NAD Laney Lionheart L5T

[alainvey]

I've been wanting to get one of these for months, and now it's finally here.

Picked it up on the bay, reasonable condition.

This thing is absolutely wonderful - still getting to know it, but it's pretty clear already that it's the perfect amp for me. I play in my bedroom/study only, so the low wattage combined with big dimensions are ideal for my situation - I get decent tones at usable levels while keeping the projection and 3 dimensional sound of a large speaker and cab.

It's more of a vox/marshall type amp, but it can still cop reasonable fendery sounds using the voice/tone knob. The cleans are extremely nice and chimey, and the drive channel seems to give a bit of power stage drive from the get-go, with the drive/preamp knob offering some fairly nice preamp od tones as well.

The clean channel starts to break up at around halfway on the dial, which is just about usable at home during the day, though full blast would probably see the neighbours banging on my door rather quickly.

The only feature I think the amp lacks is an attenuator or similar, but in all honesty the tones available are all so lovely that it's not a factor.

I was previously using a Peavey Classic 20, and this thing (rightly) blows it away.

 

[PurpleStrat]

Congrats! I used to play one at Sam Ash all the time. Really cool amps.

 

[Serenity23]

Congrats! I love my L5T. Picked mine up to replace a Class 5. The Laney kills the Marshall.

 

[matt117]

Any one tried it back to back with the 20watt?

 

[alainvey]

There's a guy (jeffrs or similar, I think) from the UK who has posted a few times regarding the design of the 20w combo, and suggesting that it is in some way inferior (let's say "different" to avoid name calling) to the 5W.

Loving this amp more all the time. Getting a new guitar or two soon, will be nice to hear good pickups and new strings through it.

 

[backporchmusic]

I played a 5 watt in a store (combo) and loved it. Bought a 20 watt head and did not love it. Returned it. The 5 watt was easy to dial in. Maybe the lower wattage earlier breakup suited the design better.

 

[matt117]

There's a guy (jeffrs or similar, I think) from the UK who has posted a few times regarding the design of the 20w combo, and suggesting that it is in some way inferior (let's say "different" to avoid name calling) to the 5W.

Loving this amp more all the time. Getting a new guitar or two soon, will be nice to hear good pickups and new strings through it.

I think I've come across those before too. I do own the 20watt (no offence taken), it sounds good. It came into the local store used right at the time I was shopping for my first tube amp, and all I knew was I wanted tubes and two channels. Its been great, I like it. But reading Jeffrs posts caused me to scratch my head a little bit.

The owner of the store, had the 5watt version, and I only ever head it once for a minute. It was perhaps a year later, and he had a tele going thru it and the cleans sounded huge! I had mentioned it sounded really good and he had said he just put in a WGS speaker. And now he no longer has it. I would love to try them back to back and hear for myself. I have no needs for 20watts, 5 will do.

 

[matt117]

I played a 5 watt in a store (combo) and loved it. Bought a 20 watt head and did not love it. Returned it. The 5 watt was easy to dial in. Maybe the lower wattage earlier breakup suited the design better.

Any more thoughts to add to the difference you experienced?
Does the 5Watt seem to have a bigger feel to it? Due to its large output tranny?

 

[backporchmusic]

Well, to be fair, the 5 was a combo and I ran the 20 head through my 2x12 with greenbacks. That could be part of it, but the head just didn't have that honey soaked grit that the 5 had. Sounded more buzzy or forced. Artificial in some way.

 

[matt117]

Well, to be fair, the 5 was a combo and I ran the 20 head through my 2x12 with greenbacks. That could be part of it, but the head just didn't have that honey soaked grit that the 5 had. Sounded more buzzy or forced. Artificial in some way.

Ok thanks. I have been playing my l20h through a 1x12 greenback. However.. I've just placed an order for the weber legacy 55hz (g12h - that comes with the 5watt combo) wondering if that will make the bottom end a little stronger and present. If its the ticket, I'll build another 1x12 and stick it in there and use 2 1x12's to get some fullness of sound.

Do you have any clips of your 5watt?

 

[backporchmusic]

Sorry the 5 watt was in a store.

 

[matt117]

Sorry the 5 watt was in a store.

Oh sorry - I had miss read and thought for some reason you took the 20 watter back for the 5watt.

 

[Flakey]

Welcome to the family..best 5 watter EVER!!!!

 

[Trout]

...best 5 watter EVER!!!!

This is the absolute truth. All other small amps are toys in comparison (in my experience and opinion, of course).

There are not nearly enough pictures on this thread. What's up with that?

Here's my totally one-off L5T-112 chassis sitting in a L20H cabinet. I might be the only guy with a L5T head. Which I'm totally cool with...

 

[matt117]

This is the absolute truth. All other small amps are toys in comparison (in my experience and opinion, of course).

There are not nearly enough pictures on this thread. What's up with that?

Here's my totally one-off L5T-112 chassis sitting in a L20H cabinet. I might be the only guy with a L5T head. Which I'm totally cool with...

How did that come about? Have the 20 and built your own 5 watt?
The 5watt really that good to do?

 

[Trout]

How did that come about? ... The 5watt really that good to do?

Well, it's an old story, and I got the story 3rd hand, but it went something like this: Once upon a time, there was a L20 head, a L5 combo, a band, and a studio. Someone swapped the cabinets and the L20 combo went on the road with the band. The L5 head stayed in the studio and was recorded using various speaker cabinets. The L20 never made it back, and the L5 was eventually sold or traded, and would end up getting traded to me. It's one of those pieces of equipment that found me. I was not looking for it, and one day it just showed up.

I've been using it with a 1x12 WGS Veteran 30, but it sounds great with everything I've tried it with... V30, Private Jack, Swamp Thang, Legend 1258, etc.

Yes, it really is that good.

 

[Serenity23]

I might be the only guy with a L5T head.

Laney actually make the 5 watter in a head now. (link removed)

 

[Flakey]

Laney actually make the 5 watter in a head now. (link removed)

Awesome!!!

 

[Trout]

Laney actually make the 5 watter in a head now.

OK, then I might have the only Made In UK 5 watt head, without digital reverb, with spring reverb, without USB, and without emulated DI.

Mine has no computer on-board. Ha!

 

[matt117]

Well, it's an old story, and I got the story 3rd hand, but it went something like this: Once upon a time, there was a L20 head, a L5 combo, a band, and a studio. Someone swapped the cabinets and the L20 combo went on the road with the band. The L5 head stayed in the studio and was recorded using various speaker cabinets. The L20 never made it back, and the L5 was eventually sold or traded, and would end up getting traded to me. It's one of those pieces of equipment that found me. I was not looking for it, and one day it just showed up.

I've been using it with a 1x12 WGS Veteran 30, but it sounds great with everything I've tried it with... V30, Private Jack, Swamp Thang, Legend 1258, etc.

Yes, it really is that good.

Cool - thought maybe you had made your 20 into a 5.
Is that the 5watters output and power transformers in there then too?