Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

[Slfantasy]

Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster here.

I just recently replaced my Roland Cube 60, with a Mesa Rect-o-verb head and I have an Avatar 2x12 on the way (let's just say I'm good at saving but bad at deciding what to buy).

The problem is I got my Rect-o-verb off of ebay and it came with no manual or power cord. Now would I need a special power cord from Mesa or would any power chord that connects the amp to the outlet work? The amp also came with no footswitch so I have to buy that from mesa but I see no power cord i can buy. I probably should have researched more but the deal was too sweet to pass up.

Also one other question, say if I were to add a pedal, now I see the effects loop part and understand that but would I use an instrument or speaker cable to make the loop? I assume speaker but say on www.music123.com whenever it shows up the page to buy and they offer the other accessories on the bottom it always shows instrument cables and not speaker cables.

I probably sound like an idiot but could you guys clear this stuff up for me?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

I'm not too famalier with Mesa amps, but I know that many of the Marshall amp take a standard type power chord. Mine is a 3 prong (female) that goes into the back of the head, and then a standard 3 prong that plugs into the wall (male). I would guess that someplace like Guitar Center would have one...but I really haven't looked. Any shop that does repairs on amps should also either have one in stock, or be able to tell you where to get one. It should be a fairly easy thing to find.

As for the cable for the pedal, I always use instrument cable, both in front of the amp and in the effects loop. Something good like Monster Cable, George L's or similar is good. Don't skimp of the cable.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

The power cable will be a standard 3 prong computer type power cable; any Radioshack, Lowes, Home depot, Compusa, or Best Buy would have it.

Definitely don't skimp on the cable! I use Planet Waves exclusively.

 

[Slfantasy]

Re: Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

Thank you so much!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

Just use 3 foot instrument cords for your FX loop. When I use a rack reverb unit with my amps, I often use those Hosa studio cables that are melded together, with a gray and orange male plug on each end. They're easy to hook up quickly because of the colored ends. Just make sure you use a speaker cable to connect the head to the cab.

 

[Slfantasy]

Re: Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

Uh oh wait....I see the Effects loop in the back and the switch for "Fx mix" so I see that means for effects that are always in use (for some reason I thought I needed like a 20 foot cord that reached all the way around the amp and then another 20 foot cord to return back to the amp.

So now for effects that I use in front (for turn off and on use) I would use that and connect it through the footswitch? I doubt I go through the input b/c that would mean the effects connect to the actual guitar and would seem wierd if you moved around too much.

Sorry for all the questions I just want to make sure before I buy all these cables. So far I'm thinking a 6 Foot Cable (Smallest they have) to connect the Amp to the Cab. And I think that's all I need speaker cable for (maybe I need it for the slave out? whatever that is). Also I think one 20 foot (maybe 50 if I really need that much) for connecting the guitar to the amp, one (maybe 10 feet) for connecting the footswitch to the appropriate spot.

Altogether:

1 6 Foot Speaker Cable
1 20 (50) Foot Instrument Cable
1 10 Foot Instrument Cable

And then I plan on getting a Boss Tu-2 and possible a Ns-2 so I'm getting some of these Pedal Jumper Cables from Music123 (Im ordering most of this stuff off of Music123).

Would this be enough, I'm getting the Monster Performer 500 cables didn't know how expensive cables could get.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

Get Planet Waves cables. Last longer and cost less than Monster, without the shoddy buisness practices, and the same quality tone.

The speaker cable will only be used to connect the head to the cab, ignore the slave out.

How many footswitchable buttons does the Rectoverb have? If it's only one, you'll need a mono cable, I'd get 20 foot, and you can skimp on quality here. You don't need incredibly tone for a footswitch . For connecting guitar to amp, I find 20 is fine. With pedals, I'd run 15-20 to the pedalboard, and however much distance you'll keep the pedals from the amp.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

Get Planet Waves cables. Last longer and cost less than Monster, without the shoddy buisness practices, and the same quality tone.

Planet Waves' parent company isn't exactly squeaky clean when it comes to silly enforcement of trademarks.

So now for effects that I use in front (for turn off and on use) I would use that and connect it through the footswitch? I doubt I go through the input b/c that would mean the effects connect to the actual guitar and would seem wierd if you moved around too much.

The footswitch doesn't go in your signal path. It should be connected only to your amp. There are some FX (wah, OD, compressor) that you probably want to run in front of the amp. Other FX (delay, modulation, reverb) are better in the loop.

 

[FireBros.]

Re: Confused...Going from Combo to Head + Cab Situation

hit this page for your very own manual, if you have any more questions.
Mesa/Boogie Manuals