New Laney Ironheart Amps

Grumpyrocker · September 2023

Laney has announced two solid-state mini Ironheart amp heads this morning. They sound great to me. In fact I've just ordered one.

HT986M2 · September 2023

Solid state? Wow! I just watched the PMT demo and I just assumed it was a valves

StefB · September 2023

Interestingly, GuitarGuitar are referring to them as valve amps.

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/230725410463008--laney-ironheart-foundry-series-irf-dualtop-60w-valve-head-amp

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/230725410462008--laney-ironheart-foundry-series-irf-leadtop-60w-valve-amp-head

Grumpyrocker · September 2023

They are definitely solid state. They're related to the recently released pedal power-amp in the same series. Which I actually bought but found lacking in a few ways. It sounds great, but has some functionality issues - particularly with the loop.

But the Dualtop solves all those for me so I ordered. I'll post impressions tomorrow.

I should have added in my original post how inexpensive these are. The Leadtop £169 is and the Dualtop is £259.

HT986M2 · September 2023

Grumpyrocker said:

They are definitely solid state. They're related to the recently released pedal power-amp in the same series. Which I actually bought but found lacking in a few ways. It sounds great, but has some functionality issues - particularly with the loop.

But the Dualtop solves all those for me so I ordered. I'll post impressions tomorrow.

I should have added in my original post how inexpensive these are. The Leadtop £169 is and the Dualtop is £259.

What issues did you have with the pedal? And what did you run it through?

Having watched all three videos I think PMT got the best recorded sound. My finger was hovering over the 'buy' button after that, but it didn't sound that great in TheGuitarGeek's video

Grumpyrocker · September 2023

Funny you should say that, because I liked his video.

The issue I had with the pedal was when I was trying to use a particular looper that couldn't go quiet enough.

There's no loop return volume, or master volume after the loop. While these amps are likely the same - the one watt mode should solve that for home use. Also having reverb on the amp is really handy too.

I think the main thing was although I loved the sound I actually found the pedal format less convenient than a small head.

I've got a Mini VH4 and that sounds amazing. And it'd be my main home amp if it had a clean channel I could also run pedals into. So hopefully this new Laney should be that.

StefB · September 2023

Grumpyrocker said:

They are definitely solid state. They're related to the recently released pedal power-amp in the same series. Which I actually bought but found lacking in a few ways. It sounds great, but has some functionality issues - particularly with the loop.

But the Dualtop solves all those for me so I ordered. I'll post impressions tomorrow.

I should have added in my original post how inexpensive these are. The Leadtop £169 is and the Dualtop is £259.

GG have now updated their descriptions to solid state.

Fortheloveofguitar · September 2023

I have the pedal version of these and it’s really good. I like some of the tones better than my actual Ironheart 60 head

I actually got the pedal version extremely close to a Mezzabarba skill head that I had. Poor man’s Mezza!

Grumpyrocker · September 2023

First impressions. It's really damn good.

roberty · September 2023

Nice. I really like Laney stuff

Sassafras · September 2023

They sounded OK clean but unbearable on high gain.
But then I say that about most amps.

monquixote · September 2023

It does kind of sound like an inexpensive solid state amp to me.

Grumpyrocker · September 2023

So after a few days of using my new Dualtop I'm very impressed.

I already have a Mini VH4 and I love the sound of that amp, but it's a one trick pony. The Dualtop has a high gain channel that's very similar to the VH4 Mini, but offers me a lot more including a 1w mode, boost, DI out, and onboard reverb.

The amp would be easily loud enough to gig, but the 1W mode means it works brilliant as a home amp. The various bright/dark modes make it easy to tailor to your guitars.

Negatives? Gain and boost too high can get a little fizzy at the top end, and unsurprisingly also a bit noisy. But a noise gate has solved any noise issues, and there's no need for full gain and full boost. You can get fantastic high gain chug without such extreme settings.

All round I'm very impressed, especially for £250. Puts plenty of more expensive amps to shame.

HT986M2 · October 2023

How are you getting on with the amp a couple of weeks in? Phil McKnight posted a very positive review of it earlier today. Are you running it through the paired cab?

Grumpyrocker · October 2023

Still loving it. I'm running it through a 2x12 v30 cab.

Have my pedalboard set up in 4CM so I can enjoy the amp's drives and dirt pedals too. I bought a dual latching footswitch for the boost and channel change.

The 1W mode is great for home use. And it'll still go bloody loud in that setting.

impmann · October 2023

Congrats to GG for producing a video of a product that manages to completely remove any feelings of "I want this" from me.

I'm really struggling to hear anything 'unique' in the sound of these amps... nice and cheap, I'll give them that.

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