OK, so I have an Orange Rocker 30 (the original discontinued EL34 version) and a Mesa Express 5 25+..The Mesa has an effects loop whereas the Orange doesn't BUT.... according to Orange, the Natural channel is incapable of preamp overdrive - there's no tone stack and it just routes the signal straight to the power amp.
If that's the case,(or is it a bit of marketing puff from Orange?) wouldn't running an amp modeller (eg AX8) through the natural channel be the same principle as plugging into the effects loop on the Mesa?
Obviously, I'd run through a cab and disable cab sims on the modeller...
Comments
If you plug directly into the FX return the signal is usually pretty weak, hence pedals designed to be preamps have a high output level to drive enough signal into the power amp (kingsley etc)
Although I could be WAY off.
PA Hire and Event Management
It's not marketing puff, that describes pretty much how it works. There is just one gain stage for the normal channel so it will be incapable of overdriving itself - although you can still overdrive the whole amp, if you turn it up full.
I haven't tried one with a modeller but I would expect it to work quite well - it does with heavy fuzz/distortion pedals that otherwise sound too compressed and farty through the overdrive channel.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I read something recently about another Orange amp (one of their bass amps I think) where they talked about having the shortest, most direct path from input to output to achieve the purest tone. It's this simplicity that I love about the Rocker and it really does let the character and tone of different guitars shine through. It's this ability that makes me think it would work well with a modeller.
I'm not a Corksniffer but I do think the EL34's contribute a bit more oomph compared to the EL84's in the latest versions.
The only question over whether the Rocker will work well with a modeller is if the EQ on the Natural channel - it doesn't have a tone stack, but it will have some inherent voicing - is right for it. No way of knowing without trying, but I would expect it to be OK.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
He's all seeing and ever present, fortunately.
Although it was touch and go for a bit there mate, may I suggest more roughage?