The Orange Two Stroke is a clean boost pedal with a built-in EQ, designed to push an amp and shape tone in one box. Orange's reviewer coverage suggested it "just may become the most important pedal in your rig"1, pointing to its combination of level boost and tone shaping in a single enclosure.
A clean boost with a semi-parametric EQ
The Two Stroke is built around two ideas. First, a clean volume boost, set by the Oil knob, that lifts the signal before anything else happens. Second, a semi-parametric EQ with two fully independent bands, Hi and Lo, each with its own frequency control and boost/cut knob. Orange says the pedal was engineered for superior low-noise performance, and that its parametric nature gives a smoother, more musical response than a graphic equalizer2.
Because the bands are parametric rather than fixed, there are no pre-defined frequencies: you sweep to the point you want and then cut or boost it. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found this "produces an infinite amount of tone shaping sounds, while providing a smoothness not usually present in most EQ pedals"1.
The controls: Oil, Volume and the Hi and Lo bands
The top row carries five knobs, laid out left to right as Hi, Q, Oil (Level), Q, Lo3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Hi (boost/cut) | Cuts or boosts the Hi band, plus or minus 18dB, with 12:00 as unity1 |
| Hi FREQ | Selects the Hi band's center frequency, 850Hz to 8.5kHz1 |
| Q (Hi) | Sets the width of the Hi band's curve1 |
| Oil (Level) | Sets the clean boost level before the EQ section, up to +12dB1 |
| Q (Lo) | Sets the width of the Lo band's curve1 |
| Lo FREQ | Selects the Lo band's center frequency, 120Hz to 1.2kHz1 |
| Lo (boost/cut) | Cuts or boosts the Lo band, plus or minus 18dB, with 12:00 as unity1 |
The Oil knob is the boost stage: it controls the level of clean volume boost before the EQ section, giving up to +12dB of output to work with1. Alongside it, the pedal has a volume control that Pedal of the Day's reviewer said "pushes it into gorgeous breakup territory for any amp"1.
The Two Stroke can be powered at 9 or 12V and features an internal charge pump, which doubles the operating voltage2. This was shared with the Amp Detonator, the pedal it launched alongside.
Uses beyond electric guitar
Orange positions the Two Stroke as more than a lead-volume pedal. Guitar.com, reporting from its launch, noted that it works great for electro-acoustic and bass guitars, as well as for revoicing pickups, removing unwanted frequencies, and pushing the front end of an amp into overdrive2. The swept, cuttable bands make it useful for pulling out a harsh frequency on an acoustic pickup or tightening a bass tone, jobs a fixed graphic EQ handles less precisely.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2016 review was favourable, calling it "a versatile clean boost/EQ with a ton of options" in spirit and concluding that it "just may become the most important pedal in your rig"14.
For where the Two Stroke sits among its rivals, see the site's pages on Boost Pedals and Equalization Pedals, or the Orange Two Stroke product page.
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Questions
How much boost does the Orange Two Stroke give?
The Two Stroke offers up to +12dB of transparent boost, which Orange describes as ideal for solos, stacked gain, or fattening a clean sound. The Oil knob sets that boost level before the EQ section, and the Volume control can push an amp into breakup territory.
What does the Oil knob do on the Two Stroke?
The Oil knob controls the level of clean volume boost before the EQ section, giving up to +12dB of output to work with. Delicious Audio described it as capable of up to 12dB of crystal clean boost.
What frequency range does the Hi band cover?
The Hi band's FREQ control selects frequencies from 850Hz to 8.5kHz. The Lo band covers 120Hz to 1.2kHz, and each band has a boost/cut knob with a range of plus or minus 18dB, with 12:00 as the unity position.
Can the Two Stroke be used with bass or acoustic-electric guitar?
Yes. Guitar.com reported at launch that it works great for electro-acoustic and bass guitars, as well as for revoicing pickups, removing unwanted frequencies, and pushing the front end of an amp into overdrive.
When did Orange start making pedals?
Orange Amplification entered the pedal market in 2016, releasing the Two Stroke, a clean boost and semi-parametric EQ pedal, as one of its first stompbox offerings. It was unveiled at NAMM 2016 alongside the Amp Detonator Buffered AB-Y.
Sources (4)
- Orange Amps Two Stroke Boost EQ, Pedal of the Day, 2016-10-20
- NAMM 2016: Orange launch two new pedals, Guitar.com, 2016-01-21
- Two Stroke Boost & EQ Pedal, Orange Music Electronic Co Ltd
- Orange Amps Getaway Driver Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2017-11-08
