Combo to head conversion

Limehouse_Blues

i have a Laney VC15 that needs new valves and a service. I love the sounds from this little amp but always feel the 10 inch speaker sells it short. Using the cab extension disables the internal speaker but it still seems silly having the amp sit in a box with a speaker I don't use.

Anyone know any amp techs that might be able to rehouse this amp in a small lunchbox head?

zenzeypher

Take it on as a project, be loads of fun. glue, clamps, spray glue and tolex.

ICBM

Given the physical layout, it won't save much space. Also, if it's a spring reverb version then moving the tank closer to the amp may cause hum - if it's a digital it doesn't matter though.

Have you thought about putting a different 10" in it? Depending on which version it is, the speaker might be just the wrong voicing for what you're trying to get from it.

NPP

or just take the speaker out and use the space to house a bag with pedals and accessories?

simonk

Try something like a Ragin Cajun in there. The stock speaker is a bit weedy as I recall.

Limehouse_Blues

Cheers guys for these helpful suggestions

ecc83

Some 10" containing combos  can actually take a twelve (e.g. Mk 1 HT-5..Just!)  The dimms of that amp suggest to me that it might as well.

The fact that the 12 would be firing through a 10" hole will make little difference except make it perhaps a bit less directional (counter-intuitive I know but true)

Dave.

ICBM

ecc83 said:

Some 10" containing combos  can actually take a twelve (e.g. Mk 1 HT-5..Just!)  The dimms of that amp suggest to me that it might as well.

I think you'd have difficulty getting a 12" in - the speaker magnet is very close to the power valves even with the 10", and most 12"s are deeper as well.

ecc83

ICBM said:

ecc83 said:

Some 10" containing combos  can actually take a twelve (e.g. Mk 1 HT-5..Just!)  The dimms of that amp suggest to me that it might as well.

I think you'd have difficulty getting a 12" in - the speaker magnet is very close to the power valves even with the 10", and most 12"s are deeper as well.

Ah! 'Fraid that might be the case. Might get a Neo Century in there? Trouble is, bloody expensive now and nobody seems to like them!

Dave.

viz

NPP said:

or just take the speaker out and use the space to house a bag with pedals and accessories?

I did the opposite, my combo was ridiculously heavy, and I had a head anyway, so I just removed the amp part of the combo and I store leads and pedals there instead. 

ICBM

ecc83 said:

Might get a Neo Century in there? Trouble is, bloody expensive now and nobody seems to like them!

The Neo Creamback seems to be getting a lot of praise though - I haven't tried one myself yet.

I wonder if the very high field intensity of a Neo would be a problem that close to the power valves? I know the field is supposed to be 'wrapped around' inside and is mostly across the coil gap, but some does leak out! I have once come across an amp which hummed badly with a particular preamp valve type right next to the speaker magnet, unless a steel screening can was used.

Modulus_Amps

Where are you and are you prepared to pay shipping? this is a combo to head /cab conversion I did several months ago. I could do the same but would want the amp here. (NE Scotland)

This one had a reverb tank too obviously, and in the normal orientation it hummed badly, rotated it 180 degrees and it was as quite as a mouse.

Considering the price of the Laney though, it does not make much sense to spend this sort of money on it.

ICBM

A Concert combo also makes it more worthwhile since it starts out somewhat heavier than a VC15 .

In fact I'm sure it still is as a head!

ecc83

ICBM said:

ecc83 said:

Might get a Neo Century in there? Trouble is, bloody expensive now and nobody seems to like them!

The Neo Creamback seems to be getting a lot of praise though - I haven't tried one myself yet.

I wonder if the very high field intensity of a Neo would be a problem that close to the power valves? I know the field is supposed to be 'wrapped around' inside and is mostly across the coil gap, but some does leak out! I have once come across an amp which hummed badly with a particular preamp valve type right next to the speaker magnet, unless a steel screening can was used.

As I recall IC there was very little stray field from the Century (think I have one in the loft) . However, something else has just occurred to me but I need to draw it out in case it is lack of coffee induced bllx.

Dave.

ecc83

Ok, as you were. Was bllx.

Dave.