Laney VC15-110 in Old English White Review
| Posted in Guitar
The Laney VC15-110 in Old English White was announced on the DV247 blog back in October 2009, but didn’t actually drop through our door until May this year, so a hands-on review is well overdue. As mentioned in my previous blog, Laney as a company are not in the habit of making ‘small-run’, limited edition amplifiers, so this is a departure for them. The number was limited to 350 worldwide, which means the amp will undoubtedly make it onto the ‘must-have’ list of not only Laney amp freaks, but collectors that like limited-number runs from the non-boutique manufacturers.
The technical specification looks pretty straightforward – two EL84s deliver 15 watts into a 10″ Custom Jensen driver, in a cabinet that measures a shade under 450mm x 350mm x 200mm and weighs 14 Kg. There are two switchable channels, a shared three-band EQ, tone cut and footswitchable reverb. The clean channel has a bright switch and the overdrive channel has gain and volume. On the rear panel is an effects loop and extension speaker output and the valves are protected by a rugged-looking steel grill.
With the heavy-duty steel corner protectors, chrome control plate and large traditional leather handle, plus the ‘old english’ white vinyl covering, this is one classy looking product from Laney. In actual fact, the specs on this amp are the same as the regular black model but this one looks so much better. It has a definite boutique aura about it, enhanced by the particularly high standard of finish.
Of course it all means nothing if the thing doesn’t sound any good. Armed with my usual roster of Fender Tele, Strat and Gibson Les Paul test weapons, the Laney VC15-110 was subjected to my stringent stress test. This consisted of blues licks and power chords from the Les Paul and then some wiry country from the Telecaster and funk/blues from the Strat – all old-school stuff, and all appropriate for an amp like this. Metal thrashers and hi-gainers need not apply – that’s not the point of the VC15 at all. It’s all about classic tone, and this amp has it in spades and then some. Both channels deliver first-class guitar sound, no matter what the settings or how much gain is dialled in. It’s an absolute belter of a combo and just about loud enough to get through a gig, although you might need a volume boost pedal for certain leads. Turning down the guitar volume works here too, so if it’s loud enough, why not try leaving your pedals at home?
For studio work, recording at home or small live gigs, this is just about the perfect amplifier for blues, rock and all points in between. The Jensen speaker adds a touch of smoothness and a certain effortlessness to the tone, which makes this amp sound about four times more expensive than it is. But it’s not just the speaker – the magical dual EL84 valve Class A/B circuit can’t go unacknowledged for producing the stunning tone on offer here and possibly making the Laney VC15-110 in Old English White a classic amp.
Tags: laney vc15110
Thanks for the review.
I just bought this little white box and I must say, that compared to all the other small amps out there, including Vox and Marshall, this is truly a bargain – it simply sounds incredible with all my guitars: LH strat, RH strat and RH moriadaira tele.
If you need a small amp this is the one to go for.
Thanks again.
Thomas
Thomas