Rocker 30 arrived (w/pics) Now a cab conundrum.

[the older brother]

You should get rid of your girlfriend.





Joking.

[Travis-County]

The amp will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no amp.

[Deckard]

I missed out, and this week, when i actually had the money i missed out again as it went well above what i "won" it for a week ago, which i'm really quite gutted about as it would have been my first proper amp. So now i'm on the look out to see what i can get. I'm starting to flake on my desire for an AC30 as i don't want to buy something new, i want to save as much as possible If only the Head/cabs popped up on ebay more often. At the moment i'm also considering a Rocker 30 if i can get my hands on one on the cheap, but i'd need a 2x12 for that and i'd need it cheap Which doesn't seem to be easy to find...


I'm lost at the moment really. Which isn't great cos i have the money and i'm eager ot spend! Anyone want to throw out some new suggestions? stay true to the Vox, or work a bit harder and hunt for something else? I really am open to suggestion because i have no idea about this stuff.

[Deckard]

So i just won the Rocker 30 on Ebay for £330. I had been keeping an eye on it and it was still cheap at the end of the evening so i stuck a bid in and won it. I think people might have been put off because its "loved" (Read: Dinged) But beggers can't be choosers and a bit of torn Tolex won't hurt the sound. I'm hoping i'll be able to get the sound i want out of it. Not overly gainy but with a nice bit of drive. 

The auction.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Orange-Rocker-30- ... .m14.l1318


So now i need a 2x12 cab. Any suggestions? I need it to be sub £200 really. I had been eyeing up a JTM marshall cab with V30's in it on ebay thats going for about that price. Also the Head has 3 speaker out puts, that means i can run it into either a 8ohms or 16ohms cab, right? And i assume i'll need a cable to connect the two... anything special there, what do i need really is the question.

[Haddock]

The amp will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no amp.

Reminds me of someone ...

[Professor Plum]

And i assume i'll need a cable to connect the two... anything special there, what do i need really is the question.

congrats on the amp, i love the oranges. the drive sound is awsome and they auctually do really nice cleans.  as far as cables go any kind of speaker cable is what you want...

[Deckard]

Right, so i do need a specific cable. I'll get on that. Anything else a newbie should know?



Been looking around at cabs and it looks like the best i can afford is a nasty looking JCM2000 cab... although i am looking at this JTM cab.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marshall-2x12-Vin ... .m14.l1318

That would work right? cable into 8ohms plug then into cab? i mean that seems like a really stupid thing to ask, but i'd rather get that right than buy two things that aren't compatible. People on the Orange website say that V30's are the way to go when buying a cab for an Orange, so i'm quite interested in that.


Is there any other cheap 2x12 that i should be looking at?

[Deckard]

The Rocker arrive. It was a bit mucky and its dinged, but for £330 i can't complain about that. Theres nothing major, but its been used clearly. I gave it a bit of a dust and then went at it with a damp cloth to take away the grime and now its looking better.








I desperately need a cab now tho. I'm not a patient person and having it sitting there, staring at me everyday just begging to be played will drive me crazy! I've looked around and tried to gather as much information as i can. V30's are the way to go or so i'm told, so i've been specifically looking around for a cab with those in which isn't an easy task. I've really only got about £200-£300 to spend, and while i'd love to think that i'd be able to stumble across a second hand orange 2x12 sometime soon it doesn't seem too likely. It seems most cabs are either cheap crap or just expensive. There doesn't seem to be any decent 2x12's around that £250 mark. Obviously i don't need anything amazing but i'd rather see my money spent on something worth while than go a cheap route and end up with something sub par.


I've seen two ways to go at the moment, but i'd appreciate some advice so i can see my money used well. First up, a closed back, plywood 2x12 with V30's for... £145  From everything i've read that seems to tick all the boxes, but when a pair of Celestion Vintage 30's is about £80 new, i'm sort of concerned that if it looks too good to be true then it most likely is.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_g212_vintage.htm


My other option seems to be a "Zilla" cab. These guys sell birch cabs on ebay, finished in the colour of tolex you want and with the grill cover you want. They'll also fit speakers for you. Positives seem that its a proper quality cab, i can get it to match the head (style is everything, naturally) and it may be worth the investment. Down side is a cab with V30's would set me back about £280. Not sure exactly how well i could haggle down the price over the phone either. Those are found here.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/custom-design-spe ... .m14.l1318


If i could rob someone then i could get an Orange cab which would be ideal, but you can't always get what you want.

[BenHagerty]

That thing is hot

[benecol]

I've heard nothing but good things about those Vintage 30 HB cabs from Thomann - much loved over at Shortscale.org. That other cab isn't going to be £150 better...

[Deckard]

Really now... that is interesting to hear. Do many people have them over at Short scale? I was thinking of going for it, then keeping any eye out for a second hand Orange cab, then if i find one snap it up and sell off the HB cab. I mean how much can i reasonably loose on a £150 cab with V30's in it? As long as its adequate then i wouldn't really have any complaints.


I have seen that theres an Open back version of the Orange 2x12 for £300 mind, but its like combo sized rather than usual 2x12, and from what i've read from you guys and your discussions if you've got a 2x12 then a closed cab is the way to go, is that right?

[benecol]

I had closed-back with my TT, but I'm not really that clued up. I do know, however, that that Harley Benton cab is the business. They always sell out almost as soon as they come in. Do it do it do it.

[finboy]

i'm in the same boat as you, same amp too, lol

avatar makes nice stuff from what i've heard but unless you find used, they won't ship outside of america, fail 

[Deckard]

Yeah, i've scoured the net and everyone says "Oh, aren't Avatar cabs super" but thats no help to me!


I've kept my eye on Ebay over the past week or so, but to no avail at the moment. The HB cab is back in stock tho so i think i'm just gonna go for that, After a week of my head sitting in my room i need to play it as soon as possible!

[Deckard]

My Cab arrived today, so my amp search is complete. Went for the HB cab in the end, time will tell if it was the right move to make but at the moment i'm reasonably happy. I've manged to get the Rocker and the 2x12 for less than £500, I think i think £475 is the final count, which i reckon is pretty good.


I tried to take pictures, but my camera is shit and eat batteries like a bastard so it shut off on me  I was even going to try and find a cat just to stick on top of my amp in true OSG fashion Now i just have a few quick, noobish questions, if you can just bear with me.

Firstly, how the heck do i connect this up to the head? common sense says take a 1/4' speaker cable, put one end in the head and one in the cab and bobs your uncle. But i have both mono and stereo inputs so i'm a bit confused by it all really.  i thought i'd just go 8ohms into the 8ohms of the cab (mono) would that be right? if so whats the 16ohms option for? secondly i noticed a little switch that goes from 220v to 240v... currently it set on 240v, is that right?


and lastly, what do i need to do to NOT break my amp? I know plugging it in without it being attached to the speakers is a definite wrong move, and also switching onto stand by for a little bit before kicking it on properly is advised is it not? I've checked the Celestion site and i know i also have to break the speakers in, so i'll follow the instructions from there. Is there anything i'm missing?