The Guitar Butler: A new dual channel guitar preamp-in-a-pedal from Orange
This latest product from Orange Amplification, The Guitar Butler, is a preamp-in-a-pedal, designed for players who are looking for a portable pedalboard-mounted preamp that can handle anything you can throw at it. Orange has trimmed The Guitar Butler for a number of uses, including home, live and recording.
The Guitar Butler follows on from Orange’s The Bass Butler bass preamp from 2020. As the name clearly indicates, the new preamp-in-a-pedal is for guitar players, and features dual channels. The Clean channel has been created to act as a solid pedal platform, with vintage voicing. And the Dirty channel uses an all-analogue JFET circuit designed to emulate a classic ’70s-style drive tone. It also has two very handy volume controls that you can switch between (more on that later). That all sounds very useful for adding some extra boost when needed.
Orange The Guitar Butler dual channel preamp · Source: Orange
Dual Channels
The pedal has 11 knobs, all easy-to-understand amp-like controls. Two footswitches let you manage the active channels. Both channels have individual gain controls and a three-band EQ. The Dirty channel also has a presence knob and the aforementioned two volume controls, so they appear easy to set and switch between. Each volume control has a coloured bright red or blue LED to let you know which is selected, which is handy on a darkened stage.
Simple Switching
One footswitch toggles between the Clean and Dirty channels, while the other allows you to toggle between your two volume controls on the Dirty channel. It couldn’t be simpler to use really, which is great for when you are busy playing and need to concentrate.
The Guitar Butler connectivity one rear panel · Source: Orange
Connectivity
You also have a ground lift toggle switch on the rear and a buffered effects loop to add extra effects pedals to your signal chain. The unit has two outputs, so you can plug into an amp/power amp via a 1/4” out, or into a PA or audio interface via a balanced XLR output (this one includes speaker cabinet simulation).
The Guitar Butler uses an 18 V power supply which is included, and looks like it will have Orange’s usual bomb-proof standard of construction. I can see The Guitar Butler being a winner with all types of guitar players, as it looks to be very versatile indeed.
RRP – USD 429 / EUR 399
More Information on Orange Amplification
Orange The Guitar Butler Demo Video
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2 responses to “The Guitar Butler: A new dual channel guitar preamp-in-a-pedal from Orange”
Interesting piece of gear but too bad they didn’t include text labels for the controls, I don’t think I could get along with these icons.
It’s the traditional Orange icons, which they have used forever (since the ’70s) on their amp ranges. I get what you mean, but if you have played Orange Amps you get used to it very quickly.