Music was forever changed when the original Laney LA Supergroup amplifiers exploded onto the music scene in the late 60s. Since then, we’re proud to say that Laney amplifiers are responsible for some of the most iconic guitar tones ever committed to record and live shows.
We’ve covered why Laney amps are so popular, and why Laney artists choose us over other mp manufacturers but in essence, it boils down to the fact we are a family-run business, we focus on the quality of sound, the quality of construction and the quality of service.
As Laney’s resident “Tone Wizard” and Laney Brand Manager, Simon Fraser-Clark who has been with the brand for nearly 30 years puts it:
“It’s all about attention to detail. Here at Laney, we’re all players, and we all understand what guitarists need.
When people say to us “what do you sell?” My answer is “we sell dreams”. In reality, we sell black boxes that sit in the back of the stage – a piece of equipment which is a conduit to help musicians realise their dreams.
When you have a sound in your head or an idea of the sound you want, you may have to compromise on tone with other amplifiers. We want to make sure we bridge that gap between the sound in your head and the sound of the amplifier. The player or artist has to compromise the least with Laney. It sounds good and they’re inspired to play it.” – Simon Fraser-Clark
Back in 1970, an up-and-coming electric guitarist by the name of Tony Iommi was given a custom Laney LA 100 BL amplifier by Laney founder, Lyndon Laney, which was to be used for Black Sabbath’s first two albums.
That first chord you hear on Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath was the sound of ‘metal’ as we know it being born in the form of a Gibson SG and the first iteration of what would eventually be redesigned as the Laney Supergroup amp.
Fast forward to today and the Black Country Customs Supergroup range of Laney amps and cabs beautifully recreate the vintage sound and looks of Laney’s past but with modern-day reliability. And our artists love them!
With the release of 3 extremely well-received Supergroup amps, namely the Laney LA30BL, which recreates the sound of Tony Iommi’s Black Sabbath rig, the Laney LA100SM used by Billy Corgan and the Laney LA-Studio 3-watt tube amp with Two Notes functionality, we thought we’d round up the latest Laney Supergroup amp users and show you how they’re using it to get their sound.
As of 2023, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Marcello Barrera (Rescate), Space (Never Not Nothing), Neva (Gashahime), James Joseph (James And The Cold Gun) are Laney Supergroup artists and players. With the Laney artist family growing steadily as professional-level guitarists need powerful, vintage-sounding tube amps with modern reliability for stage and studio.
Let’s look at some of the notable Laney Supergroup artists and what gear they;re using.
Tony Iommi’s amplifier sound has always included Laney. The original Laney LA 100 BL amplifier was used across the first two Sabbath albums and Laney amplifiers have been a mainstay in his rig ever since, resulting in multiple collaborations with Laney and Black Country Customs guitar pedals.
Pic: The Laney LA100SM Supermod
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, is a long-standing devotee of the Laney LA100SM Supermod amplifier, and let’s be honest here, his legendary tone is inextricably linked to this robust amplifier, as it takes great inspiration from that first classic LA 100 BL model from the 1970s.
With its 100 watts RMS and Class AB power section ensuring each note retains clarity and punch, even under the weight of Iommi’s heaviest doom laden riffs. The LA100SM’s 3-band EQ, gain control, and presence control grant Iommi a vast tonal playground, shaping the signature sound that has echoed through the annals of heavy metal. The addition of a gain control and 12AX7A & EL34 valve-loaded chassis gives you tonnes of room and bone-crunching power.
Watch his gear guide below:
Tony Iommi is also a Laney LA-Studio amplifier user and endorsee. This is actually THE amplifier used in Tony Iommi’s studio! For those wanting to recreate Iommi’s signature sound, you can get the exact sound of Tony Iommi’s first two Sabbath albums (and the last tour) using this incredible amplifier as it’s loaded with 2 Laney DynIRS and 8 Two Notes DynIRs that are capable of emulating his iconic signature tone. This means you can plug the amp into your computer and choose from vintage studios, live halls and scroll through an entire studio worth of cab sounds, mic sounds and room sounds that Tony would have used.
The fact the Laney LA-Studio is loaded with 3 ECC83 Large Plate preamp tubes and a 12BH7 Power Tube, means the LA-STUDIO is a classic 3 Watt all-tube head that you can drive into your DAW for that real tube amp feel.
The low-power Class AB Tube power stage and integrated Two Notes Torpedo, Emulated DI out also means you can gig with or without a cabinet and get a range of iconic, real valve-saturated sounds!
The Laney Black Country Customs TI-BOOST is Tony Iommi’s boost sound in pedal form. This signature Tony Iommi pedal was designed with long-time Laney artist Tony Iommi, himself and became a significant part of his tour rig for the final ever Black Sabbath tour.
The TI-BOOST gives you the Black Sabbath guitar sound as it replicates the significant bass cut and mid boost of Tony’s original “modified” Dallas Arbiter Range Master pedal. However, we included a little more gain and some enhanced EQ options, Laney style, to give it more tonal options for the modern musician.
Billy Corgan, the driving force behind The Smashing Pumpkins, relies on two Laney LA100SM Supergroup amplifiers to achieve his signature, expansive guitar sounds. So much so that we were proud to welcome him as a Laney artist.
Billy Corgan’s affinity for Laney Supergroup amplifiers is deeply rooted in his admiration for the classic Black Sabbath sound – a sound which he calls “The Sound Of God”.
Initially, his goal was to emulate the distinct tones of Tony Iommi during his early career, but over time, this aspiration evolved into a broader appreciation for the versatility and power of Laney amplifiers, leading Corgan to incorporate them as a staple in his own sound sculpting.
The LA100SM‘s high headroom, distinctive mid-section bite and flexible EQ options, coupled with the unmistakable high-gain crunch provide Corgan with everything he needs to effectively recreate the sound of ‘Gish’ or ‘Siamese Dream’ era sounds all the way to his new ATUM records onstage.
From sparkling cleans to saturated leads and bone-crunching riffage, the Laney Supergroup amps’ feature set and design give Corgan the tools to create the Smashing Pumpkins’ distinct sound onstage.
Check out the interview below, and check out Billy Corgan’s amp settings.
As the Laney LA100SM Supermod model is now sold out, you might be wondering how to recreate the iconic tones it offered. Fortunately, the Laney LA-Studio is here to fill that void. I actually show you how to recreate the studio and live sound of Billy Corgan’s rig using the LA-Studio – handy reading for Smashing Pumpkins fans!
This versatile amplifier comes packed with features that enable musicians to replicate the rich sound of the LA100SM, making it a perfect alternative for those who missed out, but adding a world of functionality in the form of an Impulse Response loaded, 3W or <0.1 Watt version of the critical acclaimed LA30BL head.
This versatile amplifier is loaded with 2 Laney DynIRS and 8 Two Notes DynIRs, offering an array of cabinet and microphone emulations, as well as different room sounds and 6 handy presets.
If you want to nail the sound of Billy Corgan’s live or studio rig including live room, mics, tubes and cabinets, you can emulate the sounds from his live performances and studio recordings using the Two Notes Torpedo module.
The Laney LA-Studio is more than just a backup option, though. Its 3 ECC83 Large Plate preamp tubes and a 12BH7 power tube give it a classic, all-tube sound at a manageable 3 watts which can be attenuated to <0.1 watt. This allows you to enjoy that coveted valve saturation, even at lower volumes.
The Class AB power stage and integrated Two Notes Torpedo, emulated DI out, provide further options for gigging and recording while you enjoy the playing dynamics that real hot tubes can provide.
If you’re wondering how loud your amplifier needs to be the LA-Studio completely changes the game when it comes to gigging with a low-wattage amplifier.
One of the biggest bands in Asia, GashaHime, are proud Laney users. Guitarist Neva is playing the Laney LA30BL with matched LA212 cabinet to craft her unique sonic palette.
With its Class AB design, this amp provides a wide dynamic range, crucial to GashaHime’s genre-defying style. The vintage design box frame output transformer, 3-band EQ, and the ability to jump inputs offers a broad range of tonal colours, central to GashaHime’s distinctive sound.
This amp gives you 30 watts and a super simple layout with relatively clean uncompressed output making it the ideal pedal platform. A modern-day SUPERGROUP – The LA30BL is a modern amplifier that sounds like a classic rock machine capable of crystal clear tones and heavy distortion when needed thanks to the onboard Gain control.
Check the band out below. Neva is playing the LA30BL with matched LA212 cabinet and Garment is playing the new Digbeth DB500H with matching DBV410-4 cabinet.
We are excited to announce that the purveyor of riffs for the loudest band in South Wales has joined the Laney Family. James Joseph of James and the Cold Gun has joined the Laney family playing the Laney LA30BL and matching LA212 offset cab and has been blowing his incredible riff mastery and songwriting.
James and The Cold Gun’s vintage, blues rock inspired sound is perfectly matched to the vintage design box frame output transformer that gives the impression that the amp has been plucked from a 1960s studio somewhere in the UK. The 30 watts is more than enough for stage and studio while the dual bass and treble inputs can be perfectly blended to make a signature sound that provides added thickness and clarity to your riffs.
We are incredibly stoked to have such an amazing guitarist on our roster and love what James has done with his sound using the Laney Supergroup amps!
Check out the band below and listen to those absolutely killer riffs being busted out from a combination of the Laney BCC Steelpark boost pedal, LA30BL amp and Laney 212 cab!
The energetic duo Never Not Nothing chose the LA30BL as a cornerstone of their gear setup and for guitarists SPACE to get his guitar sound.
One listen to their track ‘Maximum’ and you’ll instantly understand why the band needs a powerful, high energy amplifier to not only push those huge riffs but to also offer a pedal platform for SPACE’s unique guitar sound.
The amp’s 30 watts RMS and Class AB power section ensure a robust and clear tone, even during their most intense performances and heaviest riffage. The gain control and presence control enable precise tone shaping, vital in creating the band’s killer guitar lines as each note stands out, integral to the intricacies of Never Not Nothing’s incredibly unique sound that fuses everything from electronic to punk to nu-metal to industrial metal. Hence the tag – Apocalyptic noise-punks!
Check out the band below and I dare you not to nod along to this incredible track
Marcelo Barrera, a virtuoso known for his rich incredibly versatile guitar playing and world-class, genre-spanning guitar skills, finds an incredible ally in the Laney LA30BL as well as a host of different amplifiers including the Laney Lionheart series.
When playing solo or playing with his band Rescate, this amp’s Class AB power section provides a perfect backdrop for his expressive style with enough gain and power for his stadium-level power. The LA30BL, loaded with 12AX7A and EL34 tubes, delivers 30 watts RMS of potent sound, making it an ideal platform for Barrera’s pedal collection.
Pure power when you need it, absolute clarity when you need it and smooth, vintage style gain when you need it. It’s all there with the Laney LA30BL Supergroup amp!
Check out the band below and spot the Laney gear!
The reason why the Laney Supergroup amps are so good is the fact that the Supergroup series is the premier line of Laney tube amps, fusing vintage sonic styling with modern-day reliability for guitarists that need that unmistakable tube tone, but with the ability to sculpt their sound the way they want to. It’s the sound of the late 60s and 70s Laney amps in a modern-day head.
We’ve kept it simple in design, with 3 band EQ’s, dual inputs for treble and bass and gain controls, and found that by limiting the number of controls, you are given the freedom to explore what these tube amps can really do. Whether you want to plug in, turn up and play hard with the 30-watt and 100-watt versions, or sit back and jam in the studio with the 3-watt LA-Studio, the Supergroup gives that vintage tube tone you’ve been looking for.
Both the LA30BL and LA100SM share features like the Class AB power section and a 12AX7A & EL34 loaded design, providing a rich, warm tone that provides subtle saturation or all-out doom-laden crunch. With their incredibly powerful valve sections, 3-band EQ, gain control, and presence control, these amps offer musicians everything they need and nothing they don’t. Whether you’re exploring the resonant depths of the bass channel or soaring on the bright, crisp treble channel, the Supergroup series delivers a consistent and powerful tone.
The Supergroup amps also serve as an incredible platform for both vintage and modern effects pedals making them incredibly adaptable studio and live amplifiers that play very well with pedals.
But perhaps most importantly, the Supergroup series embodies Laney’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The vintage design box frame output transformer not only contributes to the amps’ distinctive sound but also speaks to Laney’s dedication to time-tested, traditional construction methods and uncompromising tone.
Check out the full Laney Supergroup range today.