Lab Series L2 Head

Not sure about the year this was made, it's a Lab L2, model 315A, if I'm reading the back panel right. 100W. This is just the head, it has 2inputs, a hi & lo, the deep switch, and the freq sweep and compression. Another guy said the power switch had been replaced on his, the "press on" button. Same with this amp, so that must have been the weak point of these amps. I only wish it had reverb. This is one of the best solid state amps I've encountered, sounds more tubey.

I don't play this amp, I have it in my studio, and I'll probably start using it for some things, because it sounds pretty amazing. I would have to drag my Music Man 2x12 cab over or something.
I used to play in a band with a guy named Lonnie Jolson in the early 80s who used one of these amps, only his was the combo, but I was always amazed, he's play his old 50s crusty wine colored Les Paul through a Morley Wah and the Lab, and what an amazing sound. Everything from country to rocking blues. The thing about the Lab amp that impressed me was, when Lonnie cranked the compression on this thing, it would almost sound like he was playing backward, especially if he was using the wah. A very distinctive sound, which is why I bought this amp from a friend, I think I paid $75 for it. It's actually in real good shape, I think the pots could be sprayed down because it's sat for awhile, but it sounds great. Great with a Strat.

Not sure.

N/A

I've been playing since... since.... uh, I can't remember, that's how long. Jimi was still alive when I started, put it that way. Yeah, I'd pick one of these up again, I wanted the combo, but the head isn't bad either.
I don't go through a lot of gear like most musicians, if I like something, I try to hang onto it. I'll probably keep this because I think they're pretty rare.
Since this part of the rating wants comparisons..... I'll do a plug for a Gallien-Kruegar amp I once had, the one thing I've let go that I regret. I only have a vague photo of it, and GK didn't even know anything about this amp. I got it in about 1977, and I think Santana used to play one of these. Best tone variation of a Solid State amp ever, and incredible depth of reverb. It was a black amp, about the size of a Princeton, and they must have only made a couple of these as I've never seen another. Best amp I've had, to my memory. So, I'd take THAT over the Lab. But the Lab is pretty cool.

This amp was made in the late 70's, early 80's, the golden years of pre-modeling transistor tech. At that time, replacement tubes were hard to find because boutique tube makers hadn't lept into the market yet and the fabled Russian warehouses full of tubes were still behind the iron curtain. Gibson, for whom amp sales have never been a long suit, saw a market opportunity and sold these solid state gems through it's subsidiary, Norlin. It features a deep switch (cuts the mids) and a pretty good compressor, an effects loop and pre-amp out, but the very well designed pre-amp section with it's sweepable mid-range is the secret sauce in this equation
I bought this head in the late 80's when I was playing a hard-tail Stratocaster, mostly in country rock bands. I bought it from a bass player in one of those bands who had been playing bass through it with great success for years. During those days I ran it into a homemade 2x12 cab with no effects except a beat up 70's tube screamer. It worked great for me, was never a problem. At that time I also had a vintage Ampeg B-15 and small 50's Epiphone and Kalamazoo tube amps that didn't leave the house much. I played in a variety of styles in the early 90's including rock and R&B bands. Feeling the need for more effects, I went bang for buck and got a 300W Line6 combo. The L2 was shelved in the garage attic and sat for a few years.

In about '96, I read an interview with Ty Tabor in guitar player magazine, in which he gave away ALL his secrets about the infamous "Gretchen Tone" from King's X's Gretchen Goes To Nebraska record. One of the biggest secrets was that he ran the pre-amp out from a Lab head into a Mesa Boogie all tube power amp. That's how the guy who invented dropped tuned destruction got some of his best tones. And Ty spilled his guts on the exact EQ setting too. The main thing was the sweepable mids.
I got the head out at that time, dialed in the EQ per Ty, ran it into a tube power amp and sho' nuf, Gretchen tone.
For other sonic references, check out Elliott Easton's stellar soloing with The Cars. Elliott was another devout Lab head, along with B.B. King, who has used a Lab combo for Decades (an early 80's present from Gibson).
My son has become a real good player and asked me about the head when he found it in the garage. We got it down and plugged it into a Mesa Boogie 4X12 slant cab and I just couldn't believe it. The 4X12 cab just unleashed the beast. It distorts nicely, the compression is subtle and usable, and I've already extolled the virtues of the EQ. It has way more power than I'll ever need. I'm rarely in a situation where I crank the master above 3, but if you play big venues, it'll work for you. Turned up to 10 you could probably blow the hair off the first row.
My son and I had a lot of fun with it using his Dean Evo and my Fernandez Sustaino-Strat. He is now the proud owner and is extatic about it.

Garage attic, 10 plus years, fired up straight out of the gates with no noise problems. I'd say that's proof.

Norlin is a page in the gear freaks' history book.

I've been playing semi-pro for 20 odd years and for fun and relaxation many years before that. I've been a part of contemporary church worship services for the last 15 years. Aside from the bakers dozen strats, tele's, Paul's and oddballs I've owned and built over the years, I have a close friend in the guitar relic-ing biz, and I play a bunch of his limited edition LP's all the time. He brings them to worship service sunday mornings and I wail away for a couple of hours and give them back. I've owned and played a variety of very nice vintage and modern tube amps, so I have some pretty good reference tones firmly embedded in my mind. If I had it to do over, I might have opted for a nicer effects rack instead of getting the the Modeling amp, and used this head in a rack with maybe one or two other heads. I think I could have achieved the same tonal variety, traded for a smaller footprint.

I picked this head up at a flea market for 25.00.It looked pretty banged,up and wasn't even sure if it worked,but i had been looking for a head for a really long time.I have a ton of amps,Peavey special 112,Bandit 112,old Marhsall etc...... and the other guitar player in my band has a BOATLOAD of equiptment,he would lend me his CRATE or RANDALL heads(200 watt)They are perfect for the type of music i play Thrash,speed,death metal.My sound is extremely Bassy I play stricktly rhythm in a very agrresive 4 piece Band.I got this thing home,didnt even clean it up plugged it in with no effects,and was freakin floored by this heads sound!! It reminded me of some old FENDER studio amp that a friend of mine had that cost him about 6 billz!Almost wished that i was B.B. freakin King or somethin'but im not!I play heavy metal,I ran a ZOOM 205 Guitar effects pedal thru it and have been talkin A Koffin full of Smack ever since!!!I am very pleased with the sound my L2 produces,To me it produces a very UNIQUE warm,rich,sound.It makes every other amp and head I've used sound Generic!It only has one channel which is perfect for me(and easier!!) cuz I let my pedal do all that!Ive used this monster everywhere!!! Garage at home even outdoors!This baby has Some Juice!!And for as tore up as she was(i've cleaned her up real nice!)I am amazed on how RELIABLE she is!!I run a Jackson Stack with my L2 and am lookin for another one(just in case!)gonna see what a power amp will do for me!But bottom line....Im In Love!

I use a bunch of different guitars,mostly off name copys of Flyin V's les pauls(whatever i dont mind smashing up!!)but they all have to have Seymour Duncan Invaders,or super invaders.Only when i use a wirelessSytem do i get any noise or static,Dont mind using the x long cords!I dont think this baby gots distortion?I can blast this puppy pretty high and stick a cheapy 20$ distortion pedal on her and id gig!NO FOOLIN!!!!it sounds that good!

no probs yet!!!Honestly I would be very disapointed if i had to use anything else!Hope this doesnt jinx me!

This amp is a late 70s 100 watt head. Ive usually seen these used as a bass amp and they came stock with a separate 15" bass cab. It has 1 channel -- 7 knobs total which include volumn, bass, frequency sweep, mid, treble, compressor and master vol. There is also a deep switch which should be labled bass MSG switch. On the back side there is a pre amp out, a power amp in, speaker jack (8 ohm), on off switch and a 3 prong 110v socket. Its got all the features I need-- everything on the amp is usefull-- well thought out. It has plenty of power (more like a tube amp 100 watts). I use this amp to reherse, play gigs, and practice. Been using it as a bass amp for years and Im now using it as a guitar amp.

In the past Ive played a P bass through it. The model that I hold in my mind as my ideal bass tone amp has always been a fender showman or dual showman- 60s vintage. This Lab gave me that and more. It seems that with most modern bass amps Im always trying to dial in a good tone. With this L 2 its more like try to find a bad tone. Currently im using it as a guitar amp playing an american strat and tele through it. Its kept at out rehersal studio which is pretty damp and humid and that causes my old fender amps to get funky and crap out. As a guitar amp Im once again amazed at the great tone this thing has. I use a nanoverb with it in the studio. It sounds so good that I use the minimum of reverb-- just enough to fatten it up a bit. When I crank it up its got a bit of a grind to it and I love that. Its not real dirty , just kind of crunchy. The compressor gives me a nice sustain without having to have it totaly cranked. The mid control has a zero center point and when it is placed there the frequency sweep does nothing. I like the tone right there-- kind of fendery. If you turn the mid to either side of center the frequency sweep can make really big tonal changes, like good ones. When I have the compressor on Im losing some of my bite so Im still working on the right placement at different volumns.

This amp was given to me.Before that it sat in a shed (in a very rainy climate) for years. I had to clean out the nests in it. It had been dropped at some time in its life as the wooden case was cracked and the power transformer was torqued off to the side. The tolex was pealing off and the metal corners and face plate were rusting. Its ugly but it still works great. The pots arnt even noisy. The power switch was replaced , thats all .

Havnt had a need for it

Been playing guitar about 15 yrs. Ive been messin with amps about 35 yrs (gear head). I did buy another L 2 about 3 yrs ago when I had the chance just incase old trusty broke down or was stolen etc. Ive been collecting amps for about 10 yrs and decided it was time to clean house and keep what I used so in the last year Ive sold 8 amps. I tried to sell old trusty but it is so ugly it wouldnt sell. So I sold the pretty one and still have old trusty. There was no other review of the L 2 on this site and for a long time I didnt want to submit one. Wanted to kinda keep it a secret. But I think this amp is gonna out live me. OH yeah-- just bought an L 11. Couldnt resist it. These amps are mighty fine