The Orange Sustain is a compressor pedal from Orange, reissued in 2022 as part of a three-pedal Vintage Series that also includes Distortion and Phaser models. It is a modern remake of the original Orange Sustain pedal from the 1970s, produced at Orange's UK factory between 1977 and 197912, and the new version stays sonically close to that exhumed original while adding a differential side-chain and a gain-reduction LED12.
Orange describes the effect as one that "smooths and regulates guitar sounds, acting like an overdrive for clean tones with added chime and warmth," and notes it adds volume when required, so it could serve as a clean boost with a touch of sparkle3. Premier Guitar characterized the circuit as a take on vintage optical compression that spans familiar and more open-ended sounds and textures4.
Where it came from
The original Sustain was one of three Orange pedals, alongside the Phazer and Distortion, produced at the company's UK factory between 1977 and 19792. The revival began with a 2019 social media post showing the original 1970s Sustain pedal, which sent Orange's head designer Adrian Emsley into the company archives. He worked from the original tea-stained schematics, found by Mick Dines, to develop the reissue range12. The schematics were passed to Emsley, who emerged with the plans for the updated pedals1.
The 2022 reissue keeps the oversized, boxy enclosures of the 70s originals, in what Guitar.com called an ever brighter shade of orange than the vintage units1.
The originals were produced between 1977 and 1979, so any vintage unit you find today is at least four decades old. The 2022 reissue is the current version, with upgraded internals over the original design26.
The controls and LED
The pedal keeps the original's minimal control layout, with just two knobs:
| Control | Position | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Left | Sets the output volume |
| Depth | Right | Sets the gain reduction, and so the amount of sustain5 |
The Depth knob on the reissue controls the amount of compression, which Guitar.com points out is a change from the original, where it did not1. Attack and release times are preset, so there is no attack knob to dial in1.
The pedal also carries a double LED indicator6. On the 2022 update, the LED switches from blue to purple when gain reduction is kicking in6; Guitar.com described the same behavior as the blue LED flashing red when gain reduction is occurring, giving visual feedback on the compression1. Either way, the light tells you when the circuit is working, which is useful on a pedal with no threshold or ratio controls.
Power and bypass
Orange lists the pedal's features as low power consumption, buffered bypass and a double LED indicator6. There is no battery clip: Guitar.com reported that leaving battery clips out of this run of pedals was a conscious choice on Orange's part, and noted that one would be easy to solder in if you wanted it1. The pedal is UK built1.
If true bypass matters to you, this is not that pedal: the Pigtronix Attack Sustain takes a true bypass approach instead7.
How it compares
The Sustain sits in Orange's compressor lineup alongside the Kongpressor and the King Comp, both of which came later and offer more control. Where those pedals give you multiple knobs, the Sustain's two-control format keeps it simple: Level for volume, Depth for compression, and preset attack and release times doing the rest61.
Guitar World's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, summed up the appeal of that simplicity in his verdict:
Premier Guitar's reviewer called the Orange Sustain reissue a welcome return of a vintage pedalboard staple, offering today's player high-quality compression in an easy-to-use format5
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Questions
Is the Orange Sustain an optical compressor?
Yes. The reissue is built around a vintage optical compression circuit, and Premier Guitar described it as a take on vintage optical compression that spans familiar and more open-ended sounds and textures. Orange's own Kongpressor and King Comp pedals are also optical or VCA designs in the same family of compressors.
Does the Orange Sustain have a battery clip?
No. The decision to leave out battery clips in this run of pedals was a conscious choice by Orange, so the pedal runs on external power only. Guitar.com noted that a clip would be easy to solder in yourself if you wanted one.
Is the Orange Sustain true bypass?
No, it uses buffered bypass. Orange lists buffered bypass among the pedal's features on its product page, and Guitar.com's review confirms it. If you want a true bypass sustain pedal, the Pigtronix Attack Sustain takes that approach instead.
Who designed the reissue of the Orange Sustain?
Adrian Emsley, Orange's head designer. A 2019 social media post showing the original 1970s Sustain pedal sent him into the company archives, where he worked from the old schematics to develop the reissue range of Sustain, Distortion and Phaser pedals.
When was the original Orange Sustain made?
The original Orange Sustain was produced at Orange's UK factory between 1977 and 1979, alongside the Phazer and Distortion pedals. The reissue range arrived in 2022, built in the UK and staying sonically close to the original.
What does the Depth knob do on the Orange Sustain?
Depth sets the gain reduction, and so the amount of sustain and compression you hear. On the reissue it actually controls the amount of compression, which Guitar.com points out is a change from the original, where the Depth knob did not do that.
Sources (7)
- Orange Sustain, Distortion and Phaser review, Guitar.com, 2022-09-22
- Orange is planning to reissue its original Phazer, Sustain and Distortion pedals, Guitar World, 2020-06-08
- Orange Vintage Pedals reissued with modern tweaks, www.gearnews.com, 2022-09-16
- Orange Phaser, Sustain, and Distortion Guitar Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2022-09-16
- Orange Sustain review, Guitar World, 2022-11-24
- Vintage Pedal, Orange Music Electronic Co Ltd
- Pigtronix Attack Sustain Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2008-10-15
