I have an AD200B and use it with an Ampeg cab. The Orange bass cabs look weird to me, plus they cost heaps and the 4x10 doesn't let you control the horn (you can just disconnect it though, buy you can't do that in the shop when you try it).
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Played an Orange at the music store..
- Thread starter santucci218
- Start date
I have yet to play an all tube head that I "LOVED" (haven't played an Orange yet either). I must be an "SS guy" 
. My personal impression after 20 years of playing is that tubes alter or affect the tone of your instrument, just like swapping pickups, switching cabs, using effects pedals...... I personally have never played a warmer, yet punchier rig than my Carvin B1500 powering my Berg NV215 (warm BOOM) and Dr Bass 2460D (crisp PUNCH). That being said, I'm open-minded, so if I play an all tube head that "does it" for me, I'd buy it.
Play what you like! And, don't worry if your amp and cabs come from different manufacturers.
. My personal impression after 20 years of playing is that tubes alter or affect the tone of your instrument, just like swapping pickups, switching cabs, using effects pedals...... I personally have never played a warmer, yet punchier rig than my Carvin B1500 powering my Berg NV215 (warm BOOM) and Dr Bass 2460D (crisp PUNCH). That being said, I'm open-minded, so if I play an all tube head that "does it" for me, I'd buy it. Play what you like! And, don't worry if your amp and cabs come from different manufacturers.
My advice is to try and find a 70's V4 or V4B. They can be had for less than 700 bucks and are truly an awesome tube head. They have THE tone IMO. I had a 76 V4 that I wish I still had. I actually debated for a long time wether I should keep it or my 73 SVT. The V4 is that good! They break up earlier than SVT's - which is presumably what your looking for. It is still incredibly loud. I used mine with a Berg NV215 and it was incredible. If I ever get broke and have to sell the SVT, I would replace it with a 70's V4 period.
I have a few tube heads (Fender 300, Trace Elliot V4, 68 Marshall Major, Ampeg SVT Classic, Univox 1011) AND some solid state heads. If you liked the Orange head, look at something like the Fender 300. I feel that it blows away my SVT Classic and is more power than the Orange. It is also extremely vesatile in tone shaping, but always retains the punch and grunt of a tube amp. They can be had off of e-bay reasonable. The Trace V4 is also nice, but different......not as versatile as the Fender.
My $.02 worth. You can give me change if you like.
My $.02 worth. You can give me change if you like.
- May 9, 2008
- 4,081
- 1,236
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Springvale Studios
I use one with an Eden 8 X 10 Lxt warm but clean with a smooth wide band of perfectly useable valve/transformer compression before real noticeable distortion occurs, with the efficiency of the Eden cab this is by any standards a loud rig.
These orange things are very very good audio compressors you would have to spend a hell of a lot of money like neve 33609 money to make even the dynamic curve let alone that beautiful KT 88 growl.
Don't just think Orange though, All you want is up to about 4 X 12ax7s and 4 X KT88's
Two big transformers a choke and some caps, resistors, potentiometers, sockets, and a BOX.
Its not what make it is, its what it is, think HIWATT DR201 Custom with a less vicious preamp, they even use exactly the same transformers.
The Orange 200 is/was, always a winner as a Tube Design even when it was a Matt amp before orange music even set eyes on one, they used to be black and white in the sixties by the way!
In the fifties they where in all black wrinkel paint and only had only 2 KT 88's and Marconi, Chemsford written on the box.
200 watt head and a Orange 4x10.
I am honestly disgusted with my tone now compared to that one.
Gk1001 > Avatar 4x10
It was so warm and punchy!
Having both a B15 and an Ampeg V4b I can't say I'm disgusted but I finallly did get to try the O200 watter into their 1x15 and now I completely understand the raves.
I use one with an Eden 8 X 10 Lxt warm but clean with a smooth wide band of perfectly useable valve/transformer compression before real noticeable distortion occurs, with the efficiency of the Eden cab this is by any standards a loud rig.
These orange things are very very good audio compressors you would have to spend a hell of a lot of money like neve 33609 money to make even the dynamic curve let alone that beautiful KT 88 growl.
Don't just think Orange though, All you want is up to about 4 X 12ax7s and 4 X KT88's
Two big transformers a choke and some caps, resistors, potentiometers, sockets, and a BOX.
Its not what make it is, its what it is, think HIWATT DR201 Custom with a less vicious preamp, they even use exactly the same transformers.
The Orange 200 is/was, always a winner as a Tube Design even when it was a Matt amp before orange music even set eyes on one, they used to be black and white in the sixties by the way!
In the fifties they where in all black wrinkel paint and only had only 2 KT 88's and Marconi, Chemsford written on the box.
So you are saying the HIWATT DR201 would sound pretty close to the Orange?
- May 9, 2008
- 4,081
- 1,236
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Springvale Studios
Its almost exactly the same power amp but on the hiwatt you have 4 pre amp valves giving much higher marshall jcm 800 guitar amp like pre amp gain for that old "Peaches" by the Stranglers abused P Bass dirty tone.
You can clean it up by just turning the gain down and the master up of course but its still a touch growlier/grittier than the very very clean orange is at similar gain.
Also that EQ in the Hiwatt where all bands appear highly interactive and weird but it kind of works, the orange is basic but all you need, if not there are plenty of pedals with parametric overkill out there to plug into it.
But this is an amp that ask's the simple question. "how good does your bass guitar sound with you playing it"
You can clean it up by just turning the gain down and the master up of course but its still a touch growlier/grittier than the very very clean orange is at similar gain.
Also that EQ in the Hiwatt where all bands appear highly interactive and weird but it kind of works, the orange is basic but all you need, if not there are plenty of pedals with parametric overkill out there to plug into it.
But this is an amp that ask's the simple question. "how good does your bass guitar sound with you playing it"
The SS enthusiast's "full, punchy, and powerful" is the tube enthusiast's "sterile".
That's not true. I've always found GK heads to sound very full and punchy. They just don't get grind when pushed that I like, although the new tubepre 550 is a HUGE improvement in that department.
Its almost exactly the same power amp but on the hiwatt you have 4 pre amp valves giving much higher marshall jcm 800 guitar amp like pre amp gain for that old "Peaches" by the Stranglers abused P Bass dirty tone.
You can clean it up by just turning the gain down and the master up of course but its still a touch growlier/grittier than the very very clean orange is at similar gain.
Also that EQ in the Hiwatt where all bands appear highly interactive and weird but it kind of works, the orange is basic but all you need, if not there are plenty of pedals with parametric overkill out there to plug into it.
But this is an amp that ask's the simple question. "how good does your bass guitar sound with you playing it"
PFFT, im a bass god!
Anyways...ill check into that amp! how much do they go for?
I've not tried tubepre 550 but I agree that the GK stuff is very full and punchy.
I witnessed a guy A/B 'ing his SVT4/810 stack with the Orange stack, and the Orange blew the Ampeg AWAY. It sounded incredibly fat!
...I most certainly can when your opinion includes me.
Visirale said:
...unless, of course, I'm NOT supposed to be a "tube enthusiast."
