ORANGE AMPLIFIERS FAQ
What is the history of Orange?
See the history section of the Orange website for more information. Click here for more information...
Where are the amps manufactured?
Orange builds their amplifiers in England.
Where can I find a dealer near me?
See the dealer section of the website to locate a dealer near you. Click here to locate a dealer...
What is the warranty on new Orange products?
The amplifiers are warrantied for 1 year from date of purchase, valves/tubes are warrantied for 90 days, and speakers are warrantied for ___ days. See your dealer for more information. Click here to locate a dealer...
Who uses Orange?
Artists that use or have used Orange include:
Alkaline Trio
Ryan Adams
Sheryl Amour
At the Drive-In
Black Sabbath
Bleach
The Blood Brothers
Boris
Burning Brides
The Calling
The Church
Clutch
Collective Soul
Cooper Temple Clause
The Coral
The Datsuns
Delerious
The Distillers
The Donnas
Flickerstick
Floor
Fountains of Wayne
Free
Get Up Kids
Peter Greenšs Fleetwood Mac
P.J. Harvey
Heart
The Hellacopters
Helmut
The Hives
Hopesfall
Hum
Ike and Tine Turner
Jewel
Jimmy Eat World
Kid Rock
Stephen Malkmus
Manic Street Preachers
Mars Volta
MC5
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Monster Magnet
Motorpsycho
The Music
Oasis
Jimmy Page/ Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
Poison the Well
Pretenders
Queens of the Stone Age
Rally Car
Noel Redding
Chris Robinson
Shiner
Sly and the Family Stone
Smashing Pumpkins
Steamhammer
Super Furry Animals
Supergrass
The Supersuckers
Switchfoot
Tourniquet
Travis
Veruca Salt
Vibrotica
Weezer
Wilco
Wishbone Ash
Stevie Wonder
Allan Woody
TECHNICAL:
Combos- plug the amp into an electrical outlet, get a quality guitar cable and connect your guitar to the amp via the input jack. Turn the amp on, and wait for two minutes before switching off from standby.
Heads and cabinets- connect the head and cabinet with a quality speaker cable (never substitute a guitar cable- harm to your amplifier may result). Plug the amp into an electrical outlet, get a quality guitar cable, and connect your guitar to the amp via the input jack. Turn the amp on, and wait for two minutes before switching off from standby.
What output do I plug my speakers into?
Combos should come from the factory plugged into the correct output. This is the 16 ohm output. (Some early combos came with 8 ohm speaker impedance- check yours.) A pair of 8 ohm speakers will be a 16 ohm impedance.
Orange heads may be used with single 8 or 16 ohm cabinets. Use a quality speaker cable (never substitute a guitar cable- harm to your amplifier may result) and connect to the appropriate impedance output.
What outputs do I use when I'm using an extension cabinet?
When using two speaker cabinets with Orange heads, both cabinets must be the same impedance- 16 ohm. Plug both cabinets into the two 8 ohm outputs. Do not mix cabinets of different impedances- harm to your amplifier may result.
Using an extension cabinet with a combo. The impedance of the cabinet must be the same as the internal speakers in the combo- 16 ohm. Plug both internal speakers and the cabinet into the two 8 ohm outputs. Do not mix cabinets of different impedances- harm to your amplifier may result.
How do I channel-switch my amp?
There are a number of ways you can channel-switch your amp.
There is a toggle switch on the front of the amp that allows for manual switching.
Orange has footswitches available, which can be used with any length guitar cable to connect. They feature an LED light to indicate channel two.
Other brands of latching footswitches may be used, too.
In addition, midi switching devices that allow for analog switching may be used to control channel-switching.
What is an effects loop and how do I use it?
An effects loop is a means for inserting guitar effects into the signal path of the amplifier internally. The send of your amplifier goes to the input of your effects- likewise, the output of your effects goes to the return of the amplifier.
I need to replace my valves/tubes- does my amp have to be biased?
When replacing valves/tubes always use quality replacements.
Preamp valves/tubes may be replaced at any time by the owner. Allow the amp to cool down and remove the metal valve/tube shields by pushing in and turning counter-clockwise. Take care to correctly line up the pins of the valve/tube with the valve/tube socket.
Power valves/tubes in the AD5, AD15, and AD30 series of amplifiers do not need to be biased. Use a matched set of quality valves/tubes. Allow the amp to cool down and take care to correctly line up the pins of the valve/tube with the valve/tube socket.
Power valves/tubes in all other Orange amplifiers should be biased by a qualified amp technician. Shortened valve/tube life, improper voltages to the valves/tubes, and poor quality sound may result from not biasing an amp.
How often should I replace my valves/tubes?
Valves/tubes start to wear out from the moment they are installed. The frequency with which you replace your valves/tubes depends on a number of factors, with usage at the top of the list. Running the amp at top volumes will also shorten valve/tube life. Many artists who regularly use their amps replace the power valves/tubes once a year and have the amp biased at that time. Preamp valves/tubes need only to be replaced when they fail or go microphonic. Power valves/tubes should be replaced prior to failure.
VINTAGE:
How old is my Orange? What year was it manufactured?
It is difficult to put a date on an Orange by the serial number. Records were not kept in the early days of manufacture. Some Orange amps may have an inspection tag inside the amp with a date on it. Take care when checking for an inspection tag as amplifiers have high voltages within.
Vintage Orange amps are best dated by cosmetics. Post a picture on the Orange forum for help by the members.
What is the difference between high and low inputs?
Older Oranges have high and low inputs. The low input is buffered for a lower volume, the high is a straight signal into the amp. It is unadvisable to run two instruments into the amp simultaneously.
What is the F.A.C. control and what does it do?
The F.A.C. control stands for Frequency Analyzing Control. It is a mid-range sweep that offers many variations on the Orange sound. Experiment with different settings for a variety of sounds.
How do I use the effects loop?
Orange amplifiers featured the first effects loop offered in an amplifier. They were designed for the effects of the day: stand-alone reverb units and tape echo delays. They do not work as well with modern effects. An effects loop is a means for inserting guitar effects into the signal path of the amplifier internally. The send of your amplifier goes to the input of your effects- likewise, the output of your effects goes to the return of the amplifier.
Spare parts may be obtained through your Orange dealer. Some parts, such as vintage corners, are the same as Vox. There are a number of after-market suppliers for grille cloth, tolex, and handles.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
If your amp won't channel-switch, check to ensure that the guitar cable you are using is good. Check to ensure that it is plugged into the correct jack and inserted all of the way. Swap cables if this doesn't work, with a known good cable. If using a different footswitch other than Orange, ensure that it is a latching footswitch and not a momentary footswitch. If it still doesn't work, contact your Orange dealer for repair information. Click here to locate a dealer...
I don't get any sound out of my amp
If your amp does not produce a sound, shut it off immediately. Check to ensure that you have speakers properly connected to the amp head with a quality speaker cable (never substitute a guitar cable- harm to your amplifier may result) and connect to the appropriate impedance output. Turn the amp on and check your guitar cable. Try a different cable that is known to be good. Check that the valves/tubes are seated properly, but only after the amp has cooled down.
Check fuses with the amp unplugged. Always replace blown fuses with the correct type and rating.
Check standby switch.If it still doesn't work, contact your Orange dealer for repair information. Click here to locate a dealer...
I hear a high-pitched squeal from my amp
A high-pitched squeal generally indicates a bad preamp valve/tube. Valves/tubes start to wear out from the moment they are installed. You can check for a bad preamp valve/tube by gently tapping on the small preamp valves/tubes with a wooden pencil or chopstick. Allow the amp to cool down and remove the metal valve/tube shields by pushing in and turning counter-clockwise. Bad or microphonic valves/tubes will tend to behave like a microphone . A quality replacement valve/tube should be installed- take care to correctly line up the pins of the valve/tube with the socket.
What output impedance do I use?
Combos should come from the factory plugged into the correct output. This is the 16 ohm output. (Some early combos came with 8 ohm speaker impedance- check yours.) A pair of 8 ohm speakers will be a 16 ohm impedance.
Orange heads may be used with single 8 or 16 ohm cabinets. Use a quality speaker cable (never substitute a guitar cable- harm to your amplifier may result) and connect to the appropriate impedance output.
When using two speaker cabinets with Orange heads, both cabinets must be the same impedance- 16 ohm. Plug both cabinets into the two 8 ohm outputs. Do not mix cabinets of different impedances- harm to your amplifier may result.
Using an extension cabinet with a combo. The impedance of the cabinet must be the same as the internal speakers in the combo- 16 ohm. Plug both internal speakers and the cabinet into the two 8 ohm outputs. Do not mix cabinets of different impedances- harm to your amplifier may result.
The amp constantly blows fuses.
If the amp constantly blows fuses, power valve/tube failure may be the cause. Use a matched set of valves/tubes and have a repair technician check the bias. Check the spring valve/tube retainers. Adjust accordingly.To locate a repair technician near you, try consulting your nearest Orange dealer. Click here to locate a dealer...