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Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 11:37 am
by davelangdon
The earliest Orange/Matamp types that I've ever seen were on a 60s film where Alan Price and his band were playing a song in a studio. I suspect it could be in Cliff Cooper's Orange studio Compton street. The amps were in black tolex before the orange tolex was made. The important difference in the design of the amps is whether they have valve or solid state rectification, apart from the transformer types. What intrigues me is that you say that the head sleeve was painted but that the tolex was originally orange. Is that correct? If it was black it would be the earliest type.
I don't know how many survive, but it looks as though yours is the earliest Orange that we've seen here or on any of the other Orange related sites. Well done in looking after it! Dave.

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 2:26 pm
by bclaire
It's a pretty cool amp. My advice would be to bring it to an amp tech and get it retubed (if that remaining power tube is a Mullard, keep it though but not in the amp). Have the amp tech go through everything and get it up to speed... it could easily need caps, etc.

I'm still unclear as to what the original covering was: orange tolex/vinyl or paint. Was it orange first and then black? or black to orange to black? If it was orange tolex and the tolex is still there and only painted, I would try a good cleaning with something to remove the paint- carefully- always test in an inconspicuous area first. If the tolex was stripped and the cab painted, I'd seriously consider retolexing it by a pro with the correct orange tolex... or black tolex. Since it's been altered already, it would only help to increase the value. And what was the deal with the logo? It was orange in the first pictures and now it's black???

It would seem to be a very early Orange head and as such, is worth a higher price than newer Oranges... to the right buyer. I'd inquire a bit more- check some of the vintage guitar/amp stores either online or in Vintage Guitar magazine for ideas as to who to use for comparison.

and if you do decide to sell it, let us know please.

Thanks, Billy



Edited by - bclaire on 17 Jun 2004 14:29:58

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:59 am
by acepdistra
I know that film and I remember seeing an Orange in it, I also vaguely remember that I thought it looked like mine at the time.Any one know the name of the film ?

Yes the original Tolex was orange, it had been painted black then painted orange again and was hellish.
I stripped it off and recovered it with black vinyl,its starting to come away at the joins but that is easily sorted (pretty good job i did too).It would look fantastic if it was recovered.

It used to have battered wooden runners on the bottom, I replaced these with round plastic feet.

The Orange logo is orange in the earlier pictures as it had been painted with orange paint (emulsion) and when I was tarting her up for her "shoot" it started to flake off.
What didnt come off with a damp cloth was removed in a non-destructive way using a soft plastic scraper designed especially for this job.
Some of the black lettering is worn, mainly along the top of the letters.

My Tech has informed me he has the parts required to test.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
> Have you got a spare EL34 valve?

I have a spare pair - we'll need to play with the "bias" knob inside the case (I'll bet you thought that was the "musical talent" control - turn it up for Hendrix, turn it right down for a long-lasting career in the music business;-)


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You all know about the Matampclub site by the way dont you?
I am posting on their forum too and getting some usefull info.

Would it be usefull or even just interesting if I got some kind of a technical report done on it?


Ace P Distra

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 1:56 pm
by Meole
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>


Would it be usefull or even just interesting if I got some kind of a technical report done on it?


Ace P Distra

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I'd have Matamp take a look at it, they built it.

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:37 pm
by acepdistra
I have tried contacting Matamp, but so far there has not been much interest.

However someone (MatampNZ) on their forum is sending me some pictures of other Matamp Series 2000 amps for comparison seemingly there are some with the same configuration of front panel as mine.There are pictures on the Matamp site of an amp with a LEAD sticker on the back where mine has a BASS one.

By the way I have managed to find the aluminium corner cover - which is pretty amazing since it has not been inside the amp for about 20 years.

Ace P Distra

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 12:32 am
by Meole
If you tried e-mailing Matamp, good luck. They are a small shop and busy.
They prefer to do things by phone. How did you try to contact them?

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:51 pm
by bclaire
I'm in the USA, and phoning was the way to go. Remembering the time differences was tricky for me though.

They answered the phone right away- I ordered new grille cloth for my Oranges- and had it in-hand within a week.

Billy

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 3:19 pm
by acepdistra
Cheers for the info, I will try phoning.

Ace P Distra

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:28 am
by acepdistra
Tried phoning Matamp on Sunday on the off chance that someone was there - and there was (I was informed that they are there 7 days a week til 8:00 at night - dedicated or what?).

Spoke to Jeff and described the amp over the phone to him.
From my description he told me the faceplate and case were not original (NOT Fake just wrong)- so I have re-sent an email with the links to the pics that are on here.He agreed that the amp sounded like a Series 2000 which would date it possibly from 65ish.

He did seem interested in buying it from me to add to their collection of vintage amps as a reference for repairs depending on how much I was wanting.

So far I have had a couple of people interested in buying it and even an offer to go on - cheers ED.

At the moment I am hoping the amp goes back to its maker, either Orange or Matamp.

Can anyone help put a price on its head?

Ace P Distra

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:45 am
by User
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Can anyone help put a price on its head?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Well on ebay the re-issue went for £987:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=10171
If that helps at all?

Dave

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:18 pm
by Meole
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Tried phoning Matamp on Sunday on the off chance that someone was there - and there was (I was informed that they are there 7 days a week til 8:00 at night - dedicated or what?).

Spoke to Jeff and described the amp over the phone to him.
From my description he told me the faceplate and case were not original (NOT Fake just wrong)- so I have re-sent an email with the links to the pics that are on here.He agreed that the amp sounded like a Series 2000 which would date it possibly from 65ish.

He did seem interested in buying it from me to add to their collection of vintage amps as a reference for repairs depending on how much I was wanting.

So far I have had a couple of people interested in buying it and even an offer to go on - cheers ED.

At the moment I am hoping the amp goes back to its maker, either Orange or Matamp.

Can anyone help put a price on its head?

Ace P Distra
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Maybe get them to make you a new amp or 2 as a trade.
Did they make you an offer?

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:58 pm
by acepdistra
I have been in contact with the person that sold the re-issue - it went to Matamps US distributer.
I have also been in contact with Matamps US distributer (Joel)and he said that he has one like it ?- I am still waiting to hear back from him and see pictures...mmmmmm.

Matamp did not make me an offer and they have yet to get back to me regarding the pics - but they did say that they go for about £499 in the UK.
Trading it for a brand new Matamp would seem reasonable to me - but I am not a guitarist by any stretch of the imagination, mind you I thought I sounded good through this amp once the volume had been cranked up.None of my neighbours, friends or even my wife who normally worships the ground I walk on agreed with me.

Remember this is still not verified as working.

Ace P Distra

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:50 pm
by acepdistra