention was to show that it doesn't matter really if you have a vintage Marshall, A Two Rock or a Boss Katana as long as you love playing and enjoy yourself. You can get a great sound out of most gear I believe and the intention is fun!
To play guitar, to play for others and share the joy and fun is the goal I believe and the video was really made to confound the expectation that a £5299 Two Rock amp would blow away a £399 pedal format amp. In fact, the Laney has a lot going for it: it sounds like a valve amp without the requirement of maintenance and the cost of quads of 6L6GC valves at £150 a time plus tech bench fees if you can't bias them yourself, it's really portable and light plus really really loud!
The Two Rock is an old school valve head and has a lot to offer as well. I love them both!
Check out the reveal video below
