This is my first Orange amp. having used Vox, Marshall etc. in the past. I wanted a practice/recording amp and this seemed like a suitable unit. The build quality is certainly very good, it feels substantial without being unweildy, and looks the part, if you like bright liveries! I've tried it with a variety of guitars, both single coil and humbucker, so I think I am able to comment with some justice. It has to be said that initially I was going to write a negative review, but maybe the speaker takes time to bed in, because things are looking better now!
The first comment is that the voicing is on the dark side, certainly no glassy treble to be had, even with a Strat. Having said that, it's the speaker - how do I know, well with headphones the opposite holds true, painful treble is on hand. Of course, my headphones might be to blame, but they work very well with my stereo so I don't think so. Equally it might be the cab sim they mention for the headphone output, but whatever, the speaker sound is too dark - I have the treble fully up and still no brightness.The second comment concerns the dirty channel - I'm not a huge distortion fan so maybe I'm not the best judge, but it reverses the dark voicing of the clean channel and sounds a bit fizzy for me, probably because it restores the missing treble from the clean channel. I think Orange have got this balance wrong, at least for me. If I am to use this amp for recording I am going to have to bring the treble down quite a bit. I haven't had time to put this through my DAW yet, so I'm judging this from the headphones, but they have a good track record.
So overall, the product is well built, it is as loud as you would expect, but the tone voicing has lost it's way somewhere along the line.
Bear in mind that for me a Fender amp is my ideal and perhaps that puts my comments in perspective for those of you who like the dirty side of life!
