HCM10 Review

Combine this with a 6.5" speaker, a CD input and a headphone output for silent practice and you have a small package equipped for some seriously big business.

Features:	7
Sound:	7.3
Reliability:	8.8
Impression:	7.8
Overall rating:	7.7
Users rating:	4.9
Comments:	6

overall: 7

Featured review by: A3r0sm1th, on august 22, 2008

Features: This was the first amp I got when I first Started playing the guitar. At the time, I was learning basic scales, chords, and simple songs; therefore, I didn't need any special effects. Now that I've been playing for about 6-7 months, it's time to take the next step up, now that I'm big into distortion and such. This amp is great if you are a beginner guitarist and you're not into special effects yet. It has a headphone jack which is nice for practicing silentlly, and a CD input. // 7

Sound: I have a pretty basic begginer Tradition guitar that I bought at the same time as this amp, which I use. The amplifier was a great buddy for this guitar, and sounds nice since you don't need special effects while practicing scales, chords, etc. It has a Crunch (distortion is a more common term amongst us rockers) setting which sounds good for started rock songs. It also has an equalization knob and the master volume ofcourse. I would recommend keeping it at a fairly mild temperature and keep it out of the sun. // 7

Reliability & Durability: I could depend on this amp as long as I didn't abuse it and keep it in nice conditions (then again, what amp would survive physical abuse). On the master volume there are levels 1-10 (10 being the highest). I had my amp on 2-3 most of the time and it was plenty loud for my bedroom. However, one time, I turned it up to about 6 and it blew out on me! Therefore, I would keep it at a low volume and use it only for practicing, not for showing off. I would not use this amp for a gig because it's not big enough and it's not loud enough, I don't do gigs. This amplifier is perfect for everyday practice use. // 7

Impression: My overall impression is if you would like to purchase this amplifier, you should be doing so if, and only if, you are either a beginner or in need of a quiet practice amp. Basic scales, chords and songs would be a perfect match for this little guy. Now that I'm a bit more advanced, I've moved on to a Marshall MG15DFX which is perfect for the next step up. If the Laney amp was stolen I think I would let the guy get away and purchase a Marshall. I do not regret buying it when I started playing, for we were a smart match. Therefore I give this product 7/10 stars overall for being a brilliant companion for young starting guitarists. // 7

overall: 8.3

Reviewed by: TheNoseBleedKid, on october 04, 2006

Price paid: $ 76

Features: I received the amp for a birthday present back in 2002. Basically the ap has a great clean sound and a nice crunch when you add distortion, not metal but a classic/hard rock tone. Only 1 channel. I wish it had more channels and much more I would like in a newer amp puchase but basically for what it is I think it does the job splendidly. I don't use the EQ much, mainly because I don really know how or really need to. I use it only for practise at my home, it suits this to a tee. // 7

Sound: I've used a strat copy (S/S/S) and now a LTD Viper 30th anniversary. It sounded fine with both those guitars, I prefer the LTD but the strat copy sounded fine. I play bits of everything and I can get what I like from it. Granted I can't get Opeth-esque death metal from it but that's about it. When you sue the distortion feature there is hum added before you play. All in all I like the sound the amp gives, the clean sound are great and the distortion healthy. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I have owned this for 4 years without a hassle problem or any worry. I wouldn't gig with it, however I do trust the craftmenship of the amp. Everytime I whip out this amp whether it be from storage in a dusty cold old she'd or after it's been kicked over in my room or thrown around it still works as well as when I first got it, no complaints. // 10

Impression: For a beginner practise amp I think this is a great product. As I said before I find it does clean and mild distortion well and handles them to my satisfaction. If it was lost/stolen I wouldn't get another one, not because of dissatisfaction over the product but simply because I have moved on to tube amps. I love that it's small, light, and sounds good for a small amount of coin. I gave it a high rating as I am rating it against other SS amps I have tried or heard played. I am not suggesting for an instant that this is better or as good as something like a mesa or what have you but I think for what it was designed for it does well. // 8

overall: 8.5

Reviewed by: indie_libertine, on june 01, 2005

Purchased from: Hessle Music Centre

Features: I'm not quite sure when this amp was made but it was pretty recent because it's in the Hardcore Max range and that has only been around for two years or so. I play anything from rock to indie but not much metal, which is good because the Laney HCM series is punk inspired and goes for brute force rather than guitar raping treble. Because it is the baby sister of the main HCM amp, it has your basic crunch (distortion to you and me), equalization and master volume settings but no more. However, it does have a cd input and a headphone socket so its not all bad. I use this lil bitch in my front room and even then on 3 volume I get screamed at so power is not a worry (is it a worry for any Laney amp? god bless their britishness). Overall, it performs as a beginners amp for people who know they don't want much in the way of metal and hour long solos. // 8

Sound: I use a Squire Strat and it sounds beautifully brutal on evey pickup style I care to choose; it can be ball achingly high and screeching, or brain pummeling forceful, or mellow and groany. As I mentioned before I'm an indie guy so my music is rooted in the punk that Laneys HCM amps are aimed at. With enough coaxing and experimentation I can get any desired sound out of my amp, as long it isn't the dreaded Metallica drone 'n' screech. It does give a little buzzing (whack the crunch up, close your eyes and convince yourself your're in a room with a buzz saw murderer) and if you get the wrong pickup combo it'll let you know that it isn't happy as long as you kepp the jack lead in tight, you shouldn't have a problem. As I've said, this can handle everything apart from extremes like les paul warmth or RG screech. There's no buzz on the clean and the distortion sounds like James Hetfield growling into your ear. Through a megaphone. // 8

Reliability & Durability: To be fair to my baby, I'm a slob. I don't clean it, don't service it and when I'm angry I'll kick the crap out of her. But she takes it and she's made of harder plastic than any other amp I know (aside from her big brothers). Marshall amps couldn't resist my punk fury put it that way. I wouldn't gig with her cos she's too small but hell she's a feisty one. // 10

Impression: This is a beautiful match for me because even though I play indie and rock, I play the crap out of my guitar when I'm angry (which I am a lot) and this punk amp is perfect for that. As I said earlier I play a squire strat, but it doesn't matter in this amp; it just drags my sorry ass guitar to new and harder sounds. If my amp were stolen I'd plead for its bigger brother to my parents but I would try to get it back. My favourite feature is how it has not dropped in performance despite its age or the punishment I've dealt out. Though I am getting her big brother in a month or two because I'm expanding, I reccomend this to a beginner who likes punk (old and new) and has anger management problems. // 8

overall: 7

Reviewed by: unregistered, on august 22, 2005

Purchased from: Jensen Music

Features: I'm not exactly sure the year this amp was made, I'm guessing sometime during 2004. It was made in China. The features are: one channel, bass/mid/treble, headphone jack, CD input, and a button that applies the crunch mode (settings are the same as the as the 'clean' mode). This is a 0 Watt solid state amp, but its loud! I would have wished that it had an extra channel for a seperate crunch channel, as it's a pain having to re-adjuste everything. I use this amp in my practice room at home, and it has more than enough power. I rarely ever put it over half way, its too loud for me otherwise. // 6

Sound: I'm using a Barracuda Strat copy with this amp, so it's nothing professional. I play classic rock all the way up to hard rock and metal, and I can't really say this amp delievers. The clean is ok, nothing out of the ordinary though. When cracked on the clean, it makes a horrible hissing noise. On the crunch, it's limited. The crunch is good up to about the halfway mark, and then from there it just goes wild. If absolutely horrible note clarity is what your after, you found it. I'm not sure if its a problem with my wiring or not, but I found the sound on this amp really lacking. // 6

Reliability & Durability: I have only used this amp at home for practicing, without any problems at all. It doesn't have enough wattage for gigging though. You might be able to hear it if your in a normal sized room in your house, but beyond that its not able to stand out over the other instruments. I have had this amp for 8 months, and haven't had any problems. I wouldn't go around beating this amp out, but it looks pretty sturdy. // 8

Impression: As I mentioned before, I play Classic Rock to Hard Rock and Metal, and I just couldn't get alot of the sounds of this amp. I would say this is best suited to Punk and Emo, where the crunch would fit in. I have been playing for 8 months, and I got this amp in a beginners package with a guitar, case, cord, tuner, and picks. Having been a complete newb at the time I purchased this, I don't see any questions I wish I had asked. I should have looked around for more effects, however. If this was lost or stolen, I would buy another amp, likely a used tube amp. This amp just has too limited of a sound range for my music styles. The best part of this amp would have to be the clean channel, at low levels its alright. The worst part is the crunch channel when cranked up, its absolutely horrible. Overall, this is a good beginners amp if your on a budget, it will get you through for a bit, but then when you get more proficient at guitar and your needs for sound go up, you'll realize this just can't deliever. // 8

Comments

[WlCmToTheJungle]

This amp is not very good if you have been playing for over a year, this was my first amp and then i bought a roland cube about, a year later, i put this away for another 2 years and i took this along on a trip because its tiny and wow, it sounded so much worse than the cube, i couldnt beleive it because it used to sound so good, maybe my ear got better. Anyway, DONT buy this if you havev been playing over a year

[Kikuta]

WlCmToTheJungle wrote:

This amp is not very good if you have been playing for over a year, this was my first amp and then i bought a roland cube about, a year later, i put this away for another 2 years and i took this along on a trip because its tiny and wow, it sounded so much worse than the cube, i couldnt beleive it because it used to sound so good, maybe my ear got better. Anyway, DONT buy this if you havev been playing over a year

Why just over a year? I wouldn't reccomend it at all.

If you're serious about guitars, no matter how long you've been playing, you'll be smart and won't buy an amp like this.

[WlCmToTheJungle]

nah dude the amp is alright, its a beginner amp, what do you expect?

[Kikuta]

Indeed it is a beginner amp, but hey. Some people might buy one as a cheap practise amp. I pity them.

[Hells_Bell]

My friend had this a while ago, and I thought it sounded like complete crap. If youre going for a beginer amp, you should go for the Ibanze TB15R. I had one, and I played both the Laney and it, the Ibanez was a lot better and its cheaper in most music stores.
I realy don't see any good reason to buy this amp, as a beginer amp ot practice.

[sid-x]

HA HA HA thats all i can say about this amp
the crunch chanel is a joke if you get the crunch to the right setting it just fuzzes and gives a horrible noise turn it down it sounds like Shit.
the only possitives i can give it is the clean channel in the right setting is a dream and i can play my bass thorugh this amp and its very sturdy