So I had the chance to play an Orange TH30 last night

[jimSG]

Dave - didn't you have an AD30 combo at one point? Or some other Orange combo. For some reason, I've never heard an Orange combo that I like. I mean even the AD30HTC vs the combo version. Didn't like the combo at all. (damn, can't find a smilie that I like :cop:)

[Dave]

Haha I originally played the combo which is where I arrived at the unfounded conclusion that it was the worst amp ever.


Then I tried the single channel head through my 1960 cabs.


I just don't like v30's

[Diocide]

IMO anyone looking for an orange should seek a competent amp builder and have them make you one. Old school oranges are relatively simple beasts, and the prices they charge for new one are pretty much robbery.

[Dave]

IMO anyone looking for an orange should seek a competent amp builder and have them make you one. Old school oranges are relatively simple beasts, and the prices they charge for new one are pretty much robbery.

I meant to ask you in my other thread but which builders are you referring to?

I can definitely see a custom build being cheaper but the Internet is chock full of bad experiences with small time builders.

The Orange Retro 50 is milspec wiring with turret board construction for a decent price through certain retailers. The OR50 is also intriguing and can be had at a great price new. I'm not really interested in the rockerverbs or thunderverbs although they are nice amps. The orange brand also has clout on the used market if resale value is a concern. In my case it is because I can get finicky when adding new tones to my arsenal.

Thanks for the input and hope my questions are clear as mud

[Diocide]

IMO anyone looking for an orange should seek a competent amp builder and have them make you one. Old school oranges are relatively simple beasts, and the prices they charge for new one are pretty much robbery.

I meant to ask you in my other thread but which builders are you referring to?

I can definitely see a custom build being cheaper but the Internet is chock full of bad experiences with small time builders.

The Orange Retro 50 is milspec wiring with turret board construction for a decent price through certain retailers. The OR50 is also intriguing and can be had at a great price new. I'm not really interested in the rockerverbs or thunderverbs although they are nice amps. The orange brand also has clout on the used market if resale value is a concern. In my case it is because I can get finicky when adding new tones to my arsenal.
1
Thanks for the input and hope my questions are clear as mud

The only builder I can personally speak about is my buddy Nick at Dunwich Amps. He's made some of the best sounding (and looking) amps I've ever heard and seen. He knows amps inside and out. Google and or YouTube him and you'll see some of his work. From what I can gather from him, is that these type of amp are relatively straight forward. I'm sure that there are quite a few builders who could make something in this vein, albeit not the largest share of the custom amp market.

Here's my YouTube page with some Clips of his amps on it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDiocide/videos

His user name on YouTube is xxxslayedxxx check out his page for tons of clips.

[Dave]

Thanks dude, I'll check the clips. I've heard of him from various people which is another good sign

[southtexslinger]

I jammed a way overpriced used Orange combo at a music store about 5 years ago. Awesome sound. Gain structure open and complex, very responsive. Thick full sound, no muddyness or high shrill stuff. Didn't have the chance to open her volume but certainly made an impression. Later that night I tried to dial up that Orange sound with my then amp and my collection of pedals.....nothing came close. The Orange sold a month later.

[GAS KING]

Haha man, I can imagine most new oranges don't stack up for you.

Have you tried the OR50 or the Retro 50?

After the AD30, I tried an AD140............which was just more of the same...........after that I never thought to try another Orange.

They're almost trying too hard these days.

The OR120 is pretty much a Matamp.......Matamp is something I can get into.

[Pepi]

If I gigged a lot I would never own a tube amp that has the tube sockets soldered to the PC board I don't mind an amp with a PC board on all components but the sockets mounted into the chassis. That's my story and I'm sticking to it

[Norton666]

I played one this weekend and thought it sounded god awful. I couldnt get a single tone I liked out of it. I also got to play one of the little OR15 heads too and that amp blew the TH30 away imo.

[JiveTurkey]

Many moons ago I had an AD140. It was painfully loud. Wasn't one of my more common sense based purchases. It had a punch to it like no other but the tone by itself did nothing for me. With pedals it was sweet but for the price...not so much.