Orange Amps | Ranges & Products | Rockerverb 50w Combo

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Last time we were looking forward to a new Orange, we got two at once – and this time there are three to drool over. The new Rockerverb range is something of a departure for Orange as, historically, the company’s designs have been relatively low gain, simple affairs that favor those players who know how to drive an amp for the guitar. However the Rockerverb steps into more modern territory, packing a clean channel with plenty of headroom and a lead channel with so much gain you could probably use it to bounce a sustained note all the way to Pluto and back if you wanted to. High gain amplifiers aren’t easy to do well – cascading several valve stages into each other is simple enough, but keeping noise out and making sure the resulting sounds are tuneful and useable is something else altogether – so we were particularly interested to see how well Orange managed to handle it.

All three amplifiers share Orange’s typically bombproof build standard. Tough basket-weave vinyl is neatly overlaid on oversized ply cabinets surrounding a heavy white powder-coated steel chassis to which the steel control panel and grab handles are attached. Inside the chassis’ there are two robust and neatly laid out printed circuit boards – one for the preamp and one for the power stage. These are double-plated and through-plated for maximum reliability, which is a good thing as all the front and rear components, as well as the valve bases, are directly attached to them.

Although both heads share a common preamp stage, the power section is quite different. The 50-watter uses a quartet of 6V6’s , while the 100-watt version draws its considerable output from a quartet of EL34’s, with a useful bias switch that allows users to swap alternate valves including 6CA7, 6L6, and KT88 types. The 50-watter substitutes an equally useful two position damping switch that varies negative feedback for a low damped and lively speaker response with the switch set to high, The transformers are a case of typical Orange overkill, with the 100-watt mains unit looking big enough to power a national grid substation. “That head can push out in excess of 140 Watts with some types of valves,” says Orange’s sales director Damon Waller. “While we think the 50 watt 6V6 is going to be more generally appealing, there are still plenty of players, particularly in the US, who want 100 watts of Orange sound behind them; besides which, the bigger amp has a different response and vibe.

The front and rear panel controls are neatly laid out and we like Orange’s update on the old graphic panel, with its intriguing icons over each function. The main switch is a solid, clever, three-position affair that goes from off to standby and then play – it’s surprising that no-one else uses this. As well as being easy to use it also leaves room to squeeze in more controls. All three amps feature reverb – there’s a shor-pan spring in both heads, and a massive five spring Accutronics long-pan in the Celestion Vintage 30-powered combo.
Around the rear, there are more pro features in the shape of output valve fuse protection and LED fail indicators. Make no mistake, these amps are seriously well put together.
Sounds: The clean channel is typical Orange, with a sweet treble response and carefully judged mid-range that fits the Vintage 30 loudspeakers in the combo like a glove. These Celestion drivers are now coming from China, but with no noticeable jump in quality. ”If anything, we think they’re actually better than the last UK make ones,” Waller comments. “The Vintage 30 is the one we’ve decided to standardize on, as we think it complements the Orange sound particularly well.

Pushed hard, the Rockerverb 50’s clean channel beings to purr nicely as the single volume control is nudged past the halfway mark. It’s a great sound for blues and country and is especially flattering to single-coils, with an excellent “quack” from the in-between positions on a Strat. Lack of a mid-range control doesn’t spoil the fun, the voicing on this channel is so well balanced it sounds good whenever the treble and bass are set.

A click-free dab on a simple latching footswitch takes you to the lead channel, which promises gain, gain, and yet more gain – and believe us, you won’t be disappointed. Even with relatively low-output single-coils, the amount of distortion and sustain on al three amps is stratospheric. At the top end of the scale, bent notes hang on for what seems like an eternity, and depending where you stand in relation to to the amp you can call up feedback on any note at will. “ A lot of work went into making the gain control totally useable throughout its range, “ says Waller. “Many high gain amps lose tone and definition at lower gain settings but we worked hard to keep the vintage sounds that Orange is known for on the Rockerverb, as well as the modern high gain sounds.”

As you sweep the gain control through its range you’ll discover that there’s plenty of space in the medium gain area, producing some superb mild break-up effects that are great for the blues. Then, as you enter the last quarter of the knob’s travel, the extra gain comes on tap like a turbocharger. It really works well, right up to the point where there’s so much gain the amp sounds almost out of control.

At high volume levels, the Rockerverb holds note definition beyond the point where many other amps turn to mush. We were particularly impressed with the switchable damping 6V6-powered 50-watt head and combo here, which let us dial in a perfect balance between preamp and power amp distortion for some truly monsterous lead and rhythm sounds.

The 100-watt version has a different vibe, huge headroom prevails here and it’s unlikely that many players will find themselves in a position to use the amp anywhere close to flat out. This is without doubt the one to go for on big stages and outdoor festivals. Reverb on the combo is excellent, while we felt both heads could have done with a slightly longer decay, although we were pleased that very little noise was induced with the reverb up high – this is particularly difficult to overcome in a head with the reverb spring so close to the mains transformer.

Verdict
Whether your taste is for vintage blues or modern hi-octane rock, the Rockerverb has it covered. The flexibility from the amp’s relatively simple layout is something few others can compete with, and you have the look and build quality of a truly great British manufacturer to inspire confidence on any stage, large or small. Aimed at professional and well-heeled amateur and semi-pro players who want style as well as sound, the combo represents good value for money, while buying either head makes the purchase of an Orange obligatory – they just don’t look right atop anything else

These are not lightweight or easily portable units, however. The 100-watt heads weigh more than many small combos, while the Rockerverb 2 X 12 combo weighs in at a groin busting 39 kilos, so if you don’t have the luxury of a roadie, make sure you’re fit before lugging one around.

Despite that, instant “I want” appeal will doubtless prevail for anyone who plugs into one of these titans of tone. Quite simply, if you want the Orange badge and style with the whole gamut of vintage and modern tonality at your fingertips, you need look no further.

Nick Guppy, Guitarist Magazine.

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