Many guitarists start their journey with a small practice amp, and the Orange Crush 10 is a popular choice. Its compact size is great for home practice, but the sound from the small speaker can leave something to be desired. Like many players, I initially used an Orange Crush 10 for testing guitars. It was convenient, but the stock sound was never inspiring. Eventually, I passed it on to my son, who also found the 8-inch speaker limiting. Knowing it was sitting unused, I decided it was the perfect candidate for a simple modification to drastically improve its sound: connecting it to an external speaker cabinet.
Orange Crush 10 watt guitar amplifier ready for modification to connect to an external speaker cabinet.
The Limitation of the Stock Speaker
The Orange Crush 10, like many compact combo amps, comes equipped with a small speaker. While adequate for quiet practice, these smaller speakers, typically 8 inches in diameter, often struggle to produce a full and rich tone, especially at higher volumes. The low-end frequencies can be weak, and the overall sound can feel boxy and constrained. This is a common complaint with small practice amps – they are convenient, but lack the sonic depth of larger setups.
The External Speaker Cabinet Solution: A Simple Mod
The solution to this sonic limitation is surprisingly straightforward: connect the Orange Crush 10 to an external speaker cabinet. Bypassing the internal 8-inch speaker and utilizing a larger cabinet, often housing a 12-inch speaker or multiple speakers, unlocks a significant improvement in tone and volume. This modification allows the amp’s circuitry to drive a speaker that can truly reproduce its intended sound, resulting in a fuller, louder, and more articulate tone.
Why Choose a Switchless Jack?
When considering this modification, some might think of using a switch to toggle between the internal speaker and an external cabinet. However, a simpler and more foolproof method exists: using a switchless speaker jack. This type of jack automatically detects when a speaker cable is inserted. When no cable is plugged in, the amp functions normally with its internal speaker. As soon as you plug in a cable to an external cabinet, the internal speaker is automatically disconnected, and the signal is routed to the external cabinet.
A cost-effective switchless speaker jack, essential for simple and safe external speaker cabinet modification of a guitar amplifier.
This switchless approach eliminates the risk of accidentally selecting the wrong switch position, which could potentially cause issues. It’s a cleaner, more reliable, and easier-to-implement solution for connecting your Orange Crush 10 to an external speaker.
The Mod in Brief
Implementing this modification is relatively simple and requires basic DIY skills. It involves drilling a hole in the amp’s back panel to mount the switchless jack, and then making a few simple wiring connections. Essentially, you are intercepting the wires going to the internal speaker and routing them through the new jack. When an external speaker is connected, it breaks the connection to the internal speaker, sending the signal to the external cabinet instead.
The Dramatic Sound Improvement
The difference in sound after this modification is truly remarkable. Connecting the Orange Crush 10 to a 12-inch speaker cabinet transforms it from a small practice amp into something surprisingly powerful and full-sounding. The bass response is significantly improved, the mids become richer, and the highs are clearer and less constrained. The jump from an 8-inch speaker to a 12-inch speaker is a major leap in sonic performance.
A Recommended Upgrade
If you own an Orange Crush 10 Watt Guitar Amplifier and find yourself wanting more from its sound, this external speaker cabinet modification is highly recommended. The switchless jack method makes it a straightforward and safe DIY project that delivers a significant sonic upgrade, unlocking the true potential of your amp and making practice sessions far more enjoyable and inspiring.
