AD30TC Combo Review

This Orange AD30TC Combo is a 30 watt, Twin channel tube combo loaded with 2 Vintage celestion 30s.

Features:	8.5
Sound:	9.5
Reliability:	5.5
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	8.7
Reviewer rating:	8.1
Users rating:	9.2
Votes:	13

Reviewed by: unregistered, on june 11, 2009

Price paid: $ 1900

Purchased from: jims

Features: This Orange AD30TC Combo is a 30 watt, Twin channel tube combo loaded with 2 Vintage celestion 30s. I bought this because it was not so boomy like the other Orange tend to be and had the right amount of gain I wanted. People might want an effects loop, but it doesn't bother me because I only use my Sunface BC-108 and Wattson Super Fuzz with it. I use it in my room and Jam with it a lot; it's plenty loud. Doesn't have too much headroom but that's not what Orange's are for! You gotta crank it! // 9

Sound: I use a Gibson Les Paul Studio with stock pickups and it sounds great. I play anything from Death Cab to The Fall Of Troy, but nothing too br00t4lz past that. It's really great from Indie rock like arctic monkeys to doom metal like the sword. it's as if Orange modeled it after a Vox AC-30 but gave it more grit. Doesn't hiss when turned up. People seem to complain about Orange being a one trick pony and I dissagree because it cleans up really well and I can get many different clean and distorted sounds out of it with just the dry signal. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I have had it for about 3 months now and nothing has gone wrong. I would gig without a backup because nothing has gone wrong and I play with the volume up around 7-8 all the time (I have awesome neighbors). I gave it an 8 because I haven't had it that long. // 8

Impression: It fits my musical style which is centered around the Who, Zeppelin, The Fall Of Troy and Indie rock in general. If it were lost or stolen I would cry because I spent a lot of moneys on it. I love the distortion I get from it and the ability to get many different sounds out of it. The only issue I have with it is the amp that when I tried it out with other effects like delay it doesn't sound great because it doesn't have an effects loop. This amp isn't for everyone but if you play Indie or harder rock up to wolfmother/the fall of troy, buy it! // 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on april 26, 2010

Price paid: A$ 2100.00

Purchased from: Gallins Guitars

Features: About 4+ weeks ago bought myself an Orange AD30TC 2x12 combo. I also managed to get it in the 'Limited Edition 2009' white tolex.

Very basic in terms of features: 2 fully independent foot switchable channels, 30 Watts of 'Class A' (really class A/B) british/vintage style tube amp. Powered by 4xEL84's, 4x12AX7's in the preamp, and one GZ34 tube rectifier. No effects loop, or reverb, or foot Switch included, pretty much just you and the amp. For the hefty price, some other features would have been nice. Also has 2x12 Vintage 30's.

With that said, both channels go from clean to crunch to distortion, with Channel 2 having more gain on tap. With any latching foot Switch plugged in you have yourself some versatility; you're not just stuck with a clean channel and a distortion channel! // 8

Sound: I Play with a Fender American 50th Anniversary Strat' HSS, and a MIJ Fender Tele 62' Reissue. The amp brings out the natural sounds of these guitars with fantastic clarity and response in the cleans, and a sublime crunchy distortion. The amp isn't that dark like some would expect from an Orange. I hear lots of people talk about the Orange distortion, and now I see what the fuss is about, and don't write off the cleans, they are definitely usable.

The Tele' is twangy, the Strat' humbucker has great bite and punch, while the single coil neck pickup is great for some Hendrix type stuff. I also use a modded Tubescreamer 808, an EHX Big Muff Pi, and an Ulbrick Phataxe Overdrive pedal. They all sound great through it, finally a sound that I am truly enjoying.

I also have read others claim that it doesn't have much headroom, but I have not had any issues. Ive had the master near full (as its incredibly loud) and it stays clean. Just make sure you back off on the gain.

I am very happy with the sound of this amp; the more I play it, the more I like it. 60's, 70's classic/hard rock is right up this amp's alley, even modern rock, punk is easily doable with the amount of gain available. But no metal sound here. // 9

Reliability & Durability: Wow, just wow. For a new amp it has been bad for the 4 weeks or so I have had it in regards to reliability.

Dodgy stock power tubes and preamp tubes. All were replaced. Had Tung-sol 12AX7's and the tougher 'Military Grade' Sovtek EL84M's put in it by an amp tech. After that I had no issue for about 2 weeks, then rectifier tube fails. So now that is getting fixed. Also, one of the knobs fell off when I got home after the initial purchase, C'mon seriously? At least glue them on properly.

According to the amp tech, he gets a lot of these AD series amps come through because Orange pump too much gain into the not so good stock tubes, and thus, they fail.

Really I may have to play with a backup, it just hasn't made the best of starts and I don't have much confidence in it at the moment. I may even consider selling it soon if it stuffs up after the rectifier tube replacement. I really don't want to though, but no point having a great sounding amp that craps itself constantly when you can get something just as good that is actually reliable. // 3

Impression: Really great sounding amp, but really poor in terms of reliability so far. If you get one, I hope it doesn't pull the same crap as it has with me. Anyone expects better out of a new top of the range tube amp, even if it does have a PCB board (cheapest way to wire up an amp) and is mass produced.

Boutique amps were out of my price range, so I went for this one. The sound I love, I play it for an hour or two, take a break, then I want to play it again for another few hours. Its amazing how some new gear can reignite your interest in an instrument; just as I was really getting bored with my old gear.

If it were stolen, I would cry, really that's $2000 stolen from you, and you probably won't get it back. I would probably save up for a handmade boutique amp, maybe even the Head/Cab version of this amp. // 8

Comments

[Guitar God!]

I bought this amp too.. It's an AWESOME amp. 10/10.

[HeavyMetalHokie]

sounds pretty cool but is that $1900 US?

[Baraga]

If i had the money I'd pay for one of those

[kingbabyduck]

ya 1900 US

[scimitar_255]

1900 for a 30 watt amp? :/ that doesn't seem right

[pandaXcore88]

tone isn't dictated by wattage, schmitar. haha.
go buy a behringer

[kill it]

orange make great amps but they cost lots. if the price scares you try a fender blues junior with the jensen speaker upgrade. it's a great little tube amp and suprisingly loud for it's size. sweet clean sounds and enough gain for rock. with the right pedal you can even get a decent metal sound.

[Les Paul Ell]

come to England. We can get these amps a little cheaper. My local music store has the head for £550. That's about £300 cheaper than RRP though.

[raezor]

i have a fender blues junior and run my gibson les paul studio through it and i can get even metal tones out of it with my boss me-50

[CoreysMonster]

scimitar_255 wrote:

1900 for a 30 watt amp? :/ that doesn't seem right

why not? it's a very awesome amp, and the wattage has nothing to do with its value

[kingbabyduck]

for some reason i did this review and it didnt put my info up but if anyone has questions, ill gladly answer

[Apocalypse4162]

It's a TUBE amp, that's why it costs so much. Worth every penny.

[kingbabyduck]

i might add, my tubes went out within two months due to it being on the floor for a while, and I called orange and its free of charge for a new set of tubes

[madluf]

awesome combo !

[BlaketheHero]

Everyone who owns Orange tells me to buy Orange or go home. They all say "Yeah, it is expensive... but it is the shit..." I've heard recently that there are more issues with the combos then with the heads but that could just be a rumor.

[kingbabyduck]

the only issue i have is my tubes becoming harmonic due to the heat and rattling, but almost every combo will have that problem.

[maw4neu]

I have the AD30TC and it really is a great combo but I wish Id gone for the HEAD alone. Combo's are the arch enemy of every Valve. The valves are subjected to major sonic vibration from the Speakers. Heads are much more VALVE friendly . . BUT . . Whilst this is true you cant fault them or argue with the quality as they are exceptional. They are built like a tank and sing like a bird . . Keep your eye on your Valves though . . I keep a spare set. !!!!

[SurryRocks]

Have you guys played the VOX AC30's (C,CC2 or CC2X)? I'm going for classic to hard rock. If so would you take the Orange or the VOX?

[guy_tebache]

Great amp. I'm buying one next week. Will post new review in a month or so, when I've had time to get to know it properly.

[moominman2]

CoreysMonster wrote:

scimitar_255 wrote:

1900 for a 30 watt amp? :/ that doesn't seem right


why not? it's a very awesome amp, and the wattage has nothing to do with its value

I'm sorry to bring this up ages later, but yes it does. Everything is a factor. It might not be a great factor but it still is. If this was a 5w amp, it would be cheaper compared to the 30w, so, yes...wattage IS a factor.

[dollyDagger]

I just bought the head. Cost me $1100 new. Bargain. Gotta buy the cab now- that's where they get you. Just realised they don't come with a footswitch? After all that money spent. That's also where they get you.