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Official Orange Club II

#2,281
In another older thread @Ringhammer mentioned swapping out a 12AT7 tube for a 12BH7 on his AD200 and ended up with more wattage and headroom. I have access to a nos RCA one. If I were to do this would it need re-biasing? I realize the 12BH7 draws more current and is generally not recommended as a 12AT7 replacement, but it seems subjective to which amp, though no one else seems to have reported swapping these on a AD200.
 
#2,282
Mosthigh said:
In another older thread @Ringhammer mentioned swapping out a 12AT7 tube for a 12BH7 on his AD200 and ended up with more wattage and headroom. I have access to a nos RCA one. If I were to do this would it need re-biasing? I realize the 12BH7 draws more current and is generally not recommended as a 12AT7 replacement, but it seems subjective to which amp, though no one else seems to have reported swapping these on a AD200.
Click to expand...
The post is actually in this thread. It's not clear if the tech rebiased the circuit or not.

FYI, 12AU7 pulls more current than 12AT7. 12BH7 pulls more current than 12AU7. There may be some degree of risk to the circuit.
 
#2,283
My tech did this on both of the AD200's I had. He said it changed the amp from getting 130 clean watts to 170. I don't know how or why but his testing yielded these results on both amps.
Both of these amps also had vintage, good testing GE and Sylvania 6550A power tubes installed, as well as vintage USA 12AX7's (don't remember exactly what brand) put in the place of the JJ's and OM's that I got them with.

When I sold one of them, I pulled all the ci tags tubes out and put the "PM"'s into it. The technician I brought it to (different guy) basically told me the BH7 did not need to be there, and put the AT back in. He scoped it at 200watts. So I do not know what my original tech was doing to test, I do know he has been doing it for more than 50 years, so I'm sure he knows what he's talking about.

Basically I'm left with some confusion, but still have the 12BH7 in play in the AD200 I still own.
 
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#2,284
Caught the Orange bug some time last year, ended up with 2 OBC112s, the newer 500W Terror Bass, as well as the Little Bass Thing (best 1 knob compressor, fight me!). I might have some cash to spare for another orange-colored thing, but can't decide between another cab or another head. And I can choose only 1. I am thinking another OBC since what I have is 2 of the same 12" speaker size, but also read somewhere that 2 1x12 cabs can be similar to 1 4x10 cab. I had 1x15 combo in the past, which I love, and that brought me into looking at OBC115 too, apart from the OBC410. Anyone tried the whole current lineup to enlighten me on this? I can't afford the OBC810, unfortunately.

As for another head, someone is selling a used OB1-300 and I love that thing for the name alone :laugh: might need or not need, I guess depends on how I would like the built-in distortion circuit. Heard that it has a pretty basic clean EQ, so not worth getting if I'm not going to use the distortion.
 
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#2,285
So I finally bit the bullet and accepted that I needed to downsize somewhat so I've finally retired my SP410, replacing it with one or two OBC112s depending on the gig. With baby number 2 now with us however, I need to free up storage space so can't really justify keeping the SP410 in the house.

I can't remember the last time I saw one up for sale on Reverb or EBay for reference. Given that it has had one (moderately) careful owner since new (I bought it right after they were first released from memory) with all original parts and hasn't been absolutely thrashed about, I'd appreciate if the hive mind could suggest what I might want to pitch it at when selling.

Alternatively if anyone's interested and happy to collect from Hertfordshire or pay for shipping from the UK…

IMG_8421.jpeg


EDIT: @wongahcheng I've got spotty signal where I'm currently on holiday so didn't see your previous post when I was typing this one. Without trying to be a little opportunistic, an SP410 is certainly in the 'similar but different' realm if you're interested 😅
 
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#2,287
Hey guys - I just grabbed an AD200B Mk 3. I just have a few questions. I haven't even turned it on yet, I'll probably do that tomorrow morning.

So. I have two OBC112's, and I know I can plug one or two into the 8 ohm outlets. But, I think I can plug one into the 4 ohm speaker out and chain the two speakers together. Is that right?

I'm not really used to tube amps. I've been gigging a Terror Bass for a few years now, but I've wanted to try the AD200.

And yes, pics coming soon.
 
#2,288
Flatwound said:
Hey guys - I just grabbed an AD200B Mk 3. I just have a few questions. I haven't even turned it on yet, I'll probably do that tomorrow morning.

So. I have two OBC112's, and I know I can plug one or two into the 8 ohm outlets. But, I think I can plug one into the 4 ohm speaker out and chain the two speakers together. Is that right?

I'm not really used to tube amps. I've been gigging a Terror Bass for a few years now, but I've wanted to try the AD200.

And yes, pics coming soon.
Click to expand...
The way the outputs are labeled can be a bit confusing. I will try to clear it up.


The speaker outs on your amp should look like this.
1761356375384.png


You might assume that this is three outputs that can all be used at the same time, but that is not accurate. It's actually two outputs with three jacks, and you can only use one of the outputs at a time.

1761356538678.png


Let call the outputs blue and green. Notice I have added blue and green squares.

The blue output is 4 ohms and it has two jacks. You can plug one 4 ohms speaker into either of the jacks and you are good to go. You can also plug 8 ohm speakers in each of the jacks. Two 8 ohm speakers in parallel = 4 ohms. You can also plug one 8 ohm speaker into one of the jacks and then daisy chain a second 8 ohm speaker from the first (assuming the daisy chain connection is parallel).

The green output is 8 ohms and it only has one jack. You can plug one 8 ohm cab into the jack and you are good to go. There are other cab combinations you could use. For example two 4 ohms cab in series = 8 ohms. So you could rig up a series adapter and then run a pair of 4 ohm cabs off the green output.
 
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#2,290
Wasnex said:
The way the outputs are labeled can be a bit confusing. I will try to clear it up.


The speaker outs on your amp should look like this.
View attachment 7351964

You might assume that this is three outputs that can all be used at the same time, but that is not accurate. It's actually two outputs with three jacks, and you can only use one of the outputs at a time.

View attachment 7351965

Let call the outputs blue and green. Notice I have added blue and green squares.

The blue output is 4 ohms and it has two jacks. You can plug one 4 ohms speaker into either of the jacks and you are good to go. You can also plug 8 ohm speakers in each of the jacks. Two 8 ohm speakers in parallel = 4 ohms. You can also plug one 8 ohm speaker into one of the jacks and then daisy chain a second 8 ohm speaker from the first (assuming the daisy chain connection is parallel).

The green output is 8 ohms and it only has one jack. You can plug one 8 ohm cab into the jack and you are good to go. There are other cab combinations you could use. For example two 4 ohms cab in series = 8 ohms. So you could rig up a series adapter and then run a pair of 4 ohm cabs off the green output.
Click to expand...
If you have two 8 ohm speaker cabs does one go into the 4 ohm and the other 8 ohm cab into the other 4 ohm and combined by the amp they are 4 ohm load?
 
#2,293
IMG_1012.jpeg


Still can't believe I pulled the trigger on this, but what a beast! I have a Terror Bass 500, but for a while, I've wanted to see how it compares to the AD200. I think the Terror Bass stands up pretty well, and is a great amp on its own, but the AD200B is something. I have an old TL606 style cabinet in the garage that's been sitting empty, and I also have an EVM15L laying around, and I think I've finally found a reason to assemble these together. After all, if I'm carrying a heavy head, I might as well carry a heavy cabinet as well! ;) Seriously, I did buy the Terror Bass head and OBC112 cabinets for their easy portability, and that's still a factor, but I can see the AD200B Mk 3 going out to gigs from time to time.

So, obviously, at the gig where this pic was taken, I was using my same OBC112's that I use with the Terror Bass. In comparison, I think the AD200B sounds "bigger". I often turn the bass knob on the Terror Bass all the way down, since the bass, for me, on that amp usually doesn't need any boosting. For a while I used the "flat" setting of mid all the way up, and bass and treble all the way down. Lately, I've been turning the mid knob back a touch, running treble at noon, and bass a tick or two from zero. Last night I ran the AD200B with mids about 75%, bass at zero, and treble at noon. Great sound.

Got this head with pretty low miles, and I think the tubes (JJ) are probably original. At least it doesn't weigh as much as an SVT.
 
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#2,296
I love Orange Terror Bass MKII.

It replaced my good old SVT-6PRO which replaced my Ampeg CL...

In 2025 SVT-6 works as a backup for Terror.

Not to mention SVT-6 in hardcase is 25kg (50lb?) and Terror od 4.5kg (10lb).


Funfact. Ampeg CL with heavy hardcase weighted almost the same as Terror Bass MKII with neodymium 410+115 cabs I use noiw.
IMG20251211230749.jpg
 
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#2,299
My AD200 developed a crackling issue so I took it to a tech and he replaced a few caps and resistors and that's gone, but now the volume is about 30 - 50% lower than before. The guy was a long time tech at a popular local music shop, but I'm starting to have doubts about him. The amp was bought used in great cosmetic shape, with only low studio use, so I wonder if his approach isn't the best. Seems the way he diagnoses an issue is to replace caps and resistors as he goes, then the problem will reveal itself. I'm no expert, but it seems that's like replacing all the tires on a car to find out which one has a leak.
 
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