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LANEY
HARDCORE MXD 15 AMP Reviewer: Phil Para Distributor: Lamberti Bros |
One of the products I am reviewing this edition is a Laney Hardcore MXD 15 Amp. It is a solid state amplifier with two channels and onboard digital effects.
This is a new product for Laney in their Hardcore range and is an entry level amp. I was not therefore able to test it in a live situation but rather used it at home as a practice amp which is how I perceive it to be intended anyway.
The MXD features a 15 Watt RMS amplifier stage, 8" Custom-Voiced Laney Driver
-Bass, Middle & Treble Equalization Controls
-Switchable Clean and Distortion modes with Clean Volume, Master Volume and ‘Crunch Factor’ controls.
-Phono CD Input -Headphone Socket .
These specifications are what you may normally expect for an amp at this price point however Laney have also provided a Custom X-Factor DSP Digital Effects Package with single ‘Instant Selection’ program control featuring 15 Effects Programs:
• 2 Reverbs: 1 x room sized, 1 x large hall sized
• 4 Delays: 250ms "slap back delay", 400 ms , 500 ms, 600ms
• 2 Chorus: 1 lush, slow deep wave pattern and 1 fast shallow wave pattern
• Flange
• Rotary Speaker Simulator
• Octaver
• Chorus + Reverb
• Chorus + Delay
• Flange + Delay
• Octaver + Delay
All of the effects are quite good and there is certainly a broad enough selection to begin with.
There are no level controls for the effects, which may bother a more experienced player but I believe this can be a positive for a newer guitarist as it provides clarity for each effect that can help to discern between them.
Now I will take you through the features and those of you with more experience will have to excuse the over simplification but I believe that as a beginner’s amp those players just starting out deserve to understand what each feature does.
GUITAR INPUT: This is a good sturdy jack.
CLEAN VOLUME: This controls the overall volume for the clean channel and works independently.
CRUNCH FACTOR ON! This is a simple on/ off switch to engage the crunch factor.
CRUNCH FACTOR: This is a control pot to set the level of distortion within the CRUNCH FACTOR.
MASTER VOLUME: This works in conjunction with the CRUNCH FACTOR and sets its overall volume.
BASS: This controls the low frequency EQ in the pre-amp;
MIDDLE: This controls the mid frequency EQ in the pre-amp
TREBLE: This controls to high frequency EQ in the pre-amp
The equalization settings in general all work very well in conjunction with each other.
DIGITAL X FACTOR EFFECTS: As described above
CD/LINE INPUT: This is for the connection of an external CD player. A fantastic accessory for the guitarist to play along with a CD.
HEADPHONES: A socket for connecting external headphones which when plugged in automatically isolates the internal speaker. A favourite feature of parents and housemates of new guitarists.
As I have found with all Laney products this amp is nice and solid with good workmanship, the hardware is of reasonable quality and although the corners are plastic rather than metal, the whole unit is very light and therefore this should not be a problem.
Overall I think this is a good complete unit for a new player. The onboard digital effects make it entirely economical, as it would be very expensive to buy all of these effects as pedals or as a digital effects unit. Most beginners don’t get the opportunity to experiment with a lot of effects until after they are established. Another real bonus with this amp is that new players will find it really easy to work with as the control panel is well marked and controls and "instant selection" effects are straightforward to operate. The CD line in and headphone jack are also particularly useful features for a beginner and I can recommend the MXD 15 as a great unit in its price point.
QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
BANG-F0R-YOUR-BUCK
OVERALL
