Re: Orange OR15 Cranked (Full Volume) with a Drummer
Clean is clean in any context ... not clinically sterile, but Fender-like perhaps. And having a drummer play more quietly to match the amp's limitations is not a solution, it's a poor compromise at best. Some music requires the band to play at their regular level whilst the guitar sound is clean (as opposed to 'gritty'). Under such circumstances, a pair of 6V6s or EL84s (i.e. 15-20 watts) is simply not enough power to attain the desired results alongside an average drummer. 30-40 watts is needed for such music. If it were not so, virtually nobody would ever need more that 20 watts.
Conversely, a larger amp cannot achieve dirty tones at lower volumes, and would lead to situations either requiring the use of two amps (larger for clean, smaller for dirt) or, as started in the 1980s, attempts at multi-channel amps that could provide both. OR ... more old-school ... bigger amps with a dirt pedal up front.
However, that was then ... nowdays most guitar-wielding people don't seem to know what clean is or have any use for it, so my points are irrelevant to most, anyway. But the fact remains.
I'll agree to disagree. I'll address each of your points below:
1) Clean is not the same in every context. Some styles of music (stoner/desert rock, psychedelic, blues rock, etc.) utilize "clean" tone that has grit or dirt on it, where some styles of music (jazz, funk, etc.) utilize clean tone that has no break up or grit. The context for "clean" changes from genre to genre and guitarist to guitarist.
2) Regarding the drummer playing quietly to match the guitar, I don't see it as a poor compromise at all. Rather, if I'm hitting the amp hard and it's full-on overdrive, but then I roll back the volume knob to change the direction of the song, I'd expect the drummer to bring it down a notch as well to match the flow of the song. It's part of making a fluid jam or song.
3) "If it were not so, virtually nobody would ever need more that 20 watts." Or people are just stuck in their ways and assume they need 50-100 watts. However, that trend has been changing. There have been many posts all over the internet from people who are interested in the "lunchbox" style amps, but they're concerned about whether or not a 15-watt amp could play with a drummer. That's part of what inspired my initial post, I wanted to provide an example of how a 15-watt tube amp could be heard clearly when jamming with a drummer for those who might be interested.
4) "nowdays most guitar-wielding people don't seem to know what clean is or have any use for it" Not sure what kind of music you listen to, but I hear plenty of contemporary guitarists using sparkly clean guitar tones within their songs. I personally opt for my Roland Cube 80 when I want that jazzy, no-grit type of clean. The OR15 is a fantastic amp for metal, rock, and dirty blues tones, but I don't really use it for super clean tones at low volumes, let alone high volumes.
