Laney Cub 10 someone???

[vintage52]

I'm liking mine too!

Great little amp.

My Les Paul pushes the little bugger into overdrive real well and it sounds great.

The Tele through it is fabulous also. Tele tuned Open G with the Low Input selected and gain almost full is a sound that's really growing on me.

I can't afford an English Muffin yet so I've been running a Vox Bulldog in front of it and a Boss RV3 Delay/Reverb pedal.

When GT says it doesn't sound boxy at all from a 10 inch speaker in a compact cab - she's damn straight!!

Very cool responsive organic amp!!

Well worth the purchase.

I'm going to try some old 6V6's I've bought and see what tonal differences there are from the supplied Ruby's.

No doubt future reports to come.

 

[Grandma's Tele]

Hi vintage52!

I'm going to try your settings! Thank's for sharing!

I don't have a Gibson Les Paul but I have a(n) Hagström. It sounds good too with the Cub 10!(Never sure if I must use "a" or "an" in front of "H". My first language is French... Feel free to correct me when I make mistakes!)

I know that the English Muff'n is expensive. Around 210$ CAD, taxes included, new. If you are lucky, you might be able to grab a used one for half the price. It's worth it! Don't pay too much for a used one though because you may need to change the tubes!

Personally, I know that I'm lucky because I work a lot. It hasn't always been like that. Also, I don't have children to feed. My budget for gears would be much more limited otherwise.

I hope I don't sound cocky when I talk about gears. It's just that I really like everything that is related to guitars. It may seem weird, a woman who likes guitars so much, it's just that I've been very sick a couple of years ago and my life changed.

The doctor suggested me to find new hobbies and I picked up the guitar. I'm not very talented but I take weekly lessons (2e semester with a steady teacher). One hour every week, occasionally two when I can. I've been told that I have a pretty good ear. I need to work harder on rhythm though!

 

[jefrs]

The Cubs are up on the UK Laney site (link removed)
but I have not seen one yet. All Laney are designed and engineered in the UK but it was my understanding that only the Lionheart are built here.

The Cub 8 has vol and tone is a single-ended '5 watt' 1xECC83 + 1x6V6GT, so it a very simple amp and quite different to -
the Cub 10 has gain, tone and vol, is push-pull '10 watts' 2xECC83 + 2x6V6GT.
Neither Cub seems to have reverb. Laney amps rarely need an OD pedal.

Now my Laney L5T has 3xECC83 + 1xEL84 and is 5 watts (SE), it's essentially a VC30 with only one output bottle. So what is confusing me is those 6V6GT valves, I've used them in my Epi BC30, they are like 5881 (with lower heaters) and they're as loud as 6L6GC in the BC30, I expect they output well over 20 watts in push-pull. Have Laney's PR copy writers got confused between speaker diameter and amp output? Both the Super-8 and the Tube-10 speakers are from Celestion's bottom shelf. I also think Laney missed a trick with the Cub10, they could have built a BJ-beater, maybe they have.

 

[Steve G]

I don't have a Gibson Les Paul but I have a(n) Hagström. It sounds good too with the Cub 10!(Never sure if I must use "a" or "an" in front of "H". My first language is French... Feel free to correct me when I make mistakes!)

Its 'a' in front of H.
Other than that your English is better than mine!
Im pretty interested in these amps too..

 

[vintage52]

It may seem weird, a woman who likes guitars so much

I need to work harder on rhythm though!

A rare find indeed!!

And we all need to work on our rhythm!!!

 

[vintage52]

So what is confusing me is those 6V6GT valves, I've used them in my Epi BC30, they are like 5881 (with lower heaters) and they're as loud as 6L6GC in the BC30, I expect they output well over 20 watts in push-pull. Have Laney's PR copy writers got confused between speaker diameter and amp output? Both the Super-8 and the Tube-10 speakers are from Celestion's bottom shelf. I also think Laney missed a trick with the Cub10, they could have built a BJ-beater, maybe they have.

Man, like the look of those 5 watt Lionhearts. They sound huge!!! And nice to go with it.

Cranked - they certainly don't give you ear bleed and I've played a 5 watter through a really efficient speaker that was louder than the Cub 10.

All in the config I guess.

Pedal in the front just allows the amp to be pushed a little bit harder. Not as high gain as the Lionheart.

 

[Grandma's Tele]

Its 'a' in front of H.
Other than that your English is better than mine!
Im pretty interested in these amps too..

Thank you very much! I won't be confused anymore!

I'm learning English through my passion for guitars! I still have tons to learn but it's all fun!

The Cub 10 is a very intersting amp! Try one and you'll be sold!

 

[Grandma's Tele]

The Cubs are up on the UK Laney site (link removed)
but I have not seen one yet. All Laney are designed and engineered in the UK but it was my understanding that only the Lionheart are built here.

The Cub 8 has vol and tone is a single-ended '5 watt' 1xECC83 + 1x6V6GT, so it a very simple amp and quite different to -
the Cub 10 has gain, tone and vol, is push-pull '10 watts' 2xECC83 + 2x6V6GT.
Neither Cub seems to have reverb. Laney amps rarely need an OD pedal.

Now my Laney L5T has 3xECC83 + 1xEL84 and is 5 watts (SE), it's essentially a VC30 with only one output bottle. So what is confusing me is those 6V6GT valves, I've used them in my Epi BC30, they are like 5881 (with lower heaters) and they're as loud as 6L6GC in the BC30, I expect they output well over 20 watts in push-pull. Have Laney's PR copy writers got confused between speaker diameter and amp output? Both the Super-8 and the Tube-10 speakers are from Celestion's bottom shelf. I also think Laney missed a trick with the Cub10, they could have built a BJ-beater, maybe they have.

I think the Cub 10 is much better than the Cub 8. I highly recommend the Cub 10 over the Cub 8!

A BJ beater??? You're talking about the Fender Blues Junior? I've had one and sold it. I think this amp sounds boxy. Yes it has reverb but with a reverb pedal the Laney is still cheaper.

Laney Cub 10: -------------- ~ 300$ CAD (link removed)
EHX Holy Grail Nano: ------ ~ 135$ CAD
Eminence Ramrod speaker:~ 100$ CAD

Total: 535$ CAD

Blues Junior: ~ 590 CAD http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/601/

I think my kit kills the BJ because it's not boxy. The reverb on the BJ doesn't sound as good as my Holy Grail and my Red Coat Ramrod is probably better than the stock speaker in the BJ or at least as good.

Anyway, the most important thing is that I like how the Laney sounds and I want to play all the time. It does a good job for me at bedroom volume. I didn't like the BJ, I wasn't using it and I sold it. I know that it does a very good job for some though and I'm happy for these people!

I also like the fact that the Laney is smaller and lighter. it's all good for my back!

Edit:

I didn't try any mod on the BJ other than a speaker swap. (I put a Weber 12F150 in it. It helped but it's the tone stack that makes it sounds boxy, not the cabinet, according to Billm and I'm sure he knows what he's talking about!)

 

[vintage52]

An Update

Well, I've taken the Ruby tubes out and replaced with the following:

ElectroHarmonix 12ax7 x2
One JAN 6V6 by Philips and another that has no brand on it.

Contacted Laney and they said that ideally it would be good to bias the amp but it would handle the 6V6 change fine without it.

I'm not one for a great deal of clean headroom. I like my breakup and naturally pushed hard power valves and these old valves deliver what I want.

On the Low input setting the Tele sounds very cool. Neck and bridge hold there tone and character fine while rolling off or up the volume cleans and dirties the amp very nicely.

Classic jangly - ness with the tele.

The Les Paul gets that real cool Whole Lotta Love sound at a volume that doesn't annoy me or the neighbours!!

Quite awesome to be able to get a sound at a volume that when the gain is cranked the reduction in amp volume doesn't overly take away from what you want to hear.

You don't get tired playing this amp! And with the older valves I've put in....it is a joy to play and listen to even if I do generally sound crap.

When plugged into the high input setting, it gets more gainier.....more compressed...more COOL!

Any questions - feel free to ask.

 

[jefrs]

Man, like the look of those 5 watt Lionhearts. They sound huge!!! And nice to go with it.

Cranked - they certainly don't give you ear bleed and I've played a 5 watter through a really efficient speaker that was louder than the Cub 10.

All in the config I guess.

Pedal in the front just allows the amp to be pushed a little bit harder. Not as high gain as the Lionheart.

vintage52,

How loud is the Cub-10?

Which Lionheart are you comparing it to, there are three models?

I know the Cub-10 output depends on its plate voltage so 10 watts push-pull needs only 250V. I've used JJ-6V6GTS in my modded Epi BC30 at 420V and they are very loud through its 2x12 Greenbacks. The BC30 can fill a hall with 2x6L6GC, I've modded it to make it home friendly. But it is a big beast, I had a BJ for a small gigging amp but my L5T did the job so much better that I traded it for the BC30, I still need a small gig amp.

My Lionheart L5T-112 is rather more expensive than the Cub-10, the Heritage 55Hz G12H-30 alone would double the Cub's price. It is loud such that I cannot crank it up at home, yet it is only just loud enough for a jazz gig. It's a do-anything amp, it can absolutely nail the tone of a good BJ, or an AC30 and pretty well anything else except metal.

Is the Cub-10 loud enough to be giggable, or is it only a parlour amp?



Btw if the Cub-10 is cathode/self biased then, as Laney have said (despite their caveat), you can put any 6V6 pair in there without re-biasing.

 

[klast]

Is it possible to dial in reasonable preamp crunch at apartment volume, or does it need to go louder to sound good?

Klas

 

[vintage52]

Hi there jefrs

Sorry taken so long in replying...been out of the web...

Loud...can be. Loud enough on its own for practice and a light handed drummer.

My mistake. Not comparing to the Lionhearts but more indicating my liking of the L5T. Poor grammar and context in my post!!

Not sure on the giggable - parlor usage. I do certainly view it as a decent low wattage practice amp.

Cheers

vintage52

 

[vintage52]

Is it possible to dial in reasonable preamp crunch at apartment volume, or does it need to go louder to sound good?

Klas

Yes....yes you can...

Les Paul pushes it nicely!!!

 

[slowbo]

Grandmas Tele: Quick English class for my first post. Steve G is right, it's normally 'a' before a word beginning with 'h' but not always. As you probably know, its 'an' before a vowel, but what the teachers forget to say is that it's 'an' before a vowel sound. So take two English words, 'horse' and 'hour'. With 'horse' the 'h' is sounded and it's 'a horse' but the 'h' is silent in the word 'hour', so it's 'an hour'

 

[vintage52]

It Blew Up

Well, not so much blew up as went: hummmmm....POP! and then no longer worked.

Back to the seller. Had it for a week and it's now winging it's way back to me.

Not sure what the problem was but it all started out with what sounded like a pre-amp valve ready to go.

Hopefully it lives a bit longer this time!!

 

[Swoop]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I figured some folks might appreciate a new review, (be warned though it's fairly comprehensive) especially since small tube amps are something that a lot of folks want these days. And I thought it was better to add to the existing discussion, rather than start a new thread.

I have a Cub10 myself, and have really begun to love it recently. Initially the speaker was a bit farty when driven, but now that I've had the amp for a while, it's starting to break in, and sounds really good.

The main reason I bought the Laney is because my other amp, a Peavey Classic 50 410 is, as you can probably imagine, very large and heavy, and pretty cumbersome to take anywhere should I want to. The Laney is, of course, small, and very light at just 8kg.

Some other appealing specs were the fact that it's a push pull type tube amp, rather than single ended like similarly sized amps, such as the Valve Junior. 6V6 power tubes are also something a little different from the EL84s that are in practically everything these days. Gives it a very Fendery quality, which I'll get into a bit more shortly.

I personally thought the features were excellent for the price. I picked mine up for $400NZ brand new. Blackhearts and BlackStars etc are roughly twice that, so the Laney is great value if you ask me. I also liked the Celestion speaker. It's probably just a Chinese made Celestion, but that's still better than most. I love Celestions! It was important to me to have some kind of EQ control and, although it's very simple, the tone control on the Cub10 works well. I also liked the fact that it had a gain knob as well as a volume really allows you to get that 'clean overdrive' sound. Not full on distortion, but just a bit of bite, which you get by cranking the volume, but leaving the gain fairly low. Especially true of the Lo input.

I also discovered recently that, if I run it through the four 10" Blue Marvel speakers in my Peavey Classic 50, it sounds even more fantastic. I don't use or own any pedals, and usually like a little reverb when playing through the C50. I don't really miss it with the Laney since it's my 'take anywhere' amp, I'm fine to forgo such luxuries. But the larger, open back cabinet of the Peavey adds just that small touch of natural reverb and it sounds great.

This is also where that Fendery, 6V6 sound becomes even more apparent. I'm sure most of you around here have listened to the Johnny Burnette Trio, and heard the (often questioned) story about Paul Burlinson dropping his amp before a gig, which dislodged a power tube, and lead to that thick sound that is their trademark. Well, however he got it, the Laney gets it too! It gets that fantastic rockabilly sound, that crunchy kind of distortion. Especially with P90s. I reckon it's those 6V6s that do it. That's why it reminds me of a small Fender amp of some description, because that's what the Trio used.

I run it through the Peavey speakers, (four very well broken in, stock, 10" Blue Marvels) plug my Epiphone Casino into the Lo input, using the bridge pickup, crank the volume, and set the gain on about 3, and it's instant Rockabilly. Rolling the volume off on the guitar really cleans it up.

So, in short, I think it's a cool amp. Meets my needs well, and once the stock speaker is broken in, it's more than adequate for a 'practice amp'. And if you can plug it into a cabinet of some kind, then you're in for a real treat.

Here's a quick pic of mine just to balance out my wall of text somewhat.

image removed

 

[jefrs]

Regarding its speaker, the Laney Cub 10 uses a Chinese built Celestion Tube10, this is one of Celestion's lesser offerings. It's not a bad speaker for what is a cheap amp, but you could do better.

I have now tried the Cub10 out in a store (I was in there looking for a bass amp ;-). I felt it was lacking in the speaker department. I immediately thought it would benefit from a Celestion G10-30 Greenback.

I have the little 30 watt G10 Greenback in another amp and it is excellent, very punchy, full range and not woody as the G12M-25 Greenback can be (of which I have a pair), it is more like the Heritage G12H-30 in my Laney L5T.

The only problem is the Cub 10 is £154 and the G10-30 Greenback is £70...

 

[kiwi blue]

I like the Laney Cub 10 a lot.

The day I bought it I also tried a Vox AC4 combo with the 8 inch speaker, which sounded too boxy, although the head version into a 1 x 12 was better. The Laney stuck me as more responsive, more versatile, with a fuller tone.

I've replaced the stock Celestion Tube 10 speaker with a Weber 10F125T that I already had. The Celestion was fine, but the Weber is a big improvement. Fuller, fatter, greasier tone, and significantly louder. It gave up the overdrive earlier when it had the stock speaker (which is great for playing at home), but the Weber sounds significantly better and makes it loud enough for gigging so I’m sticking with that.

I’ve done a solo gig with it (using the stock speaker) in a medium sized bar with no mic. After installing the Weber I used it with a rhythm section at a small outdoor gig. We put a mic in front of it, but it turned out that we didn't need it. With the Weber, it’s plenty loud for a nominal 10 Watts (more likely 15W). Having said that, I'd probably mic it at larger bars or with a loud drummer.

I've also retubed it with NOS tubes. The stock Chinese Ruby Tubes weren't good. The 12AX7s were shrill and trebly. The 6V6s gave up the overdrive but it was mushy overdrive with no definition. The amp responds well to tube upgrades. Some good tubes really tighten up the overdrive, kill the shrillness, and give more clarity, definition, and full bodied clean tones.

The Laney cost me $500. Even when you add the speaker and tubes it still cost a lot less than a new Blues Jnr, and to me it sounds much better even stock. (Besides, I’d be doing tube and speaker upgrades to a BJ too.)

It's well thought out amp. Single tone knob, vol, gain controls. At home practice levels you can stay clean by keeping the gain control low and volume adjusted to required loudness, or you can keep the volume control low and crank the gain for preamp overdrive at low volume. But where it really shines is with the volume up full, and gain up around 3 to 5 (or more) to overdrive the 6V6s and work the speaker. This is what I bought it for, and with the speaker and tube upgrades it’s a thing of scary beauty! I’ve barely touched my other amps since I bought it.

There are low and high inputs. Low is a full range tone better for cleans, high is louder and has a scooped tone that works better for overdrive.

There's also a speaker out that mutes the internal speaker. The amp is small and light enough to treat it as a head if you like. (Half the weight of a Classic 30.) I can easily carry it in one hand. In fact when I bought it I carried it on foot for two blocks then took it home on a bus and then a train. No problem.

I do find myself wanting a touch of reverb though. I have an 80s Boss digital rack reverb that's very nice with it, and sometimes I use a Danelectro Corned Beef, which is a faux reverb delay that, while not a true reverb, does a fair job of livening up the note at low settings. I've also recently scored a Danelectro PB&J delay, which is excellent for slapback and when combined with the Corned Beef or Boss it really livens up the sound. That little PB&J is a little beauty.

 

[kermit]

I'm looking for a small home pratice tube amp and my first choice was the Fender Champion 600, because I red it's good enough and with the Tele it's a good solution.
When I went to a local shop to try, the guy has said me that the Champ was in offer for 150 euro and at that price was a good deal, but normally in Italy it can cost 200/220 euro and it's not a good deal. At the same price in the same shop I can buy the Cub10, 5 W more, with the Gain and the Tone controls.
So the technical and price difference are clear, but what are the differencies in sound? British vs. American sound?
It's ok the Laney for a home pratics use or it's too big to get cruchy sounds without annoying the neighbours?

 

[Jammin'John]

Lucky

You guys are lucky.
I can't even find one of these amps in the USA.

JJ