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I hate to be this guy, but I'm going to be anyway.

Basically, I'm faced with a decision, I have some pretty seriously conflicting interests in gear.
I seem to change what I want every day. Basically I can't seem to decide if I should have a high gain amp or not. I kind of like having the option, but at the same time, I feel I might just end up only using the high gain part of it.

Basically I'm torn right now on what to do.

Do I get this?

A Fender Vibrolux Reverb
Pros: Amazing cleans, takes pedals like a fucking champ, fairly portable, fantastic reverb and tremolo, cheaper than the other alternative
Cons: It's something of a one trick pony, no mids knob

Or this?

An Orange Rockerverb 50 MkII Head
Pros: Already have a great cab for it, Great Clean, Great reverb, Fantastic higain sound, and generally badass, more versatile
Cons: More Expensive, Less portable, Unsure on how well it takes pedals.



This seems like a really odd problem, but I'm genuinely torn.
I would be running these with a tele. I play lots of different types of music.
Any ideas?
I really have no idea what I want. What would you do in my situation?



TL;DR
VIBROLUX OR ROCKVERB N PLZ N THNX

vibrolux

I think Fender. The mid knob thing isn't that much of a problem. I'm sure you'll be fine. The one trick is a really good trick, that allows you to do a lot of other tricks.

Depends on your situation. What do your bassist/other musicians have? How loud are you pushing the amp? How often are you using amp for gain vs pedal for gain? How loud do you NEED to be?

Vibrolux.
I love mine.
You'll love yours.

I had a rockerverb 50 (not mkII) and it did not take very well the pedals at all!!!

I own similar amps, here's my thoughts:

I have a Carr Slant 6V 40W head and 2x12 (based on Fender Blackface) and and Orange RV50 head (6V6 version) and I definitely prefer the Carr. The Carr has an amazing clean, like most Fenders, and is the best platform when using pedals. Like you mentioned, it takes any pedal I throw at it with ease, just the perfect pedal amp. Bonus, it has a great gain channel too so it's a little more versatile. I use an open back Carr 2x12 and closed back Emperor 2x12 to keep lows nice and tight, it sounds HUGE. With pedals, your Fender will not be a one trick pony, not even close.

The RV50's clean channel is just ok, sounds good until I compare it to the Carr or my old Twin Reverb. The high gain is where this amp really shines, sounds incredible. The problem, however, is this amp hates most every pedal I use. I get a lot of noise and effects sound mushy, muddy, and lost. I've owned two now, an Orange tolex and the White tolex I have now and they both hated pedals...still not sure if I'll hang on to it....This in turn makes the RV50 more of a high gain one trick pony for me.

i vote fender...everyone I have owned takes pedals very well

+1 for fender. they really let the subtleties of gear shine!

I've been leaning more towards the Vibrolux, but at the same time I find myself in situations where I need the sound of high gain amp. Ideally I'd like both, but uhhh... I can only have one for now. $_$

mauerkraut wrote:Depends on your situation. What do your bassist/other musicians have? How loud are you pushing the amp? How often are you using amp for gain vs pedal for gain? How loud do you NEED to be?

I'm really unsure how either amp would sound in the bands I'm in right now. Both are pretty different than what I have. I've got a 1983 Fender Concert II head I run into a VHT slant 2x12 cab loaded with vintage 30s. I just use it as a clean amp and push it with pedals. I feel it's really time for a change though.

If I got the Fender, I'd be using it for probably just cleans. The Orange would be for cleans and dirt. I never need to be unbearably loud. One time I turned my amp to 4 at band practice. I was too loud.

Fender

i'd buy the fender and run both (concert & vibrolux) together.

push them both away
and get yourself a vox

masked elwood wrote:i'd buy the fender and run both (concert & vibrolux) together.

Fender, the rockerverbs are nice but not as good with pedals and mutch heavier.