Orange Th30 or Ad30

[kpunk56]

Don't you agree that the TH30 sounds great with the gain dialed back. All I ever read is how fizzy the gain is etc and that it is not good for classic rock, punk etc. Every tube amp that I have had that had alot of gain, I never used it all. I have had Mesa Boogie DC10, the gain never left 4. I just wonder if some of these people think that the gain is always supposed to be dimed.

I also always hear that the Rocker 30 is so much better. But IMO the TH30 with the volume up... gain on half and the shape dialed down to the left with some mids, sounds exactly like the Rocker 30. The Th30 actually was supposed to replace the Rocker 30 but with more gain.

 

[CHUNKYNECK]

Don't you agree that the TH30 sounds great with the gain dialed back. All I ever read is how fizzy the gain is etc and that it is not good for classic rock, punk etc. Every tube amp that I have had that had alot of gain, I never used it all. I have had Mesa Boogie DC10, the gain never left 4. I just wonder if some of these people think that the gain is always supposed to be dimed.

Yes, a lot of the reviews are done at low volume with the gain dialled up. The amp does sound fizzy when set like that. However at louder volumes with gain dialled back it sounds nice and thick. The clean channel cranked produces some nice overdrive too. I do use pedals but more to get a variety of drive tones. There is way more gain available on the th30 than I'd ever need. Set around half is more than enough for me.

 

[kpunk56]

Yes, a lot of the reviews are done at low volume with the gain dialled up. The amp does sound fizzy when set like that. However at louder volumes with gain dialled back it sounds nice and thick. The clean channel cranked produces some nice overdrive too. I do use pedals but more to get a variety of drive tones. There is way more gain available on the th30 than I'd ever need. Set around half is more than enough for me.

Yeh I do not want to be pinned on using an overdrive, but I always have one with me. The clean channel with the OCD is awesome. So I figure if I get to a gig and the gain channel does not sound great in a particular room. I can always try that option. Resale value and the prestige of the AD30 has my mouth watering, however I need convincing over tone. because man the power cut option is nice. At home with 7 watts ... I can still get nice spanky tone at a whisper....I have a child on the way so I have to think about that.

 

[Ginger Beer]

I also always hear that the Rocker 30 is so much better. But IMO the TH30 with the volume up... gain on half and the shape dialed down to the left with some mids, sounds exactly like the Rocker 30. The Th30 actually was supposed to replace the Rocker 30 but with more gain.

The TH30 and the Rocker 30 are different. If you want a spongier attack, the Rocker 30 is not what you would want. It's brutally honest and upfront. The Th30 has a much spongier attack.

 

[kpunk56]

The TH30 and the Rocker 30 are different. If you want a spongier attack, the Rocker 30 is not what you would want. It's brutally honest and upfront. The Th30 has a much spongier attack.

Thanks for your input. Do you have any experience with the AD30? I know the whole positives of it having higher resale, and that its a made in england model etc. But is the tone going to really blow my doors back over the Th30. Its really hard to think about giving up the option of the power scaling. Thats a really nice feature. If the tone is going to really blow the doors off the th30 then I will consider it. If it is just slightly better then I don't think I would want to give up the power scaling feature and The whole hassle of returning back to guitar center. I really do not like dealing with music store employees. LOL

 

[Ginger Beer]

Thanks for your input. Do you have any experience with the AD30? I know the whole positives of it having higher resale, and that its a made in england model etc. But is the tone going to really blow my doors back over the Th30. Its really hard to think about giving up the option of the power scaling. Thats a really nice feature. If the tone is going to really blow the doors off the th30 then I will consider it. If it is just slightly better then I don't think I would want to give up the power scaling feature and The whole hassle of returning back to guitar center. I really do not like dealing with music store employees. LOL

Not actual hands on playing with the AD30, sorry. Just listening. My hands on is limited to the Rocker 30 and the TH30. I thought the Rocker 30, for me, blew away the TH30 but the Rocker 30 is fairly uncompressed, right in your face. The AD30 sounded a little more for forgiving. If there was no Rocker 30 available, I would have gotten an AD30 over the TH30. Different horses for different courses. I like gain but the TH30, for me, had almost too much.


I would say if you are totally happy with the TH30, keep it. If not, from what I heard, I would have no regrets getting an AD30. I think it's a better amp (but no power scaling) all the way around.

 

[kpunk56]

Not actual hands on playing with the AD30, sorry. Just listening. My hands on is limited to the Rocker 30 and the TH30. I thought the Rocker 30, for me, blew away the TH30 but the Rocker 30 is fairly uncompressed, right in your face. The AD30 sounded a little more for forgiving. If there was no Rocker 30 available, I would have gotten an AD30 over the TH30. Different horses for different courses. I like gain but the TH30, for me, had almost too much.


I would say if you are totally happy with the TH30, keep it. If not, from what I heard, I would have no regrets getting an AD30. I think it's a better amp (but no power scaling) all the way around.

I agree the TH30 has too much. But that doesnt mean that the gain has to be fully used. At half it sounds great. I have found that sometimes having more than you need is not always bad. Different clubs have different acoustics etc. I would never ever ever need the amount of gain on the TH30. But that is not to say that it sounds bad at low gain settings. From what I can tell the Rocker 30 although the tone that it does is probably great, but it seems like a one trick pony. The Th30 seems to have more variety. And if anyone has tried the clean cranked up and throw an od on it... omg that is massive. Also the Rocker 30 is no longer made and I do not have the opportunity to get that. I did not have cash to troll Ebay or craigslist , As I bought it on a guitar center credit card. Sorry to all in thread that I am so perplexed. I just wish that I could plug up to an AD30 and see how much better it is.

Tube amps do different things. But a good player can find a good tone in any tube amp. For those that disagree probably are not that experienced. I am getting enjoyable tones out of the Th30 and I like the power cut feature alot. I need to know if the AD30 is gonna blow me away. because if the tones are just subtle better then I will not bother and just keep the TH30. If the AD30 is going to blow my doors off then I will be interested and do it. So far nothing is convincing me.

 

[kpunk56]

Another thing that I keep reading about the Ad30 is that it does not have that much gain. Don't get me wrong I like a good crunch tone. But I would rather have more than enough and have a tone that sounds great rolling the gain back or even using the volume on the guitar. Than to not have enough and be forced to use an OD Pedal. Like I said it has been years since I have used the AD30 in the studio. I remember liking it but I have liked just about every Orange that I have tried except for the Rockeverb 50.

Does anyone have experience with the AD30 at a low volume?

 

[kpunk56]

My head is still swimming with reviews etc. And I still cannot decide if I want to hang on to the Orange th30, or go for the AD30. All of the bad quotes about the Th30 are about it having too much gain and being voiced for metal....Has noone plugged in a good lp and kept the gain at about noon? and leave the tone shape knob to the left mostly all the way. Its a great rock tone. But I hate thinking that the Ad30 might be better.

 

[matthew bear]

the AD 30 has plenty of gain IMO... I'd go for it if i was in your shoes. especially since the GAS wants what the GAS wants. You won't stop wondering about the AD 30 until you own one

FWIW, I've wanted one for the last two years or so... Guess what? I still want one!

 

[Piston Hurricane]

I recently got an Orange Th30. I really wanted the Ad30 but did not have an opportunity for the AD30 at the time. I got the TH30 used for 800... and I have a 30 day return policy. Now guitar center has an Ad30 for 100 more and says that they will drop the price 100. Problem is, I would have to return the TH30 and have them ship the AD30.

Alot of people complain about the high gain of the TH about not getting classic rock tones. What is wrong with not using all of the gain, I find it gets great tones with it halfway up. The clean channel is awesome with an OCD.

I was in love with an AD30 that I recorded with but have not had the chance to play through one for several years. WHAT SHOULD I DO???

I like that the AD has two gain channels, but the TH also has the ability to cut wattage, does 30 15 and 7 the 7 watt setting sounds awesome at bedroom levels. I will be using in the bedroom as well as small clubs.

I play punk rock and roll. Think Ramones, Sex pistols, Ny dolls type of tones. Does anyone have experience with both amps.... Please give advise.... AD30 or just stick with the TH30

What tubes are in these amps ?

PH

 

[Ginger Beer]

My head is still swimming with reviews etc. And I still cannot decide if I want to hang on to the Orange th30, or go for the AD30. All of the bad quotes about the Th30 are about it having too much gain and being voiced for metal....Has noone plugged in a good lp and kept the gain at about noon? and leave the tone shape knob to the left mostly all the way. Its a great rock tone. But I hate thinking that the Ad30 might be better.

If I didn't absolutely need the power scaling, I would get the AD30. Keeping the gain at noon is not the same thing as lower gain. Before I got the Rocker 30, I was looking at the OR15. I think it has 4 gain stages. I really loved the overall tone but my usable gain window was so small that I passed on it.
I think the AD has a better eq section as well.

If you were totally sold on the TH30, you wouldn't even be considering a different Orange amp. TH30's are a dime a dozen. They always come up around here. Ad30, not so much. You could always sell the AD30 for what you paid for it and buy another TH30 if you don't like it.

 

[Joshabr1]

Not played the th30 but I was really impressed with the ad30. Both channels were usable. They would make a great stage volume rig for smaller venues like we most play. The one I played reminded me of the tone kossoff was getting on the beat club videos. Superlead like but a little I don't know how to say it. Different.