Orange MK Ultra, Marcus King Signature


I had never heard of this young man, Marcus King, until today when a video from Orange Amps popped up on Youtube. He is a 26 year old bluesy/southern rock/ countryish musician and an incredible guitarist from what I have seen and heard and has gained a bit of a following in recent years. So much in fact, Orange made him a signature amp that was released yesterday.

This amp is unique for multiple reasons, namely it is the first American designed and built Orange Amplifier and of course, its super minimalistic control lay out.

Its a 30w , all tube nonmaster volume amp with 2 12AX7s, 2 cathode based 6L6GCs and custom US made Heyboer transformers. Most unique is its 3 control lay out with a "sing" treble boosting knob ahead of the volume in the circuit to brighten it and a "deep" bass boosting knob behind the volume in the circuit to thicken and sculpt the tone. Its not a simple Bass/treble preamp EQ. And it sounds incredible.

The pricetag of $3200 is ridiculous in my opinion but the amp is awesome and a true US custom. Pretty impressive to be so simple and plus: its named after a super controversial CIA Mind Control Experiment from the 50s/60s lol
True,
all the controls on an amp spoil the sound. Less controls is better.
But I don't hear anything very spectacular...at least not in this demo.
 
I know its completely against the tube faithful MONTRA....

However I spent 3.5 decades using only solid state amps (mostly peaveys) -- exclusively, and I might add -- happily.
I find tube amps to be more limiting than anything else by far
they are expensive (limiting)
they are finicky(limiting)
they cost more to replace or repair(limiting)
you cant use them in all situations (limiting)
heavy (limiting)
take up a ton of space(limiting)
require cabinets....pedals... attenuators and added expense to "sound good" or to contour a sound ....

I went through a rabbit hole of tube amps both cheap and expensive (including fenders peaveys bugeras mesas and vhts Voxs and marshals -- bogners-- etc etc) and frankly they are just that limiting.... and none of them are still here except a fender bassbreaker 007 ... because frankly --I like it ..

The "marshall" tone (for example) in the AMpero is not EXACTLY the same as a Marshall ....... frankly IMHO its better its not farty or "ice picky" or difficult to contour its --for ME --a better more usable sound "based on" a marshall-ish tone, is all
HEll 2 Marshalls from the same year dont sound the same .... so how can a digital copy sound the same ?
no 2 dumbles sound the same -- so how can anything else sound like a dumble? or maybe EVERYTHING sounds like a dumble ?

A processing modeler software suite--provides a "base" tone to START with and make your sound and I PERSONALLY can do it much easier -- cheaper-- more reliably AND CONSISTANTLY .... with SS or digital
Ive never been playing and had a SS product :poo: the bed on me .... ever.
Ive had tube amps do it at least 3 times ........ simple noodling at home .... seems like a big unnecessary P.I.A. -- again FOR MY USES

Im very happy and TBTH at the end of the day -- thats all that really matters, to me.

Others might want to try SS or digital-- some may not --- its all making your tone your tone -- I have 3 or 4 presets ai made in the Ampero -- and I really need nothing more -- do I sound like Slash -- nope
Do I sound like Chet Atkins -- nope

Ive stopped trying to COPY anyone quite some time ago because I dont have to-- Im not a slave to what the rabble want to hear -- I am me and I make my sound/music

ITs quite damn liberating -- others might want to try it ;)
 
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