I am giving a Solid State Amp Head a Shot - Laney Ironheart Dual Top - Videos with Reviews

[HowieJams]

I love all of my tube amps (Soldano Astro 20, Soldano SLO-30 and a Friedman JEL-20), they sound great at low volume, but I decided I want a 4th amp.
I was looking at some tube amps, but I need high gain as I don't use boost pedals.

I was looking at the Engle Steve Morse 20, PRS MT15, Victory Kraken MkII, and a Peavey 6505 MH, but then I thought what about a solid state amp.

Choices were the Boss Katana Artist Gen 3 Combo (the head is about the same weight as the combo and too wide for my 1x12 cab), the Boss Katana Gen 3 Head, and the Laney Ironheart Dual Top Head.

The Laney seems to be more analog than digital so it seems like the right choice for me.

Now, let's see how the tone is.

I saw one video by Jack Gardiner that was close to how I play and it sounded great, but in other videos it sounded like typical solid state thin gain distortion.

Only one way to find out, so I ordered one, worth a shot for $415.
If it doesn't work out the PRS MT15 is a decent priced tube amp that might be worth a shot.

The amp arrived Tuesday.....

I just got done playing through the amp for about an hour, made 3 videos which I will add soon.

I think this amp is a keeper.

Here are 3 videos - 2 with backing tracks and one without

 

[DanTravis62]

I've played the tube ironheart and it was really good

 

[VonBonfire]

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

I like Laney stuff. I had a TT50H back in the day.

I've been looking at that and the LF-Supertop 120

 

[romanianreaper]

Sounds great man! I recently got a Laney Supergrace 60 watt pedal and definitely has that same DNA and sounds similar.

The Laney Supergrace and Orange Supercrush 100 have been two of my favorite solid state amps.

 

[HowieJams]

I like Laney stuff. I had a TT50H back in the day.

I've been looking at that and the LF-Supertop 120

The Supertop looks great, but too powerful for my 1x12 cabs

 

[HowieJams]

Sounds great man! I recently got a Laney Supergrace 60 watt pedal and definitely has that same DNA and sounds similar.

The Laney Supergrace and Orange Supercrush 100 have been two of my favorite solid state amps.

I am sure the Laney Pedal is very similar.
The Orange Supercrush is another very hightly praised solid state amp, but the Laney caught my eye.
It definitely looks as good as it sounds.

 

[HowieJams]

I've played the tube ironheart and it was really good

I was also looking at the Laney L20H Head, but it looks like it would need pedals to get where I want, the Ironheart Tube amp would probably be great.

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

The Supertop looks great, but too powerful for my 1x12 cabs

You can drop it to 1w. It has the same switch as the DualTop.

 

[HowieJams]

You can drop it to 1w. It has the same switch as the DualTop.

It didn't seem to sound as good on the 1w setting, I will have to try it again.
I might be OK as I never turn the amp up loud.

 

[DanTravis62]

I was also looking at the Laney L20H Head, but it looks like it would need pedals to get where I want, the Ironheart Tube amp would probably be great.

If you need high gain and recording functionality they make one with a bunch of IO too, i forget the name

it's like a rack or desktop ironheart

IRT?

They are quite cheap and hybrid

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

If you need high gain and recording functionality they make one with a bunch of IO too, i forget the name

it's like a rack or desktop ironheart

IRT?

They are quite cheap and hybrid

Should be the IRT Studio.

https://www.laney.co.uk/amps/guitar/ironheart/irt-studio

 

[MadAsAHatter]

I was also looking at the Laney L20H Head, but it looks like it would need pedals to get where I want, the Ironheart Tube amp would probably be great.

I have the L50H and you are correct on that series of amps. It has a good amount of gain on its own, but would need a pedal to go into high gain territory.

 

[HowieJams]

If you need high gain and recording functionality they make one with a bunch of IO too, i forget the name

it's like a rack or desktop ironheart

IRT?

They are quite cheap and hybrid

Once it gets in to that digital stuff my adult ADD kicks in and I won't deal with it.
I like simple plug in and play.

However, I do believe my Laney Dual Top is the IRT you are speaking of, I just won't use it

 

[HowieJams]

I have the L50H and you are correct on that series of amps. It has a good amount of gain on its own, but would need a pedal to go into high gain territory.

I don't think I use as much gain as I think I do, I just like enough for smooth sustaining leads.
For example, on my Friedman JEL-20:
the Channel Plexi channel would need a boost from a SD-1 to get me where I need. but on Channel 2 the JCM800 channel I can get by without a boost

 

[Devin]

Nice I didn't even know these existed; sounds good!

 

[MadAsAHatter]

I don't think I use as much gain as I think I do, I just like enough for smooth sustaining leads.
For example, on my Friedman JEL-20:
the Channel Plexi channel would need a boost from a SD-1 to get me where I need. but on Channel 2 the JCM800 channel I can get by without a boost

Assuming the L20 is close to the L50, it might just barely get you there, but probably not. On the L50 cranking the gain can get you more than Plexi, but slightly less than JCM800 levels of saturation. Good for classic rock rhythm, but probably not so much for leads.

 

[HowieJams]

Assuming the L20 is close to the L50, it might just barely get you there, but probably not. On the L50 cranking the gain can get you more than Plexi, but slightly less than JCM800 levels of saturation. Good for classic rock rhythm, but probably not so much for leads.

Thanks, might look at a PRS MT15 is I even buy another tube amp.
I already have 3 great tube amps, a second solid state might be cool so I have a backup at each of my spots

 

[HowieJams]

Nice I didn't even know these existed; sounds good!

I was surprised, the 120w Super Top would proably be even better

 

[VonBonfire]

The Orange Supercrush is another very hightly praised solid state amp, but the Laney caught my eye.

The Orange pedal baby is excellent for a SS amp too IME. Paired with a nice preamp it would make a good rig.