Upgrading from TH30 to RV50

[mici88]

I've been using TH30 for two years and I'm still in love with this amp. Two channels provide sparkling cleans, nice crunch and hardcore distortion. I can't find words to describe how it takes pedal, TS and modulation especially. Wattage switching 7/15/30W are also handy as hell. I dig the EQ shape knob, too - lots of tones on tap without much tweaking.

However recently I started about getting my self Rockerverb which always seemed to be Orange's "real deal". It has reverb (which I sometimes miss in TH30) and ful EQ section. I'm not expecting more volume or headroom, because I guess that difference between 30 and 100W is not that huge.

So guys - did anyone here upgraded from TH30 to Rockerverb? Why? What was your impressions, what RV can do that TH30 can't? Or anyone came back to TH30?

[Ronnie Robinson]

Hi , sounds good - which version are you looking at?

[mici88]

Hi , sounds good - which version are you looking at?

Good question. I heard lots of good thing about RV50 MK2.

[thejay]

I never had a TH30 but I did own a MKII and now have a MKIII. The dirt channels are basically the same but the clean channels are different and so is the reverb. The MKII has a crazy reverb, it should be its own effect pedal! Many didn't like it but I thought it was cool. MKIII is a more traditional reverb. MKIII also has the power scaling feature (100,70,50,30 modes) if you get the 100w version and a built attenuator. Personally the MKIII would be the way to go... again haven't had a TH30 but the Rockerverb is def an awesome amp - go for it!

[Jondog]

I bought a TH30 when they first came out. I wasn't satisfied with it and returned it upgrading to the RV50 MKII, it was fairly new around that time as well. BIG difference. To me it was a much better sounding amp. I also think the QC is much better on the British made amps. I've worked inside a number of Orange models and while the Chinese ones are all good, there's more attention in the British ones. Another big difference outside the obvious (EQ, Reverb) is the transformers. The Rockerverb uses big heavy well made transformers and that makes a difference in any amp. TH30 uses the Dual Terror transformers, which are still good, but the UK made Demeter transformers on the British amps are awesome, Mercury Magnetics quality in my opinion. The price differences between the two amps reflect the quality I think.

[Phlowen]

I've had an RV50 MKI, a TH30, and an RV50 MKIII. I went from the RV50 MKI to the TH30 and was never fully satisfied, especially with the dirty channel (I loved the cleans of the TH30, though). Eventually I went back to the RV50, with the MKIII, and couldn't be happier!

For the price, the TH30 is an AMAZING amp but it can't beat the "real deal" as you called it. I even upgraded my TH30 transformers, which definitely made it sing, but the MKIII still outshines it. The RV50 is everything I wanted the TH30 to be and more, in my opinion.

You really do get what you pay for. As the price difference suggests, the RVs are better constructed (even down to the PCB board and the soldering) and have better components (caps, transformers, etc) (I can attest to this from both playing and taking apart both amps). I can't speak to the MKII specifically, but if you have the funds to get into an RV50, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Ronnie Robinson]

I use to have a mkii and maybe will again. The reverb and effects loop were superb ...I liked the gain channel but prefer a more vintage classic rock tone ....although this can come close....but other models in the range do it better so thats now what ive got. The clean channel was nice but I prefer a clean channel I can add a little gain to and also found the clean channel very OD and Boost pedal unfriendly.

[Les Paul Lover]

The RV50 is a great amp, and an improvement on the TH30 imo.

The only thing that you may lose coming from the TH30 is the ability to drive the clean channel into power valve break up more easily.

Beyond that, the RV50 is pretty similar to your TH30, just more of it, and a bit nicer.
But don't expect night and day difference, the TH30 is pretty sweet - just not as nice.

[Sootio]

The TH30 works just fine for me, but if I needed more wattage, a Rockerverb would be at the top of the list.

[Dark Helmet]

Attenuator on the Mk3 makes it VERY VERY VERY compelling over the MK2... although I do prever the reverb on the Mk2. it's probably the reason I still have my TV50 (which also has one), soooooo versatile.

[Phlowen]

The only thing that you may lose coming from the TH30 is the ability to drive the clean channel into power valve break up more easily.

The MKIII's clean is much closer to the TH30's than previous RV iterations. And that attenuator makes it easy to push either channel into all sorts of fun break up sounds!

[mici88]

Thank you guys for the input. For now, I still have to save up some money...

[Les Paul Lover]

Thank you guys for the input. For now, I still have to save up some money...

It'll be much faster if you sell your arse on street corners though.

[mici88]

Thank you guys for the input. For now, I still have to save up some money...

It'll be much faster if you sell your arse on street corners though.

Thanks for this stunning advice, but this is to be honest my last resort. I might sell kidney (or lung, or whatever we humans have x2) as well.