Orange Amps Forum

I am about to make you all sick because I was given an original OR100 Orange Matamp but it wasn't working. I fixed a guys Vox AC30 that was dead and he gave me the OR100. Your going to get even more sick now because his mate didn't want a 4 speaker Orange unit that they used with the amp in their band and he sold it to me for £50. I didn't really know the value of these things and truth told I still don't. I just bought them because I had the cash at the time and always wanted a valve amp with speakers. I think they must have been a good deal because I saw the bloke a few months later and he said you got a real bargain there.
I fixed the amp without too much bother but when I compare it to the sound of the AC30 they are completely different. I didn't really want to give the AC30 back and thought about leaving the country with it but being the honest chap that I am I let him have it back. The Matamp sounds dull compared to the Vox and I have read some comments that this is the case. I have seen a modification that removes a capacitor to reduce the filtering and make the sound brighter so I might try that and see. I have asked Matamp if they can give me the specification and production date but it is probably similar to David Watt's one on the other thread. I asked on that thread if anybody had a circuit for my amp but it fell on deaf ears. One thing I am sure of is it is bloody loud.

wow

Just to rub salt in the wound of the bargain the Matamp has its original Mullard british made valves but is there any real difference between the valves? A long time ago I bought 4xEL34 valves made in GDR for £6 to build an AC30 circuit but I never got round to it because the transformers were very difficult to get hold of and cost an arm and a leg. Are these GDR valves any good as replacements for the Mullard ones or are they tripe?

I am ignoring this thread.

A long time ago I bought 4xEL34 valves made in GDR for £6 to build an AC30 circuit

You what?

ironlung40 wrote:I am ignoring this thread.

Oh no you are not. Well this is the pantomime season.

Ruptor wrote:

ironlung40 wrote:I am ignoring this thread.

Oh no you are not. Well this is the pantomime season.

The OR100 has been my dream for many years now, and it has been hard coming to the reality that I probably will never own one after having a couple of close calls securing a deal on one. So, I guess I really have to ignore this thread to keep my sanity.

I am trying to not wish you ill will!!

jontheid wrote:

A long time ago I bought 4xEL34 valves made in GDR for £6 to build an AC30 circuit

You what?

Obviously, an Ac30 with a modified single ended El34 power section, with 3 El34 as spare, because, you know, the Ac30 is well known for running super hot. It eats valves for breakfast.


--------------

Ruptor, you have to stop teasing us.

Please, upload some pics to photobucket ASAP and share the pic links with us please. We want to drool with you.....!!!!!

I nearly strained my bad back lifting the Matamp on top of the freezer so I could take a photo. Here is the box
http://photobucket.com/user/Ruptor/medi ... 4.jpg.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Looking at the photo I realised someone stuck a Union Jack on the front and it is lopsided so he was probably drunk or high. Well it was from a band in the Seventies. I remembered the brother of the guy that gave me the amp gave me a non working Big Muff that you can see here. Yet another freebie I am afraid but they all needed fixing so I had to earn them. The Pi is the one with the opamps in it that I think is a version 4 from about 1974. Here
http://photobucket.com/user/Ruptor/medi ... 0.jpg.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I guess if someone wanted an OR100 they could make one without any knowledge of circuits since it is just a matter of copying the layout in the pictures that only requires mechanical application with soldering. The PCB looks like they kept the location of the components from a tag board design and just replaced the tag board connecting wires with PCB tracks so you could use a tag board and wires instead of the PCB.
GB is the best place to pick up a vintage Orange unit since they were made here and the band scene was big here back in the day. There are probably a few knocking about in lofts forgotten about.

and one more plus a