Orange Amplification's Start
Cliff Cooper first opened Orange in 1968, borrowing £50 to set up a musical instrument shop and recording studio in London's vibrant West End. The shop was a vivid, psychedelic orange (the color and script still reflected on every amp) and full of personality. While his recording studio in the basement thrived, the small storefront guitar shop struggled to source gear. That's when Cooper put his electronics education to the task, and Orange was born.
The Rise of Orange Amplification
Orange amplifiers quickly caught the eye of many of the world's top performers, including Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, Keith Richards, James Brown, Eric Clapton, and many others. Even when Orange had to scale down in the late '70s, they continued to grow their reputation and produce amazing amps over the next decade and a half. When they came back on the worldwide scene in the mid-'90s, Orange was more popular than ever, and they've been rocking the world scene ever since.
The Orange Sound
One of the things that sets Orange apart from mainstream amp makers is that they actually started working with hit-making artists to develop their sound way before they made their first OR series production model. When guitarists including Peter Green, Marc Bolan, and Paul Kossoff came into the studio, Cliff Cooper and his crew had them plug into the board and then tweaked their tone to taste. When they had the tone major artists wanted, Orange turned to leading experts in audiology to figure out how to make their amps sound louder, and the rest is history. What's more, this remarkable blend of artist input and cutting-edge science has continued to drive Orange's philosophy, which has led to generation after generation of the most satisfying amps on the planet.
More than Just an Amp Manufacturer
From the beginning, Orange has appealed to more than just guitar players. It began with their Orange Studios recording facility, located in the basement of their original shop. This fostered great relationships with many of the top artists active in the late '60s, and they quickly branched out to Orange Records and Orange Publishing, among other ventures. When it comes to amplifiers, Orange branched out from guitar amps to bass amps in 1979 with their Series Two line, introduced by the original OR112SB Super Bass model, famously reissued 20 years later when Orange was back on the market. After that, bass players everywhere were hooked on the grizzly, fuzz-ready sound of Orange amplifiers, and they've continued to release highly popular bass amp models ever since.
The Future is Strong For Orange Amplification
For a company steeped in vintage allure and so integrated into the British amp tradition, it's remarkable how forward-thinking Orange has remained. For instance, they've stuck steadfastly to their aesthetics — vivid orange coverings, symbol-only labels, etc. — and they've long adopted the Celestion and Jensen speakers, but sometimes with a unique twist, such as their isobaric bass cabinets. Likewise, Orange has managed to pack some of what defines their sound into a series of amazing pedals, covering everything from potent EQ and compression processing to epic, satisfying fuzz and distortion. With this spirit of innovation and history of solid design, the guitarists and bass players here at Sweetwater can't wait to see what Orange comes up with next.
Ready to Buy an Orange Amplification Product?
Ready to purchase your first or next Orange Amplification product? Sweetwater makes it easy. If you don’t know where to begin, then reach out to our highly knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700. They’ll help you choose the right Orange product for you!
If you prefer to shop completely online, then Sweetwater’s website has tools to narrow down your Orange product choices based on your desired specs, such as amp type, price range, and much more. Select your preferred specs in our convenient product filter and explore your options!
