Lab Series L11

Lab Series L-11 head. This thing has a gang of features for an older amp. 2 channels, frequency sweep, multifilter, reverb (spring), compressor, and 200 watts. I'm rating this category at an 8, because with the advent of amp modeling technology, digital amps have more to offer in the feature department. Otherwise, as a first amp, I'd give it a 10.

Sound. Distortion-wise, forget it. This is *NOT* the amp for you. I tried to get this amp to sound nasty, but never succeeded.
But if you want crisp and clean, its brisk and mean. Tones are clear enough to make the saltiest bluesmen fall in love. I've played alot of various music through it--reggae, blues, country, pop--wherever you need clean guitar. Rock/Metal meisters need not apply.
I've played: 72 Fender Telecaster, Cheap-o 80's "Starforce" guitar, Fender Am Strat, Gibson Melodymaker, and a Gibson LP Standard through it using a 2x12 cabinet. I've even played an acoustic through it and always sounded good. I currently play a 75 Fender J-bass through it, paired up with a matching Lab Series 4x10 cabinet. GREAT sound.
Rating- Distortion:3 Clean:10

What can I say about the reliability? Its a solid state, and built like a tank. I've had my amp for 11 going on 12 years. I've never serviced it and it has never broke (obviously).

I've heard these were made by either one of three companies now. Gibson - the parent company - you probably could get some kind of support there, but I haven't needed it. Lab Series - went out of business, so good luck there. Norlin - I've never heard of these guys...

I've been playing guitar for 12 years. This was my first amp, so I'm kinda biased about it, but its been a great amp. I have a Marshall bass amp. I switch my playing time between the two. I only wish that the company didn't go out of business, I'd like to see what a new/updated Lab Series amp could do.

Very similar to all the other Lab Series models except this is the head version. Tons of knobs, inputs, an effects loop, 200 watts you'll never use, even that compressor knob that no one else has. Basically two channels with hi/lo inputs on both, reverb on the second, also a multifilter knob on that channel. Giving it a 10 rating because it goes beyond what most amps have.

Well, I'm using two great Ibanez guitars and I've used various effects through this as well. Playing this through a Marshall 4x10 cab. I play a very wide variety of styles, but this amp doesn't suit them all. Distortion??? Brutal, awe inspiring, massive.... no, these aren't terms synonomous with this amp. Distortion is, well, crappy. But wait!!! The clean sounds you hear from this thing are AMAZING!! I guess it can be compared to a Roland JC120 (except no chorus). For the clean sounds, this is a brilliant piece of amp. No noise, but there's no tubes (which in my opinion is usually bad, but not in this case). Well, there is a fan, but you get used to that. Try turning up the reverb and adding some slow phaser and... well, it's enough to almost make you weep. My rating would go something like this: Amp as Distortion Machine: -3 Otherwise: 9

This thing is huge. No tubes in it, so you don't have to worry about dropping it while setting up or slipping on ice or something and breaking one of those glass beauties. This thing is old (late seventies), and i don't know how many people owned it before I did, but it's obviously held it's own since then. Mine is in near perfect shape.

I don't think you have to worry about this. Norlin= dead

My goodness, for the price, you can't find anything better. These things are actually pretty easy to find (well, I don't about the L11, but the others are). I'm also using an awesome Soldano head (if you haven't played through one, DO IT!!!), so all my distortion concerns are solved with that. However, this amp is nothing but perfect for me and anyone else. You probably won't find one for over $150 and trust me, you will NOT regret it. If I found another one, I would definitely buy it before anyone else got to it!!