2018 KSR Orthos 2

Overview

This amp comes from KSR, formerly Rhodes amplification, and is made in Ohio, USA. It has a unique configuration, with a clean and lead channel, but each channel has two switchable modes, signified by the color of the front logo LED’s. The color can be adjusted manually through dip switches on the rear panel of the amp, which is a really cool feature. I use red and purple for my lead modes, and green and blue for my cleans, but you can also do white, yellow, etc by combining each of RGB led switches.

The two main channels (clean/lead) have separate EQ and level controls, but the additional modes share those settings. The lead channel has two separate gain controls depending on if you are using mode 1 or mode 2, but the clean channel shares a single gain control across both modes. However, the modes do have certain separate switches which can be enabled, labeled with “1” or “2.” The clean channel is very straight forward, with the only switches being the bright on/off toggles. The lead channel on the other hand has the bright switches as well as a 6-way “feel” control, which has a very strong effect on the tone. The first mode of the lead channel also has a switchable crunch mode, which reduces the gain of the amp which allows you to use it as a more traditional 3-channel amp (clean/crunch/lead) arrangement. The master section contains a pair of master volumes (for each mode), and a “top” and “bottom” control that appear to behave like presence and resonance controls (power amp controls).

The clean channel has a ton of headroom and stays extremely clean, even with the gain turned up high. It can’t really be pushed into much crunch but it will get a little fuzzy and thick when really pushed. The bright control allows you to configure the amp for spankier tones or more full-bodied jazzy cleans.

The lead channel, despite the simple controls, has a very wide range. The 6-way feel control especially has a huge effect on the sound. I find I really like Feel 6 for leads, it’s thicker and looser and has plenty of gain. Feel 1 or Feel 2 has less gain and more rolled off lower frequencies, helping accentuate tight attack for chugging rhythms. I’m still experimenting with which is best while adding in the bright switches which also have a drastic effect on the sound. The core tone is very polished sounding, thick and full and not at all harsh. If anything, it might need the bright switches or dial in more treble to really cut through. I find the crunch mode, and crunch tones in general to be very clear but the smooth mids mean it won’t quite do the Marshall style “kerrang” for classic rock - it’s a more modern voicing than that. Modern metal is where the amp really excels, and it has plenty of gain on tap and can get very saturated, though rolling it off and adding a boost can help tighten up that full low end. It’s a great sounding amp, so smooth sounding and flexible, and I really think it excels for more technical lead styles with a lot of melodic lines.