An Indie Rock Sound?

[Volcom1720]

What Orange amplifier do you guys recommend for a sound that most indie bands make. I'm looking to spend under $1000 AUD and would prefer if it was a combo.

At the moment I've got an boss sd-1 and I'm looking into a new guitar to buy. Perhaps an Epi Sg.

A sound like the Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand. Another good example would be The Strokes

Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out - YouTube

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor (2005) - YouTube

The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness - YouTube

The kooks is also a good example
The Kooks - Always Where I Need To Be - YouTube


I hope you guys can help. Thanks

[jason41224]

TT combo is what you want, though you won't get crisp cleans at high volumes, it would be perfect for the Arctic Monkeys tone. but, it will probably be pushing your budget a bit (not sure if it would be over 1K AUD or not, but it would be close. we can't talk prices here anyways)

if i were you, i would grab a Vox AC15 (AUD new around $800, i think). it has great drive sounds and clean tones, are fairly cheap, and are portable. and it would do indie rock very nicely.

[basschase]

Besides finding something used, I'm sure the only Orange combo that you will find in that price range would be a Tiny Terror. Also don't under estimate how much of a difference your guitar and pedals make in your sound. You might want to try looking at guitars with single coils like the Strat or the Tele. You'll notice that most of those bands you listed use single coil guitars. As for the Boss pedal...get rid of it! If you are using a crappy guitar through a solid state amp then it won't make a big difference but when using a decent guitar through a nice tube amp you'll notice that it'll kill your tone. All of the Orange tube amps have a really nice, natural overdrive that no Boss pedal can compare to

I'm not trying to talk like I know everything there is to know about electric guitars and amps but I've made lots of mistakes buying the wrong things and tone searching over the last 9 years

[indianDYsummer]

To be completely honest (and frank), all of those bands you listed use Fender amps and some pedals, so you're not really going to get there with an Orange. A vox would probably be a good choice as well.

However, if you're dead set on an Orange, I would maybe go for a used AD30.

[irish_admiral]

I'm with Andy. A cleaner & brighter sounding amp would get you closer, like a Fender or a Hiwatt.

If you want Orange, AD30 will get you closest, a TT most definitely will not get you the cleans you want for those tones.

[iblastoff]

actually i love the 'cleans' i get with my dual terror. very voxy chime sounding. but yah those bands you listed are generally fender amp players.

[myboss57]

Is a used Rocker 30 combo out of the price range? I would think that could be a good choice - The Strokes have that chimey sound but it's got a layer of dirt on it, ever so slightly. From what I've heard of the Rocker 30, it can do that well.

Or yeah, a Dual Terror would probably get you there - or AD30. I don't think you'd go wrong with either of those.

[savage8190]

For indie, get a Vox or a Fender man. I play a LOT of indie and my AC30 is perfect for it. Oranges are a bit too dark for it.

[baytamusic]

Love that Strokes song. Fender would work best, but if you want an Orange I'd go with something 30w plus. The Vox AC15 is a great amp, but it doesn't have the headroom for this type of sound IMO. For Orange I'd go Rocker 30 w/ cab, AD30 2x12 or head w/ cab, or DT w/ cab. I play indie rock stuff. We use more distortion lately, although on the cleaner parts the clean channel on my Rocker 30 does just fine. I play it through a 4x12 cab.

[bavaro]

for what it's worth, they used an orange ad30 head through an old fender cab on the new strokes record. i think i'd look into ad30's or rocker 30's. the tiny terror might be tough if you want cleans.

[nguideau]

Orange isn't really what you're after.

Fender Princeton/Deluxe/Super/Twin Reverb
Vox AC15/AC30
Ampeg Gemini or Reverberocket
Or an old Silvertone 50W with some earplugs and a boost pedal

[Ddjembe Mutombo]

You might need to raise your budget a bit. Of any orange I would recommend a AD30 paired with a telecaster.

Like everyone else is saying, these bands primarily use Fender amps with pedals. The SuperSonic might be a cool amp to sit down and play. Don't know if it would be exactly what you are looking for.

I own a Vox AC15 (one of the new ones loaded with a greenback). Definitely up your alley if you are down with some grit in your cleans. Then you just boost with an OD for you drive sounds. I use it as a low volume amp for personal practice and church gigs. I would recommend an AC30 for band practicing and gigs.

[alexauxier]

AD30 or Dual Terror with 212 Open Back cab. Those are the items I sent The Strokes to record their last album with after all.

Keep in mind they don't use Orange live.

[danbond]

I'm using a Boss SD1 to boost the dirty channel on my Twin for a slightly louder, gainer, thicker lead sound. It works great to take out the top end and just beef things up. I play my dirty channel low on the gain, but loud.

You can pick up used fenders/voxs pretty cheap and you'll find a use for that pedal on both of them (just not as your main "dirt" sound).

I don't think a R30 would do what you want though - no control over the clean channel will limit you for that sound I think.

[Action-Hank]

I'd be all over ebay looking for an AD30 if I were you!