Looking for new amp

klejst · #1 10-04-2011, 08:12 AM

I have came into a little extra money this month and have been contemplating upgrading my bass amp off and on the last couple months. Right now I use a Peavey Tour 450 solid state amp which is a great amp don't get me wrong, however I am looking at getting something else. A couple choices I have looked at is the Peavey VB-2 tube amp, I have seen a couple of them used pop up and at pretty decent prices, but an amp that really caught my eye is the Orange Terror Bass 500. I really like it for it's small size and weight, but I really fell in love with it's tones from video reviews I have watched on it as well as hearing a guy play one in a GC store. I like the gainy-grungy tones it can produce. I have seen numerous people rate the TB500 as one of the most underrated amps on the market right now as well as claiming it is a real powerhouse. I guess what my purpose of this thread is to ask opinions of fellow TB'ers who either use or have used the VB-2 or the TB500 and what you think? I have seen some used TB500's around too and I would sell my Tour 450 to put towards buying one of the other amps. I use a Fender Precision bass and my cabinet is a Mesa PowerHouse 6x10 just for reference.

klejst · #2 10-04-2011, 02:07 PM

No one has anything to input?

RickenBoogie · #3 10-04-2011, 03:53 PM

2 very different amps. The choice between them will come down to personal preference.

jeff7bass · #4 10-04-2011, 04:09 PM

With that big Mesa cab I would go for a Carvin B2000 head over those other two. Just my two cents. Around 650 bucks for CRUSHING power and a very intuitive EQ section.
It operates at 2 ohms so you could even add another 6x10 cab while pumping 1000w into each cab! At 4 ohms I believe it’s around 1200 watts.

Carvin.com :: B2000

countrybass007 · #5 10-04-2011, 06:18 PM

I use an Orange TT500 and have nothing but good things to say about it. I've tried it with my GC 212Neo, my Mesa 118, and with my Orange SP212 and OBC115, and it sounds good with all of them. The 500 watts with either 8ohms or 4ohms is a great feature.

klejst · #6 10-04-2011, 07:04 PM

Thanks for responses. I have actually moved off the Peavy VB-2 and have been looking at either the Orange TB500 or Mesa Carbine M3. I have not played a M3 or actually heard in person a one, just some videos online. How would it stack up against the TB500 or vise versa. I also also heard that some say the tone of M3 is actually better than the M6? Like I said I love the tones I heard from the TB500 and the small size, but I have found online a M3 around the same price.

dukeisdog · #7 10-04-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klejst

Thanks for responses. I have actually moved off the Peavy VB-2 and have been looking at either the Orange TB500 or Mesa Carbine M3. I have not played a M3 or actually heard in person a one, just some videos online. How would it stack up against the TB500 or vise versa. I also also heard that some say the tone of M3 is actually better than the M6? Like I said I love the tones I heard from the TB500 and the small size, but I have found online a M3 around the same price.

The Mesa and Orange amps are two totally different animals. They sound completely different. You need to take your cab, bass, and try out both amps - get what YOU like best.

klejst · #8 10-04-2011, 07:50 PM

I get that, I am basically asking what people think of these amps? Pro's and con's and that sort of thing.

stingraysvt · #9 10-04-2011, 08:56 PM

While it does sound good, the orange seems to be a one trick pony, but if that's your speed then it would be good. Can't comment on the Mesa other than I've heard a player on this rig and he sounded great! Never got to fiddle around with either...

GNUlars · #10 10-05-2011, 02:37 PM

The Mesa Carbine amps are probably the punchiest amps around. They have a very nasty tone that cuts through anything. I love it, but if you like soft sounding polished tone amps you would not like the Mesa Carbine.

Gearhead17 · #11 10-05-2011, 11:08 PM

Orange TB500 - Demo video. Grab your headphones or get hooked into a good sound system.

Orange Terror Bass 500w Bass head - in-depth demonstration and review - YouTube

Mesa Heads have a unique tone to them - got to play one to hear it.

Both heads are good. The Mesa is a little bit more versatile over Orange, but watch the video and see what works for you.