Questions....

I'm looking for an old marshall sound, similar to what you would hear from the red hot chili peppers or John Frusciante..

I've been told by a number or peoples that the early 80s Laney amps are the way to go, I just had a few questions...

*The non-AOR model laney came before tho AOR model right? What makes one better then the other?

*What is the difference between the 6-knob version and the 9-knob version? Both have master volume controlls right?

*Is there a 30 watt version of the Laney pro tube/AOR? How much should I expect to pay for a 30 watt? For a 50 watt?

*Where is the best place to find these for a good price in the US?? Ebay?

Thanks to everyone who can answer any of these for me! And thanks expecially to those who provide this place and let me ask these questions.

Take care,
Brad

Hey and welcome.

Lets see, there are several posts on most of these,but Ill try to help.

The Pre-AOR model Pro-Tube-Lead is closer in design to older Marshall JMPs (plexi with Master Volume) or Early JCM800s. And close in the same gain range. (correct me if im wrong Mr. Hickman)
The AOR Pro-Tube-Leads added a gain stage and effect-loop. Sort of an out-of-the-box way of offering an amp with all the mods that people were paying out the ass for to have done to thier Marshalls back in the day. Higher gain,much heavier-sounding amp. BUT -it can do all the cleans and lesser-gain tones that the previous PTL and Marshalls can do.
Also has Pull-knobs for the E.Q. section controls which adds significant boosts to those ranges (Bass,Mid,Treb).
The 6- Knob AORs lack the seperate control for the extra pre-amp gain stage. The gain is just "on" all the time, and u adjust everything by way of the Pre knob.
The 9-knob models added the ability to pull-on /push-off the knobs of the extra gain stages,giving something like having more than one channel. You can set it up with a lower-gain setting on the main Pre knob, and set the AOR channel to a higher-gain setting, and switch between them.

There are both 30-watt and 50-watt combo versions of the AORs as well, likem mentioned in the other threads here. And ebay is probably the most likely place to find these amps,unless to happen upon a used one in a pawn shop or the occasional music shop.

[Racerx2k]

Sometimes, you can find them, locally. I personally have a line on two seperate AORs, right now: A 50 watt, and a 100 watt. The owner of the 100 watt is asking about $50 more than the owner of the 50 watt, but either will suffice for what I do. I'm desperately keeping my fingers crossed till I personally own one of them.

By the way, the AORs are 8-knobbers.

By the way, the AORs are 8-knobbers.

Unless it's a combo... then there is a reverb knob which is a must for my style playing!

[Racerx2k]

Whoops! Yeah, you are right. Forgot about that on the combos. My apologoes.

[Elliot Meldoy]

By the way, the AORs are 8-knobbers.

Unless it's a combo... then there is a reverb knob which is a must for my style playing!

Nope, my AOR is a six knobber

Well mine is a 9!

I can prove it.... so there.


Anyway.... you can pick up a combo around $300-$400, a head for around the same. A complete stack is very hard to come by but they do show up on occasion but go for $700 on up.

Mine is a MV (master volume) model AOR. 6-knobs,lol.

Also the following AORs are currently listed on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Laney-Pro-Tube-Lead ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Laney-AOR-Series-30 ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/1980S-LANEY-AOR-SER ... dZViewItem

There are Six and Eight knob AORs. Now I've read on harmony central and some other places that six-knobers being less tweakable are much more reliable and better built.

I wouldnt say the 6 knob models are necassarily better built, really -it probably is more a matter of there being a couple less than that can wear out or go wrong (less pots/switches,etc). But the overall quality of build seems about the same between the two.
6 knobs are a bit less tweakable,in the sense that you cant switch in/out a wider variety of gain levels to go back and forth between, but as a one-channel amp, it is very versatile.

The 6- Knob AORs lack the seperate control for the extra pre-amp gain stage. The gain is just "on" all the time, and u adjust everything by way of the Pre knob.

Actually, the 8/9 knob versions have one more gain stage than the 6 knob version, which is activated by switching on the AOR channel (which the 6 knobbers lack). The AOR channel utilises an extra half of a 12ax7; this 'half' is simply left unused in the 6 knob version.

There are Six and Eight knob AORs. Now I've read on harmony central and some other places that six-knobers being less tweakable are much more reliable and better built.

I think the arguement over differing build quality has more to do with the Pre-AOR Pro-Tubes (6 knob only) versus the Pro-Tube/AORs (both 6 and 8 knobs). Build quality between the Pro-Tube/AOR 6 and 8 knob version would be the same I'd say... can't comment on these compared to the earlier pre-AORs as I've never compared them.

There are Six and Eight knob AORs. Now I've read on harmony central and some other places that six-knobers being less tweakable are much more reliable and better built.

I have heard the same, but they look to be made of the same build quality.

I have heard the build quality in the late 80's tailed off.