I'm really torn between these 2 amps. I like the DSL, but the VH100r seems like a great amp for the $$$. Has anyone here compared the two of these amps? I'm not too concerned with the clean...just the gain
I honestly think the rhythm tone on the VH100R is one of the worst I've ever heard. The lead tones are pretty nice and the cleans are great, but I hated the rhythm tones. Sounded really muffled and needed a boost to get a good crunchy tone. The DSL blows it away IMO.
Me to. I also had mine modded by Trace. But I played a stock VH100R with matching cab and a VC50 2X12(the 50 watt combo version). I think if I had to choose I might go with the Laney but it's one of those things where I could flip a coin as they're both close IMO.
I had a GH50L, not exactly the same amp, but similar tones right? I think so... It had TONS of distortion and sounded good. Very '80sish modded high gain tones. It reminded me of a 5150, but I didn't have them to compare side-by-side. Great sounding amp if you ask me.
Laney's are great value for the money. here's a quick clip of a gh50l if you like, that I made while trying to figure out how to work the mbox.. its just a short rhythm but gives an indication to the tone.
I think the VH/VC-series is an excellent amp (at least for what I do). Here's one that's a couple years old that was entirely VC50 (little brother of the VH100r) except the bass and an acoustic tapped directly from its' crappy piezo-electric pickup. One caveat, I used a Palmer speaker sim instead of mic'ing (had no choice - I recorded this right below my oldest daughter's bedroom).
I had an old JCM800 channel-switcher that I sold some years ago but kept the Laney VC50. I really think this is a great amp, but I did swap out one of the stock H&H speakers for a Celection G12H30. I'm with the above poster - these are great and hugely underrated amps. I've had mine for 12 years and an not interested in parting with it yet.