• Ernie Ball
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N.19

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
13
Hi,
do I need an amplifier compratre you what do you recommend for
hard rock/metal (Vai, Gilbert, Petrucci) from the following:
Laney LC30 or VC30
Blackstar HT20
Peavey Classic 30 or ValveKing
or else ...?

Many thanks I hope someone help me
 

azazael

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Jun 2, 2007
Messages
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Location
Scotland
The Peavey ones you mentioned ain't gonna do anything like you're after.
They are more Fender type amps than anything.

Gilbert used Laney for a while but he has a rather distinct overdriven sound than distortion. His sound is reliant upon his picking technique.


If I were you I would try out the Blackstar Series One 45 Combo.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13As3xh0q14"]YouTube- Blackstar Series One S1-45 Combo Overview by Jamie Humphries[/nomedia]
 

peterd79

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Jun 27, 2005
Messages
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Location
NOR*CAL
had the valve kings... it's good for a first tube amp but it's not going to get you where you want...

if you're after Vai you can do Carvin... he uses them and i had one and it was great...

although out of the ones you mentioned i'd do the HT20
 

azazael

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Jun 2, 2007
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had the valve kings... it's good for a first tube amp but it's not going to get you where you want...

if you're after Vai you can do Carvin... he uses them and i had one and it was great...

although out of the ones you mentioned i'd do the HT20

My mate had a carvin legacy.
It was rather disappointing and really only did one thing.
 

Dr. Lemonator

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Feb 25, 2010
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146
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Spokane, WA
Hate me if you will but I think Egnaters do a good job. I remeber I plugged into the Tourmaster Head with an ASS and I got some really great Gilbert tones. Really clean amps too...
 

N.19

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
13
Thank you all for your help
The problem is I can not spend more than $ 600/700
ENGL what model?
The Blackstar is a great amp I think, how far you can push with the overdrive channel?
Laney LC and the 'interesting because it also has two channels with separate eq, but how is the clean and overdrive? maybe adding an overdrive/distortion pedal?
 

N.19

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
13
Out of that list you want the Blackstar or the LC30.

I'd take the LC30 over the Blackstar in a instant.

I could explain why you choose the Laney instead Blckstar
What is the difference in the quality of the channel clean and overdrive?

thank you very much
 

DrKev

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Jul 8, 2006
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Somewhere between Paris, Dublin, and Buffalo
Blackstar amps are certainly very good but I do love Laney amplifiers and I'll admit that bias straight away. I've used the old LC15R and now the newer LC15-110 for all my gigs for the last ten years. I have a Blackstar HT5 at work for testing guitars which has the same speaker as the LC15-110. That gives a very similar character to the sound but the Laney sounds better to my ears and I feel it is more versatile. But enough about the smaller amps, lets talk about your two options.

Laney's newer LC series amps (since 2008) are redesigned versions of the earlier amps - they sound better IMO and with their redesigned chassis they should be even more reliable and will be easier to repair if case something does go wrong. AFAIK, on the HT20 the tube sockets are mounted on the circuit board, rather than on the chassis which could lead to problems further down the line due to heat build up and flexing of the circuit board when changing tubes, which was an issue on the older LC series amps. That's not an issue on the LC30-112, which has chassis mounted tubes, which are also easier to get at when you need to.

The HT20 has speaker emulated output and headphone out, the LC30 does not but it doesn't interest me anyway. I would want independent 3 way EQ on both clean and dirt channels, which the LC30 has and the HT20 does not which is an immediate deal breaker for me. The Blackstar amps have the ISF feature, the Laneys have a bright switch and a 'modern' switch on the drive channel which gives a different basic voicing to the distortion. Personally, I'm not a fan on the ISF feature - I don't find it as intuitive as I'd like for dialing in the tone I want. I think the Laney is tonally very versatile and easy to use, so the Laney wins for me again. You'll just have to try them for yourself and see what you think.

The stock speakers are both by Celestion but different models, which will sound different. But the LC30's Seventy 80 is more 3dB more efficient than the HT20's Rocket 50 so if clean headroom is an issue the speaker and extra power from the Laney will be the winner.

So, overall, the Laney wins for me on the basis of past experience, build quality, and features that I like.
 
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N.19

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
13
Thank you were very kind and very thorough.
I also noticed eq separate Laney very comfortable and I like the overdrive channel sounds very good, then with the addition of pedals you can really get any sounds.
In most of the Blackstar reverb is digital does not sound very good.
What do you think of the Laney reverb I have not found on the website what type of reverb is. Is spring reverb.

I am very driven to get the Laney.
Could be improved by putting a Celestion V30 in the future?

thanks again.
 

Hendog

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May 16, 2009
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giving the Count of Tuscany a Glasgow Kiss
Hi,
do I need an amplifier compratre you what do you recommend for
hard rock/metal (Vai, Gilbert, Petrucci) from the following:
Laney LC30 or VC30
Blackstar HT20
Peavey Classic 30 or ValveKing
or else ...?

Many thanks I hope someone help me


If I had to pick one I would say the Blackstar. I think there are better choices for that type of music. In fact, Vai's Legacy head is only $799. Why not just get that?

What are your requirements?
 

N.19

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
13
Because in Europe the price is much higher.
Silo HSH with Floyd
Gmajor
DS1-Keeley
Ts9DX modded
Boss CS-3
CryBaby Wah/Volume
and Whammy pedal
 
Last edited:

ShaneV

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Apr 5, 2004
Messages
840
Location
New Hampshire, under some snow.
I'm not sure what the new Jet City amps are going for where you live, but they might also be something to look into. They're designed by Mike Soldano and the build/ component quality is supposed to be pretty far ahead of most of the other amps coming out of China right now.

PS: I saw your Silo in the pics of my guitar thread and I'm insanely jealous. I want a floyd equipped silo with a maple fretboard so bad, but I can never find one. The silver sparkle is awesome too.
 

N.19

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
13
I'm not sure what the new Jet City amps are going for where you live, but they might also be something to look into. They're designed by Mike Soldano and the build/ component quality is supposed to be pretty far ahead of most of the other amps coming out of China right now.

PS: I saw your Silo in the pics of my guitar thread and I'm insanely jealous. I want a floyd equipped silo with a maple fretboard so bad, but I can never find one. The silver sparkle is awesome too.

Excellent price is about $ 700, seeking information and watch videos.
You have them tested? as you seem?

PS:
Thank you,
I have proud, even if the color of the body I have preferred something else but I girder used cheap
 
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