which Orange amp?

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lone cicada
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which Orange amp?

Post by lone cicada » Fri Sep 08, 2017 12:33 pm

Hi
Currently I am gigging with: Mesa Boogie Trim O Verb 2x12 combo amp. don't get me wrong I love this amp but cant seem to get it dialed in and Im wanting to back to a 4x12 cab anyways. I have heard nothing but great things about Orange. I play a wide range of music. Rock, Grunge, stoner rock, and lots of Metal. so my questions are.

1. Which Orange head would suit me best and would power a 4x12 cab? (I have been looking at a CR120)
2. also which (any brand) 4x12 CLOSED back cab would work best with said head?

oh and my Orange head budget is around $500 to $600

Thank You and any other advice you can give me on amps or cabs please share.

Jondog
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by Jondog » Fri Sep 08, 2017 1:19 pm

With your budget I would say the CR120 is your best bet. Should cover all your bases.
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lunchbox
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by lunchbox » Fri Sep 08, 2017 3:32 pm

In that price range....either a TH30 (I've seen them on CL for as low as $600), or a CR120H. IMO, the TH30 will get you more of that metal tone you're looking for.

I play a CR120H (paid $329 + $40 shipping off the bay) and have not found it to be a 'metal', chugga-chugga, palm mute type amp unless you run an EQ and gain pedal. But for what I play (hard rock a la Sabbath, Clutch, Red Fang, etc.), it's perfect, even w/o running any pedals.

As far as cabs, I play a CRPRO412. It was designed to go with the CR120H and is a great sounding cab. I really like the tone of the VOTW speakers, once they were broken in. But pretty much any 4x12 with Cele V30's will be a win.

liaztraht
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by liaztraht » Sun Sep 10, 2017 6:51 pm

The CR120H unless you find a sweet deal. Takes some fiddling for a chugga chugs tone. Roll the lows back and crank the mids with a ts type pedal pushing it. The standard metal way. Or put the dirt channel gain at about 9 o'clock and use a dirt pedal. Doing that I got a $40 mxr dirt box to "djent" due to less compression bring the lows up. Not my flavor, but not a bad tone.

The way I set mine up has the mids akin to a 6505, lows similar to a boogie, and some British bite. Enough of each to blend into the tones of various heavy bands, but has its own distinct flavour. Not a pristine metal growl, but a saturated sound with a touch of fuzz, growl, and smoothness.

Its hard to describe properly, but it definatly plays dirty.
My cat loves the Orange tone!

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pedecamp
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by pedecamp » Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:50 pm

I'd save up a little longer and get a tube head, youre only a few hundred shy of getting a good used full sized tube head. But with your current budget you may be able to get away with a smaller 15 watt tube head if the wattage will work for you, Orange has plenty of those to choose from.
Last edited by pedecamp on Tue Sep 12, 2017 3:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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thejay
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by thejay » Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:32 pm

pedecamp wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:50 pm
I'd save up a little longer and get a tube head, youre only a few hundred shy of getting a good used full sized tube head. But with your current budget you may be able to get away with a smaller 15 watt head if the wattage will work for you, Orange has plenty of those to choose from.
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Oranges - R32, OR50, R30, RVMKIII, OR100, AD30, OB212, CB212 (2x)
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Former Oranges - TT, JRT, OR15, RVMKII
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pedecamp
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by pedecamp » Tue Sep 12, 2017 3:41 pm

thejay wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:32 pm
pedecamp wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:50 pm
I'd save up a little longer and get a tube head, youre only a few hundred shy of getting a good used full sized tube head. But with your current budget you may be able to get away with a smaller 15 watt head if the wattage will work for you, Orange has plenty of those to choose from.
Agreed
Amen on that Jay! I'd say a 15 watt tube amp is just as loud if not louder than a 100 watt solid state amp.
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lunchbox
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by lunchbox » Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:44 pm

pedecamp wrote:
Tue Sep 12, 2017 3:41 pm

Amen on that Jay! I'd say a 15 watt tube amp is just as loud if not louder than a 100 watt solid state amp.
Not trying to argue, but I had an OR15. It wasn't even close to being in the same league with the CR120. It was gutless in comparison for volume, bass and overall balls. Where the OR15 tops out, the CR120 is just getting warmed up.

The CR120 is more akin to a 50 watter, of which I've owned and played quite a few. I'd take the CR120 over a 15 watter every time, which I did. I'm quite happy.

liaztraht
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by liaztraht » Wed Sep 13, 2017 9:16 am

lunchbox wrote:
Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:44 pm

Not trying to argue, but I had an OR15. It wasn't even close to being in the same league with the CR120. It was gutless in comparison for volume, bass and overall balls. Where the OR15 tops out, the CR120 is just getting warmed up.

The CR120 is more akin to a 50 watter, of which I've owned and played quite a few. I'd take the CR120 over a 15 watter every time, which I did. I'm quite happy.
I completely agree with this. With the channel volume maxed, 3.5 (10:30 o'clock) on the master, the CR120H pumps loud enough for most metal/rock gigs. About half to 6-7 (1-2 o'clock) and you get into levels suitable for most doom/stoner rock. Any higher and you may as well be the next SUNN O))) because you won't hear a drummer. It keeps the low end all the way up!

I've sat behind mine while on drums. Closed back 2x12 facing away about 15-20 feet out, and could hear it fine over the drums. And I follow the doom style of bigger and louder is better for drums 8)
My cat loves the Orange tone!

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pedecamp
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by pedecamp » Wed Sep 13, 2017 1:10 pm

That's good to hear, I didn't realize the CR120 pumped out that kind of power, maybe it has bigger transformers than usual solid state amps.
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liaztraht
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by liaztraht » Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:14 pm

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A bit bigger than the old trastube supreme I had. And 3 to 4 times bigger than an old fender 100 watt head I had.

I would say that for sure it compares to at least a peavey XXX (also 120 watt) volume wise, as the lead guitarist in my band plays one. As he has to crank a little higher to be at the same volume. Pot taper could do with it, but can easily hold a volume war with him if not careful. But that is assuming that the channel volume is dimed.
My cat loves the Orange tone!

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pedecamp
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by pedecamp » Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:27 pm

liaztraht wrote:
Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:14 pm
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A bit bigger than the old trastube supreme I had. And 3 to 4 times bigger than an old fender 100 watt head I had.

I would say that for sure it compares to at least a peavey XXX (also 120 watt) volume wise, as the lead guitarist in my band plays one. As he has to crank a little higher to be at the same volume. Pot taper could do with it, but can easily hold a volume war with him if not careful. But that is assuming that the channel volume is dimed.
That's a decent sized transformer, I'm used to seeing these itty bitty transformers in solid state amps, I guess that's why Orange calls these the Pro Series!
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liaztraht
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by liaztraht » Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:30 pm

All I can say is try one out. Best way to see if you like it!
My cat loves the Orange tone!

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lone cicada
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Re: which Orange amp?

Post by lone cicada » Tue Sep 19, 2017 3:50 pm

Awesome!
Thank You everyone
Im going to try to make it to a guitar center (2hour drive) in the next weekend or two to try one out.
Thanks again

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