The Orange Invasion | Rockerverb 50 & AD30R

[@PsionicAudio]

I don't often make mistakes, but when I do, I make them in public. I goofed on the AD30R fuse. Misread the tiny panel print. The amp now has the correct 4A mains fuse.

[@Poly6Groove]

Orange amps are very straightforward and fun to troubleshoot. They have an excellent layout, aren’t too complex, and they all have well drawn schematics. (At least for their tubes amps)

[@atech9020]

To clarify what he is saying about the standby: You don't need standby with a tube rectified amplifier because the rectifier will not conduct HT voltage until the heaters are warmed up. The heaters are supplied a voltage directly from the power transformer, so ALL THE TUBES will start warming up at the same time. This means that by the time the rectifier is able to conduct HT, all the rest of the tubes will also be ready to deal with full HT. The rectifier doesn't just suddenly go from 0v to 300v+ though, it will softly and gradually ramp up from 0v to its full HT in a smooth and easy to deal with fashion. With solid-state/diode rectified amplifiers, it is different. The solid-state diodes will conduct full HT immediately, which can be an issue if the tubes are not ready or certain topologies are used ( Cathode followers are one such thing that doesn't really like full HT before the tube is warmed up ). In some designs, a standby switch is actually ideal, but in just about any amp with a tube rectifier, a standby switch is not needed.

[@AllofJudea]

How do I learn this knowledge? I don't even want to fix them, I just want to understand

[@KentBuchla]

Owned and gigged a mid-70s OR120 2x12 combo for years. An amazing sounding but stupidly loud amp. I ran it with two EL34s and at 1/2 Ohms. Not much difference. Also far too heavy. What a beast. Sold it to Joe Bonamassa. His road crew can drag it around.

[@cooperwallace7824]

Very useful information! I’ve been playing an AD30 twin channel for a few years and didn’t realize the Standby was a potential problem before now. Thanks!

[@HiHello-ku1fl]

I think both of those amps sounds pretty good. I always like the sound of Orange amps. They seem consistent. I like all the Rockerverbs I have played through and thought this 1st version with 6v6's sounded pretty good as well. The Ad30r was also quite nice sounding. They just sound like a real amp. lol

[@BenState]

I find it amazing that a lot of amps come in with just basics wrong like dirt (avoidable) and tubes (replaceable).

[@jacobbockover1628]

Orange, laney and victory are certainly on my wish list

[@Kanthon]

Wow, that AD30R sounds amazing. I’m not familiar with Orange amps so I may just have to check them out.

[@cindarella1100]

@ 2:06 your not actually tapping the preamp tube itself; tapping the housing is just as good? 🤔 @ 15:30 that amp has 4 6V6's, and its a 50watt amp? 🤔 I don't understand that 🤔 @ 15:05 very good information 👍 from: Scranton, Pennsylvania

[@edwardhannigan6324]

Nice video Lyle, double amp fix..! Learning all the time..Cool Amps..Ed..UK..😀

[@BoyanB.G.D.O.Radoslavov]

Thank you for the amazing playing and proper room mic (I can't stand the over-produced videos for analyzing tone)!

[@tzd]

Wow thanks for the tip about rectifier tube standby switch. I have an AD-30 and I’m gonna stop using that standby switch pronto!

[@moparbryan]

On first inspection at 1:58 the amp appears to have been bleeding out of the 8ohm speaker taps 😂

[@FatherOMalley]

Does an Orange rocker 15 have a rectifier tube? Should I be skipping the standby switch?

[@jamesf2918]

I think I might grab some popcorn for this one. I have an orange rockerverb that I would love to bring to you to get fixed.

[@kbkman7742]

I bought an ad30r once, very cheap because it kept blowing fuses for the owner. He couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. Well, it never needed any work, just that the standby switch wasn't used. I tell anyone who will listen that the rectifier tube itself provides a nice soft start

[@richclayton5785]

Interesting that Rockerverb 50 is a much brighter sounding amp than my Rockerverb 50 MkII. I have always wondered why my MkII is so dark?

[@stroopwafel6141]

This is the MKI 4 X 6V6 version, which are imo a tad brighter than the EL34. I could compare the MKI 50 head with the MKII 50 head in one of my bands as my mate has the MKII. I think the MKI sounds a bit more chewy and musical. Speakers do a lot too. Also the guitar/pickups plays a role.

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

Good to know about the tube rectifier and standby. I had never heard it explained like that. Makes TOTAL sense. BTW... Digging the sound of both amps. I don't know what makes the Orange heads sound different, but they have a unique tone. I'm guessing it's the transformer????

[@PsionicAudio]

Thanks! Don't judge the sound of the amps either way on this. You're only hearing them though the lav mic. Not at all what they sound like in the room.

[@cgavin1]

Wow! Should see the hipsters jump when that dog barks!

[@TonyClarkGuitar]

Is the standby switch true for a 1956 Fender Tweed bassman? Thanks!

[@matthewf1979]

Even with amps that use rectifiers with directly heated cathodes(5Y3, 5U4), you do not need a standby switch if the amp uses correctly rated filter caps and power transformers in combination.

[@skeeterbuck1355]

I'm sure Lyle will correct me if I'm wrong, but only with SS rectification do you need a standby switch. Good video on some not too common amps. 👍

[@PsionicAudio]

And then only if the filter caps aren't rated for the full unloaded B+.

[@butchlauer]

Good stuff!

[@weschilton]

Question... I've heard that Leo Fender put a standby on his amps not to preserve tubes, which back then were cheap, but to protect the filter capacitors from an inrush of current. What do you think about that?

[@PsionicAudio]

A standby guarantees caps get hit with an onrush of current. He just didn't want to use caps rated for the higher unleaded B+. Caps were expensive then. He later went to series caps that could handle the voltage but retained the standby switch because it was viewed as an "upscale" feature.

[@patreidcocolditzcastle632]

great channel and work ..your very good..i gotta say ive had to use these new orange amps in backlines at festivals and they suck big time..cant do good clean cant do good crunch just utter shite..good i guess for stoner rock..such a ugly tone to record with to. i did use them on a session i got good tone but compared to my marshall 100 hw there a toy..also we have a matamp 1969 or something and these new ones arent even close..why do these reissues even have tubes sounds so solid state anyway imo but if you like them i love it . we all have our choice of amps for me be cautious if getting one of these

[@chokkan7]

I really appreciate the look inside an Orange: I'd reviewed some of the terribly hand-written scematics in Aspen's book years ago (do they really use a cathodyne PI? And get that grind?), and I'd been curious about them since hearing that Mick Ronson recorded much of the Ziggy Stardust album through these, but I'd never seen one up close...thanks again...

[@shealeffler6147]

the old ones do! I have a couple of old OR120s and a modern GT120MV, and they're amazing amps. VERY different from modern Orange though, modern Oranges don't use a cathodyne PI and don't have that delicious FAC control.

[@shealeffler6147]

oh, but both modern and vintage are *definitely* capable of some really great grind. my favorite sound.

[@pedrolourenco2707]

This amps dont use the cathodyne PI! Thh schematics are out there, just do a quick search! this amps are very deferent from the 60's / 70's /90s reissues. The AD30 uses PPIMV like teh old ones, but the Rockerverb doesn't 8though they added a PPIMV on the MKiii and call it attenuator)

[@shealeffler6147]

@@pedrolourenco2707 Thunderverb series (TV50H and TV200H) as well as the Dual Dark also have the "attenuator". Having a footswitch-bypassable PPIMV is nicer than I expected (I own a TV50H) and while it doesn't sound exactly like a "real" attenuator, it's really nice how it allows you to use the channel volumes as essentially a second gain control for a different kind of grind. Love that amp.

[@formulajoe2]

How similar is the AD30 to a Vox AC30 in its topology? Is it class A as the Vox? What about the phase inverter and tone stack?

[@PsionicAudio]

It's not very similar to an AC30. Neither amp is Class A.

[@kevinlopota3626]

I know that this is a old video but being a new “ tube “ amplifier owner, having just bought a new DSL 40CR should I be using the standby? I just want it to last as long as possible I can say it is the most expensive purchase I have made.

[@PsionicAudio]

Yes.

[@middle_pickup]

Can you explain the 1.54A vs a 2A fuse? What's the danger of using too high of a fuse? How do you know when 2 is okay?

[@Purezshock]

2A fuse blows at 2 amps, the fuse is there to protect circuitry/prevent electrical fire. If you put a 5A fuse in an amp that is rated for 2A then that fuse is basically useless because it wont blow unless there is a draw of 5amps. The amp will have it noted on it somewhere what fuse rating it needs.

[@JorisGriffioen]

I really don't understand people having tube amps and not at least a single spare 12AX7 to test issues with.

[@TheChadPad]

What about my Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier when I have it in tube rectification? I like to let the tubes warm up before I hit them hard, cause that's just what I read

[@PsionicAudio]

If you start it in tube rectification mode you don't need standby.

[@TheChadPad]

@@PsionicAudio Ok cool! I didn't know that, thank you for telling me

[@marka1986]

Not sure what the deal is with those weird value fuses. Another off value one was 3.16 Amp fuse.

[@Echo_III]

I use T3,16A If the amp has 4x KT88 and few preamp tubes and takes close to 2 A you can't put 2A fuse there.

[@Echo_III]

11:50 this is not a 1,56 A fuse... The amp takes 1,56 A when plugged to 115 VAC wall. You can see clearly on the left from IEC MAIN FUSE T4A for 120V So good luck at putting fuse that is 50% what it should be. "Trust me, it would be fine" Yeah... I don't know how you can't see the Info on the back from 30 cm away ;D

[@PsionicAudio]

Crap, you're right. You weren't very nice about it, but you're right. I need new glasses, and will put in a 4A fuse.

[@Echo_III]

@@PsionicAudio sorry for not being nice, but you weren't nice for Orange in the first place ;D That made me little picky Anyway, with the amount of amps that are coming through your hands it is possible to make a tiny mistake. I love your videos and that kinda Uncle Doug's vibe :) I am learning a lot from them.

[@PsionicAudio]

I think you'll find I'm pretty positive about Oranges in my videos. But yup, I goofed. Added the correction/mea culpa to the video description.

[@1Dougloid]

I'm not really stoked over JJ GZ34 rectifier tubes. Too many failures for me.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

So verry british!

[@oldguy5381]

Here’s a comment

[@PsionicAudio]

Here is a reply.

[@oldguy5381]

@@PsionicAudio 😜

[@SirLoinMagroin]

@@oldguy5381 No comment.