Anyone use the Orange Two Stroke boost pedal for bass, if so, how do you like it and how often do you use it? The thing gets excellent reviews so I'm think about getting one myself.
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Official Orange Club II
- Thread starter Chef
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I've been thinking the same thing. I may have to order one too.
I have never tried one, but the Bass EQ is tweakable between 120Hz and 1.2kHz, a very usable range for bass and growly low mids. And it overlaps with the High EQ starting at 850Hz, so I might want to give it a look myself.
(Note to myself: I don't need another boost pedal or EQ. I don't need mor gear...)
Hey all,
I got ahold of a variety of 12ax7 tubes today, so I put together a quick comparison in my Terror Bass
The Tung Sol, Ei, and EHX are my favorite. I ultimately settled on the EHX. It just has a smidge more high end crispness than the Tung Sol, and just makes this amp sound amazing.
The stock Ruby tube was the most round and warm tube, to my ears. I think the tonal differences were more noticeable in person through the cab, than they were through the DI in my youtube video.
I got ahold of a variety of 12ax7 tubes today, so I put together a quick comparison in my Terror Bass
The Tung Sol, Ei, and EHX are my favorite. I ultimately settled on the EHX. It just has a smidge more high end crispness than the Tung Sol, and just makes this amp sound amazing.
The stock Ruby tube was the most round and warm tube, to my ears. I think the tonal differences were more noticeable in person through the cab, than they were through the DI in my youtube video.
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I saw a few stores blowing them out a few months ago for like $700 or so. My guess is it's being discontinued. Honestly, they should consolidate the 4 stoke and Ob1 amps into a single amp. Remove the compressor and replace with the OB1 blend control. Keep the 4 stoke EQ section. That would be a winner of an amp.
As long as the add a dedicated input gain control I'd be all over it. That was really the main issue i had with the OB1.
They might be going because the TB is back.
I think they both appeal to different kinds of Bass players. I wouldn't want a 4 stroke, but I like my OB1's no frills bi-amp approach. It's more akin to my AD. That said, now that the TB is back, I am having a hard time not selling my OB1 and going for a TB.
I picked up one of those 4 Stroke 500 amps at a blowout price, and like it well enough, though I'll admit that I'm a little mixed on it after the honeymoon period was over. I really do love all of the EQ options, but I'm not the biggest fan of the onboard compression, as well as the 4 Stroke's tendency to hold you amp's overall volume hostage by using the compressor. I've been able to mess with the settings enough to EQ the worst parts of the compressor, but I'll be honest and say that it feels kinda like a compromise.
I love the earlier post about combining the OB1 and 4 Stroke. I have an OB1 as well, and absolutely adore it, despite its limited tone controls. I run a simple SansAmp in front of it for a little more EQ flexibility, but honestly it's been one of my favorite amps, even more so than the Terror Bass (which is also a great amp).
I'm picking up a new cab today to see if that helps alleviate the 4 Stroke's compression limitations, and I'll figure out what to do from there.
I love the earlier post about combining the OB1 and 4 Stroke. I have an OB1 as well, and absolutely adore it, despite its limited tone controls. I run a simple SansAmp in front of it for a little more EQ flexibility, but honestly it's been one of my favorite amps, even more so than the Terror Bass (which is also a great amp).
I'm picking up a new cab today to see if that helps alleviate the 4 Stroke's compression limitations, and I'll figure out what to do from there.
I am also questioning the 4 Stroke's compression. I'm still not sure exactly how it works. For my last gig, I brought the new Terror Bass, which I now prefer, despite the class D circuitry and tube pre. I used to think of an amp like that as "the worst of both worlds" (class D because of it's sensitivity to wall current fluctuations and speaker impedance, and tubes because of - well, they're tubes). It does make for a nice mildly grindy tone, which I prefer over the 4 Stroke.
Do you happen to be playing the 4 Stroke through the new OBC112s? I am, and I'm slightly suspicious that they are the culprits. I went ahead and picked up a cheap-ish GK MB Fusion, and found that a lot of my complaints about the 4 Stroke were minimized, but not necessarily eliminated. That leads me to believe that it could be the combination of the 4 Stroke and the 1x12s that made me unhappy with the sound. Unfortunately, that new cab I ordered came in with a blown tweeter, so I can't test my theory today, but I'm still inclined to believe that the cabs are at least partly responsible.
Of course, the 4 Stroke may be getting discontinued because everyone is experiencing the compression issues, but I guess we won't ever really know. I'm bummed too, as I'm an Orange superfan. Good thing that the OB1/OBC115 rig at my practice space sounds like a million bucks, so I'm not put off by all of their bass offerings.
Yes, I used the 4 Stroke with a pair of the OBC112's. The compression function is weird. When the knob is fully off (all the way to the left), there's not a lot of volume. Turning the compression to the right (what I would consider "on"), brings up the volume. I would think that it should be the opposite. But then again, I've never used compression, pedal or otherwise. Though there is a compression knob on my Ampeg PF-800, I never used it (I keep it all the way to the left, which in my mind, is "off", and the amp acts like it is off).
Don't get me wrong, when I gigged with the 4 Stroke, it sounded great. I set the compression at maybe 1/4 on, and there was plenty of volume and the tone was fine. I really like the tone controls on the amp also. I will say, my next gig I used the Terror, and it did sound better to my ears. It had a bit of "grind", which the 4 Stroke lacks. Frankly, the Terror sounds a bit more "Ampegy", and before I started using Orange amps & cabs just a couple of months ago, I was using all Ampeg exclusively. I went over to Orange because of the light weight OBC112. My Ampeg cabs are literally twice as heavy, and I'm getting old
At this point, I'm happy to use the Terror and the OBC112's, and keep the 4 Stroke as a backup. Though I will admit, that the 4 stroke is a heavy amp, so I brought my Ampeg Micro VR as a backup for the Terror.
Yes, I used the 4 Stroke with a pair of the OBC112's. The compression function is weird. When the knob is fully off (all the way to the left), there's not a lot of volume. Turning the compression to the right (what I would consider "on"), brings up the volume. I would think that it should be the opposite. But then again, I've never used compression, pedal or otherwise. Though there is a compression knob on my Ampeg PF-800, I never used it (I keep it all the way to the left, which in my mind, is "off", and the amp acts like it is off).
Don't get me wrong, when I gigged with the 4 Stroke, it sounded great. I set the compression at maybe 1/4 on, and there was plenty of volume and the tone was fine. I really like the tone controls on the amp also. I will say, my next gig I used the Terror, and it did sound better to my ears. It had a bit of "grind", which the 4 Stroke lacks. Frankly, the Terror sounds a bit more "Ampegy", and before I started using Orange amps & cabs just a couple of months ago, I was using all Ampeg exclusively. I went over to Orange because of the light weight OBC112. My Ampeg cabs are literally twice as heavy, and I'm getting old
At this point, I'm happy to use the Terror and the OBC112's, and keep the 4 Stroke as a backup. Though I will admit, that the 4 stroke is a heavy amp, so I brought my Ampeg Micro VR as a backup for the Terror.
Apparently we were separated at birth, given that I just came off of a big Ampeg binge and was playing a V4B for the last year before switching to Orange. And yeah, I could see how elements of the Terror Bass are sort of Ampeg-y, only with less weight. The 4 Stroke and OB1 are definitely heavier than the TB, but I don't find them egregious or anything when coming from an all tube amp. And like you, it was the draw of the OBC112s that brought me to Orange, and discovering how much I loved the OB1/OBC115 rig was more of a happy accident.
Mentally, I've sold off the 4 Stroke, but I'm not sure as of yet what I'm planning on doing with the cabs. They are fine as a gigging cab I suppose, as I have to really dig in with the GK to get them to sound farty, and I rarely play that way. And besides, most gigs I go to are just DI/FOH, so it's simply a matter of whether or not they are good enough for my ears. Possibly? I really wish that other cab had worked out so I'd have a true comparison by now. Oh well.
It's interesting - we all go into the PA, and I use IEM's, so technically I could go without an amp. But somehow, that just doesn't feel right to me. The Orange 12's are perfect for gigs for me. Since the singer and guitarist don't use IEM's (only the drummer and myself), those 12s are perfect for stage monitors. Though for the gigs we play - mostly smaller dive bars - the 12s would easily be enough without going through the PA. But I think the band sounds better with everything ported through the PA.
Like I said, I'm very happy with the 12s and the Terror. But yeah, not sure what I'll do with the 4 Stroke.
Yes,the 4 Stroke has been discontinued...Fortunatly, there were 2 of them left in the French distributor's warehouse...and I picked one 
I love that sound : kind of Steve Harris /Geddy Lee style.
Been looking for that sound since I played Peavey back in the 80's
I love that sound : kind of Steve Harris /Geddy Lee style.
Been looking for that sound since I played Peavey back in the 80's
Glad you love the sound! Would have sold you mine, if you needed
As for my update, I did end up getting some new GK cabs in, just to make sure it wasn't an issue with the cabs. The end result is that the sound I didn't like was a combination of the 1x12 cabs and the 4 Stroke, as the effect was still there with GK cabs, but lessened to such a degree that I could see the appeal. I still ultimately prefer the matching GK head I picked up through those GK cabs, but I wouldn't have been unhappy had I kept the 4 Stroke.
I still adore the OB1 and 1x15s. It does exactly what I need it to, as I keep it clean for the post-rock project and some moderate distortion for the stoner metal project.
As for my update, I did end up getting some new GK cabs in, just to make sure it wasn't an issue with the cabs. The end result is that the sound I didn't like was a combination of the 1x12 cabs and the 4 Stroke, as the effect was still there with GK cabs, but lessened to such a degree that I could see the appeal. I still ultimately prefer the matching GK head I picked up through those GK cabs, but I wouldn't have been unhappy had I kept the 4 Stroke.
I still adore the OB1 and 1x15s. It does exactly what I need it to, as I keep it clean for the post-rock project and some moderate distortion for the stoner metal project.
I am thinking of getting an OR100 or a Thunderverb 50 or 200 for recording.
I sometimes biamp my Bass tracks with a thick layer of Fuzzy OD.
I normally record either the Orange OB1 or the AD200B into a OBC410 with a Sennheiser MD421. Or The DI-out from the OB1 or Slave out from the AD direct into the interface. Then I duplicate the track and process it with Amplitube Orange; Thunderverb 200 or OR120 heavy distorted through an 810 cab. It sounds amazing.
But I'd like to try the real deal. Have any of you tried those?
I sometimes biamp my Bass tracks with a thick layer of Fuzzy OD.
I normally record either the Orange OB1 or the AD200B into a OBC410 with a Sennheiser MD421. Or The DI-out from the OB1 or Slave out from the AD direct into the interface. Then I duplicate the track and process it with Amplitube Orange; Thunderverb 200 or OR120 heavy distorted through an 810 cab. It sounds amazing.
But I'd like to try the real deal. Have any of you tried those?
Haven't tried it myself, as the OB1 is all I need for dirt/bi-amp, but what kind of music are you playing? I would assume that both are high gain, while the Thunderverb is a bit more trebly whereas the OR has a bit more ORganic sound (har!).
When I'm not busy playing a bassist on TV, I play guitar and love Orange gear, but I find the Thunderverb a bit too nasally for my tastes (stoner metal), so I prefer OR or even Rockerverbs. Of course, those come with a lot more lower end, which might muddy up the signal when blended with a traditional bass amp. Which amp model do you prefer in Amplitube?
When I'm not busy playing a bassist on TV, I play guitar and love Orange gear, but I find the Thunderverb a bit too nasally for my tastes (stoner metal), so I prefer OR or even Rockerverbs. Of course, those come with a lot more lower end, which might muddy up the signal when blended with a traditional bass amp. Which amp model do you prefer in Amplitube?
