Orange Amps

[MAMMOTHvolume]

Having owned two Orange 120 watt amps previously I signed out a brand new AD200B (they let me cause I'm old) I took it back within the hour, a one trick pony with very limited tone variations (especialy mid range) compared to my previous Orange amps. If I do move back into Valves/Tubes it'll be a real Orange made at Matamp

My most recent

My 70s rig complete with 65 Jazz Bass

great stuff the new orange amps don't even compare to the quality of the older ones especially the matamp ones!

 

[edbass]

Unless you get vintage stuff. Or Electric Amp.

Or Verellen.

Or Reeves, Divided by 13, 65 Amps, Reinhardt, etc. There are several premium US built, handwired, non PCB amps available.
The thing that has Orange at a disadvantage is that while it's priced like it's a premium handwired amp, it's really just another mass produced PCB amp.
Not that it's a bad amp per se; it's just a whole bunch of money for what it actually is.
It's also difficult to be price competitive in the US market with a British amp, just ask Hiwatt. They are a true handbuilt, non PCB amp, but a DR201 is about $1200 more than a comparable US built Reeves Custom 225.
I'm sure Orange's US pricing would be more in line if they weren't imported from the UK.

 

[Bassman62]

I'm sure Orange's US pricing would be more in line if they weren't imported from the UK.

UK exporters get financial concessions from the UK government as a reward for exporting their products, these would well counter any bulk shipping costs which are far cheaper then single item shipping.

 

[Korladis]

UK exporters get financial concessions from the UK government as a reward for exporting their products, these would well counter any bulk shipping costs which are far cheaper then single item shipping.

There's also the exchange rate, however.

 

[Bassman62]

There's also the exchange rate, however.

At this moment the exchange rate is well in favour of the US customer due to the weakness of the the £ Sterling

 

[Bassman62]

great stuff the new orange amps don't even compare to the quality of the older ones especially the matamp ones!

How true the last orange that I owned had a vey interesting story behind it regardings its origins.
I would seriously consider going to this site below, I've had considerable contact with the current owner Jeff lewis.
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Jeff took over the 'Matamp' company on the death of the legendry 'Mat Mathias' (Mr Orange), it is a fantastic place to visit as it is based in an old factory mill type building complete with cobwebs; but to see those fabulous hand built amps on the shelf (all made to order) brings tears of joy to your eyes.

No Matamp is part built outside the UK and then finished off/assembled in the UK.

 

[Korladis]

At this moment the exchange rate is well in favour of the US customer due to the weakness of the the £ Sterling

The Pound is worth one and a half Dollars. That's not really in favor of the American customer. Maybe a bit more favorable than in the past, but still not in favor overall.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

It is compared to what the exchange rate is most of the time.

 

[Bassman62]

The Pound is worth one and a half Dollars. That's not really in favor of the American customer. Maybe a bit more favorable than in the past, but still not in favor overall.

In 1999 when we visited Nashville where I perchased my Stingray5 it was £1 = $1.59, in recent years it was as high as £1 = $2.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

Not quite.

I built myself a Superbass.

So it fit my needs.... $500, hand wired in America (by me, if that counts ) and in white tolex.

Well, hmm, I guess I'll leave my foot squarely in my mouth...
(And possibly shoot you a PM, if building heads is your thing)

FWIW, the voicing of Matamp amplifiers is my absolute benchmark for "perfect tone."

 

[Korladis]

In 1999 when we visited Nashville where I perchased my Stingray5 it was £1 = $1.59, in recent years it was as high as £1 = $2.

So? That just means that it is screwing the American customer slightly less, and slightly less of a good deal for British customers purchasing American stuff. The fact of the matter is that the pound is still worth more than a dollar, by ~50%.

 

[Musicman20]

The current SVT-CL is probably more expensive over here in the UK than the Orange AD200b Mk3, and yep, the Orange is MUCH better.

Matamp are great, but the PCB argument gets mentioned all the time. The Orange still sounds amazing...I always get comments.

 

[marsbel]

Notice anything unusual about this baby, it must be the most unique 'Orange' amp out there with an amazing story behind it..

Hi,
Looks like a OR120, but since this is a bass forum it could be a '90's Superbass. Otherwise I don't see anything unusual.
Please do tell us the story.

MArk

 

[KramerBassFan]

Well, hmm, I guess I'll leave my foot squarely in my mouth...
(And possibly shoot you a PM, if building heads is your thing)

FWIW, the voicing of Matamp amplifiers is my absolute benchmark for "perfect tone."

I'm not comfortable nor even ready to built other people amps, but if you wish to chat about building them, then certainly send me a PM!

 

[One Drop]

The fact of the matter is that the pound is still worth more than a dollar, by ~50%.

That means nothing without reference to what a £ or a $ buys in their respective countries.

At the end of the second World War, the Pound, the French and Swiss Franc and the Italian Lira were all at parity, and look at the exchange rates now (not even considering devaluations during the period). What makes a difference to us when considering the price of importing and exporting goods is are the recent fluctuations in exchange rates, and how they relate to a companies pricing decisions in a given market.

 

[Volume4]

http://www.planetoftheamps.com/orange-juiced.html

http://www.planetoftheamps.com/orange-ad-200-mk3-bassamp.html

http://www.electricamp.com/master-volume-tube-amp.html


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http://www.electricamp.com/order.html

If I had $2300 -$2500 to spend, I think I'd go ElectricAmpUSA over the Orange. Actually, I'd get the nicest B-15 $2300 could buy but thats me.

But I'd save the cash and get the Terror over the AD200, which I think is very overpriced. Not bashing Orange, actually a huge fan...but Matamp and Electric Amp are where it's at when you're ready to spend over $2000 imho.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

http://www.planetoftheamps.com/orange-juiced.html

http://www.planetoftheamps.com/orange-ad-200-mk3-bassamp.html

http://www.electricamp.com/master-volume-tube-amp.html


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http://www.electricamp.com/order.html

If I had $2300 -$2500 to spend, I think I'd go ElectricAmpUSA over the Orange. Actually, I'd get the nicest B-15 $2300 could buy but thats me.

But I'd save the cash and get the Terror over the AD200, which I think is very overpriced. Not bashing Orange, actually a huge fan...but Matamp and Electric Amp are where it's at when you're ready to spend over $2000 imho.

FWIW, in the musical circles these amps are most popular in, there are enough horror stories about dealing with the dudes over at Electric Audio to make me nervous about dropping that much cash.

Incredible amps, but from what I gather the projected turnaround and the actual turnaround are wildly different... talking a year's worth of discrepancy.

 

[KramerBassFan]

I would have probably bought an Orange, Or Electric. Or even a Hiwatt.

However, I could neither afford one, nor justify it.

So I ended up building my own Tube amp.

But the Electric does look most interesting here.....

 

[KramerBassFan]

Notice anything unusual about this baby, it must be the most unique 'Orange' amp out there with an amazing story behind it..

Is it the one that was Re-wired from the ground up?

Like, they took out the PCB's and redid the ENTIRE amp...

Oh, why are the Power tubes in the back not the same size?

Squinting at my computer screen tells me EL-34.... but educate me!

 

[yamaha]

No serial number !

Is it the very first amp ever produced in the entire world ??? lol.