The New-Look Series Two (1979)

Orange Series Two amps launched in 1978 with new styling, updated components, and the brand’s first dedicated bass amp, the Super Bass 120.

Mick Dines, former Orange Production Manager, explains a new look for a new era: “By the late 70s, music had moved on from the psychedelic days of the 60s, and it felt like our amps needed to catch up. Orange’s iconic livery, while still widely recognised, was beginning to feel a little dated. So I gave everything a bit of a facelift.

“The psychedelic lettering of the original logo was replaced with a cleaner, more modern typeface. I lowered the height of the amp sleeve to give the head a sleeker silhouette. The gold strap handle was swapped for a black one, and we updated the plastic corners and replaced the chrome roll bars with black versions. Even the basketweave speaker cloth was changed: out went the light brown, in came a darker black cloth with different sound transparency characteristics. We also added a standby switch to the front panel, giving players more control.”

Series Two and the Hustler

The Series Two refresh wasn’t just cosmetic; it was also the era of new releases. It marked the launch of Orange’s first dedicated bass amp: the 120-Watt Orange Super Bass. Visually, it followed the same design language as the Overdrive Series Two head.
Another standout was the Hustler combo series, which proved a big success. There was the 60-Watt 1×12 master volume guitar combo, and the 60-Watt Hustler Bass 1×15 combo, which came in a ported cabinet design. Both offered solid performance in a compact, stage-ready format.

Around this time, we also made the decision to split the Orange product catalogue into two clear divisions: Orange Instrument Amplification and Orange Sound Reinforcement. The latter covered our PA systems, mixing desks, and solid-state power amps, bringing structure and focus to a growing range of gear.

Back to the Future

By the 1990s, the pendulum had swung back. Players were once again craving that classic Orange look and sound. The Series Two range was eventually phased out, making way for the Pics & Text reissues and, later, the launch of the Oscillatory Transition Return (OTR) model.

At Cliff’s insistence, we reinstated the original Orange livery, psychedelic logo and all. The retro aesthetic had come full circle, but this time it was backed by decades of experience and a renewed focus on innovation.