Orange Amps

kevlar · Post by **kevlar** » Mon May 23, 2011 5:48 pm

Hey Shortscale,

It's time for to purchase a new amp. I'd really like an Orange Amp because I like the size of the heads and cabs, and you can't beat that raw dirty tone they give. I don't really know much about the different models of head and cab. It would have to be suitable for bedroom use, but also be just enough to take to a gig and mic up. My band is just starting to take off, and my peavey amp just doesn't cut it anymore. I play a fender jag, and an ORM Ibanez. Any recommendations?

Cheers.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:04 pm

One of the great things about Orange amps is how good the master volumes are - I have no problem running my RV50 at bedroom volumes and it still sounding great.
So to better help, a couple of questions:
What style of music do you play? What bands are in that ballpark?
What is your budget?
Do you have your own car or would you use public transport to get to gigs?
Where do you live? (this might be less relevant)
I've got a Jag and Orm1 so should be able to help!

Post by **Mike** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:08 pm

Thom's Amp (Rockerverb 50 MK1 with a 2x12" Cabinet I believe) is one the best two channel amplifiers I've ever played.

The clean channel is beautiful and the Gain channel sounds fantastic right across the Gain dial. Seriously fantastic.

I also loved BobArsecake's AD30HTC Twin Channel amp when I played that one, great sounds abound again. I used to really want one but they're just so expensive these days and I have my Marshall so I can't imagine it ever happening to be honest. Currently saving for THE FUTURE anyway.

kevlar · Post by **kevlar** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:13 pm

Thom wrote:One of the great things about Orange amps is how good the master volumes are - I have no problem running my RV50 at bedroom volumes and it still sounding great.
So to better help, a couple of questions:
What style of music do you play? What bands are in that ballpark?
What is your budget?
Do you have your own car or would you use public transport to get to gigs?
Where do you live? (this might be less relevant)
I've got a Jag and Orm1 so should be able to help!

The styles of music I'm into is mostly your average alt rock. A bit of Idlewild, Placebo, old Biffy, At The Drive-In, that sort of thing. I like that dirty rock tone that sounds somewhere between a fuzz and a good classic rock tone (if that is even possible

)

I don't have huge budget, just somewhere under Â£1000 for a head and a cab. I'm looking about just now and I like the look of this, some of the youtube demo's sound really good as well;

http://www.guitar.co.uk/orange/3524-ora ... ead?page=2

Although it doesn't have a mid control, the 'shape' control seems to do this job from what I've seen/heard.

I don't own a car, but I reckon I would be able to get some sort of a lift into town. I suppose if there was a really good amp head that was able to carried on public transoport would only be a plus!

Thanks for any help or advice!

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:37 pm

I have never played any of the Thunder series, so can't comment first hand but if I were to get a 30 watt Orange then the TH30 would be it. it is definitely more modern sounding than the AD series.
I've got the Rockerverb 50 and it's probably the most versatile of the range but also has a price tag to go with it. Worth keeping an eye out on eBay just in case or for a Rocker 30 that is now discontinued.
Your other option I would say is the Dual Terror. A couple of guys here have one so hopefully they will chime in.
Something to bear in mind is that Orange amps are generally LOUD so I wouldn't worry about getting a 30W or even a 15W depending on whether you need a pristine clean channel or not.
If you are happy with a single slightly dirty channel then I'd check out the Dark Terror that comes out later this month.

Cab-wise I would say that the PPC212OB is a good choice. More compact than the closed back and lighter. I now use this and it sounds great. The closed back is FUCKING HEAVY and bulky.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:38 pm

Oh and they are dark amps so a bright guitar like a Jag sounds awesome.

kevlar · Post by **kevlar** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:46 pm

Thom wrote:I have never played any of the Thunder series, so can't comment first hand but if I were to get a 30 watt Orange then the TH30 would be it. it is definitely more modern sounding than the AD series.
I've got the Rockerverb 50 and it's probably the most versatile of the range but also has a price tag to go with it. Worth keeping an eye out on eBay just in case or for a Rocker 30 that is now discontinued.
Your other option I would say is the Dual Terror. A couple of guys here have one so hopefully they will chime in.
Something to bear in mind is that Orange amps are generally LOUD so I wouldn't worry about getting a 30W or even a 15W depending on whether you need a pristine clean channel or not.
If you are happy with a single slightly dirty channel then I'd check out the Dark Terror that comes out later this month.

Cab-wise I would say that the PPC212OB is a good choice. More compact than the closed back and lighter. I now use this and it sounds great. The closed back is FUCKING HEAVY and bulky.

Thanks for your input Thom, I really do appreciate it. The TH30 really is a lot more modern sounding, but I think I could work with it.

I would really want 2 channels on the head to be honest, and the rockerverb is pretty out of my price range.

Any thoughts on the tiny terror and dual terror heads?

The PPC212OB is really suitable for what I'm after! Thanks for the suggestion.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:49 pm

if u want a giggable amp that can be used at home too get the Dual Terror or the Thunder30... same power sections but different pre's....

DT = Classic Crunch

TH30 = Modern, more gain

Edit: with u saying this

kevlar wrote: The styles of music I'm into is mostly your average alt rock. A bit of Idlewild, Placebo, old Biffy, At The Drive-In, that sort of thing. I like that dirty rock tone that sounds somewhere between a fuzz and a good classic rock tone (if that is even possible )

I beleive u would be VERY happy with the Dual Terror...... this is the sound I love and the sound I can get out of mine

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:54 pm

I used to have a Tiny Terror and whilst it was a very cool and fun amp, I found it a little fizzy with the gain up high. The Dual Terror might fix that with the Fat Channel though, but have never played one. Progrockabuse and SGJarrod have one I think so might be worth dropping them a pm pointing them in the direction of your thread

Edit - or just read SGJ's post above!

kevlar · Post by **kevlar** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:03 pm

I'm listening to the Dual Terror and Tiny Terror's on Youtube just now, and I really am digging the tone - so crunchy. I just wish they would put the housing around the head, It looks a little fragile.

I'm going to head into town this week and try them out. It seems like a toss up between the TH30 and the Dual Terror. Cheers for everyones input.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:07 pm

My guitar player has a Tiny Terror, and it's been plenty versatile and loud... at shows I have to turn up my Twin Reverb to keep up with his Tiny Terror

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:11 pm

kevlar wrote:I'm listening to the Dual Terror and Tiny Terror's on Youtube just now, and I really am digging the tone - so crunchy. I just wish they would put the housing around the head, It looks a little fragile.

I'm going to head into town this week and try them out. It seems like a toss up between the TH30 and the Dual Terror. Cheers for everyones input.

fragile is not a work I would use, its stamped steal so it is very sturdy.... and I forget where but there are people who make the housing for these to make them look like a proper Orange head..........

From ur explaination of what ur after and the fact of portablity I would still sayt he DT....

I personally have the DT and am saving for the TH30 for my 30th b-day present to myself

Also, the 212ob cab is great, thats what I an running too and I 2nd everything Thom said

Simon · Post by **Simon** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:32 pm

The Thunder 30 is the replacement model for the Rocker 30. The latter has now been discontinued but you still see them popping up on eBay from time to time. I have one and can vouch for them, amazing gain channel and a good clean channel(the clean channel just runs through the speaker and bypass' the EQ, so you're getting the true sound of your guitar effectively)

I've heard brilliant things about the Tiny/Dual Terror. I read a bit on the Orange forums and people were saying that the TH30 had a bit TOO much gain(and not in a good way) bordering on metal tones. Most said they preferred the Rocker 30.

With Â£1000 you've got plenty to play with though. Most definitely.

Looking forward to hearing which route you decide to go down.

Pretty sure both guitarists in Idlewild use Marshall amps mind...

kevlar · Post by **kevlar** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:42 pm

Simon wrote:The Thunder 30 is the replacement model for the Rocker 30. The latter has now been discontinued but you still see them popping up on eBay from time to time. I have one and can vouch for them, amazing gain channel and a good clean channel(the clean channel just runs through the speaker and bypass' the EQ, so you're getting the true sound of your guitar effectively)

I've heard brilliant things about the Tiny/Dual Terror. I read a bit on the Orange forums and people were saying that the TH30 had a bit TOO much gain(and not in a good way) bordering on metal tones. Most said they preferred the Rocker 30.

With Â£1000 you've got plenty to play with though. Most definitely.

Looking forward to hearing which route you decide to go down.

Pretty sure both guitarists in Idlewild use Marshall amps mind...

Yeah, I'm pretty concerned about the TH30 bordering on metal tones. Perhaps rolling off some gain outta help though. Just now I'm really liking the look of the Dual Terror.

Rod from Idewild has played a variety of amps from Orange, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, and Marshalls but I think he's settled on Marshalls now. Would love to know what pedal/amp he used on A Modern Way of Letting Go. Killer tone.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Mon May 23, 2011 11:26 pm

Hey Kevlar
Like sgjarod, i own a dual terror ( to be honest 90% of his and my gear are the same) and run it into a 2x10 cabinet. It really is a great amp, which can get nice and driven if you want it to or cleaner/breakup goodness. I like to run mine at 15 watts to give that tube compression to the cleaner sounds. It's not too heavy and is defenately well built, though most of my bandmates think I use a toaster as an amp head.

I pair this with a 2x10 cab with a mix of a vintage 30 and a greenback and it'll fill a small venue with sound fine. I aint never letting my dual terror go, unless I get a mk 1 rockerverb thom head!

Simon · Post by **Simon** » Tue May 24, 2011 9:21 am

kevlar wrote:
Simon wrote:The Thunder 30 is the replacement model for the Rocker 30. The latter has now been discontinued but you still see them popping up on eBay from time to time. I have one and can vouch for them, amazing gain channel and a good clean channel(the clean channel just runs through the speaker and bypass' the EQ, so you're getting the true sound of your guitar effectively)

I've heard brilliant things about the Tiny/Dual Terror. I read a bit on the Orange forums and people were saying that the TH30 had a bit TOO much gain(and not in a good way) bordering on metal tones. Most said they preferred the Rocker 30.

With Â£1000 you've got plenty to play with though. Most definitely.

Looking forward to hearing which route you decide to go down.

Pretty sure both guitarists in Idlewild use Marshall amps mind...
Yeah, I'm pretty concerned about the TH30 bordering on metal tones. Perhaps rolling off some gain outta help though. Just now I'm really liking the look of the Dual Terror.

Rod from Idewild has played a variety of amps from Orange, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, and Marshalls but I think he's settled on Marshalls now. Would love to know what pedal/amp he used on A Modern Way of Letting Go. Killer tone.

I think he uses/used a RAT but you'd probably be better off searching band forums for definite answers to that question. Brilliant guitarist mind.