70's reverb unit

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steamboat
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70's reverb unit

Post by steamboat » Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:37 pm

I picked up a Orange Custom Reverb Unit recently and I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into as I can't seem to find much information on these.
After figuring everything out this thing really is awesome! Sounds great! You can run it in front of the amp or in the effects loop. I thought it sounded much better in front of the amp. I tried it out on my PA120 and on one of my AD15s. Sounded great with both. Luckily it has recently been serviced so everything is good to go. Unfortunately they don't have switchable power sockets like the amps do for different voltages but during the service it had the transformer replaced for 120V. So I can use it here in the states with out having to use a step down transformer.

I wonder roughly how many of these they ever made? I know they offered two versions of reverb units. One from 1968-73 and this version that I have here from 1974-77.


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Les Paul Lover
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by Les Paul Lover » Sun Jul 29, 2018 9:46 pm

Amazing!!!!!

How in hell did you find that?
How does the gain pot work? Is the reverb pot simply adding reverb depth?


Huge unit. Would love to try it!!!!
Ant

Orange Gear: RV50 MKI, R30, AD15, PPC212
And.... Genz Benz Black Pearl 30
Past Orange: AD30TC Combo, TT, AD5


Guitars: Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded, Vigier Expert Retro 54, Gibson SG 70s Tribute, Aria Pro II RS X80, G&L ASAT Special Tribute

steamboat
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by steamboat » Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:27 pm

Hi Les Paul lover,

The gain works as a volume and yes the reverb just adds depth. There is also a switch that cuts the amp signal and just outputs reverb only. It's pretty neat and sounds awesome!

It is a big unit haha, I had to laugh when I removed the chassis, it was so small. There is not much going on inside of it, but the reverb tank is big, so that must be why they made it so large. It looks cool being the same size as the amps though.
Rollin with a fat sack of Oranges

bclaire
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by bclaire » Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:59 pm

Any more pix?

Gladmarr
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by Gladmarr » Tue Jul 31, 2018 12:00 am

steamboat wrote:
Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:37 pm


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That capacitor on the top of the chassis is hilarious! :lol:

Davepedalsteel
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by Davepedalsteel » Tue Jul 31, 2018 3:39 pm

Wow! That is rare. First time I've seen any internal pics of these. No idea how many of these were made, perhaps someone at Orange knows, Mickey Dines? they probably didn't sell many at the time.
I've got a Orange Matamp valve one which I've also found very little info on, and even Matamp have little or vague knowledge on, but it sounds great. The serial no of mine is the earliest I have found, but the number is not necessarily a guide to how many they made. I've only found 3 others than mine.
Good luck on the find and the research.

steamboat
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by steamboat » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:14 pm

Davepedalsteel wrote:
Tue Jul 31, 2018 3:39 pm
I've got a Orange Matamp valve one which I've also found very little info on, and even Matamp have little or vague knowledge on, but it sounds great. The serial no of mine is the earliest I have found, but the number is not necessarily a guide to how many they made. I've only found 3 others than mine.
Good luck on the find and the research.
That's awesome that you have the first version that was tube. Any pics?

Yeah vintage serial numbers don't seem to make any sense. It's like they just put random numbers on. kind of sucks, it would be nice to accurately date my vintage gear. I usually can narrow it down to a few years but never for sure the exact year.
Rollin with a fat sack of Oranges

steamboat
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by steamboat » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:18 pm

bclaire wrote:
Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:59 pm
Any more pix?
Here you go billy:

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Rollin with a fat sack of Oranges

Les Paul Lover
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by Les Paul Lover » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:27 pm

I was wondering where the spring tank would fit.

His the tank original? It looks really new and well conserved.

Mind you the whole unit seems to be in pretty tip top shape.
Ant

Orange Gear: RV50 MKI, R30, AD15, PPC212
And.... Genz Benz Black Pearl 30
Past Orange: AD30TC Combo, TT, AD5


Guitars: Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded, Vigier Expert Retro 54, Gibson SG 70s Tribute, Aria Pro II RS X80, G&L ASAT Special Tribute

steamboat
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by steamboat » Wed Aug 01, 2018 11:01 pm

I do not think the tank is original. I've read that they came with hammond tanks and this one is accutronics like the AD30R uses.

This unit was recently serviced before I bought it. which i'm glad because it works really well and sounds awesome!
Rollin with a fat sack of Oranges

bclaire
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by bclaire » Thu Aug 02, 2018 1:07 am

Wow... that's cool.

I, too, was wondering where the reverb pan would go - makes sense now. But what a tiny chassis!

Thanks for the pix!

Les Paul Lover
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by Les Paul Lover » Thu Aug 02, 2018 8:05 am

steamboat wrote:
Wed Aug 01, 2018 11:01 pm
I do not think the tank is original. I've read that they came with hammond tanks and this one is accutronics like the AD30R uses.

This unit was recently serviced before I bought it. which i'm glad because it works really well and sounds awesome!
In terms of usability, it's really great.

Parts do deteriorate, and I value functionality over originality too.

Thanks a lot for sharing it all!!!!
Ant

Orange Gear: RV50 MKI, R30, AD15, PPC212
And.... Genz Benz Black Pearl 30
Past Orange: AD30TC Combo, TT, AD5


Guitars: Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded, Vigier Expert Retro 54, Gibson SG 70s Tribute, Aria Pro II RS X80, G&L ASAT Special Tribute

megalithic
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by megalithic » Tue Aug 21, 2018 9:19 am

Wow, that's awesome.

So I take it it's pretty light? I mean the weight.
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Gladmarr
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by Gladmarr » Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:05 am

steamboat wrote:
Wed Aug 01, 2018 11:01 pm
I do not think the tank is original. I've read that they came with hammond tanks and this one is accutronics like the AD30R uses.
The solid state reverb unit on the Orange Field Guide has an Accutronics tank in it. I think 70s is too new to have a Hammond reverb tank. Hammond spun off reverb production to Gibbs in 1964 and then accutronics by 1971.

http://www.accutronicsreverb.com/main/? ... 03_01.html

Gladmarr
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Re: 70's reverb unit

Post by Gladmarr » Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:07 am

For what it’s worth, I always like the labels on the tanks made by OC Electronics in Milton, Wisconsin.
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