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Which Laney takes a pedalboard well, keeps up with a real drummer, and plays a bar or a church hall? Here are our picks, and what each setup costs once you add the cabinet and footswitch.
The short answer
- Best for a pedal-heavy player: the LF-Supertop head ($639) with an LF212 cabinet ($499.99). It has 120 watts of clean headroom, an effects loop and an XLR direct out. $1,138.99 all-in, plus a footswitch.
- Best all-in-one combo for rehearsal: the LFSUPER60-212 ($769). It's 60 watts through two 12-inch speakers, with two channels, an effects loop, reverb, and an XLR out for the PA.
- Best for small gigs: the IRF-Dualtop head ($489.99) with a GS412IA 4x12 cabinet ($899.99): two footswitchable channels and an XLR direct out for the sound desk. $1,389.98 all-in, plus a footswitch. Want tubes? The BCC IRT30-112 ($1,349) comes with its footswitch.
- Budget pick: the LF60-112 ($499.99). It's the most affordable Laney we sell that passes the drummer test: 60 watts, a 12-inch speaker and an effects loop.
Every amp above is loud enough for a band. What separates them is how well they take pedals and how easily they plug into a PA. Most of them are Laney "Foundry" amps: solid-state, meaning transistors instead of tubes, but voiced after Laney's tube amps. They stay clean at volumes where a small tube amp breaks up. If you're not sure which Laney family suits your music, start with our guide Which Laney Amp Is Right for You?
What makes a good pedal platform
A "pedal platform" is an amp that lets your pedals do the talking. Three things matter.
Clean headroom. That's how loud the amp gets before its own sound starts to distort. Drive pedals sound best into a clean amp, so the pedal sets the distortion. More watts usually means more headroom, which is why a 120-watt head is the pedal player's pick here.
An effects loop. A loop is a pair of jacks on the back that let you plug pedals in after the amp's preamp. The preamp is the stage that makes the amp's own distortion. Delay and reverb sound smeared and muddy when they go through that distortion, and clear when they come after it.
Where each pedal goes. The rule of thumb: tuner, wah, compressor, overdrive and fuzz go into the front input. Chorus, delay and reverb go in the loop.
What rehearsal with a drummer needs
An acoustic drum kit is loud, and a small amp gets buried. Our rule of thumb: 30 watts or more for a tube amp, or 50 watts or more for a solid-state amp, through at least one 12-inch speaker. Tube watts sound louder, so the tube number is lower, and a 12-inch speaker moves more air than a 10-inch.
That rule is why two popular Laneys appear in our home-practice guides instead. The LX35R and LG35R ($369.99 each) are 35-watt solid-state combos with 10-inch speakers. They're at their best for home practice and jamming with friends. The Cub-Super12 ($784.99) is a lovely 15-watt tube pedal platform, best suited to home, studio and quieter stages.
What a small gig needs
- A direct out to the PA. An XLR output with speaker simulation (a filter that sounds like a miked cabinet) sends a finished guitar sound straight to the mixing desk. No microphone needed.
- Footswitchable channels. A clean verse and a dirty chorus shouldn't mean a trip back to the amp. On most of these amps the footswitch is a separate add-on.
- A rig you can carry. The Foundry combos here weigh 9 to 16 kg (21 to 35 lb). With a head, the amp and cabinet go in two lighter trips.
Our picks compared
Prices are our current prices. Weights are Laney's figures.
| Amp | Type | Power / speaker | FX loop | XLR direct out | Footswitch | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LF-Supertop | Solid-state head, 2 channels | 120 W, no speaker | Yes | Yes, speaker sim | FS2-Mini, separate | 7.3 kg | $639 |
| LFSUPER60-212 | Solid-state combo, 2 channels | 60 W, 2x12 | Yes | Yes, speaker sim | FS2-Mini, separate | 15.8 kg | $769 |
| LF60-112 | Solid-state combo, 2 channels | 60 W, 1x12 | Yes | No (line out) | FS2-Mini, separate | 9.4 kg | $499.99 |
| IRF-Dualtop | Solid-state head, 2 channels | 60 W, needs a cabinet | Yes | Yes, speaker sim | FS2-Mini, separate | 4.5 kg | $489.99 |
| IRF-Loudpedal | Amp in a pedal, 2 channels | 60 W, needs a cabinet | Yes | Yes, speaker sim | Built in | 1.1 kg | $286.99 |
| BCC IRT30-112 | Tube combo, 3 channels | 30 W, 1x12 | Yes | Yes, cabinet emulation | FS4-IRT included | 20.5 kg | $1,349 |
Each amp, one by one
LF-Supertop: the most clean headroom
The LF-Supertop is a 120-watt, two-channel Lionheart Foundry head that weighs 7.3 kg (16.1 lb). At 120 watts it stays clean far louder than anything else here, so your drive pedals set the tone at any volume. It adds an effects loop, a footswitchable boost, an under-1-watt setting for home, and built-in reverb, chorus and tremolo.
For gigs, its XLR direct out carries Laney's LA·IR speaker simulation, with a choice of 1x12 or 4x12 cabinet sound. It takes a 4-, 8- or 16-ohm cabinet. Laney recommends its LF212 (4 ohms, 120 watts, $499.99), which is rated for the full 120 watts. For a bigger sound, the LF412 (4 ohms, 240 watts, $829.99) takes it easily.
Pros
- Most clean headroom on this list
- Effects loop plus built-in reverb and modulation
- XLR direct out with 1x12 or 4x12 sound
- Under 1 watt for home
Good to know
- Pairs with the cabinet of your choice, such as the LF212 or LF412 above
- Footswitches sold separately, so add them to your order
LFSUPER60-212: two speakers against the drums
The LFSUPER60-212 puts the LF-Supertop's features into a 60-watt combo: two channels, the effects loop, boost, reverb, chorus, tremolo, and the XLR direct out with LA·IR speaker simulation. It drops under 1 watt for home, and it weighs 15.8 kg (34.7 lb).
Why it beats the LF60-112 for rehearsal: both are 60 watts, but this one has two 12-inch speakers instead of one. Two speakers move more air than one, and moving air is what cuts through a drum kit. The speakers are stacked, so it takes no more floor space than a 1x12. You also get the XLR out, so the same amp plays the gig.
Reviewers tested the 1x12 version, which has the same controls and features. MusicRadar called it "a brilliant little gigging amp". Guitar.com's headline praised "Laney magic without tubes", and it rated the direct out one of the most accurate it had heard. A tip from Guitar.com: to go direct with the speaker silent, plug an empty jack into the headphone socket.
Pros
- Everything for rehearsal and small gigs in one box
- Two 12-inch speakers
- Effects loop and XLR direct out
- Under 1 watt for home
Good to know
- At 15.8 kg, a sturdy one-trip carry
- One EQ serves both channels
- Two FS2-Mini footswitches control everything; add them to your order
IRF-Dualtop and GS412IA: the full-power gig rig
The IRF-Dualtop ($489.99) is a 60-watt head weighing 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). It has two separate channels, spring-style reverb, a boost, an effects loop, and an XLR direct out with switchable speaker simulation. Its power switch drops it from 60 watts to under 1 watt. Laney's FS2-Mini footswitch (sold separately) changes channels and turns on the boost.
It needs a cabinet of 8 ohms or more. The GS412IA ($899.99) is 16 ohms and rated 320 watts, so the Dualtop can run flat out into it all night. A closed-back 4x12 is the classic partner for this high-gain Ironheart voice. On a budget, the Cub-112 (8 ohms, $319.99) works for home and small stages. It's rated 50 watts, a little under the Dualtop's 60, so don't run it flat out.
Prefer tubes? The Black Country Customs IRT30-112 ($1,349) is a hand-built 30-watt tube combo with three channels, an effects loop and an XLR direct out with cabinet emulation. Its FS4-IRT footswitch comes in the box.
Pros
- Two channels, boost and XLR out for the PA
- Cabinet rated for more than five times the head's power
- Light head, under 1 watt for home
Good to know
- High-gain Ironheart voice; for sweet cleans, a Lionheart amp is the natural pick
- A 4x12 is a big, full-sounding cabinet; the Cub-112 is the compact option
- FS2-Mini footswitch sold separately, so add one to your order
LF60-112: the most affordable amp that keeps up
The LF60-112 is 60 watts of Lionheart Foundry through a 12-inch HH speaker for $499.99. It has two channels, a footswitchable boost, reverb, a low-power mode under 1 watt, a headphone jack and an effects loop. It weighs 9.4 kg (20.7 lb).
Good to know for gigs: it has no XLR out. Its line out (the loop's send jack) and speaker-simulated headphone jack can feed the PA, or a microphone on its 12-inch speaker does the classic job. To switch channels and boost by foot, add Laney's FS2-Mini footswitch (sold separately). The reverb takes its own FS1-Mini.
Pros
- Most affordable drummer-proof Laney we sell
- Effects loop and two channels
- Under 1 watt for home
Good to know
- Line out instead of XLR; a mic on the speaker works great at gigs
- Footswitches sold separately, so add them to your order
IRF-Loudpedal: for players who live on a pedalboard
The IRF-Loudpedal ($286.99) is a two-channel, 60-watt amp shaped like a large pedal. It weighs 1.1 kg (2.4 lb). The channel switch and boost footswitches are built in, and it has an effects loop, an XLR direct out with speaker simulation, and a speaker output for an 8- or 16-ohm cabinet. At home, its headphone jack gives you silent practice.
For full power, pair it with the GS412IA (16 ohms, 320 watts, $899.99). The Cub-112 (8 ohms, $319.99) is the light, affordable choice for home and small stages. It's rated 50 watts, a little under the Loudpedal's 60, so don't run it flat out. Or skip the cabinet and use the XLR out into the PA.
Pros
- Most affordable way into a 60-watt, two-channel amp
- Footswitches built in
- XLR out, so the PA can be your cabinet
Good to know
- Built for stage volume; headphones cover home practice
- High-gain Ironheart voice, made for drive-heavy rigs
- Pairs with any 8- or 16-ohm cabinet, or the PA through its XLR out
What each setup costs, all-in
Laney's FS1-Mini and FS2-Mini footswitches are sold separately and not counted in the totals.
| Setup | What you buy | Footswitch | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget combo | LF60-112 $499.99 | FS2-Mini, sold separately | $499.99 |
| Loudpedal, home and small stage | IRF-Loudpedal $286.99 + Cub-112 $319.99 | Built in | $286.99 |
| Rehearsal combo | LFSUPER60-212 $769 | FS2-Mini, sold separately | $769 |
| Dualtop, home and small stage | IRF-Dualtop $489.99 + Cub-112 $319.99 | FS2-Mini, sold separately | $489.99 |
| Pedal platform | LF-Supertop $639 + LF212 $499.99 | FS2-Mini, sold separately | $639 |
| Loudpedal, full-power cabinet | IRF-Loudpedal $286.99 + GS412IA $899.99 | Built in | $286.99 |
| Tube combo | BCC IRT30-112 $1,349 | FS4-IRT included | $1,349 |
| Small-gig rig | IRF-Dualtop $489.99 + GS412IA $899.99 | FS2-Mini, sold separately | $489.99 |
Five mistakes to avoid
- Buying a practice amp for band practice. A 35-watt amp with a 10-inch speaker, or a 15-watt tube amp, is built for home and quieter rooms. Stick to the 30-watt tube or 50-watt solid-state rule.
- Putting your delay in front of a distorted amp. Use the effects loop for delay and reverb, or keep the amp clean.
- Matching the wrong cabinet. The IRF-Dualtop, IRF-Leadtop and IRF-Loudpedal need 8 ohms or more. The LF212 and LF412 are 4-ohm cabinets, so pair those with the LF-Supertop only. Check that the cabinet's power rating is at least the amp's.
- Forgetting the footswitch. Only the Loudpedal and the IRT30-112 include one. Add a footswitch to your order for the rest, or you'll be walking back to the amp mid-song.
- Counting on a line out for the PA. The LF60-112 and the IRF-Leadtop have no XLR direct out. If you'll play through a PA most weekends, get an amp that has one.
Common questions
- Are solid-state amps good with pedals?
- Yes. A solid-state amp stays clean at high volume, which is exactly what drive pedals want. The Foundry amps also have effects loops for your time-based pedals.
- Is 60 watts enough for gigs?
- For bars, cafés, churches and halls, yes, especially when the XLR out also feeds the PA.
- Can I skip the cabinet and play straight into the PA?
- Yes, with the Loudpedal, Dualtop or LF-Supertop through their XLR outs. You'll want a stage monitor so you can hear yourself.
- Lionheart or Ironheart?
- Lionheart is Laney's British-voiced family, with sweet cleans and classic-rock drive. Ironheart is the high-gain family for tight rock and metal. Pedal players usually want Lionheart.
- Laney: LF-Supertop and user manual (120 W, 4/8/16-ohm cabinets, XLR DI)
- Laney: LFSUPER60-212 and user manual
- Laney: LF60-112 and user manual
- Laney: IRF-Dualtop and user manual (8-ohm minimum)
- Laney: IRF-Loudpedal and user manual
- Laney: LX35R, LG35R, Cub-Super12 and Cub-112
- 2kool4skool.com product listings: GS412IA, LF212, LF412 and BCC IRT30-112 (power, impedance, included footswitch)
- MusicRadar: Laney Lionheart Foundry Super 60 112 review
- Guitar.com: Laney Lionheart Foundry Super 60 review