Lab Series L5

I've had my L5 for 30 years and I love it. I worked as a junior engineer at a computer manufacturer when I bought it (used) for $175. I was really impressed by how well built it was and it sounds great. We're all familiar with the features, so I won't bloviate.

I use it with a custom built maple Tele. It's got 2 EMG single coils and an EMG humbucker in the bridge, and it's all tricked out to do coil splitting on the humbucker as well as another switch that adds the bridge pickup to any other combo - VERY cool guitar. It is extremely versatile with this amp. I play all kinds of music, but mostly Jeff Beck style stuff. I use the LO input on the dirty channel exclusively, and just mess with the parametric mid to add or subtract balls. It's very quiet to operate. The only noise is an L11 style fan I put in the side of the cab 'cause I like to run it at 4 ohms with an extension cabinet for big rooms.

In 30 years, I've never had a problem I couldn't fix myself, and it never quit on a gig. I put an on/off switch in it about a year after I bought it, and when the reverb tank broke, I stuck an Accutronics unit from an old Princeton Reverb in it. Works great. I live in Buffalo where they were built and have talked to a couple of the engineers who designed and built them. They say you can run the output right down to 2 ohms without hurting it if you cool it with a fan. It's VERY heavy, so now I make my kids carry it.

Please....

I've been playing for 35 years, I've got a really nice Alverez acoustic, and a Korg M1 that I use for recording piano tracks. It sounds great through the L5 too. If someone stole it I'd freak 'cause nothing else comes close. Plus I'd have to spend the next 30 years figuring out something new, and I don't have that kind of time. Can't think of single feature I wish it had that I haven't already done to it.

Two non-switchable channels. If you want to switch channels, you have to unplug the guitar from one channel and plug into the other. Channel 1 is clean, channel 2 is dirty. It has an effects loop, a built in compressor and a master volume. Each channel has a "bright switch". Preatty straight forward for an amp.

This is a solid state amp. I bought it because I am a big fan of Ty Tabor, of King's X. The amp has a nice overdrive, but don't expect this to sound like a Marshall or a Boogie, although I have to say that this thing has its own unique sound. To get a metal tone out of this thing I run a rackmount parametric eq through the effects loop, and boost 100hz and cut 400hz. This gives me a very nice metal sound. There is quite a difference in volume from channel to channel, something I do not like, but I like the sound of the dirty channel that I don't bother with the clean channel. I really like the sound of the amp.

Well, as of this writing, this amp is almost 30 years old. It seems that it will hold, but it has given me signs that it will be a troublesome amp on a gig. The inputs are making crackling noises, so I'm afraid to take it out on gigs. I take it because it is the only amp that I have right now. I have it because it is an awesome sounding amp, don't get me wrong, but something this old is just not very reliable.

This amp was designed and made in a joint venture between Moog and Gibson, they were both owend by Norlin in the mid to late 70's. Norlin is now defunct and neither Gibson nor Moog have any information on the amp. I have talked to both companies trying to find more about the amp, but my inquiries have not been fruitful.

I have been playing for 17 years. I have always liked solid state designs. I'm not afraid of them and do not give a rodent's hairy behind about purists that say that tubes are the best. I do not care about brand names either. This is what works for me and this is what I use.

The features are well documented on this board.

My L5 was built prior to 81, the year in which I purchased it new. A speaker was blown and replaced with a Celestion. The amp had a problem under heavy load on some earlier models with either soldering or diodes. I had this repaired in 82 and no problems since then.

The amp is versatile for clean sounds up to pre-grunge distortion. If you are into a heavier distortion this amp works well with outboard distortion pedals, flangers, wah, delays, etc. I am currently using a Digitech HotHead with it and it compliments it quite well. In addition I have used various flangers (since EH Electric Mistress) and Crybaby Wah.

This amp has enough power to keep up with my drummer (who plays louder than normal) either distorted or clean. I have also added outboard plugs for it to accept another 8-16 ohms in series or parallel which gives it a nice bottom of a full stack when needed if a 2-12 or 4-12 cabinet is used.

I use a Fender Strat Deluxe with red, silver and gold pickups from bridge to neck in that order. In addition I have a G&L GL500 with two humbuckers. The parametric EQ can really be used to get different tones from just about any guitar.

In 24 years one broken power switch, a speaker replaced before I bought it, and on some a need to check those diodes. Overall it is nice and quiet however with a heavy distortion box you can get some additonal hiss when the amp is set to 8 or 10. Otherwise you may want to check the aging diodes or capacitors on the reverb/power board.

In 24 years I've used it to practice, garage jams and for bar bands and it hasnt let me down or been as finicky as some tubers can be.

================================================================
FYI my rectifier diodes were replaced in 82. I believe the current suitable replacement part for the Motorola MR502 based on the diagram are 1N5406 rectifier diodes should you have a meltdown. A good electronics tech. should be able to help you. If anyone did this themselves they should post instructions.
=================================================================
If any of you folks have a broken breaker/power switch here is an update on getting replacement parts:

Hello Corey:

Indeed, you have a very old part number, but it is complete, which can be half the battle.
The current part number is 2-5000-P10-H-3.5A.

Right now, none of my distributors have this item in stock, but I have it here in Chicago.

================================================================
In addition my rectifier diodes were replaced in 82. I believe the current suitable replacement part for the Motorola MR502 based on the diagram are 1N5406 rectifier diodes should you have a meltdown. A good electronics tech. should be able to help you.
=================================================================
Please contact one of my distributors to purchase this item.
You can find one near you by going to www.e-t-a.com, and clicking on contact,
and then distributors in the drop down box.

Thank you !
Karen Pelletiere
Customer Service


----- Forwarded by Karen Pelletiere/E-T-A on 01/20/2005 08:22 AM -----
Barbara Kutzer/E-T-A
01/20/2005 07:33 AM

To Karen Pelletiere/E-T-A@E-T-A
cc
Subject Fw: Looking for Part

Barbara Kutzer
E-T-A Circuit Breakers
847-827-7600
----- Forwarded by Barbara Kutzer/E-T-A on 01/20/2005 07:32 AM -----

To: <usinfo@e-t-a.com>
cc:
Subject: Looking for Part

I am looking for a replacement breaker\switch used in Gibson/Moog Lab Series guitar amplifiers manufactured in the late 70s to early 80s. The schematic calls for an E-T-A 045-000P-H 3.5 amp breaker and on off switch. Can you point me to a distributor who might have inventory or to a newer product that would match the specifications and general dimensions?

Thanks in advance.

Cory

I have been playing guitar for over 25 years now. If lost I would find another on EBay, I've considered getting another for spare parts or to play in stereo. I loved the reliability since 82. I hate fact they areent around to make more improvements or a tech. update. I wish someone would do a reissue or an update to the L5 at least. Some might say it doesnt have the same sould of a tube amp (I also own a Mesa amp) but I think it comes damn close. I like the fact that it holds up under pressure and high volume with an almost Marshall like tone. Wish it still had a service department.

As per everyone else`s review (that`s me being lazy). There`s some stuff you don`t really need but it`s there anyway and so it can`t hurt right? An extension speaker cab output would be nice.

62 re-issue Strat (standard). Playing pop, funk & rock. Seriously loud & great clean sound for my Pod Pro to front end with. I only bought this yesterday at a pawn shop here in Australia while I was waiting for a club to open to do an afternoon soundcheck,. I asked the guy if i could try it and guess what...I bought it. It`s awesome. There were hundreds of people in my face at this gig last night and they were like very roudy and I had no issue in hearing every naunce of my playing. This thing married beautifully with the Pod Pro and all of clean, edgy, bright, warm, fat, compressed etc justed worked. The band said i had a great sound! An impulsive decision but a great one. It looks like the real deal and sounds like it too.

Too soon to tell.

Who cares at this point.

Bought it cause I`m sick of my Fender Roc Pro 70 breking up on me and it`s omly 4 years old. Simply need a good clean amp that`s reliable and loud. for the tone, I can`t believe it`s solid state!

Features has been listed, I won't elaborate, but for its time period its sufficient

Using a Epi SG Junior with a single p90 truly makes it growl. I run it clean, the master dimmed and the channel volume at whatever is appropriate for the club. Tweaking the middle, rolling back the treble and playing with the frequency gives a great BB'ish sound, the speakers get a raw sound to them very much tubish in sound. My partners were blown away at my little $60.00 pawnshop prize, I was looking for tube amps and spending bucks, but hey why do it now? More money for the next guitar (with p90's of course, for the blues I play they are THE way to go for me).

Haven't had it long, but hey after nearly 30 years the only problem appears to be the reverb tank which I'll switch out. Thats pretty good in my book, let my partners look for new tubes, I'll just plug and play.

Ahem, extinct company....

Love it, if it were stolen I'd look for another and if I found who stole it, well lets just say they'd go on a long vacation.

Not as many features as a lot amps of today but,at least has a mid sweep on it to tweak a little.Compressor ok but, I don't use it.Seems to cut volume abruptly.I use it for dirty sound only in an A/B configuration.Can't blow power transistor cause the two on the outside are for protection.They turn off the power transistors when speakers are shorted or amp is overloaded etc.But power transistor do go out.

I use a 1978 Strat.Can't hardly distort clean channel.I even went in & turn the distortion trim pot up to 9 1/2.Almost 10.On the other channel it will distort well.I do run an Echoplex in front of it.One with a 4 channel mixer that boost the signal.It makes it sound better.I play all types of rock music on it.Van Halen,Blackmore,Hendrix,Beck(Jeff That Is)ZZTop,AudioSlave,JudasPriest,Frampton,Trower,Dokken,Aerosmith to name a few.Get complements on my sound quite often.Some people even think I play an amp with tubes(HA HA HA)

I've own this amp for about 20 years.Played 100's of gigs with it.Never went out at a gig.But blew transformer after about a year.then about 15 years later blew rectifier circuit.Thats the only problems I've had(other than dropping it once.busted a cap lead easy fix)

Long out of business.I did get a schematic for repair work.Need one let me know.

I cut this amp into a head version many years ago.Have played 5 other ones.None sounds like this one.With a 78 Strat I use two amps.Clean I use an Ampeg V4,peavey 6x10 cab.Rotophase cab.For dirty I use a Lab L5,a 4x12 with GI75 Celections,Electoharmix Golden Throat Talk Box,Pre-amp out to an MXR Analog Flanger Doubler,noise gate,Alesis Quadraverb then back to power-amp in.Pedal board has Cry-Baby(1975 model)Boss EQ,CE-2 Chorus,MXR Phase 90,Octave pedal,Tremolo pedal,then to a Rapco AB box.Dirty goes to Echoplex with 4 channel input(with hotter preamp) then to Lab L5.Clean goes to another Echoplex,a standard solid state unit then an Alesis Quadaverb then to Ampeg V4 for clean.I can get a pretty good clean sound out of the Lab but,I have to re-set the levels on it.If it were stolen,I don't know what I would do.

Midrange sweep and compression is what sold me.
Very versatile for the time.

Guitar - Les Paul standard
Music styles - Rock, Blues, Contemporary Worship
Noisy? - not too bad would be nice if the compression was gated.
Kind of sounds - Sweepable mid-range allows for quick, easy variation.
Distortion - ok Live, Lousy on Line out

Worked great for the first10 years,then:
-Reverb unit failed
-Out of tolerance components caused an overheating problem.
Had the amp serviced & once the tech found a schematic & made some tweaks, the amp worked & sounded great for a few more years, then
the Power transistors' solder joints became loose.
Re-soldered the transistors & soon after, the pre-amp started to develope some problems.

Overall, the L5 served me very well gigging for the better part of 10 years trouble free. In that time it took a lot of abuse.

Now I use it as a power amp for my Line6 Pod Pro!

Didn't need any service for 10+ years of hard work.
It would be nice if I could fin a schematic and a couple of spare knobs to replace the ones that I lost.

It was the best that I could find at the time & if it wasn't so heavy I'd refurbish it & keep on using it (with my Pod Pro, of course)
It still has a great sound.

Dual channel, non switchable w/out A/B box

I just recently purchased this amp, primarily as a seperate clean amp swithched from a triple rectifier setup that I have. (No, I'm not some grunge, nu metal snot nosed punk...I switched the power tubes to eh6ca7's and talk about a brown sound!) Anyway, the tone and variations are awesome, and remind me of tube acoustic amps in the (notch) filtering and midrange control capabilities that this amp has. Awesome tone...with one huge exception that someone might be able to help me with. It has tremendous amount of hiss, amd I've seen someone else post info regarding changing the rectifier diode in order to fix a similar problem. Any input would be very much appreciated!

If this problem is fixable...a 10!

After reading the other reviews, I think I got a real deal on this L5. It had been sitting in the closet of a guy who bought it along with an electric guitar and never got around to learning how to play. I paid him a hundred bucks for it in 1985, basically in new condition. Since the description of the amp is already well covered, I'll just comment that after playing with this thing for twenty years, I still don't quite understand how everything works on it, but I'm close enough.

I've played a lot of guitars through this amp, but mainly my Les Paul Studio Deluxe. I almost always use the "lo" input on the dirty channel. The "hi" input sounds the same to me, just not as loud. In recent years I've been playing more jazz, using most recently an Ibanez AF75 jazz box which I like o.k. I play that through the clean channel and get a very nice sound using a slapback effect from a digital delay pedal and clicking in an octaver for some leads. Try it; you'll like it.

In the twenty years I've had it, the only problem I've has was just the other day I noticed one of the pots was a little scratchy. Guess I'll need to have them cleaned one of these days.

N/A

I've been playing since the sixties. I've whittled my guitar accumulation down to about eight instruments I really like and have a use for. Main electric axe is the abovementioned LP. The L5 has been my main amp ever since I got it, and if it weren't so heavy I wouldn't be looking for something right now, but it is and I am, since I don't need so much weight to play jazz in a three-piece combo. (Need a nice little tube is all.) But I will never get rid of the L5. As others here have noted, the clean channel is nice for guitarists who actually want people to hear what they are playing. The dirty channel can be futzed around with and usually you can come up with something appropriate for rock and harder stuff. (I've played all kinds of stuff in various bands.) This amp is basically becoming my studio amp.

IF your reading this, you already know the features!!!

Fender strat elite (active pickups), tele, yamaha rgx-tt (awesome guitar) Aounds best with the elite - can't say enough good about it!
This is the combination that brought you the great guitar tones on King's x first four albums!!!! BB King also used (uses) them - It's a tone King!!!!

Could easily survive a nuclear holocaust! solid state and built to last! reverb can be a bit touchy after 20 years - take it to a good amo tech, I think the reverb is awesome!!!!

Non existant - company is long gone, I still don't think customer support is usually needed on this one!

I can't say enough good things about this amp, I do suggest driving the overdrive channel with some kind of booster, like an eq, micro amp or something- add a touch of chorus and a little noise suppresion and you have enviable tone.
the strat elite / l-5 combo just goes great together - you can get heavy, jazzy, funky, soulful, whatever!!!