Orange Amplification has a new line of small combo amps that literally “crush” the size/price/performance barrier. Using the four-stage preamp from the Crush Pro Series, the new Crush 12, 20, 20RT, and 35RT all offer great tone, versatility, and options. I had a chance to spend some time with the Crush 35RT, which is the largest and the most full-featured member of the family. Here’s what I found.
The Crush 35RT features 35 watts and a special-design Orange Voice of the World 10″ speaker — plenty of power for a rehearsal or small gig. The closed-back design of the cabinet provides lots of body and thump, so it mics up well to accommodate a larger gig. The 35RT has two footswitchable channels, clean and dirty, with serious depth and complexity; the two channels capture the sound and feel of the Orange Rockerverb in a solid-state format. The onboard digital reverb adds the perfect halo, and the buffered effects loop allows you to easily interface effects. The 35RT is a gig-ready, grab-and-go amp!
With its compact size, the 35RT is also a brilliant practice amp that retains its killer tone at bedroom volume levels. There’s a headphone/line output featuring Orange’s CabSim, which faithfully reproduces the sound of a miked cabinet, so all of that tone is available at any volume level. With the onboard chromatic tuner and an aux in, the 35RT is a complete practice solution.
Versatility, features, and tone add up to make the Orange Crush 35RT a great addition to your amp arsenal, and the price makes it a ridiculous value.
