Pricing and availability
Average Price: $2,499
High-end/Boutique
$300
$801+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
Experience the warmth and power of the Orange Amplifiers AD50 50-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head, a meticulously crafted masterpiece straight from the Orange Custom Shop. This amp head is a symbol of traditional craftsmanship meeting modern innovation, offering a dynamic range that caters to both purists and modern rockers. Its dual-output capability lets you switch seamlessly between a muscular 50-watt punch and a more nuanced 30-watt tone, making it your versatile stage companion.
Engineered with an all-tube design, the AD50 delivers exceptional tonal clarity and depth. The preamp section harnesses the power of 2 x 12AX7 tubes, while the robust output stage features 2 x EL34 tubes, ensuring your sound is rich with harmonic complexity. With its footswitchable EQ bypass, you can effortlessly shape your sound on the fly, making it perfect for live performances and studio sessions alike.
A sleek yet rugged exterior embodies the iconic Orange aesthetic, while its intuitive control panel, complete with Gain, Bass, Treble, Presence, and Master Volume, provides endless possibilities for sound customization. Whether you’re dialing in a crisp clean or venturing into overdriven territory, this amp head responds with remarkable sensitivity and precision. With its versatile speaker output options, the Orange AD50 is ready to connect and take your performance to new heights.
Key Features:
- Hand-wired in the Orange Custom Shop
- Switchable between Class A/B 50W and Class A 30W
- Preamp: 2 x 12AX7 tubes; Output: 2 x EL34 tubes
- Gain, Bass, Treble, Presence, and Master Volume controls
- Footswitchable EQ bypass
- Speaker outputs: 1 x 16 ohms, 2 x 8 ohms
Product specs
| Brand | Orange |
| Model | AD50 Custom Shop Head |
| Finish | Orange |
| Year | 2010s |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 1 Channel |
| Number of Inputs | 2 Inputs |
| Output Power (Watts) | 50 |
| Power Tube Type | EL34 |
| Powered | Unpowered |
| Reverb | None |
FAQs
-
What type of music is the Orange AD50 amp head best suited for?
-
The Orange AD50 amp head is renowned for its classic British rock and blues tones, making it ideal for genres like rock, blues, and hard rock. Its warm, punchy sound complements guitarists seeking rich, vintage tones.
-
Does the Orange AD50 amp head take pedals well?
-
Yes, the Orange AD50 is known for its excellent compatibility with pedals, allowing guitarists to expand their tonal palette with effects like overdrive, distortion, and modulation.
-
Is the Orange AD50 loud enough for live performances?
-
With 50 watts of power, the Orange AD50 is more than capable of handling live performances, providing ample volume and headroom for most venues.
-
What type of power tubes does the Orange AD50 use?
-
The Orange AD50 amp head uses EL34 power tubes, contributing to its classic British rock tone and providing a warm, dynamic sound.
-
How many channels does the Orange AD50 amp head have?
-
The Orange AD50 features a single channel, focusing on delivering a straightforward and powerful sound without the complexity of multiple channels.
Videos
The Tone King
Vid 7 of 8 - Orange AD50 Custom Shop - Winter NAMM 2011 '11 - Tube Amp Demo / Review
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Orange AD50 Custom Shop Head.
Comparisons
User experience
-
Rockerverb heads are praised for their thickness in sound and versatility, suitable for both rock and metal, with no reported issues of fizzy gain.
Source -
The AD30 is described as aggressive and dynamic, needing higher volumes to reach optimal performance, making it less ideal for quieter settings.
Source -
Both the OR15 and AD30 are noted for not handling dirt pedals well, potentially due to their own distinctive distortion characteristics.
Source
Build quality
-
While Orange's higher-end models like Rockerverb and AD30 are UK-made, they are mass-produced with PCB construction, which may require tech attention over time.
Source
Use cases and applications
Features and functionality
-
Orange amps, particularly the Rockerverb series, are characterized by their easy-to-control treble, providing a thick, non-harsh sound profile.
Source -
The OR15 struggles to deliver clean tones in a live band environment, especially with a drummer, highlighting its limitations in clean headroom.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating
41029
from what I can tell the custom shop 50, AD50 and retro 50 are all the same basic amp, the only amp base don the original orange designs with the cathodyne phase splitter. All their other new amps are marshall/soldano based or vox based (probably because the company is loaded with trace Elliott engineers and that was trace's thing, hot rodded marshalls and voxes)… thisamp is very much an old OD50 but with a midrange control added to the old 2 band baxandall and the 'FAC' control omitted, all that control did was change the coupling cap between gain control and second stage toa ttenuate bass, it was later borrowed by matchless.
5339
yep
Artist usage
Add artist
Jimmy Page used Orange amplifiers, including the AD50 and OR50 heads, during Led Zeppelin’s 2007 O2 Arena reunion concert, often paired with Engl cabinets. These amps were part of his backline alongside Marshall and Petersburg amps.
Listed as the gear that Tom Petersson uses on the official Orange website. https://orangeamps.com/portfolio-item/tom-petersson-of-cheap-trick/
Album Usage
The Orange AD50 Custom Shop Head has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Orange AD50 Custom Shop Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
More Orange Guitar Amplifier Heads
Accessories & Related Items
Community setups
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Guitar Amplifier Heads
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
equipboardGear IQ 4934
-