Orange AD200b Mk3

[Kopfjaeger]

I just wanted to post a foto a review of the Christmas present I bought for myself myself.

It's a 200w Orange tube head and 4x10 cab. it's the first tube head I've ever owned and actually, it's the first "non 15" speaker" cab I've ever owned as well.

I owned an Acoustic head and cab "back in the day" and it was nice, as I remember. I recently purchased a 250 w Hartke Hydrive combo amp but sold it to help fund this monster. I have to say, it's the best sounding amp I've ever owned! The controls are spartan but I normally enjoy a pretty "clean" sound so I liked the lack of confusing dials on the head.

I can't say for sure if the great sound is all the head or a mix of head a 4x10 cab.

I may need to invest in a new back since this rig has a bit more heft than other rigs I've owned!

[thisSNsucks]

Real nice looking rig. I especially like the Ricks hanging above it.

Enjoy it!

[Alex1984]

Yes, fine amp indeed! Merry X'Mas! A more detailed review please!

Along with the Marshall Major, Super Bass, and VBA-400, they're interesting amps that I'd love to try, although I'm still pretty committed to my Ampegs.

[Musicman20]

Love it! Still love mine 2+ years later after I bought it.

[Kopfjaeger]

Thanks guys~! Yeah, Rickenbacker's are my passion.

Ok, back to the amp, I've yet to turn it up past 5 and get the tubes really working. Gain is at 4. Anything louder and I'm seriously worried about shaking crap off walls!! Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to get it out and let it breath a bit more.

As for controls its got an on/off power toggle. To its right is the standby toggle, which I find quite nice to be able to switch to in order to unplug to tune and whatnot.

To the right is the master volume with ten positions. It has a basic three knob equalizer controlled by three knobs to the right of the master volume. I was not sure how I'd like the knobs instead of the sliders I had on my Acoustic but these are easy to get use to. Perhaps those that are looking to dial their tone more precisely will be disappointed that there is no finer adjustment than a treble control, middle control, and bass control. The last knob to the right is the gain. A small adjustment goes a long way here! The Gain adds a bit of grit and a huge amount of power.

There is a passive input as well as an active input for basses equipped with either set up.

Like I said earlier, the control panel is pretty bare as compared to many other top name heads but the sound I'm able to get out of this amp is better than any other amp I've ever owned. I'm really not sure if it is the head alone or the 10 inch speakers with it. The sound is fuller and thicker. The tone has a fullness and depth to it that is unlike any solid state amp I've ever owned.

I own an Orange PIX 100w combo amp. It's a great practice amp but the power was just not enough. I was impressed with its quality and sound so I bought the AD200b. It is a completely different animal!! The quality is still there but the sound quality just can't compare!

It's my first and only tube head and I'm sure Mesa Boogie, Ampeg, and GB as well as others are as good or maybe better. This amp works very well for me, and I could not be happier with it and its sound.

I have a two year warranty on both pieces through Orange. The dealer I bought it from was not going to be undersold and really lowered the price to back up their claim of being the largest Orange dealer in the USA. They also offered free shipping!! I'd be happy to give them a big shout out but I'm not sure if that is breaking any list rules.

Sepp

[Tim1]

Love my AD200. It sounds particularly fine through a Bergantino NV215 I have found. Totally different vibe to my SVT VR head (which is equally great).

[TylerDurdenPSSC]

Absolutely beautiful!!!

I hope to someday play though a rig like that to finally experience the (modern) Orange tone... (Would live to play through an original Orange setup as well for comparison.)

Would love to know the SVT vs AD200 stance as far as tone as well... But now I'm rambling!

Congrats again buddy, I hope I can someday afford to swing that kind of cash on that nice of a setup!

And if ya don't mind PM'ing me your dealer, that'd be great as well. =P

[Tim1]

In a (brief) nutshell SVT VR is cleaner and much punchier and more pronounced in the mids, AD200 is deeper and fuller sounding. The AD200 can dial in some nice grit but it still has plenty of clean grunt available.

[TylerDurdenPSSC]

Thanks Tim!

Sounds like I may be an Ampeg convert!

[Musicman20]

Originally Posted by TylerDurdenPSSC

Thanks Tim!

Sounds like I may be an Ampeg convert!

I tried both side by side....the VR and the AD200b.

The VR seemed quite 'dull' and didnt excite me at all like I expected.

The 200b shocked me. Literally full on 'this is the one' moment. Still have it, still love it. Its lighter, easier to EQ, has better grit, and was cheaper by a fair bit.

In the UK we get a good deal on the Orange gear and not so good on the Ampeg, plus we have the support of the Orange factory/main office which makes things easier with Orange.

[Tim1]

Side by side the Orange may sound preferable as it has a fuller range. In a live band situation the SVT VR cuts through more, I play regularly with both and certainly find the Ampeg is easier to hear in a live stage mix.

[SBsoundguy]

A 95lb cabinet that probably uses ceramic drivers pfft. For $999 you'd think you'd get your monies worth. Maybe the extra money went into the orange tolex?

[Bassman62]

Hope they've improved the front end, the one I tried a couple of years back left too much to be desired especialy the Mid control which did very little.

[Kopfjaeger]

Yup, its an Emminence Beta 10 speaker which has a ferite magnet which is ceramic and iron composition. Yup, its also heavy being constructed of 13 ply birch.

It's the same price black or orange so the "funky" color is not the cause for the price, although I do like the bright color. At $999. it can be had much cheaper if you're savvy.

Sepp

[SBsoundguy]

Originally Posted by Kopfjaeger

Yup, its an Emminence Beta 10 speaker which has a ferite magnet which is ceramic and iron composition. Yup, its also heavy being constructed of 13 ply birch.

It's the same price black or orange so the "funky" color is not the cause for the price, although I do like the bright color. At $999. it can be had much cheaper if you're savvy.

Sepp

Or you could make one for 1/3 of the price.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Kopfjaeger

I just wanted to post a foto a review of the Christmas present I bought for myself myself.

It's a 200w Orange tube head and 4x10 cab. it's the first tube head I've ever owned and actually, it's the first "non 15" speaker" cab I've ever owned as well.

I owned an Acoustic head and cab "back in the day" and it was nice, as I remember. I recently purchased a 250 w Hartke Hydrive combo amp but sold it to help fund this monster. I have to say, it's the best sounding amp I've ever owned! The controls are spartan but I normally enjoy a pretty "clean" sound so I liked the lack of confusing dials on the head.

I can't say for sure if the great sound is all the head or a mix of head a 4x10 cab.

I may need to invest in a new back since this rig has a bit more heft than other rigs I've owned!

Lucky man! Looks great!

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

I tried both side by side....the VR and the AD200b.

The VR seemed quite 'dull' and didnt excite me at all like I expected.

The 200b shocked me. Literally full on 'this is the one' moment. Still have it, still love it. Its lighter, easier to EQ, has better grit, and was cheaper by a fair bit.

In the UK we get a good deal on the Orange gear and not so good on the Ampeg, plus we have the support of the Orange factory/main office which makes things easier with Orange.

Living in the UK, Orange will be a great choice, same I guess will go for Ashdown. Here in Norway you can get the Ampeg SVT CL for just a tad over the AD200, and for some reason you can buy the SVT CL with the 8x10 cab for such a price no other tube head+cab can match.

[Kopfjaeger]

Originally Posted by SBsoundguy

Or you could make one for 1/3 of the price.

Ugh...priceless! I guess that can be said for just about anything, now couldn't it? The question is will it work as well and after you total up the hours you put into the project and tally how much your time is worth, did you really save anything at all?

Yup, it's just wood, a few speakers and some wire, oh and a few yards of tolex. Everyone should make their own and show big business the the "99 per-centers" are not going to sit idle and watch the "one per-cernters" get rich. Yeah, that's the ticket!!

Hey, I posted a fair assessment on a new piece of gear and most everyone was happy that I had done so. Are there better heads and cab's, most certainly. Are there less expensive, yup, probably. I'm not saying Orange is "da bomb" but it works very well for me as well as Geddy Lee and the guys of Mastodon and many others.

Ende

Sepp

[Amorica]

Thanks, great info. Just bought the head and debating on the 410 or 2 obd115's. Anybody got a thought about either idea?

[One Drop]

I do like the way these amps sound. They have a signature grind that can work great and is very characterful.

Enjoy your new rig, and pooh pooh to the naysayers.