Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

wrath · Post by **wrath** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:27 pm

I can get the RV 100 mkII for an insanely sweet price, but I would have to sell my trusty RV50 who has serverd me flawlessly for almost 10 years now. Now, any opinions on mkII series?...is it more or less the same thing like mkI only with a mid knob in the clean channel (which was again removed in mkIII), or are there some other things that are better or worse in the mkII version? Not discussiong watts here.

Les Paul Lover · Post by **Les Paul Lover** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:05 pm

Are you missing something with your current RV50?

The MKII differences where supposedly better reverb (though i love the crazy reverb of my original RV50), 3 band eq on the clean channel, and a better FX loop.

If any of those are an issue with your current RV50, or you need extra power, then it would make sense to consider it. Otherwise..... it's just a case of different shades of green for the grass you're looking at.

Boy_Narf · Post by **Boy_Narf** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:37 pm

DON'T DO IT!!!

The RV50MK1 is a bit special thanks to it's unusual tube layout. Remember the 100 really needs to get cooking to sound good, and if you use humbuckers can/will (IME) muddy up fast.

Unless you are in need of colossal clean headroom, I say stick with the 50.

I fixed my ridiculous verb with a retube kit. Turned it from barely usable above 1, to lush full tones all the way up until 10. As stated about the EL, there were serious issues with it on the MK1 heads. Even just plugging a cable from send to return caused a "tone loss". Not sure how well this was fixed, but it was part of their initial marketing, so I'm assuming it's better.

I would say to only swap your RV50MK1 for an MKIII. Don't think there are enough features on the MKII to make it worth your while. Then again if it's that cheap, might as well get it and keep both

jax510 · Post by **jax510** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:32 pm

If you don't have something wrong, don't fix it is my suggestion. In 5 years the money will be gone anyway but you might miss a great amp.

Bensnake · Post by **Bensnake** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:05 pm

Don't sell your Mkl. As said above it's special with its tube config and crazy reverb. Despite the non transperant loop, it is a classic! The differences in tone are zero to none on the dirty channel compared to the newer Mk's. The clean channels on Mk1 and ll sound about the same, the Mklll has more chime though still RV sounding.

Ask yourself if you're in need of power switching and attenuator. Then the Mklll is the way to go. Even if you go for it I'd still keep the Mkl. I'd not go the Mkll way. No point what so ever IMO. And, as Boy_Narf said, the 100Mkll needs to be played really loud to come alive.

Les Paul Lover · Post by **Les Paul Lover** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:41 pm

Bensnake wrote:Don't sell your Mkl. As said above it's special with its tube config and crazy reverb. Despite the non transperant loop, it is a classic! The differences in tone are zero to none on the dirty channel compared to the newer Mk's. The clean channels on Mk1 and ll sound about the same, the Mklll has more chime though still RV sounding.

Ask yourself if you're in need of power switching and attenuator. Then the Mklll is the way to go. Even if you go for it I'd still keep the Mkl. I'd not go the Mkll way. No point what so ever IMO. And, as Boy_Narf said, the 100Mkll needs to be played really loud to come alive.

The loop works just fine if you use a buffered pedal through it. My delay has a buffer I believe, and sounds great through my fx loop, as does my tremolo and home made reverb. If you don't have a buffered fx, a booster like the micro amp or SHO does fine too.

Jondog · Post by **Jondog** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:43 pm

The other question is do you need 100 watts?

wrath · Post by **wrath** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:06 am

I play loud and tune low (A Standard). The RV50 doesn't push the lows I need. I have the vintage OR120 Overdrive and that baby has a huge low end and I hear the difference and it bugs me. My bassist playst through a 600 watt SS > 2x10 > 1x15 + OR120 > peavey bass 4x12 cab. Huge sound. I'll probably be doing the same...RV50 into one cab and OR120 Overdrive into another. The RV50 by itself is loud enough but it lacks the low end. Backup is the problem...if the RV50 fails for some reason...no problem, the OR120 Overdrive is powerful enough, especially through a full stack...but if my OR120 Overdrive fails for some reason I'm left with thinner sounding amp. Cranking it isn't a problem...it gets loud...low end is. But if you all are tellling me MKII isn't that good, even if it's 100 watt, and that the only alternative to it is MKIII, then I won't go for it. Do the 4 6v6 in RV50 MKI make it so special? Oh and as for lower wattage amps go, I'll get a H&K Tubemeister 18 either way cuz that's one hell of a little beast...perfect for home playing, home recording, and even for my other band where I use standard E Tuning and even 50 watts are too much for it. So my RV50, although great, for one band is too loud, for the other one is just too thin.

Jondog · Post by **Jondog** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:33 am

I think the MKll's are better designed. Don't know that it will fix your low end issue.

wrath · Post by **wrath** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:04 am

I'm gonna take my amp to that guy's place and I'm gonna compare them to solve this mystery once and for all. Will let you know next week. Be prepared to have you bubbles burst...or not

.

wrath · Post by **wrath** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:47 am

and it's 800 euros...

Les Paul Lover · Post by **Les Paul Lover** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:54 pm

Cool.

If you need more low end and more power, sounds like going for it is the right thing to do.

You guys must be super loud.....

I rarely get to crank my RV50!!!!

Boy_Narf · Post by **Boy_Narf** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:09 pm

My bubble is eagerly awaiting your report!

Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Re: Orange Rockerverb 50 mkI vs Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

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