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I've always had a soft spot for Orange amps. I've never owned any, but a shop near me has a pair of Orange heads for sale. An AD30 twin channel and a Rocker 30. I know that Orange can do classic rock with their eyes shut, but are they versatile enough. You can see from my current setup that I have versatility coming out of my ears, but sometimes it gets tedious and time consuming fine tuning the sound, and some days it never seems to be right. The guy in the shop says you can't get a bad sound from the Orange, but can I cover nice and clean to nasty and dirty using an Orange and my current guitar/pedals. I like the idea of them being 30 watts, so I can push the power stage more, my Marshall always sounds better when cranked but it's not always practical. Any thought, advice or experience will be greatly received. Thanks.

I really like Orange amps, a lot! Though I've always thought of them as only doing the Marshall thing, just better. I've no idea about Orange clean. Not really very familiar with the Rocker 30 (though I've heard nothing but high praise for it) but I'm sure after tweaking the AD30 for a while you'll never want to play that JCM again. In terms of versitility I think you could do a lot better than Orange. The only conceivable reason I can think of for you to buy an Orange amp is as a direct replacement for your Marshall.

I don't think Orange amps were ever very successful in the U.S.A. as far as I know they barely even exist over there now. So you might be hard pushed trying to find out much about them on here.

I know what you mean about the soft spot though, I'd love to own an Orange, they just have so much more soul than Marshalls. Especially the newer ones (Marshall, I mean)

Yeah, some things just shout kudos, and I can't think of a finer sight than a nice Orange amp at the side of a stage.

BTW, I'm not looking for the ultimate in versatility, just a quality clean and dirty tone that will respond well to my Jekyll amp; Hyde and some guitar volume adjustment.

I know what you mean about the soft spot though, I'd love to own an Orange, they just have so much more soul than Marshalls. Especially the newer ones (Marshall, I mean)

Are u sure u r talking about the AD30's (they have el84's) because I know the AD140 are very marshally but i thought the AD30 was more like a vox with a marshall touch (class A EL84s etc)

My buddy's got a Rocker 30 and it sounds amazing. I'm kinda wishing that I would have gotten that rather than my THD (which I love too). The clean channel (Orange calls it quot;Naturalquot;) sounds as good as the overdrive channel. Very versatile amp that won't kill your wallet!

The new Orange amps don't really compare to the orig. If you put a mid 70's next to a new Orange you'll hear the difference, big time.
Matamp is supposed to be a *true* copy of the orig Orange.

Orange amps, (origs) you either love them or hate them, there's no in between. The dirty sounds are impressive but the cleans, imo, are harsh. That seems to be consensus among players. However Peter Green recorded 'Albatross' on a Orange and the guitar sound on that song is beautiful. I don't what they did to get that particular sound but that tone is not common among Oranges.

Well they got that sound using Peter Green, rarely has a player touched Greeny's abilities.

I too have a soft spot in myhead for Orange, so much so that I walked into a shop saw the AD15/12 and walked out with it after about a 5 minute test. Stupid move on my part but you live, you spend a lot of money and sometimes you learn. It was a pretty cool sounding amp but I could never really get it dialed in right for me, swapped tubes and speakers with no luck. The cleans were never quite right and the lack of verb was a drag on such a pricey amp. The juiced up sounds were nice but to really take it and rock out it didn't have enough power to compete, wish I could have afford the 2x12 30, I think it would have been a keeper. I could have mixed speakers to get the sound I wanted and I would have lived without the reverb. I have not had the chance to get my hands on a Matamp (good thing I don't need anymore GAS!) but I have heard great things about them, especially the Green, which apparently does get you into PGs sonic realm.

No luck getting near the Rocker yet either, I'd be interested hearing about it from someone who has.

lt;It is a clip I did with an LP Custom - CC in bridge


Originally Posted by TrilogyMatamp is supposed to be a *true* copy of the orig Orange.

...or used to be. I read on a stonerrock.com forum that Matamp is no longer making the big 4 power tube amps and they will be made by Joel in Spokane as quot;electric ampsquot; or something similar.
However Peter Green recorded 'Albatross' on a Orange and the guitar sound on that song is beautiful. I don't what they did to get that particular sound but that tone is not common among Oranges

Was that a Series 2000 rather than an OR/OD?

I'll echo the Matamp recommendation. But mainly because they are so spinecrushingly heavy.

But check out models like the C7 and 1224 heads, they absolutely rule. Handbuilt in England, but for Marshall DSL prices.

Yeah, it's definately a thought. the 1224 head got a gold star rating from Guitarist magazine IIRC. At the moment all this is hypothetical, as I don't have the cash available and would have to sell my Marshall. I know I wouldn't get enough to cover either a Matamp or Orange, but it's nice to plan ahead. I plan on sticking my Legacy with the Jamp;H through both the Orange amps to try out and compare the sounds. Who knows, I might just fall for 1 so completely that I'll not rest til I have 1! God I need to be gigging right now!!


Originally Posted by chillWas that a Series 2000 rather than an OR/OD?

I'm not sure.

i've got one of black sabbaths old videos for iron man taped and geezer and tony are both using orange amps. i have no idea which models they are, but they definately got that quot;originalquot; sabbath sound. really makes me want one.


Originally Posted by chill...or used to be. I read on a stonerrock.com forum that Matamp is no longer making the big 4 power tube amps and they will be made by Joel in Spokane as quot;electric ampsquot; or something similar.
Was that a Series 2000 rather than an OR/OD?

That was a Matamp series 2000 i'm pretty certain.

Correct about the big high volume matamps too, i'm not happy. I was just about to seel pretty much everything I own and order a GTL.


Originally Posted by hellrider77i've got one of black sabbaths old videos for iron man taped and geezer and tony are both using orange amps. i have no idea which models they are, but they definately got that quot;originalquot; sabbath sound. really makes me want one.

My understanding is those were stock amps for the Beat Club performers, those are not amps they brought with them to Germany.I haven't played any new(er) Oranges, and I always wanted to like Oranges, but every single one I've played was either way too much amp (120w), or not enough gain. I'll pass.

I have an Orange AD30 head and think it's great

I set it slightly crunchy so when I use a LP and play hard, it breaks up slightly (great for Free and Fleetwood Mac type tones) and boost it with various Overdrives when I need something with a little more grit to it.

The Orange sees more use than either a Marshall JTM60 combo or a Marshall JCM800 2210 head

Brow, is yours the single AD30 or the twin channel? I quite like the idea of the 2 channel as it's effectively 2 of the same amps in 1 head.


Originally Posted by stevie_beesBrow, is yours the single AD30 or the twin channel? I quite like the idea of the 2 channel as it's effectively 2 of the same amps in 1 head.

Sorry, I forgot to say

Mine's the single channel version which I run into a 1970s Orange 4x12 cab

Craig

I have a single channel ad30 head and I love it, I use it with a tonebone classic. Very cool sound, the cleans would sound better with a little verb but the sound is very similiar to 'albatross' and the live 'orange era' PG stuff I have. This thing is so freakin loud its unbeleivable

I guess I'm going to have to try them out. I get the forboding feeling that GAS is just around the corner.