Laney Supergroup LA-Studio review

The latest amp head from Laney’s flagship UK-designed and made Supergroup range offers real vintage tube tone combined with Two Notes cab emulation

Laney Supergroup LA-Studio head
(Image: © Future / Phil Barker)

Guitar World Verdict

With famous users including Tony Iommi and Lari Basilio, the LA-Studio is aimed primarily at guitarists who want full-on vintage valve sounds for recording or internet broadcast. It’s hardly an impulse purchase, but with everything considered, we reckon it’s great value for money. Definitely one to check out.

Pros

  • +

    Good-looking, beautifully finished.

  • +

    Typically high attention to detail.

  • +

    Accurate vintage valve sound.

  • +

    Low output and low noise are ideal for recording.

  • +

    Embedded Two Notes Torpedo DynIR technology and MIDI.

Cons

  • -

    Low power output means you can’t easily use it for the average unmic’d club gig.

  • -

    We’d like to see a slightly higher-powered combo version.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

History tends to focus on London and Liverpool as the two main epicentres of British popular music in the late 1960s, but there were others, of course, and one of the most notable was the West Midlands. 

From this area came Black Sabbath, The Move (which evolved into Electric Light Orchestra) and glam-rock legends Slade, among others. Back then, Laney founder Lyndon Laney was playing in a group called Band of Joy, a collective of Black Country musicians that included Robert Plant and John Bonham. 

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Nick Guppy

Nick Guppy was Guitarist magazine's amp guru for over 20 years. He built his first valve amplifier at the age of 12 and bought, sold and restored many more, with a particular interest in Vox, Selmer, Orange and tweed-era Fenders, alongside Riveras and Mark Series Boogies. When wielding a guitar instead of soldering iron, he enjoyed a diverse musical career playing all over the UK, including occasional stints with theatre groups, orchestras and big bands as well as power trios and tributes. He passed away suddenly in April 2024, leaving a legacy of amplifier wisdom behind him.