Orange Amplification

Clifford Cooper opened a music shop in London in 1968 and started designing his own amplifiers after struggling to get reliable stock from the usual suppliers — the "Pics Only" amps that followed, with graphic symbols instead of text on the control panel, became the brand's early signature. Production stopped in 1979 after Gibson took control of the company; Cooper bought it back in 1997 and relaunched it the following year with the AD30, re-establishing Orange as an independent maker of valve amps. It's stayed independent and UK-based since, headquartered in Borehamwood and instantly recognisable by its orange covering. New combo and head releases, and the odd artist collaboration, are what we cover most. Here's what we've written.