Anyone build an Orange?

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JoeCon
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by JoeCon »

rp

OK a CXPP70-MS-3.5K, 70Watt 3.5K 4,8,16 ohm for $98.51
Just how important is the power handling? Like if I have a 40watt vs a 70 watt and 2 EL34's am I gonna hear a difference??

Thanks....
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice it's different.
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rp
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by rp »

JoeCon wrote:rp

OK a CXPP70-MS-3.5K, 70Watt 3.5K 4,8,16 ohm for $98.51
Just how important is the power handling? Like if I have a 40watt vs a 70 watt and 2 EL34's am I gonna hear a difference??

Thanks....
Yikes, that's BIG, 10lbs too! I didn't check the power rating on it, I figured it was a 50 watter. It's 20-20KHz so for guitar it's likely over 100W - real overkill and I think too clean. I wish Edcor would offer more OTs with 4/8/16, not sure what their thinking is.

I've owned a Hiwatt 103 and played an Orange long ago, they have a lot in common and they sound like no other El34 amp, and I know the fancy Partridge Trannies play a big part (as do their cabs!). When you hear Townsend or that Ike Turner concert you can hear the headroom and lack of saturation (and the high plate voltage too) it's a cleaner tighter crunch w/ respect to a Marshall, and with a much harder slam, but it's not a total lack of saturation. This Edcor could be too big and make for a sterile, buzzy amp. That IME is the big fear with over specing a transformer. Maybe someone with more detailed knowledge of the 50W Partridge specs can chip in. On the forums I've seen Edcor Hiwatt clones, wonder what OT they used, maybe those were 100W'ers? Isn't there a Hiwatt parts site with repo Ots? Mark Huss run it?

Anyway, I keep chipping in as you really want to get the OT right if you want an Orange clone rather than just a nice 50W El34 amp.
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rp
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by rp »

You know, this might be a good place to experiment with an MC Dynaco A470S :?:

Maybe even RJs "detuned" A470 Rocket type?
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JoeCon
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by JoeCon »

rp

so when you "get the OT right" you mean 3 different 50 watt 3.4K OTs' will sound different?? So only a 'clone" of the original will be right?? Or I need to know more about the OT from the Orange.

Maybe I do want a nice 50watt EL34 amp after all...LOL!! Just not a Marshall( gonna do a 6V6 Plexi for that beast)!!

I gotta do some more thinking here....

Thanks again for your help!!
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice it's different.
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JoeCon
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by JoeCon »

You mean the Dynaco one at Triode?
http://triodeelectronics.com/noname.html

Wow $115 bucks for that one!! Better be good....
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice it's different.
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renshen1957
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by renshen1957 »

JoeCon wrote:You mean the Dynaco one at Triode?
http://triodeelectronics.com/noname.html

Wow $115 bucks for that one!! Better be good....
Hi,

You should check out Mercury Magnetics price for Orange OT clones. Better be prepared to drop a couple Benjamins + change.

Best regards,

Steve
Every Tom, Dick, and Harry is named Steve
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JoeCon
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by JoeCon »

Steve

It's looking more like a nice 50 watt EL34 amp with some Orange DNA instead of a clone for me...
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice it's different.
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rp
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by rp »

JoeCon wrote:so when you "get the OT right" you mean 3 different 50 watt 3.4K OTs' will sound different?? So only a 'clone" of the original will be right?? Or I need to know more about the OT from the Orange
I'm saying 3 diff ots can sound different and the OT is a big part of any amp's sound. Oranges have a very unique sound, if you want to really clone it you are going to have to be diligent. IME proper cloning demands attention to detail, not just parts but voltages too. I wouldn't stray to far from the original PS either, though you could skip the voltage doubler, but get the voltages right - preamp and powerstage. Unless you are working from found parts, I would source the tranies as close to original specs as possible, as there is little difference in price btwn the various makes, give or take $30-$40. I suggested the Dynaco types as a possibly worthwhile experiment, as it's a wide bandwidth hifi type like the partridge designed for 2XEL34s. Some poobahs here have used (old) Dynaco iron in Marshalls and reported great results, and many have used it in a Rocket, so it's likely not too hifi.
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JoeCon
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by JoeCon »

rp

I was afraid of the OTs sounding different. So you gotta go with what works for you (financially too). I loved the Edcors in my Rocket and Rockster and the prices are right for me. So I'll probably go with one of those or that Dynaco you talked about.

I'll use good parts as I'm not looking for a clone but an Orange type amp built by me. But voltages are important, I see 480 on the plates and 470 on the screens. Then 370 and 330 on V2 and V1, wow!! So getting those right should help as well as the James tone stack and Cathodyne PI.

How about the FAC after V1a and before the TS?

Thanks again for all your info!! The guys here are a great help.....
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice it's different.
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rp
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by rp »

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=16251.0

Good discussion on voltage doublers. Note the post about 60hz, 120Hz and sag. So if you forgo the doubler the amp will feel different - but who knows how much.

More OT info for you:

https://www.ig-transformatoren.com/part ... g5479.html

and an other option:

http://www.rhodesamplification.com/prod ... tput/hidef

Looks like I'm all set to build an Orange now - I need a job :cry:
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JoeCon
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by JoeCon »

rp

Those Rhodes xformers look great thanks for that info.
After Xmas I'll look to getting my "Orange like" amp together.
I'll be looking for yours too. Good luck with that job!
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice it's different.
EdsBenedict
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by EdsBenedict »

Couple of pics of my 1972 OR120 as requested:

[img:496:331]http://i.imgur.com/xEUOhK3.jpg[/img]

[img:496:331]http://i.imgur.com/C6PX2bV.jpg[/img]

Happy to put up more if it's useful though I'm extremely untechnical at this point, so you might need to spell out anything you need specifically. Kickass.[/img]
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JoeCon
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by JoeCon »

Eds

Great pictures.

My only question remains where is the FAC located? I've seen it now before any stage right off the input, after the first triode and after the second triode. I think it's location in the circuit is the giveaway for dating the circuit. Looks like early had it first and latter had it after the first two triodes.

Thanks....
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice it's different.
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briane
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by briane »

MC Dynaco A470S
mmmmm - donuts - those make me salivate.

Yes, worth every penny - though I use on my dumble clones.

Would I use for an orange? probably not - might be too clean a piece of iron - Id be thinking more marshall iron than ampeg....
it really is a journey, and you just cant farm out the battle wounds
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Structo
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Re: Anyone build an Orange?

Post by Structo »

@ EdsBenedict,

Can you post higher resolution pictures?

I'd like to see a bigger picture of the gut shot.

Thanks!
Tom

Don't let that smoke out!
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