Vinatge 4x12 question....Please Help!

Dead River · Post by **Dead River** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 11:45 pm

I have recently aquired what I believe to be an early 70's cab. I have 2 questions...
1. The serial number is #4057...what year is it exactly?
2. What were the original speakers that Orange stocked them with?

Thanks!

Rally Car · Post by **Rally Car** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 7:45 am

The only way you can date the cab is if it has the original speakers. I have two vintage Orange 4x12 cabs and one has the serial number in the 4000's and one has a high 5000's serial number. My cabs have the original speakers. One is dated to 1974 and one to 1976. The 1974 cab has the inside stained black and is loaded with Eminence speakers for the USA market. The 1976 cabs interior was not stained and the cab is loaded with 4 Celestion g12H Blackback speakers and was made for the English market and was imported in the mid 1980's. So the only diferance between the cabs is that the older cabs interior is stained black and the newer cab is not. Another diferance is the 1974 cab has thin speaker wire and is attached by clips and not soddered. The 1976 cab is wired like a Marshall cab from the period. I hope this helps a bit in finding out a year. What speakers are in the cab? Let us know and I'll try to help out.

Dead River · Post by **Dead River** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:18 pm

First off, thanks so much for your help and response. It really means a lot. When I purchased the cab I was told it was a 73. At least, thats what the price tag said on it. When I asked the sales guy If they were the original speakers inside he assured me they were. I opened the cab up for the first time yesterday to find those Silver Series Celestions in there. Now I work at a music store and know that these are the cheap Celestions that weigh next to nothing. The real shame of this is that they guy I purchased the cab from at the store was supposed to be a friend of mine. And, the cab was marketed as "collecters piece!!" and had a rather large price tag on it. I think the number on the speakers is V1260. I knew they weren't the originals but I had to find out what the right ones were. The cab still sounds good (especailly with my OR 80) but when I put it up against my vintage hiwatt cab, it's not even close (and I paid less than half for that). So, my next question is should I bring the cab back to where I got it from (cosmetically, it's in really good shape) or should I find some black backs somewhere and throw them in there? Thanks again!

Andy H. · Post by **Andy H.** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:37 pm

Take it back! If it was sold as one thing, and turned out not to be that, it's fraud! (Well, at least in Scotland it would be. Under Scots law - as opposed to English - a verbal contract is binding! Even the verbal description if wrong would mean they had defrauded you. Of course I don't know the law in the US, but as it's NOT as described, they shouldn't have a leg to stand on!)
Good Luck!

Andy.

A Scot in the Land of Orange...

Edited by - Andy H. on 05 Aug 2004 14:39:37

Rally Car · Post by **Rally Car** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 3:31 pm

Well....how much did you pay? An all original 1970's cab should go for around $900-1050 USD depending on condition with Original speakers. Without Original speakers I would say the cabs worth to be around $600-700 USD. If I were you I would bring the cab back and ask for a price adjustment. If the cab is in good condition I would reccomend keeping it and loading it with some good speakers. But only if they make a price adjustment. Finding a 1970's Orange cab in good condition is no easy thing to do. The lesson here is never trust what a music store has to say. Always double check for your self. I hate when music stores give wrong info.

Andy H. · Post by **Andy H.** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 4:07 pm

If it is a '70's cab, I'd definitely agree rally car, but... <BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> The only way you can date the cab is if it has the original speakers.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
If you're right there, it gets a bit tricky! <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

Andy.

macahan · Post by **macahan** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 4:24 pm

I really want to know how orange's serials could be so messed up??
i mean... shouldn't there be SOME sort of record?

my ad200 sounds amazing..

Andy H. · Post by **Andy H.** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 4:36 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I really want to know how orange's serials could be so messed up??
i mean... shouldn't there be SOME sort of record? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Free, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, one or two others... Plenty records.
Pity about the serial numbers though!

Andy.

Post by **bclaire** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 5:45 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I really want to know how orange's serials could be so messed up??
i mean... shouldn't there be SOME sort of record?

my ad200 sounds amazing..
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

No, it's about right. Marshall was one of the first to recognise the need for a serial number plan. Fender and Gibson have overlaps all over the place until they settled on a scheme. Remember, there was no vintage market and older guitars were "old" guitars up until Clapton, Bloomfield, etc started playing the Les Pauls that weren't made anymore and created the vintage market.

Up until a point, no one cared what year anything was made...

Billy

Post by **bclaire** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 5:47 pm

cosmetics: describe the cab in detail- handle type, etc. Phillips head screws or slot head screws.

Many USA cabs were loaded with Eminence speakers...

Billy

Dead River · Post by **Dead River** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:26 pm

It's almost embarassing to say how much I paid. But first off, I trusted the guy. We were suppposed to be friends. Next, I have always wanted a vintage orange set up. That said, I paid $1400.00 us dollars for it. Thanks Guitar Center. I am going to call him and see about a price adjustment, and if they refuse that, I am just gonna have him take it back. I'll call the corporate office if I have to. I hate doing things like that, and I never have, but 1400 is a lot of money. Thanks for all the help!

ps...If I do decide to keep it, anyone have any vintage g12h's?

Post by **bclaire** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 7:47 pm

Guitar Center has a 30 day return policy. If it's within 30 days, don't sweat it...

$1400 was WAY too much for a cab- you'd be better off buying a new Orange cab and pocketing the change....

Billy

Edited by - bclaire on 05 Aug 2004 19:49:38

Rally Car · Post by **Rally Car** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:12 pm

Wow!<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> That is a lot to spend on a cab. You must be pissed! I would take it back and keep looking if I were you. The last 1970's cab I saw on ebay sold for somthing like $1000 a few months ago. I'm not sure if it had the original speakers? Good luck with bringing it back to the store. I hope they see the huge mistake they made and correct it.

Edited by - rally car on 06 Aug 2004 05:39:49

Vinatge 4x12 question....Please Help!

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