If you’re wondering if Orange Crush Mini 3W is a good amp or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth review, I’m going to take a very close look on that popular small combo. It’s a really affordable piece of gear, but is it actually that good?
The answer is: YES! Orange Crush Mini 3W has everything that you need from a practice amp – it sounds good, it gets the job done and it’s pretty cheap. Surely, finding a better small combo at this price level won’t be that easy.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes this Orange amp so good and so popular all around the world. Firstly, we’ll start with a quick overview of the specifications of that combo. Additionally, we’ll investigate its biggest pros and cons. Of course, there will be a few sound demos included as well!
Overview – Specs & Pricing
Orange Crush Mini 3W is an affordable mini amp suitable for the most demanding guitarists out there. To be honest, it’s not surprising that so many guitarists decide to choose it.
What makes it so special? Well, the amp features 3 Watts of power, a pretty good sounding 4″ woofer, one channel, a built-in tuner as well as a headphone out and aux input. As you can imagine, that’s quite a lot of great features!
What’s important, the Crush Mini 3W can be battery-powered, which means that you can take it anywhere with you. This is a big advantage for everyone who wants to perform or practice away from the regular power supply.
The sound of Orange Crush Mini is really good and surprisingly loud, but you can’t expect it to be the best sounding amp in the world. But that’s totally fine! In the end, it’s not a high-end tube amp worth thousands of dollars, right?
It is also worth mentioning that this small combo is really well made and it doesn’t feel cheap at all. It features the classic Orange aesthetic, so all lovers of that amp manufacturer will really appreciate the design of that amp.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not the cheapest mini amp available on the market, but it’s still really affordable. Surely, this combo is worth every cent and it’s not overpriced at all.
Here’s a quick sound demo – feel free to check it out below.
Who Is It For?
Orange Crush Mini 3W is suitable for guitarists of all levels, so it doesn’t really matter whether you’re a complete beginner or a bit more advanced player. I’m sure that you’ll find it very useful!
A lot of people think that budget combos like the Crush Mini are designed only for amateurs, but the truth is that even professional players will really enjoy using that during their practice sessions.
What’s important, bear in mind that this is a battery-powered amp. You can take it anywhere with you, which is a big advantage. Not everyone needs that feature, but I’m sure that a lot of guitar players will really appreciate that.
It is also worth mentioning that this combo isn’t overly expensive, so it’s also a really good option for those who don’t want to spend too much money on new gear.
Overall, I have no hesitation in recommending this mini combo to all musicians who are looking for a good sounding and reliable amp of that size. It does what its supposed to do and it’s pretty cheap – and that’s what really matters in the end.
Pros & Cons
Just like any other small practice amp, Orange Crush Mini 3W has its own advantages and disadvantages. That’s totally normal! Still, it seems pretty clear that this particular model has far more pros rather than cons.
Pros
- Battery-Powered
- Surprisingly Loud
- Sounds Pretty Good
- Looks Fantastic
- Cheap Price
Cons
- It Isn’t The Best For Metal
- Limited Power
As you can see, there are a lot of things that can be considered as major advantages of that combo. It sounds pretty good, it’s not too expensive and you can take it absolutely anywhere with you. That’s quite a lot of great features!
On the other hand, this isn’t the best sounding amp in the world. You just can’t expect it to sound like a high quality tube amp. But that’s totally understandable, so it’s not necessarily a disadvantage. Also, although it can get pretty loud, it’s not the best choice for live performances.
Nevertheless, I’m positive that the advantages of that combo outweigh its disadvantages. There’s just not too much to complain about, especially when you consider how affordable this thing really is.
Orange Crush Mini vs Blackstar Fly 3
A lot of guitarists who are looking for a good and reliable mini amp often can’t decide whether they should get the Crush Mini amp or the Blackstar Fly 3. Both are very popular, but which one of them is actually better?
Well, the truth is that it’s really difficult to clearly determine which one of them will be better for you.
Both of these amps are available at a similar price level and both of them can be battery-powered. However, the Blackstar Fly 3 has a built-in delay effect.
Personally, I’d stick with the Orange model! Mainly because of the fact that I’m a huge fan of their gear. But I’m sure that a lot of you will actually prefer the Blackstar Fly 3 instead.
Here’s a really good video that compares both of these amps – feel free to check it out below.
Any Alternatives?
If you don’t like the sound of Orange Crush Mini 3W or you’re simply looking for something bigger and louder, that’s not a big problem! There’s still quite a lot of fantastic combos that can be efficiently used for home practice.
Of course, choosing a brand new amp will depend on your own personal preferences and on the size of your budget. Here’s a few more recommendations based on my own experience.
Firstly, I highly encourage you to check out the Marshall MG10. This is one of the most affordable combos that are currently manufactured by Marshall. It’s pretty basic, but it gets the job done and it sounds surprisingly good. Surely, anyone who’s looking for a small combo suitable for home practice will be really satisfied with that model.
Alternatively, you can also check out the Fender Frontman 10G. This is an another fantastic and inexpensive combo which is very often used by amateur guitarists. It’s really similar to Marshall MG10, but instead of the classic Marshall tone, it has the classic Fender tone. It’s a bit better option for all lovers of blues, country and jazz, so if that’s your kind of vibe, make sure to check it out!
Lastly, you can also consider getting the VOX Pathfinder 10. Just like Marshall MG10 and Fender Frontman 10G, it’s a pretty good sounding small combo suitable for the most demanding guitarists out there. It has two individual channels and a 3-band EQ which gives you quite a lot of control over the tone. Surely, it’s one of the most versatile small combos that you can currently find on the market.
FAQ
Where is Orange Crush Mini 3W made?
Orange Crush Mini 3W is manufactured in China.
Is it good for beginners?
Yes, this small amp is perfect for beginners!
Where can I find the manual to the Crush Mini amp?
The manual to the Crush Mini 3W amp can be found here.
Where can I find out more about Orange amps?
If you want to learn more about Orange amplifiers, make sure to visit their official website.
Summary
As you can see, Orange Crush Mini 3W is a fantastic practice amp. Although it’s not the best combo in the world, it’s a perfect choice for any guitar player who just wants to improve their guitar skills. I have no hesitation in recommending this model to all musicians who are looking for an inexpensive and great sounding compact combo.
What do you think of that amp? Would you get it for yourself or do you think that it’s overrated? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful and you found what you were looking for. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like: