Big-G
So today I tried out a rather good looking Laney Cub head amp and matching 2x12" cab, and nearly walked out the shop with it there and then, but due to a pricing discrepancy on their computer system, I couldn't. I was seriously impressed with the tone this little beaut produced, and fell in love with it straight away. In fact, I found it even nicer than my 'old' AC15, and a tad more versatile too it would seem.
But after I got home and started looking at reviews of this head, I started to question whether I should go ahead and purchase this amp? It seems that there are reports of the amps cutting out after being on for a while, then when left for 10 mins or so, and turned back on, play fine for a while, before cutting out again. And so on, and so forth.
Another reported issue seems to be that the FX loop stopped working.
What I'm trying to work out is if this is a small group of isolated issues, or a somewhat more common issue? Another issues reported is the flickering or blinking of the jewel light next to the switch. I actually saw this happen myself on this particular model, so I don't know if this is indicative of potential issues with the power supply, or just the usual cheap chinese lights used?
Anyone used or owned one? Had any issues?
The cab is fitted with two Celestion Rocket 50's, which sounded rather clean and well balanced. And the cab is incredibly light too, which is a bonus! I really liked the sound of these two units together, and think I may have my rig sorted, but I just have this real niggle at the back of my mind about these issues people have had?!
Thanks in advance for any help!
Regards
G!
TomCat
Big G wrote
So today I tried out a rather good looking Laney Cub head amp and matching 2x12" cab, and nearly walked out the shop with it there and then, but due to a pricing discrepancy on their computer system, I couldn't. I was seriously impressed with the tone this little beaut produced, and fell in love with it straight away. In fact, I found it even nicer than my 'old' AC15, and a tad more versatile too it would seem.
Told ya...... ? ? ? ?
Big G wrote
Another issues reported is the flickering or blinking of the jewel light next to the switch. I actually saw this happen myself on this particular model, so I don't know if this is indicative of potential issues with the power supply, or just the usual cheap chinese lights used?
From what I have heard the blinking light is only an issue with the light itself...apparently a replacement lamp fixes that. I don't know about the cutting out issues though.....maybe someone else will comment on that.
giggsy
Must say that I have really grown into my TSA15H - its made me play with a lot less effects and rather rely on the built in screamer and boost, plus getting to learn each of my guitars better
RJN
I dont have the Pilot light issue on mine yet.
The only issue i have is that i have a high pitched whistling noise which points to a microphonic preamp vavle.
Other than that i have no issues.
G, what did you test the Laney with , Single coils of Buckers ? I am quite blown away by how great a Strat sounds through the laney .
Big-G
I think the overheating issue is specific to this head, and not to the whole cub range, and after much digging, it appears to be something to do with a thermal cut-off sensor inside. Apparently there was a batch of dodgy ones fitted to many of these heads. Most people who have replaced this with a higher quality one do not seem to be suffering with these cut-outs any longer, but I wouldn't even know where to begin replacing it? It just seems wrong to buy an amp and then having to open it up and repair it before its even begun.
Anyway, I've been slightly tempted to go try out one of these Fender Mustang III's and see if they are as good as they're said to be? It may just be a better option for me?
Let's see what happens?
Regards
G
Big-G
Oh, sorry forgot to say.... I tried the cub with an LTD fitted with the same EMG's as my one, and a Gretsch hollowbody, and finished off with an Ibanez AF hollowbody. Didn't try anything single coiled, although I meant to. Either way, I was totally blown away by its sound, and if that was all there was to consider, I'd buy it, but its juat all this reliability stuff that's concerning me somewhat!
Regards
G
chris77
Big G wrote
Anyway, I've been slightly tempted to go try out one of these Fender Mustang III's and see if they are as good as they're said to be? It may just be a better option for me?
Let's see what happens?
Regards
G
Morning Big G. I know Alan reviewed a Mustang III a while ago. Maybe he can shed some light on if the hype is justified. ? I have been ogling one since they came out and if it wasn't for financial constraints I would have bought one a long time ago! I see the Mustang III V.2 have already hit the shelves overseas, but I don't know if they've made it to us yet. For the V.2 they apparently sorted out some noise issues with the effects loop, changed the look to a more traditional black vinyl covering and added 5 more Amp models and a bunch of extra effects - which won't be available as an upgrade for current owners of the older model. So ja, I still want one - but the V.2 model looks to be the better bet.
Sean
chris77 wrote
Big G wrote
Anyway, I've been slightly tempted to go try out one of these Fender Mustang III's and see if they are as good as they're said to be? It may just be a better option for me?
Let's see what happens?
Regards
G
Morning Big G. I know Alan reviewed a Mustang III a while ago. Maybe he can shed some light on if the hype is justified. ? I have been ogling one since they came out and if it wasn't for financial constraints I would have bought one a long time ago! I see the Mustang III V.2 have already hit the shelves overseas, but I don't know if they've made it to us yet. For the V.2 they apparently sorted out some noise issues with the effects loop, changed the look to a more traditional black vinyl covering and added 5 more Amp models and a bunch of extra effects - which won't be available as an upgrade for current owners of the older model. So ja, I still want one - but the V.2 model looks to be the better bet.
Alan's review in Muse:
http://museonline.co.za/tech-reviews/fender-mustang-iii-guitar-amplifier/
Charlie4
How about the Night Train?
StefStoep
So, just for interest sake, i was watching my 2010 Crossroads guitar festival DVD last night and noticed this:
This is Jeff Beck's rig and if i am not mistaken that is 2 Fender Blues Jr. On the Marshall cab!
Here is a pic of Jeff from a different show, if you look behind him, it looks like 4 Blues Jr's behind him (his body is hiding 2 but you can just see the edges of the 2)
So, if it is good enough for Jeff Beck it is good enough for me ?
BigG maybe go the Beck way..........go and try a Blues jr.
domhatch
i had a blues jr. i found it heavy on the highs, and lacking oomph in the mids. just didn't work for me at the end. i used it both with a highway 1 strat and a p-90s equipped tokai goldtop. now i'm not saying this is how you'll find it, it's just my opinion. in the amp's defense, i must tell you that i didn't intend to buy it. i went into andy mcgibbon's looking for a guitar. i came out with the amp as well as the guitar, just loved the sound (i suppose i might have just grown out of it). the guitar in question was the highway 1, for interest's sake.
the blues jr is a hardy, hardworking, loud (LOUD) little amp. don't go by my outcome, definitely add one to your list. they are very affordable second-hand, and good value new, from what i understand (?).
good luck
dh|
StefStoep
StefStoep wrote
So, just for interest sake, i was watching my 2010 Crossroads guitar festival DVD last night and noticed this:
This is Jeff Beck's rig and if i am not mistaken that is 2 Fender Blues Jr. On the Marshall cab!
Here is a pic of Jeff from a different show, if you look behind him, it looks like 4 Blues Jr's behind him (his body is hiding 2 but you can just see the edges of the 2)
So, if it is good enough for Jeff Beck it is good enough for me ?
BigG maybe go the Beck way..........go and try a Blues jr.
After some research and a BBM from Mr. Craig it seems that my assumption was wrong!!!
Jeff Beck doesn't use Blues Jnr's but Fender Pro Jnr!
You know what they say, assumption is the mother of all f-ups!
Big-G
So, I've been rather busy the past few days, preparing our house to put on the market, but I managed to get out to take a look at a Vox AC4 cab and head, which I really enjoyed the sound of, but when listening, I noticed somewhat of a buzz. After closer inspection, I realised that it was the transformer buzzing, and it was significantly annoying to rule that option out, so after that I managed to sneak an hour in to go try out some more amps in a shop....
I tried the Ibanez TSA, and found it incredibly boomy and muddy sounding through its own cab, then I tried the Blues Jnr, and found that to be an incredibly revealing amp, which showed up just every single one of my many floors in playing technique, so they are both out....
I tried a Fender Mustang V head next, through one side of its 4x12" stereo cab (fitted with Celestion Rocket 50's), and straight away fell in love with the sounds it produced, and especially the Fender Twin model! Sublime! Then also the Deluxe was also a stunner too. Wasn't so keen on the higher gain models, but then I'm not really after high gain sounds at this point.
I then also tried the Vox Night train 15 through the same cab, and that was also rather lovely sounding, so I think I've narrowed my choices down to those two? I'm going to see what the Mustang V v.2 will cost, and perhaps go with that route as I believe that most of the issues with the v.1 have been worked out, but its all down to costs? I know I can't afford the 4x12 Mustang cab, as well as the head, so will probably still grab the Laney Cub 2x12" which is fitted with the same speakers? That will most likely be regardless of which head I choose?
However, there is one more choice I need to consider.... I've been offered a Roland Cube 40XL and an Ibanez AS53 hollowbody for R2800. This seems like somewhat of a good price, but I don't want to just waste my money on the cube and find its not suitable? I haven't yet been able to try out the Cube, and won't have the chance to try one over the next few days, so I don't know what to do for the best? Does R2800 sound like a good price for both? I suppose I shouldn't have an issue recouping a good bit of my cash should either of them not be what I'm looking for?
Regards
G!
IceCreamMan
nothing wrong wit the Cube , coming from an AC15 you may feel short changed though .... nothing wrong with the mustang either but the same applies ......
of the mustang v cube I would go mustang ..I like the Fuse ability and that what sets the 2 apart imho..... FUSE is actually brilliant I reckon........
Reinhard
Maybe we should take this slowly. Before taking bundle deals and bargains that don't get you where you want to be tone wise.
1. What sounds do you want? Super clean, mild dirt, heavy dirt, all rounder?
2. Do you want valve or solid state?
3. How much power do you need?
4. Do you want a combo, head, or either?
5. Speaker size? 10's are OK if you have more than one, otherwise 1x12 or 2x12?
6. What can you get in your budget that ticks most of the boxes.
So see which of these amps tick most of the boxes.
Big-G
Reinhard wrote
Maybe we should take this slowly. Before taking bundle deals and bargains that don't get you where you want to be tone wise.
1. What sounds do you want? Super clean, mild dirt, heavy dirt, all rounder?
2. Do you want valve or solid state?
3. How much power do you need?
4. Do you want a combo, head, or either?
5. Speaker size? 10's are OK if you have more than one, otherwise 1x12 or 2x12?
6. What can you get in your budget that ticks most of the boxes.
So see which of these amps tick most of the boxes.
Ok, lets try and answer them.....
1- I'm looking mostly for a cleaner to slightly crunchy sound, not super heavy stuff.
2- Don't mind if its Valve or SS, as long as it sounds good, but I do like Valve!
3- don't need much power, as its mostly for recording at home, and when used on stage would be mic'ed.
4- Not worried, but combo's do tend to work out cheaper, and cost is a big factor here.
5- Would prefer 12's, find 10's too compressed and boxy mostly. 2x12" would be best though. Really opens up the sound.
6- This is the big question I'm trying to work out. Its seems I'm having to compromise one way or the other, but I'm still hunting. Either they are costing too much, or they are too small and boxy for my liking! In the case of the heads I've looked at, they would take up most of my budget alone, never mind a cab. But in the long run, I think they'd be a better option even if I have to stretch my budget a bit further as and when I can?
Cheers
G!
AlanRatcliffe
Primarily for studio? Then I'd say go back to the idea of the Eleven Rack (you can try the Eleven TDM plugin to get an idea) or a POD HD. Live I presume you'll be playing more bass than guitar anyway and live guitar needs will be minimal and a DI solution will suit (and scale well). It's still nice to have a small but decent amp for jamming though...
Big-G
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
Primarily for studio? Then I'd say go back to the idea of the Eleven Rack (you can try the Eleven TDM plugin to get an idea) or a POD HD. Live I presume you'll be playing more bass than guitar anyway and live guitar needs will be minimal and a DI solution will suit (and scale well). It's still nice to have a small but decent amp for jamming though...
Yer, the Eleven rack is still on my list, but I just can't quite get my money to stretch that far. Its a lot of money all at once, and I've also had some not so good comments made about them, which has left me a little unsure that for the money it will answer my needs? If I'd managed to sell the PRS, then I'd probably go ahead and get it, but as with most things at the moment, its just sitting there, not getting sold.
I'll keep on searching, and perhaps I'll get a buyer for the PRS to assist my funding soon? I may just put it off until I've moved house, and see where I stand then?
Regards
G!
AlanRatcliffe
My only complaint with the Eleven Rack has been the lack of a software editor for those of us who don't use ProTools. Some dislike that it only has a relatively small number of amp models, speaker models and effects. It is definitely better on the clean to bluesy crunch stuff than the high gain tho - not that that matters much to you or I (and that's something well covered by the Line 6 stuff).
And of course it's going to come off second best when compared to a Kemper or AxeFX - completely different price/quality range. Consider it the entry level of the pro modelling gear.
So maybe, if you can't quite stretch to the Eleven, keep an eye out for a POD HD...
The Mustangs you looked at are also still an option for a combo amp - while they are sonically a bit lacking in comparison to a lot of modelling gear, they are very usable for stage/jamming. I'd probably prefer to have something like Guitar Rig or Amplitude on hand for recording though - especially with a decent interface with proper instrument inputs (or a nice instrument DI), they are hard to beat anywhere near the price.
chris77
Hey Big G. If I may ask, how much was the Mustang V head going for? And any idea of the pricing on the Mustang III and IV?
