Tell me about the AD30R

[Duppy03]

I don't know anything about these amps other than:

1. They're discontinued
2. Were available as a 2x12 combo
3. Sounded great when I heard a band using one during a radio session

So how do people rate these amps? Are they single channel? Are there any additional features than the Reverb like a master volume? Any info on them would be much appreciated.

[Ade]

AD30R as far as I understand was only made as a combo. Master, T, M, B, reverb, gain. Their was a head as well but it didn't have reverb (AD30). They were both discontinued in favor of the AD30TC (twin channel) available in both head and combo. I believe the AD30s were introduced first, followed by the AD30TCs. For a few years both versions remained in production, then the single channel AD30R combo and AD30 head were discontinued.

I remember playing an AD12/15, an AD30 and an AD30TC all in a shop at the one time around 2003/2004. I bought an AD15/12 which I still have, but then later bought an AD30TC combo. At the time I really liked the two channel option of the AD30TC and their popularity seems to have stood the test of time. There's a lot of love for them here. Funnily enough though, I started preferring the single channel of my AD15 (it was more suited to my application) and wondered if maybe I should have gotten the AD30R after all. By the time I came to this decision, they were discontinued. I wondered if a) the AD30's single channel would have a purer tone than the TC, an opinion I did read here once, and b) whether the TC's single channel would be identical to my AD15, an opinion I've found disputed here. I ended up selling my AD30TC and kept my 15. Anyway, the AD30 heads and AD30R combos still appear second hand. I nearly bought one a few months ago, but bought a s/h AD50 instead.

The general consensus is the AD30s are a modern take on a fairly classic or vintage Orange tone (if that makes sense). Some say they're Vox AC30ish, some say they're like an AC30 on steroids, some say they're different enough from an AC30 not to warrant comparison. I would say they're the more vintage sounding of the current line of Oranges, but I might leave it to others here to better describe their tone. If you search this forum you'll find plenty if discussion if the AD30 and plenty if reviews on the net.

Adrian

[mr_william]

i think it's just channel one of the ad30tc with an added reverb.

it's got a master volume. it's only available as a 2x12 combo - the heads didnt have the 'r' suffix. apparently the single channel ad30's sound better than the tc.

http://www.orangefieldguide.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ade]

apparently the single channel ad30's sound better than the tc.

That's what I was lead to believe too and it was the conclusion I drew between my AD15 and TC. I sold TC and kept the AD15.

Adrian

[Duppy03]

Thanks for the info.

[jason41224]

i can tell you i'm contemplating trading in my TC for one.

[irish_admiral]

They sound great, but then again i'm biased.

There was a moot point that the proximity of two preamp circuits in the TC models meant that they occasionally interfered with each other, and a few people have tried and preferred the single channel models over the TCs, myself included. That being said, we're talking fine fractions here and the TCs still sound good.

They're darker and more muscular sounding through the lower than - say - an AC30, which has more presence in the upper mids (often called 'chime' etc.). The AD sounds a bit hairier and fuzzy when pushed hard than the AC30s to my mind. Again, slightly more reminiscent of the older Oranges...

[Dark Helmet]

i can tell you i'm contemplating trading in my TC for one.

I would as well if one came available...

[hellagnar Brosevelt]

I want an AD15 so bad. Was it a combo only? I don't think I have ever seen one.

[irish_admiral]

Combo only... they did 10" and 12" speaker models. Latter was a bit more common. One of the guys on the forum somehow managed to snag the first one ever made... or the one with serial 001 else...

[Ade]

AD15s are incredibly cool. I will never sell mine. Grab one if you can I say.

Why on earth did Orange discontinue them (and the single channel AD30s for that matter)?

Adrian

[Dark Helmet]

AD15s are incredibly cool. I will never sell mine. Grab one if you can I say.

Why on earth did Orange discontinue them (and the single channel AD30s for that matter)?

Adrian

slow sales is the only thing I can think of... and they can charnge more for the 2x12 2-channel AD30...

[a.hun]

AD15s are incredibly cool. I will never sell mine. Grab one if you can I say.

Why on earth did Orange discontinue them (and the single channel AD30s for that matter)?

Adrian

slow sales is the only thing I can think of... and they can charnge more for the 2x12 2-channel AD30...

Guess what I just found today in an Amsterdam shop.

A new (well, NOS really! ) AD30R combo...

It had a label from their other shop in Utrecht, so I suspect it has been sitting there unsold for some time. Wonder how often they've had to dust it?

Pricey though, probably why it hasn't sold. Ditto the black R.30C in another shop which is still taunting me!


Andy.

[Les Paul Lover]

AD15s are incredibly cool. I will never sell mine. Grab one if you can I say.

Why on earth did Orange discontinue them (and the single channel AD30s for that matter)?

Adrian

slow sales is the only thing I can think of... and they can charnge more for the 2x12 2-channel AD30...

Guess what I just found today in an Amsterdam shop.

A new (well, NOS really! ) AD30R combo...

It had a label from their other shop in Utrecht, so I suspect it has been sitting there unsold for some time. Wonder how often they've had to dust it?

Pricey though, probably why it hasn't sold. Ditto the black R.30C in another shop which is still taunting me!


Andy.

I tried an AD30r a couple of weeks ago, very sweet amp. Not much gain, and the reverb was a bit weak, but such a sweet voicing - very, very nice!

That one was 2nd hand, though in good nick - unfortunately too much cash for me though!