Orange Amps Forum

Now that 2018 is over, we can all take a seat back..... take the highs, take the lows...

I've had several highs this year:

- finally got my 2nd dream amp, the Genz Benz Black Pearl 30. Only took 10 years for me to manage to get hold of one...

- NOS valves. They really do make a difference!!!!

What were yours?

Gear-wise:
-acquiring Rockerverb MK1 50w
-finally getting decent guitars - Two Fender strats and one Fender tele

But it's only gear. The biggest highlight is joining a gigging band and now doing our own songs. My first real gig was in June, 2018. Life changing experience!

2018 highlight for me was acquiring a new Gibson Les Paul Traditional. Highlight #2 was finally learning how radial my Dark Terror. My lesson learned was that amps and speakers need to be properly broken in before one can realize their full tone potential. Maybe this factor is the reason why I read in so many online forums; statements such as: “I used to own” or “never got along with.....or “it sits while I play my others”.


adkguy07

mici88 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:12 pm

Gear-wise:
-acquiring Rockerverb MK1 50w
-finally getting decent guitars - Two Fender strats and one Fender tele

But it's only gear. The biggest highlight is joining a gigging band and now doing our own songs. My first real gig was in June, 2018. Life changing experience!

The RV50 MKI is such a lovely amp. I love mine to bits (dream amp #1). Its funny though, so many demos show the metal side of the RV50, when it can do so much more!! Jazz, blues.... it really can do anything!!!!

I went the other way around. I got my 1st real Les Paul and then started thinking I needed a real amp to go with that. Hence dream amp #1 & #2

It's a nice feeling.

Well done on the gigging front! It's a blast for sure! That's been my musical low this year. We haven't practiced all that much at all.

adkguy07 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:25 pm

2018 highlight for me was acquiring a new Gibson Les Paul Traditional. Highlight #2 was finally learning how radial my Dark Terror. My lesson learned was that amps and speakers need to be properly broken in before one can realize their full tone potential. Maybe this factor is the reason why I read in so many online forums; statements such as: “I used to own” or “never got along with.....or “it sits while I play my others”.


adkguy07

A properly broken in speaker can change a lot. The V30 in particular takes ages to properly get there.

I would say that getting my paisley Esquire built is probably my 2018 musical highlight...



Concert highlight was seeing Stereophonics in Dublin in March, although seeing and meeting Jeff Beck (and Johnny Depp) was a close second. Saw a bunch of killer shows last year though: Johnny Marr was great, Prince's band, The Revolution just killed, The Strypes were great, so were The Struts - amazing live, Cactus Blossums, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Lissie, Dorothy, Willie Nile, Butch Walker always delivers, many Johnny A. shows, Slash with Myles Kennedy, Ash, Guided By Voices, Jesse Malin, wow.

Johnny Marr pics

Les Paul Lover wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:32 pm

mici88 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 3:12 pm

Gear-wise:
-acquiring Rockerverb MK1 50w
-finally getting decent guitars - Two Fender strats and one Fender tele

But it's only gear. The biggest highlight is joining a gigging band and now doing our own songs. My first real gig was in June, 2018. Life changing experience!

The RV50 MKI is such a lovely amp. I love mine to bits (dream amp #1). Its funny though, so many demos show the metal side of the RV50, when it can do so much more!! Jazz, blues.... it really can do anything!!!!

I went the other way around. I got my 1st real Les Paul and then started thinking I needed a real amp to go with that. Hence dream amp #1 & #2

It's a nice feeling.

Well done on the gigging front! It's a blast for sure! That's been my musical low this year. We haven't practiced all that much at all.

You did better with the guitar, than me. I was playing on a chinese stratocaster for a very, very long time. Then I got an Epiphone LP, which was quite acceptable, but was missing something. Then I jumped into Jackson territory - Kelly KE3 with EMGs and RR3 with SH13. They were good, but pretty much metal-only oriented. I sold them, too and meanwhile I saved some cash, sold lots of effects that were taking space in my drawer and got Fenders. They are just two, or even three leagues above all guitars I had so far. I should have known better and get a top notch guitar earlier. It does not necesarilly make me a better player, but makes me want to pick guitar more often and that is the right way to be a better player!

As for RV50 MK1, it pretty much ended by amp quest. It just so damn perfect, I feel in love with it immediately when I first played in a local rehearsal room - it was *that* tone I was looking for. 6v6 for life!

bclaire wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:07 pm

I would say that getting my paisley Esquire built is probably my 2018 musical highlight...



Concert highlight was seeing Stereophonics in Dublin in March, although seeing and meeting Jeff Beck (and Johnny Depp) was a close second. Saw a bunch of killer shows last year though: Johnny Marr was great, Prince's band, The Revolution just killed, The Strypes were great, so were The Struts - amazing live, Cactus Blossums, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Lissie, Dorothy, Willie Nile, Butch Walker always delivers, many Johnny A. shows, Slash with Myles Kennedy, Ash, Guided By Voices, Jesse Malin, wow.

You sure have packed in a lot during this year!!!!

mici88 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 5:32 pm

As for RV50 MK1, it pretty much ended by amp quest. It just so damn perfect, I feel in love with it immediately when I first played in a local rehearsal room - it was *that* tone I was looking for. 6v6 for life!

I had the same instant connection with the RV50. That 6V6 amp is pretty special to me.

Still..... it hasn't stopped me from buying 12/15 more amps in the last 10 years or so. 4 of those have stayed home too....

But if I had to keep one only, it would be the RV50 for sure!!!

Seeing the smashing pumpkins in concert. I have been a huge fan of them for all of my life but never saw them before. Saw them with ¾ of the original members and they played a 3 ½ hour set... That night won't be topped in a long time.

I think it was technically end of 2017 but getting my Gibson ES355 has been another high to my last year or so of playing. Dreamt of a guitar like that for a long time and it didn't disappoint.

Les Paul Lover wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 30, 2019 9:38 pm

bclaire wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:07 pm

I would say that getting my paisley Esquire built is probably my 2018 musical highlight...

You sure have packed in a lot during this year!!!!

Tried to!

Fun fact, that herringbone pattern of the guitar case is from the fabric pattern of a 1969 Chevy Camaro!

Billy, that is a beauty of a guitar. I think you’ll enjoy that one for a long time. I was a big fan,
back in the day, of James Burton. He claimed that even though he didn't know his boss (Mr. Presley)
would approve, he brought it on stage and played it during a performance and to his surprise, his boss really approved of it. I think Fender later on put it into production. The one I saw back in the 80's was the blue paisley one with a floral design.....not quite as stunning as the color you have, though.


adkguy07

bclaire wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:13 am

Les Paul Lover wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 30, 2019 9:38 pm

bclaire wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:07 pm

I would say that getting my paisley Esquire built is probably my 2018 musical highlight...

You sure have packed in a lot during this year!!!!

Tried to!

Fun fact, that herringbone pattern of the guitar case is from the fabric pattern of a 1969 Chevy Camaro!

Sure looks like a lot of work went into the detail, with the matching headstock too.

Has it upstaged your gold leaf tele as #1?

Does the reverse headstock impact the way the strings ring?

afjungemann wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 31, 2019 12:54 am

Seeing the smashing pumpkins in concert. I have been a huge fan of them for all of my life but never saw them before. Saw them with ¾ of the original members and they played a 3 ½ hour set... That night won't be topped in a long time.

I think it was technically end of 2017 but getting my Gibson ES355 has been another high to my last year or so of playing. Dreamt of a guitar like that for a long time and it didn't disappoint.

Yeah, i was ecstatic when I finally got to see the pixies around 10 years ago. Such a great band to me!!!

Nice feeling too getting one of the axes of your dreams!!! Spending 2018 playing a great instrument sounds really cool!!!!