Back in 2015 British amp manufacturer Orange announced at Musik Messe its re-entry into the wonderful world of guitar pedals (they used to make them already back in the 60s). Unsurprisingly, the stompbox in question is a preamp/EQ – it’s called the Bax Bangeetar.
Handmade in the Orange’s custom shop and available in white and black, this pedal functions as a standalone amp and also as a DI for direct recording, and we hear reports that it behaves exactly the natural sounding and uncompressed distortion provided by the amps in its family.
As you can see from the picture, this pedal sports a boost switch (which adds an extra 5dbs of clean gain for solo purposes), and a rather deep EQ section, featuring full parametric controls (including bell curve) for the mid frequencies. A ‘CabSim’ output recreates the sound of Orange’s 40th Anniversary PPC412 cabinet with its Celestion G12H 30 speakers, giving you an extra option when recording direct.
For those of you who have been hoping for portable guitar amps, the Orange Bax Bangeetar must be a dream come true – check out the video below.
As a traditional stompbox the Bax Bangeetar is in a class of its own, boasting a unique and hugely versatile gain structure with extensive EQ controls. Dial in an enormous range of overdriven and distorted tones, delivered with a feel and responsiveness rarely found in pedals. Beyond that, though, this preamp pedal is an invaluable tool, allowing you to tailor your tone to any setup with absolute precision via its parametric mid controls.
Find and eliminate problem frequencies in certain guitars and amps, shape broad mid ‘scoops’ or boost anywhere on the mid spectrum to suit any style. Plug straight into the front of an amp as a standalone drive pedal, or plug into the effects return to make the donor amp ‘disappear’! Whatever your rig, the possibilities are virtually limitless.
For even more flexibility, the second output takes your sound and passes it through our CabSim circuit, recreating the frequency response of a mic’d Orange 4×12” cab, ideal for direct recording or even connecting to a PA. Whether on stage or in the studio, the nature and scope of its controls mean there isn’t a situation where the Bax Bangeeter wouldn’t be welcome.
