The Orange Guitar Butler is a dual-channel all-analog preamp pedal from Orange, announced in January 2022. It puts a complete two-channel amp front end on a pedalboard: a Clean channel Orange describes as "sparkly, edge-of-breakup", and a Dirty channel the maker says is "roaring" and "voiced after Orange's flagship gain stages"12.
The idea is rig-in-a-box flexibility. You can run it into an amp or power amp through a 1/4 inch output with no cabinet simulation, or go straight to a PA or audio interface through a balanced XLR output that includes speaker cabinet simulation2. A buffered effects loop sits between the preamp and its outputs, so delay and modulation pedals can go after the gain stages1. It follows on from Orange's Bass Butler bass preamp from 2020, as a six-string focused version of the same concept23.
The two channels
The Guitar Butler splits its job across independent Clean and Dirty channels, which Orange says cover "everything from sparkling cleans to fully saturated high-gain tones"1.
Clean channel. Orange gives it Gain and a 3-band EQ1. Gearnews reported at launch that it was "created to act as a solid pedal platform, with vintage voicing", which suits players who run overdrives and fuzzes in front rather than pushing the preamp itself2.
Dirty channel. This side has Gain, a 3-band EQ, Volume 1, Volume 2 and Presence controls1. There are no valves involved: the Dirty channel uses an all-analog JFET circuit designed to emulate a classic '70s-style drive tone2, and MusicRadar noted the JFET circuitry "aims to get you in that zone" of valve-style high gain without tubes5. Both channels have individual gain controls2.
Controls and footswitches
The pedal carries 11 knobs, described by gearnews as "all easy-to-understand amp-like controls"2. The Dirty channel's Volume 1 and Volume 2 are the built-in boost trick: the left footswitch toggles between the two master volumes, while the right footswitch changes channel3. That gives you a preset volume jump on the Dirty channel without touching a knob.
| Control | Channel | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Gain | Clean and Dirty | Sets the drive level of each channel independently12 |
| Treble, Middle, Bass | Clean and Dirty | 3-band EQ on each channel1 |
| Presence | Dirty | Shapes the top-end bite of the high-gain channel2 |
| Volume 1, Volume 2 | Dirty | Two master volumes, toggled by the left footswitch13 |
| Ground lift toggle | Rear panel | Lifts ground on the XLR output to fight hum2 |
Two footswitches manage the active channels2: one toggles between the Dirty channel's two volume controls, the other switches between Clean and Dirty23.
Power and connections
The Guitar Butler's connections cover both amp-based and direct rigs. It has a 1/4" input jack socket, a buffered FX loop for adding other pedals to the chain, and two outputs: a 1/4" output jack socket with no cab sim for an amp or power amp, and a balanced XLR out with cab sim and a ground lift switch for a PA or audio interface15.
The XLR balanced out carries a cabinet simulator and a ground lift switch, while the 1/4" amp out has no cab sim, so choose the output that suits the destination: an amp or power amp on the jack, a PA or interface on the XLR15.
On the connection side, the signal path is straightforward:
- Input: 1/4 inch jack socket1
- FX loop: Buffered, for adding effects pedals to the chain12
- Amp Out: 1/4 inch jack with no cab sim, for an amp or power amp12
- Balanced Out: XLR with speaker cabinet simulation, for a PA or audio interface12
- Ground lift switch: On the XLR balanced out1
Designer and relation to the Bass Butler
The Guitar Butler was designed by Ade Emsley, Orange's long-time designer, whom MusicRadar credited at launch4. Emsley also conceived the Bass Butler, together with Morgan Nicholls, and that 2020 pedal is the direct ancestor: the Guitar Butler is a six-string focused version of it2.
The family resemblance is clear in the layout. The Bass Butler is a bi-amp preamp pedal that splits a bass signal into a clean, full-frequency bass channel and a gain-laden guitar channel, each with its own EQ and volume controls6. The Guitar Butler takes the same two-channel thinking and revoices it for guitar, with the Dirty channel aimed at Orange's high-gain amp character rather than the Bass Butler's parallel clean-plus-grit blend16.
What the press said
Coverage at launch was positive about the concept's versatility. Gearnews wrote:
"I can see The Guitar Butler being a winner with all types of guitar players, as it looks to be very versatile indeed"2
Guitar.com framed it as "a fully-featured rig-in-a-box preamp pedal", pointing to the two outputs, the effects loop and the dual footswitches as the features that let it replace a larger setup3. MusicRadar highlighted the JFET dirty channel as the engineering story: solid-state circuitry chasing a '70s drive character with no valves in the signal path5.
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Questions
Does the Orange Guitar Butler use tubes?
No. The Guitar Butler is all-analogue with no valves. The Dirty channel uses JFET circuitry designed to emulate a classic '70s-style drive tone, and MusicRadar noted there are no valves involved. It is a solid-state preamp in pedal form.
Does the Guitar Butler have a cab simulator?
Yes, on the balanced XLR output. The 1/4 inch Amp Out jack has no cab sim, so it feeds an amp or power amp raw, while the XLR Balanced Out includes speaker cabinet simulation for going straight into a PA or audio interface. A ground lift switch sits on the XLR out.
What power supply does the Orange Guitar Butler use?
It runs on an 18V power supply, which Orange includes in the box. That rules out a standard 9V pedal supply, so plan on the included adapter or an 18V-capable power brick.
Where is the Orange Guitar Butler made?
It is built in the UK. MusicRadar reported at launch that, like the Bass Butler before it, the Guitar Butler is constructed in the UK at Orange's home base.
Does the Guitar Butler have an effects loop?
Yes. It has a buffered effects loop, so you can place time-based and modulation pedals after the preamp's gain stages, which keeps delays and reverbs cleaner at high gain settings.
How much does the Orange Guitar Butler cost in the US?
At launch in January 2022 the US street price was around $429, with gearnews listing an RRP of USD 429. Orange's current product page shows a price of £329.00 GBP. Prices vary by retailer and over time.
Sources (6)
- Orange Guitar Butler, Orange Music Electronic Co Ltd
- The Guitar Butler: A new dual channel guitar preamp-in-a-pedal from Orange, gearnews.com, 2022-01-12
- Orange introduces the Guitar Butler, a fully-featured ‘rig in a box’ preamp pedal, Guitar.com, 2022-01-12
- Orange enters the dual-channel preamp pedal fray with the Guitar Butler, MusicRadar, 2022-01-12
- The new effects pedals you need to be stomping in 2022, MusicRadar, 2022-01-29
- Orange Bass Butler, Orange Music Electronic Co Ltd
