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Tag Archive for: new products

Help Orange Amps Find Rare 1970s Effect Pedals

Orange Amplification manufactured the popular Phazer, Sustain and Distortion pedals at their UK Bexleyheath factory between 1977 to 1979. Probably one of the coolest things around at the time, these first ever Orange effects pedals are now very rare.

After seeing Orange users share images of various pedals, fans over at Orange’s Facebook page have requested Orange reissue these. During the COVID-19, like many people, Orange has been doing some housework; decluttering, sorting out, tidying up, clearing out. Mick Dines, who has been with the company since the early 70s, found the original, tea stained, schematics for the Phazer, Sustain and Distortion pedals and passed those onto the company’s current designer, Ade Emsley. However Orange have not been able to find the actual physical pedals and need help to get these reissues right.

The company is looking to reissue the iconic 1970’s pedals, with upgraded internals, but they need to find examples of the actual pedals to gather information about the exact size and dimensions of the original pedals and learn from the owners what made this special to them.

Is there anyone out there who owns and still uses a much loved 1970’s Orange Amps’ Phazer, Sustain or Distortion effect pedals? If yes, please contact Orange via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or email them through their website https://orangeamps.com/contact/. Orange would love to talk to you.

Your awesome tone has arrived, Sir.

Orange Amplification unleash The Bass Butler, an entire Bi-Amp bass rig in a pedal. The new pedal splits the bass guitar signal, at input, into completely separate, parallel, analogue signal chains, just like a real bi-amp rig – without an amp in sight.

The always active ‘Clean’ Bass Channel can be adjusted for compression, bass, treble and volume. An optical compressor circuit, cut/boost tone controls and dedicated, bass cabinet-simulated balanced D.I. output is always on hand with all manner of classic clean tones.

Five smaller knobs control the Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass and Gain (with four stages), of The Bass Butler’s ‘Dirty’ Guitar Channel which can be added with a footswitch. Coupled with a guitar cab-simulated balanced D.I. output and an expression pedal jack for extra control over the input gain, The Bass Butler serves up everything from bright vintage tones to floor-splitting, wall-crumbling modern destruction.

Both channels have XLR balanced output allowing the Bi-Amp bass tone to arrive complete at the mixing desk. The Bass Butler also features an Amp output, which takes a blend of the two channels, set by the volume controls,  before the cabinet simulation circuits from a 1/4” jack, making it perfect for connecting to the front end of any bass amp. This set up means on-stage sound can be controlled completely independently of what the audience hears or the output can be used on its own, just like a plain old preamp pedal. A ‘Ground Lift’ switch eliminates ground hum when The Bass Butler is hooked up to a PA and a bass amp at the same time.

The pedal’s sturdy steel enclosure is made to last a lifetime; it is perfect for in the studio and on the road. The Bass Butler is quite possibly the only pedal bassists will ever need.

Check it out at the Orange Amplification booth #4644, Hall D where all the other Orange products can also be seen.