Laney’s Latest LOUDPEDAL: In-Depth Review of Two New Models!

Laney has released two new pedal amplifiers, which have just arrived.

Pictured from right to left are the BCCLOUDPEDAL-LTQ and BCCLOUDPEDAL-IMM.

These are the Tom Quayle and Martin Miller models of Laney’s popular pedal preamp, LOUDPEDAL.
Both are well-known session guitarists, recognized for their exceptional skills, and these pedal amps reflect their personal preferences.

In this review, I’ll be sharing my hands-on experience with both of these pedals.

Before diving into the differences between the two models, let me talk about the features they share.

Here’s a shot of the pedal’s back panel.
It’s equipped with an XLR DI OUT, allowing you to connect to a DI box or directly to a mixer. This feature also comes in handy for line recording with an audio interface.

The side view of the output section shows that when connecting to a cabinet, you use a speaker cable with the LOUDSPEAKER output. With a 60W@8Ω output, it’s compatible with cabinets like the Marshall 1960 commonly found in studios and music clubs.

You can also use the FX LOOP to send and return effects. By utilizing only the SEND output, you can route the signal before the power amp stage directly into the input of a guitar amp like a Jazz Chorus.

To summarize, there are three ways to use this LOUDPEDAL:

1. Connect it to a cabinet or passive speaker.
2. Connect it to a guitar amp or active speaker.
3. Connect it to a mixer or audio interface.

This versatility makes it a valuable tool for session musicians who need to replicate their sound in any environment.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the preamp section. Both models are equipped with the same preamp across the two channels. This means that if you set the VOLUME and GAIN on CH1 and CH2 to the same levels, you’ll achieve identical tones. Typically, amps might differentiate between clean and overdrive channels, but with this LOUDPEDAL, you can keep both channels clean and switch between rhythm and solo, or set both to different levels of distortion, like crunch and high gain.
Furthermore, each channel can independently toggle between Bright, Flat, and Dark modes, greatly expanding the range of available tones. The boost function also allows you to increase the volume, making it an ideal tool for session musicians who require versatile functionality.

Next, let’s discuss the tonal characteristics of both amps.
This is where each pedal’s unique qualities shine, so I’ll go through them one by one, starting with the Tom Quayle model, the BCCLOUDPEDAL-LTQ.

Tom Quayle is one of the world’s leading jazz fusion players, known for his incredible legato and hybrid picking techniques that have captivated countless guitarists.
His model is designed with a wide range of distortion settings. When the gain is turned down, it produces a completely clean tone—perfect for rhythm guitars in Bright mode or delivering a jazzy solo tone in Dark mode. The range of distortion spans from light crunch to high gain, making this pedal ideal for studio musicians who need versatile tone shaping on the go.

Now, let’s take a look at the Martin Miller model, the BCCLOUDPEDAL-IMM.

Martin Miller is another young guitarist known for his exceptional technique, and he’s also an accomplished singer. His rendition of “Superstition” alongside the legendary Paul Gilbert is a must-listen!
Compared to the Tom Quayle model, Miller’s pedal offers a narrower range of distortion. Even when the gain is reduced, it still produces a slight, natural amp-like distortion. While creating clean funk tones might require some tweaking, the slightly distorted clean arpeggios, as demonstrated in the accompanying sample video, have a unique character that can only be achieved with this amp. It’s a great choice for those who love bluesy tones.

Additionally, both amps can be connected to a computer via USB, allowing you to download cabinet IRs. The initial setup comes preloaded with custom IR captures from each guitarist’s own cabinets, but you can further customize them to expand your tonal palette.

So, what do you think?
Portable pedal amps like these, with their extensive features, are invaluable for guitarists who play in various settings. Having one in your setup is definitely worth it. Get your hands on one and experience its true potential!