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NAD: Orange Little Bass Thing

Inara

Inara

Fierce Fun Fretless Female
Jun 12, 2017
1,719
9,825
Seattle, WA USA
#1
I've been going round and round thinking about a new amp. My main head for a while has been the TC Electronic RH450, which has a lot of qualities that I love. I've never messed with saving presets and switching back and forth, though, so I won't miss that feature.

I considered the Mesa Subway D800 (which I'll probably end up getting someday), Aguilar Tonehammers, Genzler Magellans, GK Legacy, and the Terror Bass and Little Bass Thing from Orange.

It's funny ... The Little Bass Thing is missing some things that would be nice (pre and post for the DI instead of just post; 2 or 2.67 ohm capability; mute switch; headphone out), but something just kept me coming back to this. I love all the others I listed, but the clean-but-warm tone of the Orange I'm getting playing around with the compression and the mids just got to me. I brought it home today, and am looking forward to getting to know it better.
20210918_192725.jpg
 
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#2
Inara said:
I've been going round and round thinking about a new amp. My main head for a while has been the TC Electronic RH450, which has a lot of qualities that I love. I've never messed with saving presets and switching back and forth, though, so I won't miss that feature.

I considered the Mesa Subway D800 (which I'll probably end up getting someday), Aguilar Tonehammers, Genzler Magellans, GK Legacy, and the Terror Bass and Little Bass Thing from Orange.

It's funny ... The Little Bass Thing is missing some things that would be nice (pre and post for the DI instead of just post; 2 or 2.67 ohm capability; mute switch; headphone out), but something just kept me coming back to this. I love all the others I listed, but the clean-but-warm tone of the Orange I'm getting playing around with the compression and the mids just got to me. I brought it home today, and am looking forward to getting to know it better.
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Nice. Like you I am a big fan of the TC Electronic RH heads and while I like to try different amps, I keep finding myself going back to the TC and Orange.

I recently started down sizing my amp collection and have narrowed them down to the TC, Orange, Mesa and Genz Benz.. Those amps just plain work for me.

The LBT should be pretty similar to the 4 Stroke so you should be able to find an abundance of tones and clean power. If anything bothers you it may be the notched volume control. If not, you should be pretty happy with it. Congratulations.
 
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#3
Wicked G said:
Nice. Like you I am a big fan of the TC Electronic RH heads and while I like to try different amps, I keep finding myself going back to the TC and Orange.

I recently started down sizing my amp collection and have narrowed them down to the TC, Orange, Mesa and Genz Benz.. Those amps just plain work for me.

The LBT should be pretty similar to the 4 Stroke so you should be able to find an abundance of tones and clean power. If anything bothers you it may be the notched volume control. If not, you should be pretty happy with it. Congratulations.
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Thanks! Yeah, I'd prefer a continuous volume knob rather than notched. I don't like that the gain knob on the RH450 is notched either. I do have a habit of fine tuning my volume with the instrument's volume knob though, rather than having the instrument volume maxed all the time, so I think it's going to be fine.

One thing I am really loving is how thick and full the G and D string sound with the Orange. Just lovely, thick, chewy goodness with the compression around noon.
 
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#4
There is a difference though in that the TC is more LED notch for the presets as compared to the actual notched on the Orange that can lead to some serious volume increase with certain basses.

But you are right in that fine tuning with your bass volume knob can alleviate any issues. Also somewhere past 12:00 on the compressor will begin to introduce some drive into your tone on the LBT. You may or may not like that, I like it as it is not too much. Enjoy.

Edit: Forgot to add that I always talk about how thick the D and G strings are with the Orange heads. I really like that they never get lost in a band mix.
 
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#5
I really like the clean Orange sound and the Little Bass thing. Just wish they would give you a separate input gain and master volume. I would have kept mine if it kicked a little more into an 8 ohm load. Pretty sure I could have made it work with that seperate input gain.

Bet it thumps with that pair of Schroeders!
 
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#6
I know we should take online demos with a grain of salt but what I have heard so far I really dig it. The notched volume control was a negative but I also control volume on my bass. And reading about the thick D and G has renewed my GAS for it!
 
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#7
FeltTipPen said:
I know we should take online demos with a grain of salt but what I have heard so far I really dig it. The notched volume control was a negative but I also control volume on my bass. And reading about the thick D and G has renewed my GAS for it!
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It's really thick, warm, and yummy! I'm very happy with my choice, even with the limitations it has. I just had a very nice practice session with it, and am getting things dialed in ... Loving it!
 
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#8
FeltTipPen said:
I know we should take online demos with a grain of salt but what I have heard so far I really dig it. The notched volume control was a negative but I also control volume on my bass. And reading about the thick D and G has renewed my GAS for it!
Click to expand...

I disliked the notched volume control but in use didn't really matter. Totally forgot about it after I played. It is one of those amps that just sounds good. You have to try to make it sound bad. Like the clean sound on the Terror Bass but with usable tone controls.
 
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#9
It fits great in this old Gator small mixer bag that I originally bought for the GK Fusion 500 that I used to own. This bag is just great ... I can't remember what model it is, but it's fit all of my class D amps since that GK, and it's well-padded and sturdy. I did roll up some scrap foam I had lying around to add a layer of padding at the bottom and up the sides, though I don't think it actually needs it. Still, can't hurt. I might find some more and line the rest of the interior, though again I don't think it needs it for how I handle my gear.

On display are a couple of scuffs - this was a demo model, the last one they had in stock (discounted accordingly).
OrangeLittleBassThing-Gator1.jpg
OrangeLittleBassThing-Gator2.jpg
 
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