Lab Series L5

4.5 (8)

3 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Lab Series L5

1 community setup

6 wishlisted

22 saved

Page last updated Dec 25, 2025

Pricing and availability

Store

Reviews

Price

^* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Edit description

Lab Series L5 212 combo amp

Solid State

Manufacturered in the 70s and 80s

Product specs

Amp Type	solid state
Onboard Reverb	yes

Videos

Add video

The Guitologist

1982 Lab Series L5 212 Combo DEMO (Moog, Gibson)

The Guitologist

Moog Lab Series L5

Dave Simpson

B.B. King Gibson Lucille and Lab Series L5 Amp

Asheville Guitar and Mike Barnes

Trogly's Guitars: Demo of 1970s Gibson Lab series L5 Amp w/ Firebrand Les Paul

The Trogly's Guitar Show

The Epic Guitar Amp That No One Knows About

The Guitar Fam

Moog Norlin Gibson - Lab series L5 B.B. King amp - Demo for buyer

Joaquin Armijo

Reviews

Add review

PROS

Loud and clean sound, comparable to a Twin Reverb
Great tone-shaping abilities with complex equalizer
Built-in compressor enhances sound quality
Unique Bob Moog filters add a distinct twist
Ceramic CTS speakers, upgradeable for more clarity

CONS

Too big and loud for home use
Requires knowledge to fully utilize equalizer
Heavy and not easily portable
Sensitive controls may not suit all players

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Lab Series L5.

Features and functionality

0 0

The amp's parametric mid control allows for significant tonal adjustments, while the multi filter control enhances high-end frequencies, reducing aural fatigue and simulating tube-like breakup.
Source
0 0

The L5's solid-state design offers a different sound than tube amps, maintaining a fat clean sound even when paired with a 20w tube amp for complex setups.
Source

Build quality

0 0

Original CTS speakers are still present in some units, indicating durability. However, grill frame corners may require attention, as they can become loose over time.
Source
0 0

The amp is praised for its sturdiness, appealing to users with active households, including those with young children, due to its durable construction.
Source

Use cases and applications

0 0

This amp excels in both country and classic rock genres, providing a versatile sound that has impressed users in live settings.
Source
0 0

Known for producing a massive clean sound, the L5 serves as an excellent pedal platform, working well with distortion and fuzz pedals like the Rat 2.
Source
0 0

Though powerful, it's been noted as overkill for home use, yet many still enjoy its versatility and sound for personal playing.
Source

User experience

0 0

Despite its weight, owners are willing to overlook portability issues due to the amp's impressive sound quality and enduring performance.
Source
0 0

Owners find the amp incredibly versatile but note a learning curve with the controls, taking months to consistently replicate desired sounds.
Source

Value and pricing

0 0

In the U.S., the Lab Series L5 can fetch between $300-$600, depending on condition, highlighting its desirability among vintage amp enthusiasts.
Source

Add review

4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 8 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

sindre

483

over 7 years ago

The world's best solid-state amplifier

The reason modern solid-stade amplifiers suck is that serious musicians don't want them, so they're made as cheaply as possible. In the late 70s, before tubes became cool again, Gibson/Moog decided to make the best guitar amplifier possible. The LAB Series was the result. Loud and clean as a Twin Reverb, with great tone-shaping abilities. It takes some knowledge to get the best out of the slightly complex equalizer and the built-in compressor, but the reward is great. The speakers are Ceramic CTS units. While not at all bad, I wanted something with more clarity, so I swapped them for a couple of 70W Jensen ceramics. This brought the best out of this underrated amp.

Roles:

Guitarist Keyboardist Composer

Genres:

Rock Pop Surf music

satoriforsale

397

over 6 years ago

versitile steady state amp

My first real amp was this Lab Series, obtained from my friend and guitar teacher Erik it was too big and loud to use at home (there I used a pignose) so I took it with me to squater venue Bar&Boos where it became part of the backline and I got to play it every jam session

Roles:

Singer Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Pop Folk, World, & Country

sarastro

over 7 years ago

The best non-tube amp?

It’s a Twin Reverb with a mad twist. I love the compressor and the Bob Moog filters. It’s loud, heavy and sensitive on the controls like a Doberman. Not for everyone but a really good amp - without tubes!

Artist usage

Add artist

Eric Clapton

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Verified via Bonhams

Eric Clapton owns a 1970s Lab Series L5 amplifier, a model also favored by B.B. King for its signature sound. This particular amp was acquired by Clapton in the USA, as noted in a listing by Bonhams.

B.B. King

Guitarist

The Louisiana Gator Boys

Verified via YouTube

This amp was often used by BB King until he gave it to Eric Clapton's 2011 Crossroads auction. BB King used it also while playing at the 2007 & 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival which Eric Clapton helds for Crossroads.

Ty Tabor

Guitarist

King's X

Verified via guitarworld

The gear Ty Tabor used to create his highly coveted tones on the first four King’s X albums — particularly the amp that was the source of his richly distorted yet surprisingly crisp and clearly defined rhythm sounds — was one of guitardom’s best-kept secrets until early 1996 when Tabor finally revealed the details. For years, guitarists guessed that Tabor played through an expensive custom or heavily modified tube amp, but actually he was using a long-discontinued solid-state Lab Series amp that was — and still is — an inexpensive bargain on the used market. The rest of Tabor’s rig was similarly modest, including budget Alesis Midiverb II and Ibanez DD200 rack effects and his beloved Fender Elite Stratocaster — a darkhorse ax from the last days of CBS’s ownership of Fender.

Ronnie Montrose

Guitarist

The Edgar Winter Group

Verified via Photo

In a vintage promotional advertisement for the album "Open Fire," guitarist Ronnie Montrose is depicted using the Lab Series L5 guitar amplifier, as evidenced by the image provided.