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Definitely NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 5:32 pm
by jesperbc
An acquaintance is selling his Rocker 30 head. I asked him to put it on hold for me, until I figure out how fast I can scrape together the money for it. I know we're not allowed to discuss pricing, so I'll just say that I think the price is fair enough for the amp in it's current condition. It has a few battle scar from live use. The tubes we're replaced in 2013, but it hasn't seen a whole lot of use since then... It has serial: RK30H-02206-0310, from what I've been able to tell from the pictures.

What can the Orange enlightened user of this glorious forum tell me about this amp, based on the serial?
What are your experiences with it?
How is it a pedal platform? I'm thinking of running drive, delay, reverb, mods, etc., all through the front, since it has no FX loop. Obviously...

I plan on getting a PPC112 for use at home, with an attenuator down the line, and possibly a Two-Notes Torpedo C.A.B. for silent practicing.

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited since this is my first UK-made Orange amp. (Right?!)

/Edit: I pulled the trigger and bought it. Can't wait to crank it loud!

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Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 7:56 pm
by Ronnie Robinson
Great amp , good job.

Dirty channel goes from quiet to loud as *** in the turn of a knob nanometer but it's a great classic rock dynamic tone...a bit rude and punky on occasion , very different to the compressed th100 tone.....playing Pretty Vacant always sounded good ...

Always loved the natural channel although is quite a bit quieter than the dirty channel but cranked with humbuckers or p90 sounded great to me and really responds to the dynamics of your playing.
Pedals on the natural channel work OK but you'll struggle using delay on the dirty channel ....but do you need it?l don't think so

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 9:38 pm
by Beexter
Great amp. I love the simplicity of it - doesn't get much simpler than a single volume knob on the Natural channel! To me, the natural channel is EQ'd just right and it really highlights differences between guitars and pickups. I've messed with eq pedals in front for the natural channel but prefer the guitar straight in.
The Dirty channel simply rocks.
I've just taken delivery of an Eventide Mixing Link to try and solve the problem of running delay with the dirty channel wound up a bit but pedals work fine on the natural channel.
Everything feels really solid on it too which is reassuring.
I run it through an oversized 1x12 cab fitted with an Eminence Wizard which seems to suit it well, giving a lot of volume and quite a full clean tone with some chime on the top end. Have also run it through a 4x12 Marshall cab which was nice.

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 9:46 pm
by Boy_Narf
BEST AMP EVAH!!!

Liked it so much I bought the head and combo :D

I thought we were allowed to talk pricing on out of production/used gear?

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 9:52 pm
by thejay
Love the R30!

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 10:48 pm
by a.hun
I've been Orange aware since grabbing my OR120 nearly new in '80. Suffice to say that the R.30 is the only one of the modern Oranges to grab me enough to actually shell out for one. Not putting the rest down, but for me it is as close to the perfect 30 watter Orange (in my case combo) as I could ask for. Bags of attitude and yeah the Natural channel is a great pedal platform. With a clean boost it can also compete better with the superb Drive channel on the volume side of things.

Fantastic amp with far more dramatic dynamics than any of the other modern Oranges. Very uncompressed, meaning you play harder it gets louder, not just dirtier! Total wee thug of an amp in fact!

Yeah, grab that!


Andy.

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:06 pm
by Bensnake
Congrats Jesper! I bought one today myself. It is a great amp for sure. I owned the combo version but sold it, mostly beacause I wanted the head instead. I really hope you can get your hands on that amp. Good luck! :D

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:38 pm
by onetracker
jump on it!

had mine for just over a year and loving it more each time I plug in. as far as pedals, I have wah, od, dist, delay, flange up front and they sound fabulous. would I prefer an effects loop for time based pedals? sure. when I find some $$$ i'll get a fryette power station for the effects loop and clean channel boost.

OT

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:34 pm
by apocalypsedude
I thought we could discuss prices on the out of production stuff?

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:39 pm
by Bensnake
apocalypsedude wrote:I thought we could discuss prices on the out of production stuff?
We can. As long as we don't put ads in the forum.

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:52 pm
by Orange Sunshine
Hello,
How does the Rocker 30 compare sound-wise to the CS-50 in 30 watt mode?
OS

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:00 pm
by Bensnake
Orange Sunshine wrote:Hello,
How does the Rocker 30 compare sound-wise to the CS-50 in 30 watt mode?
OS
The Rocker has a more aggressive tone and much more gain on tap. I think the CS-50 50W mode is better for comparison. I'll get back to you as soon as mine arrives and I can test them both side by side.

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:28 pm
by Orange Sunshine
Thanks Bensnake, I look forward to it. I have a CS-50 and am considering a Rocker 30, due in part to this thread. Thanks for starting it Jesper, and good luck with your Rocker 30s fellow Orange squeezers.

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 8:41 pm
by jesperbc
Thanks for all the input! Now I'm even more assured that I am getting this amp!

I we're allowed to discuss pricing on second hand/out of production items, I'd like to disclose that I'll be paying 4.000 Danish kroner for it, which converts to €537. I don't know if it's a fair price, but compared to a new AD30, I think it's very fair.

I've actually had an AD30TCH. How does the Rocker 30 compare to the AD30?

Re: Possible NAD - Orange Rocker 30

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 9:04 pm
by Boy_Narf
Yea that's a good price. Though I always get confused if that is a Euro/Pound symbol, Ignorant Canadians :D Still a decent price though. Then again If I had to replace my R30 I would defiantly pay more than it's worth. I've seen some for as low as $600 CAD, but they were beat to !@#$. I think if a deal that good comes up in my area again I'll have to go for it. It doesn't cost much to retolex, or build a new headsleeve.

I paid around $1500CAD (included shipping, exchange rate, tax, import fees, and fedex !@#$ me over tax) for my R30 head, so nearly new price, but it was NOS, un-used found in the depths of their warehouse, so I felt that was ok (think it was from some place in California). A few years later I traded my RV100 straight across for a NOS R30C. It had been sitting in their show room since it was brand new (at least 5 years). Blows my mind that no one bought it. It had some of the famous Orange rubber foot marks, but a light once over with a magic eraser, and the twisty paper towel/dish soap trick cleaned it right up. I did lose a bit of money on the trade, but compared to the offers I was getting for the RV100 I did much better off with the trade. The combo has become my #1 recording amp. I just love it. The head, although I don't play it as often, is hooked up to a PPC212&PPC412, so it's always a treat to fire that thing up :)

Great find. You are goona love it!