Orange has lifted the curtain on its latest tube amp head, the OR30, which the British brand has boldly dubbed “the loudest 30-watt amp on the market”.
It’s a statement informed by the fact this humble 30 watt guitar amp supposedly far exceeds the sonic expectations of any regular 30-watter, and registered the same sound pressure readings as a 100W amp in the Orange test room.
Aside from its ambitious output, the OR30 also introduces a first-for-Orange Bright switch – a three-way toggle that switches between Neutral and two individual Treble Boost modes.
While the former claims to be the perfect pedal platform, the other two settings are concerned with interacting with the tone stack and sharpening the tone for “laser-like” mix-cutting characteristics.
That switch is joined on the front panel by Orange’s usual assortment of colorfully labeled control knobs, whose artistic emblems translate to Presence, Volume, Treble, Mid, Mass, Gain and Footswitch Volume.
On the rear, there’s a Headroom/Bedroom power attenuator that reduces output from 30 watts to two watts – though whether that’s actually two watts, or two watts that sounds like 10 watts, remains to be seen.
Other notable specs include an FX Loop and a footswitchable volume boost, the latter of which aims to let players easily pivot between lead and rhythm.
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The UK-designed and -made OR30 – which arrives in Orange or Black colorways – is available now from some retailers for $2,250.
Head over to Orange for more information.
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Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.