Laney B3, B1, B2 Owner's Manual

Laney

B

Series

1/2/3

USER MANUAL

V1

Laney

Introduction

Congratulations on your decision to purchase a Laney amplifier.

Laney products are designed with ease of operation as a primary objective, however to ensure you derive the best from

your new amplifier, it is important you take time to read this user manual and to familiarise yourself with the control
functions and facilities available

BEFORE
SWITCHING ON

After unpacking your amplifier check that it is factory fitted with a three pin 'grounded' (or earthed) plug. Before
plugging into the power supply ensure you are connecting to a grounded earth outlet.

If you should wish to change the factory fitted plug yourself, ensure that the wiring convention applicable to the country
where the amplifier is to be used is strictly conformed to. As an example in the United Kingdom the cable colour code
for connections are as follows.

EARTH OR GROUND - GREEN/YELLOW
NEUTRAL - BLUE
LIVE - BROWN

11

This manual has been written for easy access of information. The front and rear panels of each unit are graphically
illustrated, with each control and feature numbered. For a description of the function of each control feature, simply
check the number with the explanations adjacent to each panel.

Your Laney B series bass amplifier has undergone a thorough two stage, pre-delivery inspection, involving actual play
testing, as well as tube burn in. Tubes are one of the most important components in your Laney B series bass amp.
However they are also the most fragile component. The glass envelope and tubes filaments can easily be damaged in
transit without any apparent signs of damage to the box, amp or tubes .

When you first receive your Laney B series bass amp, follow these simple procedures:

(i) Ensure that the amplifier is set at the correct voltage for the country it is to be used in.

(ii) Connect your instrument with a high quality shielded instrument cable. Use of cheap cables will compromise the
sound of your instrument and your amplifier.

If there is a problem with your Laney B series bass amplifier

DON'T

DO

Care of your Laney amplifier will prolong it's life.....and yours!.

PHONE YOUR DEALER!

B series MANUAL

Laney

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING: When using electric products, basic cautions should always be followed, including the following.

1. Read all safety and operating instructions before using this product

2. All safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference

3. Obey all cautions in the Operating instructions and on the back of the unit

4. All operating instructions should be followed

5. This product should not be used near water, i.e. a bathtub, sink, swimming pool, wet basement, etc.

6. This product should be located so that its position does not interfere with its proper ventilation. It should not
be placed flat against a wall or placed in a built up enclosure that will impede the flow of cooling air.

7. This product should not be placed near a source of heat such as stove, radiator, or another heat producing
amplifier.

8. Connect only to a power supply of the type marked on the unit adjacent to the power supply cord.

9. Never break off the ground pin on a power supply cord.

10. Power supply cords should always be handled carefully. Never walk or place equipment on power supply
cords. Periodically check cords for cuts or signs of stress, especially at the plug and the point where the
chord exits the unit.

11. The power supply cord should be unplugged when the unit is to be unused for long periods of time.

12. If this product is to be mounted in an equipment rack, rear support should be provided.

13. Metal parts can be cleaned with a damp cloth. The vinyl covering used on some units can be cleaned with
a damp cloth or ammonia based household cleaner if necessary. Disconnect the unit from the power
supply before cleaning.

14. Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the unit through any
ventilation holes or openings.

15. A qualified service technician should check the unit if:

The power cord has been damaged
Anything has fallen or spilled into the unit
The unit does not appear to operate correctly
The unit has been dropped or the enclosure damaged.

16. The user should not attempt to service the equipment. All service work is done by a qualified
service technician.

17. Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause a permanent hearing gloss. Individuals vary
considerably in susceptibility to noise induced hearing loss, but nearly everyone will lose some hearing if
exposed to sufficiently intense noise for a sufficient time. The U.S. Government's Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) has specified the following permissible noise level exposure.

22

Duration Per Day In Hours Sound Level dBA, slow response

8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1 ½ 102
1 105
½ 110
¼ or less 115

According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of the above permissible limits could result in some hearing loss. Ear
plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the ears must be worn when operating this amplification system in
order to prevent a permanent hearing loss if exposure exceeds the limits set forth above. To ensure against
potentially dangerous exposure to high sound pressure levels it is recommended that all persons exposed to
equipment capable of producing high sound pressure levels such as this amplification system be protected by
hearing protectors while this unit is in operation.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

B series MANUAL

Laney

B1-2-3 Front Panel

6

5

4

7

8

12

11 17

14 15

13

16

33

18

22

23

24

25

26

1

2

4

Eq Defeat

3

Compression

5

4

6

3

2

1

10

0

Level

-

+

0

1

1

2

3

4

5

5

Volume

7

4

8

3

9

2

1

2

3

0

4

Output

5

6

7

8

9

10

Run

Standby

Laney

Input

2

3

1

Passive

Fet Gain

5

4

6

7

3

8

9

Output

4

0

5

Tuner

6

10

7

8

9

Preamp Mix

50/50

Fet

Tube

Bright

2

1

10

0

Drive

5

4

6

7

3

8

2

9

1

10

0

Tube

Input

Active

Bass

- -

+ +

0 0

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

5 5

5

Preshape

Mid

Lo

Mid

Hi Hi

Lo

EQ

Treble

1

2

3

4

5

Pres

B1B1

2

1

Passive Input: High impedance input for instruments with normal output i.e. lower output level.

1

2

Active Input: Low impedance input with half the input sensitivity of the passive input for instruments with an active circuitry and

3 9

10

19

21

20

high output levels. As there are so many different output levels from so many types of instruments available, you should try both
sockets before making a decision. Players using floor-mounted effects may also benefit from using the input to avoid unduly
overloading the pre amp.

3

Tuner: Socket provided for connecting an external tuner. Using this socket in conjunction with the Stand by switch (25)switched to

stand-by allows silent tuning.

Model number

Power

1

0

4

Input Level Indicators: The LED indicators give you a visual indication of the level of signal present in the pre amp. The level of

signal is determined by the positions of the FET gain control (6) and the tube output control (5+7). The signal indicated by the LED's
has its source directly before the master volume control (23) and after all the EQ options and FX loops. The reason for this is
straightforward - variations in EQ and external effects levels can have a dramatic effect upon the level of signal running through the pre
amp. Indicating the level of signal present in the pre amp before the EQ and FX loop facilities would not give you a realistic indication
of the level passing through the pre amp and into the power amp sections. Giving rise to the possibility of unwanted input distortion
from levels running to high. The ideal level should be set so that the red LED is activated only during the most aggressive playing
section. This assures that the pre amp is running at its optimum performance level and assures that a sufficient level of signal is present
at the send of the FX loop (38-40) and capable of driving any outboard processing equipment connected to this socket.

5

Drive: This control sets the level of tube drive applied to the onboard ECC83 tube. When used in conjunction with the tube output

control (7) the onboard tube can be used to generate anything from a warm tube sound through to a heavily distorted fuzz bass. For a
clean warm tube sound the control should be set around 4-5. At this point it should be noted that the position of the Preamp Mix control
(8)will have a fundamental effect upon the sound heard - see section eight. For a more dramatically distorted valve sound, simply dial in
more valve drive and adjust the output (7) as required.

6

Fet Gain: This control sets the level of FET gain to the pre amp signal. FET gain produces a clean wide bandwidth signal. As in the

Drive section above, the position of the Preamp Mix control (8) will have a fundamental effect upon the sound heard - see section eight.

Tube Output: This control sets the overall level of the tube stage and should be set to the desired volume level- say 5. At this point it

7

should be noted that the position of the Preamp Mix control (8) will have a fundamental effect upon the sound heard - see section eight.
For a more dramatically distorted valve sound, simply dial in more valve drive and adjust the output as required.

Preamp Mix: This control sets the mix of input signal type routed through the pre amp. It can be set to route either the signal from

8

the FET stage or the signal from the TUBE stage - or any combination of either of these signals. In order to get a true 50/50 mix the
following procedure should be followed. Select full FET on the mix control - set the FET stage to the desired level. Turn the mix
control to full tube - set the desired drive and output level to the same level as the FET channel - there is now a true 50/50 signal mix

B series MANUAL