Laney Cub 12 or Fender Champion 40.

[Pat Seaman]

Has anybody tried a Laney Cub 12 for Shadows sounds?
I'm currently using an AC15c1, which sounds great, but is a bit heavy for lugging up and down stairs, so I'm looking for a lighter alternative, which the Laney fits.
I'm also thinking about a Fender Champion 40, which seems to be good value.
I'm leaning towards the Laney at the moment, because it uses valves, rather than the Fender, which is solid state.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Pat.

[SJB]

Pat,

You don't say what sort of venues you play at.

Just for your information - if you don't know already - the new AC10 is a great amp. It seems to be the same basic circuit as the AC15 but lower power.
I play alongside AC15's and a turned down AC30. The sound is solid - its loud - and its half the weight of the AC15.


SJB

[Pat Seaman]

Sorry, I should have said that it will only be used for home use and club meetings.
I did look at the AC10c1 first, but there aren't many on the second hand market yet and the new ones are still a bit pricey.
I don't really want to part with the AC15, but health has to come first these days.
Pat.

[Tab]

Hi Pat, if you can source a second hand Fender Super Champ XD it would be, in my opinion, a better option than a solid state amp and excellent for Shadows sounds. They are 15W but loud if needed. I have been using two of these at the Eastbourne Club with excellent results.

I recorded the attached file on one of these amps (if you can open it!)

https://app.box.com/files/0/f/0/1/f_44356931133

Kind regards

[Pat Seaman]

Another amp that might cut the mustard could be the Vox AC4/12 if it is loud enough for club meetings, with backing tracks.
Has anybody got experience of one of these?
Pat.

[RUSSET]

I'm not familiar with the Laney Cub 12, but I have heard a Laney LC15, which is a small combo with 2 x EL84 power amp valves & a 10" speaker. Not sure whether it's made any more, but it was a great little amp; quite loud & had that sparkle like a VOX. I do have a Laney LC30 1 x 12" combo, & that certainly has that VOX AC30 tone, but is quite heavy & very loud.
I also have a Fender Superchamp XD 1 x 10" combo, which has been mentioned above, & is a really good little 15w amp with 2 x 6V6 valves, with a reasonably portable weight. It also has two channels. The first is a typical Fender Bright Clean channel , & the second has a series of digital amp models & various effects. It is great value for money, & I use it for 'at home' jams. I have also used it in a community hall sized venue, in which it also had enough power for. You can also power a larger speaker cab from it.

Tony.

[Pat Seaman]

Thanks for your comments, Tony, but weight has to be the first consideration, otherwise, I would not consider parting with my AC15.

[cockroach]

If weight is the main issue, it would have to be the Fender Champion 40 -light as a feather!

I keep looking at them in the shop and thinking about retiring my Marshall 50 combo...which although a tranny amp is quite heavy to lift for old me these days!

[RUSSET]

Thanks for your comments, Tony, but weight has to be the first consideration, otherwise, I would not consider parting with my AC15.

Know what you mean, Pat. I am 70 at the end of the week, & appreciate the weight issue. You probably don't need more than a nice little 5w valve combo for home use. Plenty loud enough. I still play occasional live gigs, & don't go through a backline amp. I just plug into my Zoom G2 pedal & push that into the band PA, & it is great for my purposes. The various advancements in technology over the last 10 years or so have been eye-opening. Digital amp & effects modelling are a wonderful tool, & relatively lightweight too. Maybe the tones you get are not quite 100% of the 'purist's' valve tones, but they aint far off now. Above all, go for what suits you personally

Best wishes, Tony.

[Hank2k]

+1 for the super champ. I use one of these for rehearsals with the band, its perfect size and plenty loud enough for gigs and home use.