So this is just three photos i stumbled across while browsing the web the equipment belongs to James Stevenson a guitar and amp collector and from what I've read a writer for guitar and bass magazine in the UK.
Anyway I thought I'd post these because they are some awesome examples of vintage Orange amps, I'll include a little general facts about the amps but nothin taken directly from his blog where I found the pictures. If you wanna see his equipment list and it is really awesome so I do recommend checking it out you can get it here http://www.jamesstevenson.info/tools.htm now onto the amps!
Orange OR120
This amp was the predecessor to the famous OD120 which featured a master volume, the OR120 is a mid to low gain known as part of the "picture only" amplifiers because well if you take a look all the controls are labeled with pictures to explain the functions and not words. These amps are some of the best Orange has ever put out , they are known for there distinction crunch and overall tone. Generally these amps are growing in rarity and are more highly prized amongst collectors and Orange enthusiasts alike. The OR120 gives you a lot of headroom before it gives you a very distinction and classic British distortion tone, apparently this amp was at one time owned by the guitarist of Duran Duran.
Moving onto the
Orange Overdrive
These amps followed after the OR120 they came equipped with a master volume to give you a little more control over your volume, and also no longer featured just pictures for controls. You can see on the amp they feature pictures and also words underneath. This layout is the layout that is used on pretty much every Orange amp produced today. Generally these amps came with EL34's like other amps such as Hiwatt. I do not know for certain why but generally most owners of these amps state that they are more prone to overdrive then the OR120's were this could be due to the Master volume control. I love this pictures and amp because despite being a mid 70's Orange it is in extremely clean condition. Little side fact this model was also used by James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) as a poweramp for his rig, and also with a 4x12 for some mid gain tones.
Now one of my favorites!
Orange/Matamp Half Stack
This amp is from the starting days of Orange amps the early years when Orange and Matamp were in partnership and amps featured both names. This particular amp shows it age pretty well but screams rock and roll. These amps came about when Mat Mathias met Clifford Cooper who owned a store in London called "Orange" Cooper would begin to distribute Matamps to Southern England first in Black then later in Orange tolex. Many people overlook Matamp/Orange however there was one point at which purportedly Matamp was outselling Marshall two to one! However the relationship with Cooper and Mathias dissolved eventually with Cooper going on to produce Orange-Voice Of The World. These Orange/Matamp are the first Orange's made and were used by the likes of Peter Green and even Jimmy Page! True pieces of Orange amps history and just all around well made amps in general they are known for there unusually good cleans and also there distinctly bluesy distortion. Additionally this particular head is serial number 32!! It is also a 50 watt head something that isn't all too common since most Oranges were 100 watts or even 200 watt with 4 kt88's like what was used by Jimmy Page.
