Orange Amps Forum

Just bought an amazing Orange AD15/10 amplifier. It is in superb condition and sounds great with a new full set of JJ valves. The serial number is 008, the chass is dated but difficult to read. It looks like 10.12.06 but this seems strange given the low serial number and that these were in production from 2001. Any idea?

Nice find! The AD series went on sale on December 15, 1998. The ones with three digit serial numbers were part of a "pre production" run:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1266&p=6617&hilit=+ ... ces.#p6617" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's a December 10, 1998 date on yours. Mine is November 5, 1998:



How about some more pics?

Here you go. Wow, amazed this is one of the pre-production models. One of the first 10, I'm chuffed to bits with that. Been after an AD15 for years. This makes it worth the wait.

Yeah, nice find!

Didn't realise those had the old 'Vintage 10' Celestions. I had one of those in my Fender Pro Junior combo for a while (after blowing the stock speaker) but found it just too fat and treble shy for the Fender sounds. I'd imagine it'd sound very big and full with the Orange though.

Nice amp, and another nice wee bit of AD15 history.


Andy.

Blindsummit wrote:Wow, amazed this is one of the pre-production models. One of the first 10, I'm chuffed to bits with that.

Well actually one of the first eight…

Here’s another link where Ade, the designer, talked about prototypes and pre-production designs:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5358&p=53337&hilit= ... ype#p53337" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It’s interesting how little things were tweaked early on.
The photo in the original brochure has brass handle hardware, an orange colored logo, gold piping, and all large control knobs:


On 001, all control knobs are small (and the brass is gone, and the piping and logo are black):


And 008 has the final design with large and small controls:


The circuit board was also changed. They dropped the "Millenium" and added test point voltages. 001 vs. 008:

Sooner, a few questions:

1. What was the original list price for the AD15?
2. Can you confirm the the 8 ohm speaker input is the one furthest from the choke?
3. How do you know there were only 8 prototypes?

Thanks for all the info.

Blindsummit wrote:Sooner, a few questions:

1. What was the original list price for the AD15?
2. Can you confirm the the 8 ohm speaker input is the one furthest from the choke?
3. How do you know there were only 8 prototypes?

Thanks for all the info.

1. The initial price for the AD15/12 was £399 The 10 inch version was a little less. Not sure how much. The prices increased within 6 months by £50.

2. The 8 ohm output is on the right side when looking at the back of the amp (as per the order on the rear plate).

3. I meant yours was one of the first eight made, not that there were only 8 pre-production models. Actually I remember seeing some early models with 3 digit serial numbers in the mid teens so there may have been as many as 10 twelve inch and 10 ten inch versions.

It is a great amp. Fitted a new rectifier tube yesterday, so it's now got a complete set of new valves, suspect the ones that were in it were the originals. The amp sings, incredibly dynamic and responsive. Thrilled with it.

Blindsummit wrote:It is a great amp. Fitted a new rectifier tube yesterday, so it's now got a complete set of new valves, suspect the ones that were in it were the originals. The amp sings, incredibly dynamic and responsive. Thrilled with it.

Yes, great little amps. No wonder they were so popular. The original valves would have been a Chelmer rectifier, Sovtek pre-amp, and unbranded power valves (probably Sovtek too?). The only issue I’ve ever had with 001 was a bad heater wire connection on the rectifier valve. It’s the one that didn’t get any hot glue because it’s buried beneath a rat’s nest of wires.

Sooner wrote:The original valves would have been a Chelmer rectifier, Sovtek pre-amp, and unbranded power valves (probably Sovtek too)

Well that answers that question then. Definately the original valves.

Found this posted on another site. He states it is Circa 1998. Serial number 012. Hand built in England. Looks like someones messed around with replacing the knobs.

Serial number 012 (AD15/12) is on eBay now if your quick. Looks to be in poor nick though and has been modded.

#012 is on eBay now, though not in the best of shapes.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Orange-AD15-1 ... 6641328%26

Pre-production ran into the 20's I read somewhere there was 28. I have #021 and #023, here is my ad15/12 #021 pre-production so I atleast know it went into the 20's.

That is the weirdest f'in Orange I've ever seen....