In 1975 Orange launched two additional brands – OMEC (Orange Musical and Electronic Company) and

JIMMY BEAN.

 

The OMEC Digital was the world’s first patented digitally programmable amplifier which enabled musicians to key in four different pre-set instantly recallable sounds. JIMMY BEAN was a new range of solid state amplifiers whose selling strengths were reliability and stylish presentation amps and cabs were covered in real denim cloth, had leather corners and a hand-engraved brass badge. Sound features included a stereo pre-amp. But thanks to Cliff’s rather timid bank manager at the time both innovations were never given the financial backing needed to establish them in the marketplace. And so for the first time in ten years, Mr Orange was getting blue about the state of the amp business: he saw it was getting overcrowded with a plethora of cheap transistor amplifiers.