Some might say that all-tube amps might not be the most eco-friendly way to make music these days. And more and more guitarists and bassists believe that most emulations have reached a high enough standard in terms of sound. However, you could just sit down in front of an Orange AD200 and literally be blown away. After ten years, this bass amp legend has been updated, including a slight visual makeover. The British amplifier manufacturer has also reissued its popular bass cabs along with it.
Orange AD200: Classic ’70s look, KT88 tubes, better servicable
As a manufacturer, you have to be careful when it comes to updates with an all-tube monster like the Orange AD200. Because you don’t want to upset all those bass purists! The AD200 is quite similar to its predecessor. The preamp remains the same, with two ECC83s (12AX7) and an ECC81 (12AT7). All the controls are in the same place. The 200-watt output is just as impressive.
The four new KT88s (6556) in the power amp will give the new edition a bit more punch. However, there’s a smart solution in case only 6550s are available when a tube burns out. Each tube slot has 12 turn bias pot, which allows a service technician to adjust the AD200 with a multimeter. That way it can also run with only 6550s or a combination with KT88s.
The AD200 offers a minimalist look, harking back to the legendary Orange series from the ’70s. Who needs lettering if pictures do all the talking? Here’s a quick rundown from left to right: Master, three-band EQ (treble-mid-bass), and gain. If you look closely, you’ll see a small switch next to the bass control. The newly introduced Clean Switch is there to keep the signal clean if, for some reason, the Orange AD200 ever gets too scratchy and distorted.
Bass Cabs Deluxe: New Celestion speakers for the Orange OB810C, OBC410HC and OBC115C
Orange went all in for their bass fans, so they’ve also updated their beloved bass cabs in addition to the Orange AD200. The biggest change are the new Celestion Pulse XL bass speakers, which are now in all three models. Additionally, Orange made a few tweaks to the design of the popular OBC410HC.
The vertical partition of the 4×10 has been removed, and the horizontal partition has been reinforced. What’s the point of that? The manufacturer says this slightly reduces the cabs weight and improves bass range responsiveness. The material used is 13-layer, 18-mm-thick birch multiplex. Nothing else has changed in the OB810C and OBC115C, except for the Celestion speakers.
What does the Orange AD200 cost?
All-tube means all your money – the AD200 ain’t cheap. You can get it in classic orange and black. Both versions of the Orange AD200* and the AD200 BLK* are available at Thomann.
The Bass Cabs are available in three different versions, with one each in orange and black. The smallest version, the OBC115C is a 1×15 cab, while the OBC410HC is your usual 4×10 model. And if you really want the 8×10 OBC810C fridge, you can get it from Thomann*.
More on the new bass products from Orange
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