Laboga Alligator AD5200T

The Laboga Alligator is a 50W all-tube amp. It would appear that in reality it does so only 45, but we will not quibble!

2 channels (clean / distortion), the distortion channel with 2 knobs to gain switchable footswitch, which is pretty nice for a boost. It does not really 2 channels, but it opens up some possibilities.

The head has a reverb, activated by footswitch if we offer the additional pedal.

Amp handmade in Poland

1 spring reverb
Lamps: 4 x EL84, 2 x 12AX7
1 input jack
3 outputs (4, 8 and 16 ohms)
1 Effects Loop in series
1 foot channel / gain 2
1 loop pedal / reverb (optional)
equa common
Mode 1 switch eq
Bright 1 switch per channel

I put 7 for equa common, the additional footswitch which is a bit shabby: 1 pedal managing channel / gain / reverb would have been logical and fixed bias

UTILIZATION

The manual is more or less useless: we are in the amp lamp is not a gas plant. The only thing that can open the manual to eqMode are curious and bright switch.

The first, as its name suggests, is on equalization. What I can not say (not curious? ^ ^), It seems to me that it is the presence settings that plays a bit like the fact the contour knob on the mesas. Too bad that this switch is common to both channels.

The bright switches is very helpful, they make good common since the equation will give more or less slammed the selected channel. It is very obvious on the clean.

As mentioned above it's handmade, quality is at the appointment as its robustness that. The knobs are reactive, it's nice. The common equation can "scare" a priori limit it, certainly, but Laboga has put small offset options.

8 for equa common (head are two equas) and which is also common eqMode

SOUNDS

Level style, this amp is built for rock that sends. Ie it lacks gain for extreme metal, it lacks a little bit of gain for the metal (which is remediable by putting lamps high gain, it pushes a little), and it is too straight / clean the old rock

Overall, the sound is right but not cold, we can not speak of roundness either. This is Laboga paste, which I think gives a good compromise between modern and vintage sounds.

The clean can be as slamming of a soft, depending on your settings. This versatility is very nice, especially the head cash pedals very well.
By pushing against the gain of the clean channel, the crunch is not particularly to my taste. I like to clean the gain to 10h / 11h to crunch it a little when I press play, you feel the lights working but now it is not very convincing.

The distortion channel is very good. Personally I love the grain Laboga, just right it takes the grain brings a kind of heat.
Both gain knobs are not negligible for the sound palette.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it for almost a year and I wanted to have a head with more gain and follows me separated for Mr Hector (yes, still in Laboga). I think it is a very good amp, which was a bit tight for the style I play (rock / metal / fusion).

It is paradoxical that the brand but its got a typed, this amp has some versatility and the fact that it will accept many effects in this direction.

This is an amp that I recommend, and for those looking for a little more heat on the clean, I had the opportunity to test class A version which is absolutely superb.

What type of amplification (lamp, transistor ,...)?
Amp any lamp.

What is the power delivered?
50w

What connection?
Quite elaborate. Everything you need for a head of modern design.

What are the settings, effects? ...

UTILIZATION

The setup is simple?
Bible, one branch and it played almost) alone.

Do you get a good sound easy?
No problem. Even without tampering with the settings, the sound delivered is amazing clarity.

The manual is clear and sufficient? ...

SOUNDS

Will it fit your style of music?
Perfectly suited and versatile enough to address all the styles with happiness.

With what (s) guitar (s) / low (s) or effect (s) do you play?
A 61 SG


What kind of sound you get and with what settings ("crystalline", "fat ",....)?
The clear sound by itself worth the trip. The adjustment possibilities are enough to obtain either a crystalline sound and clear, sound is a little rougher, bluesy. It should be noted that we avoid the cold side and synthetic typed modern amps for a real warmth.
The overdrive gives a remarkable extent, powerful, but still accurate. Nothing muddy here. it is rather a philosophy Mesa Boogie but straighter. Compared with test with a head Stiletto twice as expensive, no problem, Laboga wins hands down.


What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?
No sound is bad or weak. the whole is a very rare consistency in this price level.

OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it?
2 months

What thing do you like most/least about it?
Most: the sound, ease, the presence flawless, the look and also the apparent reliability.
Minimum: the absence of a specific volume between gain 1 and gain 2.

Did you try many other models before getting this one?
FMV 410. Dual Rectif, Stiletto, Powerball. All good amps but a value still in favor of Laboga.


What is your opinion about the value for the price?
Amazing.


Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? ...
That is clear.