Guitar Gear Forum

So I got my Laney GH50L today... I picked up off of Guitar Center's Used Amp section. I was a bit disheartened when I opened the package as the amp has seen some use As you will see in the pictures, it looks like there has been some oxidation that has occurred. The tolex is a bit beat up and there are no feet on the amp... I immediately pulled the chassis out of the headshell and inspected the guts. To my relief it was wired very nicely and looked very clean! I was also happy to see that it has the two large filter capacitors like Marshall amps of yesteryear. The power tubes need to be replaced; thanks to Mike LX-R, I will be getting a hardly used duet of KT77s So a big thanks to him!!! This came with some 6L6GC tubes that aren't matched very well... One is biased at 39 mA and the other at 50 mA

Here are my pictures of the exterior and top of the chassis...








Here are the guts...






I am not sure when this was made... I haven't checked the serial number as of yet... I forgot to mention that the "bear trap" power tube retainers are beat to shit! Whoever had this in the past messed these up. They aren't even effective as they have lost their compliance. I am not fond of those type of retainers anyway, so I might order a set of these...



I am not sure about the transformers... They seem to be more oxidized than what I am used to seeing... That might be an upgrade later down the road...

Now onto the more important matters, it worked upon firing it up... phew! This really reminds me of the Marshall JCM900 MkIII that I sold to purchase this amp. That being said it has more thump in the low end than the Marshall did. Granted the sound I am going off of is a set of non-branded 12AX7s and these old 6L6GCs; so only time will tell. I have replaced the preamp tubes, but haven't given them a run yet. This is the list...

V1 - TAD 7025WA
V2 - Voskhod 12AX7VKA
V3 - stock mystery tube [I am researching on what tube to put here since it is the cathode follower position]
V4 - JAN/GE 5751

Now I just need to test them out... I am looking forward to the next couple of days to get familiar with the amp... I will also get my Moen GEC9 tomorrow, so I can setup my switching system then!!!

TL;DR - I got a new amp, it sounds good but a bit beat up.

Cole

Awesome! You know which guitar to play through it...

Yarbicus wrote:Awesome! You know which guitar to play through it...

The AES720 was the first one I tried! It sounds great IMO... All I have done so far is guitar > cable > amp. I haven't messed with the loop or any pedals as of yet...

Cole

Here is a quick clean clip...

https://soundcloud.com/col-justesen/laney-gh50l-clean

Cole

Where are my Laney bros at tonight???

Cole

I wonder if that oxidation is common on Laneys? My GH100L is all f'd up with oxidation/rust. Basically, the previous owner left it in his garage for 10+ years. Still sounds fantastic, just doesn't look very good.

Matt wrote:I wonder if that oxidation is common on Laneys? My GH100L is all f'd up with oxidation/rust. Basically, the previous owner left it in his garage for 10+ years. Still sounds fantastic, just doesn't look very good.

Water and metal don't play nicely...

My amp sounds good too... I can't wait for the new power tubes, then I imagine it will really rip!

I personally don't get it... You spend that much money on something and let it get beat up Does not compute for me!

Cole