Littlemark ii/ vt bass or terror bass?

Gord · #1 04-07-2011, 11:51 AM

Hi guys,
I'm debating whether or not to trade in my Marbass littlemark ii + vt bass for an orange terror bass. The orange would be ordered, so I couldn't try it first, but that's how I've purchase everything. Littlemark and vt bass included!

I'm using the vt bass to get the markbass sounding dirtier. I play in a pop punk band http://www.myspace.com/cerarock and don't like perfectly clean tones. I'm wondering if orange would be a better match, as I believe I'm playing a modern sounding amp when I'm looking for a vintage tone. I guess my question is, will I be losing anything if I make this trade? Any huge losses in tone, or clarity?

Rest of gear: Geddy lee jazz / Gibson grabber through two Eden 410s. Loud drummer, two guitarists. Volume isn't a problem, sitting pretty in the mix is.

Gord · #2 04-07-2011, 12:13 PM

A member on these forums posted this video of him playing through a Terror Bass -
YouTube - proxyflamer's Channel

That's incredible tone, EXACTLY what I want - but I've seen a few other Terror Bass videos, and the tone isn't quite that full and awesome. Is this a typical Orange tone, sitting in a mix?

Sifl · #3 04-07-2011, 12:21 PM

Yeah, the tone in that video is SWEET. Don't have much advice to offer to you, though.

mouthmw · #4 04-07-2011, 12:25 PM

Great tone and power in those little buggers. Was in a similar dillema recently but I decided against TB and got GK 700RB II instead. What worried me were quality issues on TB. Bad DI, cutting out problems and dying out completely. I just didn't have enough faith in those to have it as my main amp without backup amp.

Gord · #5 04-07-2011, 05:38 PM

That has me worried, I can't find a lot of information about the amp - when I do, it's about reliability issues!

Are there any other lightweight heads that easily do grit? I basically hate completely clean tones, and haven't ever had luck with pedals.

rpsands · #6 04-07-2011, 05:39 PM

Markbass' warranty is transferable, Orange's is not. That would make the difference for me.

* I am having a ton of luck with the VT deluxe and Shuttle 9. The semiparametric midrange is VERY VERY helpful for the VT pedals.

joeydavidson · #7 04-07-2011, 06:05 PM

It seems a lot of people in the Orange Terror review thread have had minimal problems with it dying so that gives me hope. I have no idea how my Orange Terror will perform on a loud gig but I've been using it at home for about 8 months with no problems. I think it sounds better than the VT bass pedal- the Orange breaks up a bit more evenly with my JAzz bass.

MikeyMelons · #8 04-07-2011, 06:58 PM

Absolutely go with the orange! I had a markbass little mark 3 before I traded it for a peavey vb-2. I'm like you and wanted a dirty tone out of my amp and I just wasn't getting it through the markbass, even pushing it through a sans amp bass driver, it was still to clean for me. Summary, get the orange!

Gord · #9 04-07-2011, 07:26 PM

hmm, that sounds great. It sounds like the sudden cut outs are from huge differences in volume - if I play with a pick for the entire set, that shouldn't be a problem. It sounds like this is the kind of amp where playing with an amp is a good thing!

The DI level being super hot does have me concerned - we play quite often at a local venue in town, I hope the sound guy doesn't hate me after this!

reddi · #10 04-07-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gord

A member on these forums posted this video of him playing through a Terror Bass -
YouTube - proxyflamer's Channel

That's incredible tone, EXACTLY what I want - but I've seen a few other Terror Bass videos, and the tone isn't quite that full and awesome. Is this a typical Orange tone, sitting in a mix?

That's a sweet video, however it's not helping my GAS for the Terror Bass.

JimmyM · #11 04-07-2011, 08:00 PM

i love the vt. pedal of the future. never played the terror. the only thing you can do with youtube vids is get a ballpark idea if it would work for you.

joeydavidson · #12 04-07-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gord

hmm, that sounds great. It sounds like the sudden cut outs are from huge differences in volume - if I play with a pick for the entire set, that shouldn't be a problem. It sounds like this is the kind of amp where playing with an amp is a good thing!

The DI level being super hot does have me concerned - we play quite often at a local venue in town, I hope the sound guy doesn't hate me after this!

I agree that DI is a concern, it's at line level (for at least the first Terrors), it's kinda confusing because Orange said the new Terror Basses have a more quiet DI and I don't know which one I have yet. Some owners have used a -40db attuenator with success so I will probably get one of those at some stage since they're cheap, I want to use the Orange's DI no matter what when I start gigging/recording again, a mic would be even better but most soundmen always seem to want DI.

JimmyM · #13 04-07-2011, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeydavidson

I agree that DI is a concern, it's at line level (for at least the first Terrors), it's kinda confusing because Orange said the new Terror Basses have a more quiet DI and I don't know which one I have yet. Some owners have used a -40db attuenator with success so I will probably get one of those at some stage since they're cheap, I want to use the Orange's DI no matter what when I start gigging/recording again, a mic would be even better but most soundmen always seem to want DI.

pussies.

mouthmw · #14 04-08-2011, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gord

hmm, that sounds great. It sounds like the sudden cut outs are from huge differences in volume - if I play with a pick for the entire set, that shouldn't be a problem. It sounds like this is the kind of amp where playing with an amp is a good thing!

The DI level being super hot does have me concerned - we play quite often at a local venue in town, I hope the sound guy doesn't hate me after this!

The DI was the least of an issue for me. What do you mean differences in volume? As in, playing dynamics? It's an issue because I tend to really dig in at times and play rough, and that seemed to cut it off. If you have to keep a constant playing dynamic, I would say that's a HUGE issue.

TB sounds great, but has a very little EQ possibilities, and is (like all Orange) naturally very dark sounding. I had to roll off the bass completely when I was trying it out in the store as mids are low mids. It does have a badass sound, but I'll rather add some grit with a pedal.

Sparky Mark · #15 04-08-2011, 02:35 PM

That's a great piece of playing.

IMO that sound is a combination of the bass (FJ maple neck) possibly new(ish) strings, good fretting hand strength/technique and nice aggressive pick action. There are quite a lot of notes regarding computer interfaces and software on that clip, so there could be a fair amount of processing involved in getting that sound, not just going through the amp.

You may put together the exact same set up and still not get that sound due to a different playing technique.

I'm surprised with your gear that you aren't able to cut through the mix, are you using a pick and playing hard enough?