Does anyone have any experience with this head? I don't have an opportunity to try one out and the idea of having a reliable but cheap amp for the practice space is attractive.

Got one as a beater for shows, as anything I have with tubes is too fragile or underpowered to take out.Pretty damn good sounding, if you ask me. It's voiced like a Rockerverb, so you have to like that sound to appreciate what they did here. Clean channel breaks up in an op-amp-y but nice way when pushed. Distortion is distorted. True to solid state form, there's no real in-between crunch sound, but if you set the hot channel gain on 5 and play with some dynamics, you can make that work for you.Easily the best sounding solid state head I've come across. Good enough for recording in a pinch.

My band's guitarist has used a few Orange heads over the years, for shows recordings and rehearsals.He first used an Orange Rocker 30, moved to a Dual Terror for more comfort, and then to a CR120. To me, it didn't change anything, since he uses distorsion most of the time (no crunch); it still delivers the typical Orange sound for a fraction of the price, without the hassles of tubes.BUT, as for every cheap piece of gear manufactured in asia, you have to check the whole amp for poorly soldered components, assembly flaws (e.g. poorly tightened screws) before plugging it.This means that you might encounter some difficulties in the beginning, but if you don't mind having to use the warranty or are patient enough to correct potential early flaws, you will end up with a great sounding, reliable Orange amp for cheap.

Thanks for the replies.I'm toying between buying another Laney GH100 or this cr120. I've actually got a Linebacker in the garage but I don't really like the sound of it all that much - the fact that it has outlasted every other piece of equipment I've ever owned has had me looking at solid state options.

FuzzBob wrote:Got one as a beater for shows, as anything I have with tubes is too fragile or underpowered to take out.Cant comment on the Orange head in question but I hate reading stuff like this. Not your fault either, as a lot of tube amps are built like crap, but its a shame. A well built tube amp will be just as rugged and reliable (if not more) than a solid state amp.

I'm up for having my mind changed by better suggestions but then this becomes a recommend me a head thread and I'm guessing there have been plenty of them around these parts. I'm still open to tube and may still get one but this is an Orange head you can get new for dirt cheap, I've seen a couple of ex-displays for just a smidge over 200 and everyone that owns one seems to rate them. If I go tube I'm going second hand and trying to find something unfashionable enough to remain a bargain in decent nick.

Get an H||H VS or IC. You'll like it, I promise.

A guy in the city I live in has a rental company for band gear and he switched to these CR120 heads recently and swears by them.I've used one for a show and it sounded fine - loud and the distortion was decent.

Dr Tony Balls wrote:FuzzBob wrote:Got one as a beater for shows, as anything I have with tubes is too fragile or underpowered to take out.Cant comment on the Orange head in question but I hate reading stuff like this. Not your fault either, as a lot of tube amps are built like crap, but its a shame. A well built tube amp will be just as rugged and reliable (if not more) than a solid state amp.I considered this exact head, but for a slightly different reason. I wanted something for shows that I would not really care too much if it was damaged or stolen. Flying beverages, people carrying the gear and dropping it, enthusiastic crowds plowing into an amp and knocking the head off, and people just waling out with gear that isn't theirs; all things I've had happen at shows where I've played.So, I played this head. It's really great for what it is; an op-amp-based recreation of a tube circuit. It's pretty fuckin' loud, but it definitely lacks something if the player is used to big, classic tube amps. Then I quit my punk band that played these sketchy house and backyard shows.I agree, though, most tube amps are robust as hell if you take the tube glass out of the equation. Almost always more so than a SS counterpart.

Just found a brand new CR120H with matching Crush 4x12 for $800 (essentially) brand new on FB marketplace. Driving up north to pick it up tomorrow. I am excite. Planning on making this my main amp for the post black metal band I just joined.