Orange Cabs

[richard]

I've been looking at Orange 2 x 12 cabs on the GAK site. I'm mainly interested in the open back cab (Orange PPC212OB) which goes for £369. I also looked at the same cab with a closed back (Orange PPC212) which is £549. Both have Celestion Vintage 30s. Prices are the same on Anderton's site.

What's the extra £180 for ? A piece of wood ?

[bucketshred]

I know the cabs have different dimensions.... Other than that, who knows?!

[dave_mc]

I could be wrong (I don't own them) but I think the cheaper one is probably made in China while the dearer one is probably still made in the UK.

[juansolo]

If my MIC PPC112 was anything to go by, get the made in the UK one... The MIC one was made of the nastiest ply ever and substantial it was not...

[lamp]

I've had both, and also a 1x12.  The open back is made in China, the closed is Uk. The closed back weighs a $%&#ing tonne!  It's wider (fits a marshall head on it) and has real balls, more bottom end, generally built like a tank. The open back is narrower/taller as the speakers are slightly diagonal. Never had any issues with the build quality - it is better than the 1x12 I had.  Stuck with the open back in the end for size/weight and also prefer the less directional sound. 

[littleredguitars2]

i have the closed back. its pretty great.

[Telerocker]

For bigger stages I prefer the closed back because of the solid bottom end and straight projection, but for small gigs and rehearsing an open back can sound pretty good. With some amps, especially Fender-style, I prefer open back cabs.

[Dave Sloven]

I have a PPC412.

It is a very heavy, substantial cab.  The V30s take quite a while to break in, and will not break in properly unless you open up the volume a bit now and then.

I don't know about differences in construction quality between the two cabs but yeah go for the UK built cab.  The speakers will be made in China regardless, pretty much all Celestions are, but the UK cabs are extremely strongly built.  Be prepared though for the screws on the back panel to be super tight if you ever open it up.  They basically drive the screws in rather than drilling holes.  I removed all of mine and opened the holes slightly with a small drill so that they weren't so tight the next time I had to open it.

The PPC412 is extremely directional due to the straight front.  I suspect the PPC212 is the same.

The open back will not have this directional character at all as the sound will also go out the back. It will also have less tightness to the low end.

I suspect the open back is cheaper because it is (a) made in China and/or (b) simply not as popular.  Most people who buy Orange cabs go for closed back cabs

[Telerocker]

What amp you have Richard? I noticed my Rockerverb likes closed back cabs better.

[richard]

I'm using a Cornford Roadhouse 1 x 12 combo but thinking of running a 2 x 12 cab for a little more bass punch. I've used the Orange open back cab a few times at my rehearsal place with an Orange Dual Terror. I really like the cab and it seems to be pretty solid. I really like the Dual Terror as well but feel it lacks a bit of cut in the high end. I'd much rather have an open back cab for the less directional quality.

[Kiichi]

I'm using a Cornford Roadhouse 1 x 12 combo but thinking of running a 2 x 12 cab for a little more bass punch. I've used the Orange open back cab a few times at my rehearsal place with an Orange Dual Terror. I really like the cab and it seems to be pretty solid. I really like the Dual Terror as well but feel it lacks a bit of cut in the high end. I'd much rather have an open back cab for the less directional quality.

Perhaps different tubes could help with the high end cut of the Dual Terror. I certainly changed my Tiny around a lot that way.