Lonestar 1x12 Combo Vs Express 5:50 Combo Help Me Choose

paulg2uk said:

Hey guys,

I've been after a another amp for a while now I have a rectoverb 25 head and 1x12 cab I currently gig with but wanted something a little more compact but with slightly more headroom. I took the plunge the other day and bought a Lonestar 1x12 combo 100 watt version. First of all its a fantastic amp, great clean chan and loads of headroom. Chan 2 on the other hand although I can get a fairly high gain sound out of it and its pretty cranked gain wise. Plus the amp is heavy as well.

I was thinking on sending the lonestar back and getting the Express + 5:50 just purely because the Express has more gain and is less heavy. I just wondered what everyone's thoughts are? Gain wise can you get a pretty high gain sound out of chan 2? And also what is chan 1 like? Plenty of headroom even though its 50 watts? I'm coming from a 25 watt amp anyway but I really dig the 100 watt headroom of the lonestar.

Even though I've only used the Lonestar a couple of days it does sound pretty awesome i just think maybe the Express is suited slightly more to me.

What do you think guys? Has any one had a lonestar or tried one and preferred the Express?


Thanks in advance

Paul

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Newysurfer said:

paulg2uk said:

Hey guys,

I've been after a another amp for a while now I have a rectoverb 25 head and 1x12 cab I currently gig with but wanted something a little more compact but with slightly more headroom. I took the plunge the other day and bought a Lonestar 1x12 combo 100 watt version. First of all its a fantastic amp, great clean chan and loads of headroom. Chan 2 on the other hand although I can get a fairly high gain sound out of it and its pretty cranked gain wise. Plus the amp is heavy as well.

I was thinking on sending the lonestar back and getting the Express + 5:50 just purely because the Express has more gain and is less heavy. I just wondered what everyone's thoughts are? Gain wise can you get a pretty high gain sound out of chan 2? And also what is chan 1 like? Plenty of headroom even though its 50 watts? I'm coming from a 25 watt amp anyway but I really dig the 100 watt headroom of the lonestar.

Even though I've only used the Lonestar a couple of days it does sound pretty awesome i just think maybe the Express is suited slightly more to me.

What do you think guys? Has any one had a lonestar or tried one and preferred the Express?


Thanks in advance

Paul

Click to expand...

I compared the 5:50 & LSC closely when I was trying to chose between them.
I have since played & gigged with both.
I luv both amps but prefer the 5:50 for the same reasons you give.

The cleans & reverb are very similar & equal in quality imo.
LSC has slightly more headroom but you just don't need it unless you play in a very very loud clean guitar group - like funk for example.
5:50 has more than enough clean headroom imo.
I've never got close to breaking up channel 1.

They are both equally great as pedal platforms also imo.

For me the 5:50 crunch & burn voices are better, it's got lots more gain on tap, it's 20 pounds lightly and also cheaper.
So all up it's more versatile & better suits my needs.

If you're an exclusively clean player who needs extreme headroom you might prefer the LSC.

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