Laney tube head problems. Get a new head?

Hello all, I am in a predicament and don't really know what to do.

My Laney 100W Tube head seems to be dying. Whenever I switch to the second channel (distortion) the volume drops to the floor and sounds terrible. I have researched online and it sounded like I needed new tubes. So I took it to the local shop to get new tubes and told the guy about the problem. He said that it probably [U]was NOT[/U] the tubes and something with the electronics within the amp. Is this right?

I bought this amp used for like $220 at guitar center (I got the price slashed due to a friendship with a popular musician around the area). Do you think I should sell the head and try and buy a new solid-state for like $400? I don't have much money so $400 is my limit right now.

I appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thanks.

That does sound like a tube problem. I have no idea what kind of problem this is since it's not the tubes.

Is there no warranty on it?

Do not listen to the guy at the guitar shop. My guitarist just took in his mesa dual rec in for the same thing they told him it wasn't the power tubes as well. Then he called up mesa they laughed and said the guitar center dosen't know whats going on. They said just replace the power tubes. He did and it's sounds better then it did when he first bought it. You can't trust any body at any guitar shop none of them know whats going on. I've heard so much false stuff and guitar shops!!!

Just replace all your power tubes it will be as good as new

Since the first channel sounds OK, the power tubes are probably OK too. Try swapping the preamp tubes around to see if the problem moves with the tubes. If it doesn't, then it's likely to be one of the resistors or coupling capacitors in the preamp second channel.

Thanks, I'm going to try out swappin and see what happens.

I appreciate all your comments.

I got some new 12AX7's into the amp and it sounds great now.

Thanks for your help.

BTW:
I got the tubes at www.thetubestore.com which is a great place with alot of good information and insanely great prices.

Thanks for the follow-up! We rarely get to find out what happened to people who came here for help.