Orange Amps

Barf

Joined: Apr 08, 2007
Posts: 32

Posted on Aug 31 2007 07:06 PM

So its been a while since I've posted anything, but I had an idea and since you all seem to be a bit smarter than I, I decided to put it before you all. Orange amps: Yea or Nay in surf music, I wanted to get a 2X12 cab. and put a fender head on it. I had used a Laney once at a friends apartment and with the reverb all the way up it nailed the surf sound I like so I thought maybe looking into other british amps.

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Aug 31 2007 07:16 PM

So you want to get a 2x12 Orange cab and use a Fender head...

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Barf

Joined: Apr 08, 2007
Posts: 32

Posted on Aug 31 2007 08:02 PM

Problem lies where? Alot people mix cabs and heads. Just wanted to see if I could get a nice crunch and also a surf tone out of a half stack. Right now I also have thought of just getting a hot rod deville or a dual reverb reissue, but I don't know how versitle they are in terms of the tones i can get outta them.

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Aug 31 2007 08:13 PM

An orange cab isn't going to make a fender head crunch, and it will make a decent surf tone but depending on cab construction it will be only a decent surf tone compared to a fender cab. Speaker cabs are very important but nowhere near as important as the heads.

Pedals can make a fender head crunch very well but not pedal can ever make a good trad surf tone on a Marshall or Orange.

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CaptainSpringfield

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
United States

Posted on Sep 01 2007 12:12 AM

FWIW, whichever company is responsible for the Orange reissues is apparently doing something less than a stellar job - a lot of what I've seen indicates that the recent ones in no way match up favorably with the originals. Besides, considering what you'd spend on an Orange, there's a lot of other possibilities.

Just my $.02

-Warren

—

That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.

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Barf

Joined: Apr 08, 2007
Posts: 32

Posted on Sep 01 2007 01:27 AM

Hmmm... very interesting, Thanks for your guys' input thus far, I don't know too much about half stacks been only using combos, I had a chance to talk to my old guitar teacher and he said just go with a fender combo, Guess I mostly just wanted to have something to turn heads, thanks again for the info.

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Sep 01 2007 04:22 AM

Yeah, I'm with Jake and Warren - there isn't a lot a cab will do for your overall sound. Basically, the tone comes from the guitar and the head much more than anything else. A different cab might possibly color your sound a little, but I wouldn't sink cash into a brand-name cab like that unless you're completing a pair. It would work, but you can get a comparable cab for less than half price probably, as long as you have an idea of what you're looking for.

~B~

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estreet

Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
1 POTD Pin

Posted on Sep 01 2007 08:05 AM

Hmm, have to disagree about the importance of speakers. Personally, I find that the speaker drivers you use make a huge difference to your sound - just look at the vastly different tone of a Twin Reverb with the JBL D130s and ones with the standard Eminence. I've had both types and they are like completely different amps. Therefore, I'd want to know what drivers they put in the Orange cabs. I expect they are Celestions, but there's a world of difference between the harsh G12-75 and the far warmer G12H's for example: not to mention the many others they make.

—

http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns

Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Sep 01 2007 04:18 PM

I think we're both saying the same thing. What I was saying is that an Orange cabinet loaded with something like Celestion Vintage 30s or any old JBLs will sound VERY similar to a no-name cab loaded with the same speakers. I was just arguing that he should worry more about brand names when it comes to guitars or heads, rather than the cab.

Also, you mean JBL D120s in your Twin, right?

~B~

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surfneptune

Joined: Mar 16, 2006
Posts: 923
3 News Pins

Posted on Sep 01 2007 06:28 PM

So we are talking closed back cabs? Open back vs closed sound different to me. A little more bass punch. Ultimately I still think it's hard to beat the ol bandmaster 2x12 cab.

I also think speakers make a huge difference, I could not believe how much better a set of old jensen C12ns sound vs the webers I had. It would be interesting to hear them in a 4x12 marshall cab.

On a slightly related topic (as far as what a differnce a head can make) Hap Hazzard got a used Fender Super 60 rack mounted amp... MAN what a great amp! Like half a Red Knob showman! Great sounding pre-amp section. Lousy distortion. but this is surf! The amp is clean but not that unforgiving silver-faced twin with jbl clean. If you lean a little british, look into a Ceriatone DC 30 clone, I just put a Mullard EF86n it, and it sounds great!

—

THe NEpTuNeS

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Sep 02 2007 04:02 PM

Tom,
Is that another Ceriatone that you bought? Or is this still the Matchless clone we're talking about?

Either way, I can't wait to hear that puppy in action.

~B~

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surfneptune

Joined: Mar 16, 2006
Posts: 923
3 News Pins

Posted on Sep 02 2007 06:07 PM

Yeah it's the matchless clone I bought, I only have one so far (if I had the cash I would get one of their other amps)

Looking forward to seeing you guys agan!

tom

—

THe NEpTuNeS

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estreet

Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
1 POTD Pin

Posted on Sep 02 2007 06:28 PM

SurfBandBill
I think we're both saying the same thing. What I was saying is that an Orange cabinet loaded with something like Celestion Vintage 30s or any old JBLs will sound VERY similar to a no-name cab loaded with the same speakers. I was just arguing that he should worry more about brand names when it comes to guitars or heads, rather than the cab.

Also, you mean JBL D120s in your Twin, right?

~B~

Oh sorry, I misunderstood your point. Yes, it's the drivers that make the big difference not the brand of the woodwork. And yes, D120s

—

http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns

Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.

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Barf

Joined: Apr 08, 2007
Posts: 32

Posted on Sep 03 2007 03:04 PM

wow you guys know alot, thanks for your input it was pretty helpful.

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okonacat

Joined: Sep 08, 2007
Posts: 34
Michigan

Posted on Sep 08 2007 12:52 PM

I used to have an original Orange OR-80 combo, from 1972, 80watts, with the stock Orange speakers. I played my 1966 Mosrite Ventures thru it, and the tone didn't strike me as very surf-like. I always felt the Oranges were more for metal or hard rock, so I ended up selling it. Also, I no longer needed something that powerful.

Top

Barf Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 32	Posted on Aug 31 2007 07:06 PM So its been a while since I've posted anything, but I had an idea and since you all seem to be a bit smarter than I, I decided to put it before you all. Orange amps: Yea or Nay in surf music, I wanted to get a 2X12 cab. and put a fender head on it. I had used a Laney once at a friends apartment and with the reverb all the way up it nailed the surf sound I like so I thought maybe looking into other british amps. Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Aug 31 2007 07:16 PM So you want to get a 2x12 Orange cab and use a Fender head... Top
Barf Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 32	Posted on Aug 31 2007 08:02 PM Problem lies where? Alot people mix cabs and heads. Just wanted to see if I could get a nice crunch and also a surf tone out of a half stack. Right now I also have thought of just getting a hot rod deville or a dual reverb reissue, but I don't know how versitle they are in terms of the tones i can get outta them. Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Aug 31 2007 08:13 PM An orange cab isn't going to make a fender head crunch, and it will make a decent surf tone but depending on cab construction it will be only a decent surf tone compared to a fender cab. Speaker cabs are very important but nowhere near as important as the heads. Pedals can make a fender head crunch very well but not pedal can ever make a good trad surf tone on a Marshall or Orange. Top
CaptainSpringfield Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 4387 Under the Sun	Posted on Sep 01 2007 12:12 AM FWIW, whichever company is responsible for the Orange reissues is apparently doing something less than a stellar job - a lot of what I've seen indicates that the recent ones in no way match up favorably with the originals. Besides, considering what you'd spend on an Orange, there's a lot of other possibilities. Just my $.02 -Warren — That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it. Top
Barf Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 32	Posted on Sep 01 2007 01:27 AM Hmmm... very interesting, Thanks for your guys' input thus far, I don't know too much about half stacks been only using combos, I had a chance to talk to my old guitar teacher and he said just go with a fender combo, Guess I mostly just wanted to have something to turn heads, thanks again for the info. Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Sep 01 2007 04:22 AM Yeah, I'm with Jake and Warren - there isn't a lot a cab will do for your overall sound. Basically, the tone comes from the guitar and the head much more than anything else. A different cab might possibly color your sound a little, but I wouldn't sink cash into a brand-name cab like that unless you're completing a pair. It would work, but you can get a comparable cab for less than half price probably, as long as you have an idea of what you're looking for. ~B~ Top
estreet Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 839 United Kingdom	Posted on Sep 01 2007 08:05 AM Hmm, have to disagree about the importance of speakers. Personally, I find that the speaker drivers you use make a huge difference to your sound - just look at the vastly different tone of a Twin Reverb with the JBL D130s and ones with the standard Eminence. I've had both types and they are like completely different amps. Therefore, I'd want to know what drivers they put in the Orange cabs. I expect they are Celestions, but there's a world of difference between the harsh G12-75 and the far warmer G12H's for example: not to mention the many others they make. — http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery. Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Sep 01 2007 04:18 PM I think we're both saying the same thing. What I was saying is that an Orange cabinet loaded with something like Celestion Vintage 30s or any old JBLs will sound VERY similar to a no-name cab loaded with the same speakers. I was just arguing that he should worry more about brand names when it comes to guitars or heads, rather than the cab. Also, you mean JBL D120s in your Twin, right? ~B~ Top
surfneptune Joined: Mar 16, 2006 Posts: 923	Posted on Sep 01 2007 06:28 PM So we are talking closed back cabs? Open back vs closed sound different to me. A little more bass punch. Ultimately I still think it's hard to beat the ol bandmaster 2x12 cab. I also think speakers make a huge difference, I could not believe how much better a set of old jensen C12ns sound vs the webers I had. It would be interesting to hear them in a 4x12 marshall cab. On a slightly related topic (as far as what a differnce a head can make) Hap Hazzard got a used Fender Super 60 rack mounted amp... MAN what a great amp! Like half a Red Knob showman! Great sounding pre-amp section. Lousy distortion. but this is surf! The amp is clean but not that unforgiving silver-faced twin with jbl clean. If you lean a little british, look into a Ceriatone DC 30 clone, I just put a Mullard EF86n it, and it sounds great! — THe NEpTuNeS Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Sep 02 2007 04:02 PM Tom, Is that another Ceriatone that you bought? Or is this still the Matchless clone we're talking about? Either way, I can't wait to hear that puppy in action. ~B~ Top
surfneptune Joined: Mar 16, 2006 Posts: 923	Posted on Sep 02 2007 06:07 PM Yeah it's the matchless clone I bought, I only have one so far (if I had the cash I would get one of their other amps) Looking forward to seeing you guys agan! tom — THe NEpTuNeS Top
estreet Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 839 United Kingdom	Posted on Sep 02 2007 06:28 PM SurfBandBill I think we're both saying the same thing. What I was saying is that an Orange cabinet loaded with something like Celestion Vintage 30s or any old JBLs will sound VERY similar to a no-name cab loaded with the same speakers. I was just arguing that he should worry more about brand names when it comes to guitars or heads, rather than the cab. Also, you mean JBL D120s in your Twin, right? ~B~ Oh sorry, I misunderstood your point. Yes, it's the drivers that make the big difference not the brand of the woodwork. And yes, D120s — http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery. Top
Barf Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 32	Posted on Sep 03 2007 03:04 PM wow you guys know alot, thanks for your input it was pretty helpful. Top
okonacat Joined: Sep 08, 2007 Posts: 34 Michigan	Posted on Sep 08 2007 12:52 PM I used to have an original Orange OR-80 combo, from 1972, 80watts, with the stock Orange speakers. I played my 1966 Mosrite Ventures thru it, and the tone didn't strike me as very surf-like. I always felt the Oranges were more for metal or hard rock, so I ended up selling it. Also, I no longer needed something that powerful. Top

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Orange Amps