EARTHQUAKER
DEVICES MONARCH
EarthQuaker Devices got into the Orange amp-in-a-box
game early on, and its Monarch overdrive is still a top
pick for thick, hairy British amp tones. Its FET-based
circuit recreates the input section of a vintage Orange,
and especially when run at 18 volts, it can produce a
very convincing, high-headroom roar with a wide range
of gain settings. This also reduces compression, giving
the Monarch a very natural, amp-like response that is the
next best thing to plugging into a ‘70s OR120. Its treble
and bass controls actually boost frequencies, rather than
simply rolling them off, giving the pedal great ability to
brighten up its attack, add a solid gut-punch to its lowend, or just do some subtle shaping of the overdrive
characteristics to better match the amp or guitar being
used. The EarthQuaker Monarch is a venerable and inspiring choice for the player that
wants to spice up their overdrive options with a dash of that Orange special sauce.
TECH 21 CHARACTER
SERIES OXFORD
Tech 21 invented the amp-in-a-box concept with the
game-changing SansAmp, and in many regards, the
company is still doing it better than anyone else.
Its Character Series encompasses a diverse range
of amp-styled stomps to cover nearly every classic
tone from the U.S. and the U.K., with the Oxford
pedal from this line handling Orange emulation
duties very convincingly. The Oxford can conjure up
a multiplicity of vintage Orange tones with aplomb,
whether one wants a warm bark, a slightly furry,
Sabbath-like grind, or a modern, high-gain lead tone. Its three-band equalization circuit
is supremely useful, and Tech 21’s switchable speaker simulation (which emulates a 4x12
loaded with Celestion Greenbacks) makes the Oxford perfect for recording direct, or
running straight into the PA when playing live. For realistic, direct-to-the-board Orange
tones, one cannot do better than the Oxford.
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TONE TALK //
5 Pedals that Transform Your Amp Into an Orange Stack