Orange Amps - The Voice of My World
A slight play on words right there, but it’s true, Orange Amps has been the backbone of my guitar sound since 2013!
Don’t get me wrong, I started out using the odd Marshall here and there, a Diamond Nitrox, a couple of Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifiers, and an old Carvin head (of which I cannot remember the model name. It was wrapped in a black carpet finish.) But once I tried out Orange for the first time, I was hooked.
I’d always associated Orange with Britpop. A cool genre, but not my wheelhouse. I suppose it was around the time Slipknot started using Orange, and seeing all the Doom bands like Corrosion of Conformity and Mastodon using them that peaked my interest. Not that I wrote music that heavy, but it was good to know that the amps were capable of handling gain!
My first band supported a band called ‘Delain’ at Rock City Basement. On guitar was Ewout Pieters, a brilliant 7 string player. If memory serves me correctly he was using an Ibanez Prestige 7 string into an Orange Thunderverb. The sound was colossal! Shortly after that show I purchased a Thunderverb 50. Killer amp, and the mids were terrific. (The soul of the guitar.)
After a brief spell with a Dual Rectifier (I thought the amount of knobs and switches would add more to my tone for some reason……this was not the case at all!) I eventually moved onto the infamous Rockerverb 100 Mark 2 with a PPC412. I used this amp throughout my time in ‘Emperor Chung’. We recorded our debut album using that amp, and opened the Pepsi Max Stage at Download 2013.
Shortly after this I became an Offical Ambassador of Orange Amps. Something I am still immensely proud of! What a legacy to be a part of.
Why do I love that ‘Orange’ sound, and what is it?
The EQ framework is expertly crafted. The mids are punchy and juicy. The low end is dense and warm. The highs are smooth yet present.
I’ve been fortunate enough to own, test, and demo many Orange products including; Thunderverb 50, Rockerverb 50 & 100 Mk2, Rockerverb 50 Mk3, Bax Bangeetar, Rocker 15 head, Dual Terror, Guitar Butler, Getaway Driver, Pedal Baby, MK Ultra, and the OR30.
They’re all built like tanks, simple to use, reliable, and embody the same vocal-like timbre. The gain is thick and saturated, and feels bouncy under the fingers. For me, the sweet spot is usually around 12 o’clock on the gain control and then boost as required with a suitable drive pedal.
I’m never left wanting more from my amps. Orange always deliver the goods, and focus on the key fundamental principles of a great guitar sound that sits beautifully in a mix.
I often hear that the amps can be bass heavy. This is true, especially when using higher gain settings, but by rolling back the bass control, the mids and treble shine through.
The FX loops are transparent and the master volume interacts very well with the preamp, meaning lower volume tones are obtainable. You don’t have to peel the skin off the audience with sheer volume!
The clean channel on the Rockerverbs are chimey, especially the Mark 3, but the OR30 cleans up beautifully with the volume control on the guitar.
This is my preferred method of late with my solo material.
Orange MK Ultra - Marcus King Signature Amp
Now this is a grown up amp! Huge amounts of power and clarity. Nowhere to hide with this amp at all. Three controls, 30 watts of power and the sweetest compression ever! This amp loves pedals and is a must to try out!
Orange OR30 - 30watt Guitar Amp Head
Probably my all time favourite amp! I use this primarily for all my solo material now. I love the presence control and bright switch. The amp is a little more squelchy when digging in, but it cleans up beautifully with the volume control on my guitars. I’m boosting this amp with a standard issue Boss SD-1 to add a little more sustain when needed.
The FX loop is bad ass too! Although I am recently not using any ambient effects. Do not be fooled by 30 watts, this is devastatingly loud! It does feature a headroom/bedroom switch though.
Maybe one day they’ll release a spring reverb equipped version.
Orange OR30 vs Orange Rockerverb 50 Mk3
Which do you prefer? Difficult to choose! In some ways very similar. Yet the feel is different, the way notes bloom and how immediate the amps deliver each note. The way chords harmonically translate.
I could talk all day about Orange Amps. I cannot speak highly enough of them. As a company, the people are incredibly supportive and kind. They care about the artists, and the music.
I love how they don’t follow trends and continue to maintain their impeccable legacy with innovative designs. Look at the Tiny Terror, that was the first ever lunchbox amp! Genius!
I understand not all tools can be used for every task, but for me, I feel like these amps and speakers that I use amplify the voice in my head. The thing I really love is how every one of my guitars still inherently retains the wonderful tonal character of the amp itself. It’s a part of the signal chain. For me that’s the reason why I use them, I love that sound, and I want it to be present no matter what guitar or pedal combination I use with it. 🧡
I have used Orange Amps on all of these music releases. Have a listen and you will hopefully hear a common tone throughout.
Be sure to check out Orange Amps at http://www.orangeamps.com
Thanks for reading.
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