Orange Rockerverb 50 + 4x12 Orange Cab

[ailean]

If you've read the GAS thread you know I've just purchased a new amp set up and I thought I'd post my first impressions.

Rig:

Orange Rockerverb 50 -> THD Hot Plate atenuator -> Orange 4x12 Cab (Vintage 30's)

The rockerverb has a clean and a dirt channel, single input, tube driven FX loop, footswitch ports for channel and reverb, 1 16 Ohm and 2 8 Ohm outputs.

I was expecting great things from the gain channel and haven't been disappointed. It has 4 preamp tubes that get brought into play sequentially as you turn up the gain, this means that the characteristic of the sound changes as each tube gets added to the mix. I don't know how common this is but it's a great feature and gives massive versatility. I've not even started to really get to grips with it yet. The channel goes from very clean at high volume and low gain, up to metal levels, it's not as hot as some I know, but I don't play out and out metal (if I did I'd have got the Thunderverb).

A quick note here on the Hot Plate. I'm very impressed with this, it seems quite transparent and alows me to really drive the head with out getting bleeding ears. It's not perfect, it does suck tone a little, but I'll live with that to be able to get the full range of tones out of the head.

The clean channel of the RV was the nicest surprise, really clean, chiming tones, great articulation and presence. I was amazed at the extra level of detail present in the sound, the only downside is that is lays bare every dodgy note and fluffed fretting, but it sounds great when you get it right.

Having only played on single speaker outputs before I can't compare with anything else, but playing through a 4x12 adds so much presence to the sound, the Hot Plate means I can play at the same volums as before but the sounds is so much 'bigger' than before.

I'm very happy with my new setup. Of course you have to live with these things for a while before you know for sure, but I can't see me trading it in after a month or two. Check the GAS thread for pics.

[Jonny]

Did you just buy it ALL at once?

[ailean]

Did you just buy it ALL at once?

Yeah :)

And the Fender mentioned in the GAS thread, it all arrived on Thursday. That was a good day  :twisted:

[Jonny]

Did you just buy it ALL at once?

Yeah :)

And the Fender mentioned in the GAS thread, it all arrived on Thursday. That was a good day  :twisted:

Good lord, you must be the happiest person alive! That's like £2000+ popping up at your door step.

I'm trying to sell most of what I have and then settling with a Orange TT, 1x12 cab and a PRS (with BKPs) but even that doesn't sound as amazing as the amount you got, lol..

[ailean]

I'm not gonna knock a TT, I have one, and it rocks, and it's very good at what it does, it hasn't got the versatility of the RV granted, but I still love my TT, and when Sue kicks me off the RV I'll be quite happpy to play it.

My bank balance really doesn't like me anymore I can tell you... but what the hell, who needs to pay the mortgage?

Edit: For the record, RV £999, Cab £499, Hot Plate £229, Fender £999

That all came from a loan, and the Fender was supposed to be paying off my credit card but was too good a bargain to miss, oops.  :oops:

[sambo]

Man I want an Orange amp.

Why did you go for the Rockerverb over say, an AD series?


Sam.

[ailean]

Man I want an Orange amp.

Why did you go for the Rockerverb over say, an AD series?


Sam.

I'd heard that the reverb was good and Sue likes to play with a little reverb. Also the RV got particularly good mention on the clean channel and I enjoy playing clean, and it was still a surprise how good it was. Also it had a reputation of working well with Strats, which is a consideration if you have a strat en route.

And ultimately I knew that I'd never be able to decide unless I could get every amp in a room for a few weeks to play with them so you just have to take a plunge. Ask Hamfist (Mr I've changed amps 6 times in twelve months) about that :)

[viking]

Did you just buy it ALL at once?

Yeah :)

And the Fender mentioned in the GAS thread, it all arrived on Thursday. That was a good day  :twisted:

SWEET! :twisted: No,that's fantastic! 8)

[hamfist]

Rich,
  I am utterly gobsmacked. (Everyone please bear in mind that I had lunch with Rich and Sue on Saturday and nothing about this was mentioned !!)   I also know the state of your finances !!!!   Wow !

   That's a tight fit between the lizard and fish tanks, but it all looks great, of course !  I've not played a Rockerverb but I know they are very, very well thought of by many folks who's opinion I trust.
  It looks to me like you have relegated the ValveKing to your hoarding space (otherwise known as the second bedroom). Possibly the best place for it, although ebay might be even better !

   Under other circumstances I might be a bit jealous, but I am so absolutely thrilled with everything about my current rig I wouldn't want to change a single thing about it. Yes really, not a single thing !!
    So congratulations to you both, and I'll look forward to coming round and having a play at some point (that's if you'll let me touch the new "babies").

Alan

[ailean]

Hi Alan

You've an open invite mate, just drop me a line. Yeah the change in finances came about through a loan, I needed to borrow X to clear my overdraft and card, but if I borrowed Y I got a better rate of interest, so I could borrow more and make the same payments near enough, so I'd rather the money was in my pocket than the banks :) Of course the money isn't in my pocket anymore... But I've got some great new places for the cats to sit.

Edit: I'm keeping the VK, so we can both play clean if we want to. I tried running the VK against the RV (they are both 50w heads) through the hotplate and 4x12, the VK didn't come out too well by comparison. Although that's unfair as the Orange cost over 3 times the VK.

[hamfist]

I needed to borrow X to clear my overdraft and card, but if I borrowed Y I got a better rate of interest, so I could borrow more and make the same payments near enough, so I'd rather the money was in my pocket than the banks :) Of course the money isn't in my pocket anymore... But I've got some great new places for the cats to sit.

  That sounds like my kind of deal !!   Has Axos (spelling ??) christened the new amp and cab yet ??

Alan

[prozacbear]

That sounds like my kind of deal !!   Has Axos (spelling ??) christened the new amp and cab yet ??

Alan

Actually it's Sutekh who has discovered that the gap where the hot plate is provides a great spot for ambushing. As Axos walks out of the kitchen minding his own business Sutekh jumps from the 4x12 onto his head, to the amusement of everyone,     except Axos  :D

A soon as my husband got extra cash there was no one stopping him. Time to just sit back and play with the toys.  8)

[sambo]

And ultimately I knew that I'd never be able to decide unless I could get every amp in a room for a few weeks to play with them so you just have to take a plunge.

Yeah your right on that one.


An orange is the only thing on my 'amp list' in my head. A rockerverb or an AD series will cement me firmly in tone heaven.

Enjoy!!!

[ailean]

And ultimately I knew that I'd never be able to decide unless I could get every amp in a room for a few weeks to play with them so you just have to take a plunge.

Yeah your right on that one.


An orange is the only thing on my 'amp list' in my head. A rockerverb or an AD series will cement me firmly in tone heaven.

Enjoy!!!

If you ever find yourself heading my way you are welcome to try it out.

[dave_mc]

That all came from a loan, and the Fender was supposed to be paying off my credit card but was too good a bargain to miss, oops.  :oops:

i have as bad GAS as the next person, but that's just not sensible.