Orange O-Tone 40 Combo Amp | Assessment

MSRP: (UK) £329 / (US) $399

Orange’s legendary British growl meets trendy readability within the new O-Tone 40. Designed for gamers who crave each character and management, this 40-watt 2-channel combo blends wealthy valve dynamics with clear cleans and punchy overdrive. Whether or not you are gigging, recording, or simply jamming at dwelling, the O-Tone 40 brings that unmistakable Orange mojo in a refined, all-purpose package deal. Nick Jennison opinions.



Orange is likely to be greatest recognized for its iconic valve amps and fuzzy British rock tones, however with the O-Tone 40, they’ve delivered one thing that is refreshingly sensible with out sacrificing character. It is a 40-watt, solid-state combo with a 12″ Voice of the World speaker, a single channel, and some cleverly chosen extras—all packed right into a compact, light-weight design that makes it perfect for gamers on the go.

The O-Tone 40 is, at its coronary heart, a clear amp. And never simply clear in tone, however clear in execution. You’ve got received a three-band EQ that is easy to make use of and responsive sufficient to form your sound with out letting you stray too far off monitor. The clear tone itself is punchy, snappy, and well-balanced. There’s sufficient low-end obtainable to shake the ground if you need it, however at midday, all the things sits properly within the combine—tight, clear, and current. The treble management can spherical off any extreme brightness (helpful if you happen to’re utilizing sure pedals or pickups), and the bass has actual authority with out ever getting muddy.

Constructed-in results usually really feel like an afterthought, however not right here. The digital reverb sounds convincingly springy, including house with out cluttering your sound. The bias tremolo is especially spectacular—it is the actual factor, not a digital imitation—and it delivers all the things from easy pulses to sharp, uneven stutters. Each results are footswitchable and really feel genuinely helpful slightly than ornamental.

Push the quantity, and the amp will break up right into a gritty, vintage-style overdrive that is good for bluesy riffs or old-school rock. It is not going to present you trendy high-gain tones by itself, however that is not what it is constructed for. The O-Tone 40 is designed to be a pedal platform—and in that position, it excels.

Whether or not you are stacking a TS-style increase, a silicon Tone Bender, and even one thing high-gain like a Friedman BE-OD Deluxe, the amp handles it with ease. Fuzz, specifically, sounds nice via the O-Tone’s clear channel—one thing that is not at all times the case with solid-state designs. And if a pedal is a little bit too shiny, the amp’s EQ provides you sufficient flexibility to dial issues in with out compromising your core tone.

Around the again, there’s an results loop—nice for modulations and delays—or for bypassing the preamp fully. Plugging a modeler just like the Neural DSP Quad Cortex straight into the return turns the amp right into a clear, responsive energy stage. We examined it with ambient cleans and lead tones, and it dealt with each superbly, with no lack of readability or punch.

Add within the aux enter and headphone out, and you have got a setup that works simply as nicely at dwelling because it does on stage. The scale and weight make it extremely moveable—good for rehearsals, small gigs, and even navigating public transport. It is the sort of amp you do not assume twice about taking with you, which is strictly what a working musician wants.

The Orange O-Tone 40 is not flashy, and it does not faux to be all issues to all gamers. However if you happen to want a dependable, great-sounding clear amp that takes pedals nicely, matches within the boot of your automobile, and does not break the financial institution, this one’s laborious to beat. It is sensible, musical, and thoughtfully designed—proof that solid-state does not need to imply soulless.

For gamers who need clear tones with character, simple portability, and the pliability to construct their very own sound, the O-Tone 40 quietly will get the job performed—and does it nicely.

Orange is likely to be greatest recognized for its iconic valve amps and fuzzy British rock tones, however with the O-Tone 40, they’ve delivered one thing that is refreshingly sensible with out sacrificing character. It is a 40-watt, solid-state combo with a 12″ Voice of the World speaker, a single channel, and some cleverly chosen extras—all packed right into a compact, light-weight design that makes it perfect for gamers on the go.

The O-Tone 40 is, at its coronary heart, a clear amp. And never simply clear in tone, however clear in execution. You’ve got received a three-band EQ that is easy to make use of and responsive sufficient to form your sound with out letting you stray too far off monitor. The clear tone itself is punchy, snappy, and well-balanced. There’s sufficient low-end obtainable to shake the ground if you need it, however at midday, all the things sits properly within the combine—tight, clear, and current. The treble management can spherical off any extreme brightness (helpful if you happen to’re utilizing sure pedals or pickups), and the bass has actual authority with out ever getting muddy.

Constructed-in results usually really feel like an afterthought, however not right here. The digital reverb sounds convincingly springy, including house with out cluttering your sound. The bias tremolo is especially spectacular—it is the actual factor, not a digital imitation—and it delivers all the things from easy pulses to sharp, uneven stutters. Each results are footswitchable and really feel genuinely helpful slightly than ornamental.

Push the quantity, and the amp will break up right into a gritty, vintage-style overdrive that is good for bluesy riffs or old-school rock. It is not going to present you trendy high-gain tones by itself, however that is not what it is constructed for. The O-Tone 40 is designed to be a pedal platform—and in that position, it excels.

Whether or not you are stacking a TS-style increase, a silicon Tone Bender, and even one thing high-gain like a Friedman BE-OD Deluxe, the amp handles it with ease. Fuzz, specifically, sounds nice via the O-Tone’s clear channel—one thing that is not at all times the case with solid-state designs. And if a pedal is a little bit too shiny, the amp’s EQ provides you sufficient flexibility to dial issues in with out compromising your core tone.

Around the again, there’s an results loop—nice for modulations and delays—or for bypassing the preamp fully. Plugging a modeler just like the Neural DSP Quad Cortex straight into the return turns the amp right into a clear, responsive energy stage. We examined it with ambient cleans and lead tones, and it dealt with each superbly, with no lack of readability or punch.

Add within the aux enter and headphone out, and you have got a setup that works simply as nicely at dwelling because it does on stage. The scale and weight make it extremely moveable—good for rehearsals, small gigs, and even navigating public transport. It is the sort of amp you do not assume twice about taking with you, which is strictly what a working musician wants.

The Orange O-Tone 40 is not flashy, and it does not faux to be all issues to all gamers. However if you happen to want a dependable, great-sounding clear amp that takes pedals nicely, matches within the boot of your automobile, and does not break the financial institution, this one’s laborious to beat. It is sensible, musical, and thoughtfully designed—proof that solid-state does not need to imply soulless.

For gamers who need clear tones with character, simple portability, and the pliability to construct their very own sound, the O-Tone 40 quietly will get the job performed—and does it nicely.

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