Orange AD30HTC

The Ad30 is a brilliantly simple el84 design from Orange. Sporting 2 channels with separate master volumes and tone stacks. No reverb. No effects loop. This thing is an enormous amount of fun. The amp is running a quad of 12ax7's in the preamp and comes with a rather minimalist footswitch.

UTILIZATION

The amp is very easy to dial in and sounds crystal clear even at loud volumes. Surprising amount of versatility in both channels. I felt the amp outperformed the rockerverb mkii I tested in terms of sound quality, but reverb would be greatly welcomed here to compliment the cleans in the Ad30. As far as the lack of an effects loop is concerned, I found the Ad30 worked very well with pedals out front and didn't mangle time based effects too much. The build quality is very solid and the amp help up in a gigging environment for months. Bravo to Orange.

SOUNDS

The clean sounds are very warm and full bodied. Notes have a very "round" feeling to them on both channels. Rolling back the gain on the second channel gives you a perfect impersonation of bands such as The Darkness, and Led Zeppelin. Winding up the gain brings you very well into the modern realm. I could very easily cop the tones from Coheed and Cambria's --'Gravemakers and Gunslingers'. Pushing the gain past 3 o' clock on the dial can get you Mastodon rhythm sounds.

OVERALL OPINION

The Orange Ad30 is the kind of amp you really enjoy to play through. It sounds so reminiscent of many recorded tones without having to tweak for hours or add any additional pieces--very inspiring in this regard. I do feel, however, that the feature set of the AD30 does not justify the going list price of $1659. If you are willing to compromise features, the amp can be purchased for a typical sum between $8-1200 on the secondhand market.

Everything has been said

UTILIZATION

- The configuration is it simple? yes you plug and bang!
- Gets it easy to sound good? no problem ""
- The manual is clear and sufficient? ... no need for manual

SOUNDS

- Will it fit your style of music?
'70 So yes
- With what (s) guitar (s) / low (s) or effect (s) do you play?
gretsch elliot easton / Duesenberg 49er
- What kind of sound you get and with what settings ("crystalline", "bold ",....)?
all, use the gain
- What sounds do you prefer? all

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
2 months
- What is so special that you like most and least?
the sound the look
- Have you tried many other models before buying it?
no need - I play with a guitarist (I'm originally a drummer) who lugs around
a mesa boogie combo coupled with a Marshall head and an enclosure park - he tried the orange he is still crying ... He wants to sell ... if anyone is interrested
leave an e-mail
- How would you rate the quality / price? good amp "for life"
- With experience, you do again this choice? ... eyes closed

30 watts class a tube removal, this amp "sound" without rglages SPECIFICATIONS!
there are nine lights in this amp for 4 Days pre-amp, 4 amp + for floor lamp
"Rectify" ..
no reverb, no effects loop! but hey it's a real amp, not a game boy!!

UTILIZATION

Two very similar channels, 2 second is more "bootsquot; rglages bass / mdium / treble on each
channel!
amateur's clear the twin reverb, fender and other, on your way, this amp is
not for you! Amateur 70's fone!
This Amp is a machine "cruncher" more compared to the Orange Rocker 30, trs is "pedal friendly"
No manual!
Footswitch not included! for the Orange Prize EXAGRES a bit!!

SOUNDS

It's perfect for blues / rock / pop / hard rock 70/80 amateur death / speed / ect..metal
this amp is not for you!!

OVERALL OPINION

Superb amp in the genre, trs typ British, one of espce JPM45 shuffled between Marshall and Vox AC 30, with its own color!
The only criticism I think the price is too lev in FRANCE!!