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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Looking for inputs on Laney GH50L

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2/4/2004 2:15 PM
Sacha	Looking for inputs on Laney GH50L Hi pals, I just bought a used (late 90's) Laney GH50L head. Very Very clean. I opened it up, great construction and wiring. Just wondering if these amps have any "weak" spots or anything, in terms of reliability. It has a big toroidal PT and a SKOT OT.

2/4/2004 5:42 PM
Chuck	They're on the front. Just kidding..Couldn't help it Seriously, they get very good reviews. But I can't really comment on reliability. At least you get a trip to the top. Chuck

2/4/2004 6:17 PM
Sacha	good one chuck! Yes, their good reviews is what led me to them. I know the AOR series have weak OTs... but I guess they corrected this. It seems extremely well built. It doesn't have any "extras" (reverb, trem or other BS). Very simple and effective design.

2/5/2004 4:38 AM

Other than the OT issue, which I think was only a recent problem on a particular model, Laneys have a reputation for being reasonably durable. I do know of one design flaw (though I've never seen one fail). Some models used almost exclusively mechanical grounds (ground tabs screwed into the AL chassis). Due to the reactions associated with dissimilar metals, they are reported to corrode. If yours has mechanical grounds, check them and perhaps snug them up and coat them with that blue varnish stuff (sorry, don't know what it's called).

As for the OT issue. I read that it's not a problem with the current models while I was reading about your amp.

Chuck

2/5/2004 1:02 PM

Re: Looking for inputs on Laney GH50L

Sacha,

I don't know if Laney improved their construction and materials from the early 90s but the tube sockets are/were of a material with a low melting point and the wires attaching the tube sockets to the rest of the circuitry are only "tacked" to the socket with solder - the stripped wire ends are not looped through the terminals. The result of this is that it is really easy to accidentally unhook a wire if your soldering iron slips. And it is hard to replace that wire if you intend to loop it through the socket terminal 'cuz the material almost melts more quickly than the solder.

From a repairman's perspective I'm not a Laney fan.

Rob

2/5/2004 1:35 PM
Sacha	Hey thanks for your inputs! I appreciate! As for the tube sockets, I'll probably replace them all for ceramics, thus resoldering all the leads correctly. By "the material almost melts more quickly than the solder"... what material you mean ? socket or wire ?

2/5/2004 9:18 PM

Sacha,

The plastic material that the tube socket is composed of. In particular I remember having to do some soldering near the first preamp tube on a Laney and accidentally touched the iron tip to the socket terminal - the wire just pulled off due so "springiness." I then cleaned the old solder off the tube socket, looped the wire through, and then attempted to resolder it. Due to the narrow clearance I couldn't get a "clean shot" with the soldering iron and accidentally heated the terminal/tube pin socket until it was loose - and I really didn't want to replace the socket! But the time I had it hot was only seconds - this was years ago but I'd "guesstimate" that the material got soft in about 1/3 the time that other plastic sockets do.

Yeah, replace the sockets with ceramic - a good solution if you have the time - I'd also replace the plastic jacks with metal SC type - as best I know "reliable plastic jack" is an oxymoronic phrase. Other than this complaint, and the already noted problems with the trannies, Laney's seem like good enough amps.

Rob

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