Laney LC15R

The LC15R is a single channel, all-valve guitar combo with a Class A power amplifier pushing out 15W through a 10 inch HH Invader speaker. It uses 3 ECC83/12AX7 preamp valves and 2 EL84 power amp valves. The controls are: Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume, Reverb and a Bright switch. Around the back there are sockets for effects loop Send/Return, Line Out and Reverb On/Off.
Channel switching would have been nice (although the price would be much higher), and because the output is 15 very loud Watts, a headphone jack would have been appreciated for bedroom practice.

I play jazz, blues and rock (melodic, progressive, hard, whatever), with a Washburn Mercury guitar (not ideal for all of these styles, admittedly, but I am a poor student and left-handed). After years of a Zoom 2020 multieffects unit I wanted something more responsive and 'musical' for my quieter moments.
Within its specification, this amplifier pretty much satisfies all my requirements. At the price, this unit should maybe be compared to solid state devices more than much more pricey valve counterparts.
The sound, from clean to heavy crunch (the gain is not huge), is quite wonderful. As someone said in an LC15 review, the depth of tone is incredible, and the responsiveness and harmonic content cannot be touched by most solid state amps. I actually play the guitar quietly, and even with the output valves hardly stretched the sounds are lovely.
The three tone controls work over a good range, as does the gain, so there are many good noises to be had. The Bright switch (most effective with clean sounds) pushes out any boxiness associated with the small speaker - a major gripe in the other review of the LC15R. The reverb goes from barely noticeable to extremely spacious, and is quite 'warm'. At the volumes I use, there is little noise and hum to speak of.
To provide 'channel switching' or to push the overdrive a little more, I recently purchased a Danelectro Daddy O which seems to work quite well with the Laney. I don't have any effects at the moment and so I haven't used the effects loop yet. Sorry!
Soundwise, this is a massive step up from all my previous gear and other bedroom/practice amps I've tried, so it was an excellent choice.

The problem area, I'm afraid. After I bought the unit the output valves turned out to be in bad shape and they kept blowing internal fuses. After receiving new valves from Laney, I went to change the fuses but it was a very fiddly process and I repeatedly received unpleasant electrical shocks. I sent the unit back to them and it was repaired after two weeks and a lot of 'phone calls.

Distinctly underimpressed. They have a technical support chap who's a fount of all knowledge and really friendly, so he would merit a 10. However, he was away when my amp went back and everything fell apart. The repair department took their time, and the reception weren't very reliable. Virtually every time I was told that I would be 'phoned back I had to chase them up again. Communication both within Laney and between Laney and myself was atrocious. They would merit a 0. I'll take an average and give a 5. Just be prepared to badger them!

The LC15R is a superb amplifier and sounds more expensive than it is. The LC15R and its older brother, the LC15 have had mostly excellent reviews.
My only qualms are with reliability and customer service. If these problems are addressed then the amp will be a world beater, and I would definitely buy it again.
When the amp was taking a while being repaired and I was being messed around by the customer service, I started looking in magazines for alternatives. I couldn't find any.
When the amp was returned, I played a simple chord and knew exactly why I chose this. The sound is rather special for this size/price. In fact, I tried a Marshall JTM30 first, and was left totally cold. Unexciting overdrive, almost non-existent reverb, and far too big and heavy for a nomadic student (and twice the price!).
Provided it's dependable,the LC15R will be a friend for life. Aaah!

1-10 EL84 combo with Reverb. See LC15 for more info. Has reverb - most amps this size don't.

I'm constantly lookinf for small amps (less than 20 watts) that sound great when cranked. I was VERY disappointed with the sound of this thing. Not horrible, but not even very good.
Acceptable midrange grind (I guess), but sounds like it's in a shoebox.

I took a look at this because of the incredible price (dealer going out of business) and because it fit the general specs I look for in an amp (low watts, decent size speaker, reverb). This thing sounds like a practice amp. Unless that's what you are going to use it for, pass on it.