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ORANGE BASS TERROR: The Review!

#401
I think if you're interesting in clean volume, you'd be better served by a TB1000. I can get mine ridiculously loud through my 410HLF and keep in clean, but I look a little wool in my tone so I drive the pre hard enough to accommodate my needs. Sounds like most TB500 users seem to think it dirties up quick when pushed...I've never played the smaller one so I can't say one way or another. My 1000 is plenty versatile for me...but as has been said, it will never do SWR clean.
 
#402
Jim C said:
Thanks Tom,
Can you decribe different in what way?
I'm in the UK right now and plan on stopping by some shops next week although so far it appears most things British cost more here!
Since the Chef has gone over to the dark side (meaning all SS) I'm not so sure he loves tubes amymore. Hopfully the pile of used but original Mullards, Amperex, Telefunken, Sylvania, GE, RCA, National, etc. 12AX7's I sent will lure him back!
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The Orange has a more lively, bright, cutting attack, though you can thicken the tone up, with EQ. The WalkAbout is more solid, full, and rich, but you can make it more aggressive and more cutting with EQ. Both can get varying degrees of tube overdrive layered on top of their inherent tone.
 
#404
This was a while ago now for me, but, I found the TerrorBass to be much darker than the Walkabout.
However, I used it mostly thru the tweeterless Orange cabs, so, ymmv there depending what cabs you're using.

what are the "tube" things you keep mentioning Jim?
 
#407
Chef said:
This was a while ago now for me, but, I found the TerrorBass to be much darker than the Walkabout.
However, I used it mostly thru the tweeterless Orange cabs, so, ymmv there depending what cabs you're using.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think that what you were hearing was more from the cabs. The TB 500 head itself is pretty bright (or at least it can be).
 
#408
I just got my terror 500 today, and I was surprised a little about the "articulate" top end after reading some of the posts about darker tones.

I found the eq responsive, and liked the fact that the eq seemed to have new life depending on the gain being used. My pbass with fralins and darkstar both seemed to shine in new ways... I used to have a mesa fathom. It was a BEAST, but I liked the terror a little better. I like a little hair on my tone, and the terror provides that OR a full beard of snarl if you want it!

I was VERY impressed. I played it though my gk neo 2x12, and it shook the guitar shop. (at 50 percent volume)

I have an orange sp212 on order, but it won't be in until April. Something about switching back to ceramic magnets. (which I am excited about because...) I did plug it into an ash down 4x12 as well...(ceramic magnets). Had the cab not been 1300+ dollars, I would have taken it home too... It was the PERFECT match for the tone I am looking for. The shop tech was also thinking the sp212 would sound closer to the ashdown than the gk.

I can't wait for the sp212 to show up now! Ill be selling the neo...
 
#409
A few notes - a buddy loaned me a broken Terror 500 to fix and play around with.

1. Not the greatest construction quality. The filter caps are not siliconed in, and one had snapped off. A pretty easy fix, but not during a gig. I siliconed the heck out of them, and would suggest anyone else who moves their amp around do the same.

2. I tried a JAN 12AT7 in v1. Much, much better sounding. Less muddy, more articulate. I didn't notice any improvements swapping tubes in v2.

Overall, I like the tone of this amp. I look forward to trying it out at a rehearsal!
 
#410
Can anyone recommend a preamp tube to try out (and what I might expect)? Ordered an EH, EH Gold Pin, and JJs.

adjndh.jpg
 
#412
Just got mine, compliments of Hello Music. Just been able to try it out solo'd, but so far pretty awesome stuff. I'll see how it fares at practice this weekend.

+1 to any post that said "wooly" or "one trick pony, but wow what a trick!" A/B'ing with plugging straight into the FX return shows that the preamp can be pretty clean, but again as others said not SWR crispness. (I'll A/B it with my SM-500 this weekend as well for that test.) A big surprise to me was when I EQ'd to 0-noon-0, it sounded very similar to plugging straight into the FX return. Not at all mid-ey, just normal. I haven't heard anyone mention similar results. I really liked the sound with noon-noon-9:00 (T-M-B), but putting the bass over 9:00 was waaay more boom than I'm used to/like. Uh, anybody else notice similar things?

I love the bite from my Jazz deluxe w/ .110 Roto's and this thing only adds to it. My comparison amp (Ampeg PB-250) tames it, but the BT lets it loose and adds to it. I did have a hard time getting a polite tone with it. I think it's there, but as soon as I hear that growl, my hands go straight to the gain for more. My guitarist was drooling by the end of it I think. Now to try it with the Muff --> Guv'na --> Fulltone Bass Drive for ultimate grind. :p

With the Gretsch, the pairing makes a monster. It does a great job at counteracting the pillowness of the hollow body. Doesn't hurt that it matches, too! :cool:

All that said, I'm not totally sold yet. I love simplicity, but this may be just too 1-dimensional. I do like variety sometimes and I play DB, too. I'm about to order a Tone Hammer 500 (and maaaybe the Streamliner 600) to pit the BT against for the Meanest Micro Awards. I've also really gotta get a more efficient / capable cab to make whichever I end up with really shine. :bassist::hyper:

IMG_20120419_200056.jpg
 
#413
My BT500H arrived this evening. I have it currently paired with an Ampeg PR410HLF I got a SMOKIN deal on. While it does look perhaps odd seeing the toaster sized Terror Bass atop a fairly large cab, this rig absolutely rips. This is quite simply, the sound I've been trying to get with pedals in front of a solid state amp or cleaner sounding hybrid amp without any luck. Right now I have the gain set at 1 o'clock and the master at 7 o'clock and the thing is loud enough to keep up with my brother's bombastic drumming. I can't imagine how loud the 1000 watt version is!

Right now I am running bass and treble both at about 1 o'clock and mid at 3 o'clock, with the preamp on my Geddy Lee Jazz set at similar levels (preamp and the EMG Hz p'ups in my bass are very hot, helping contribute to the gain) and a fresh set of DR MR45 HiBeams. This setup just RIPS. Love the way it responds to how hard I dig in to the bass, when I play finger style with a light touch it's nice warm, creamy yet defined sounding. When I dig in hard it breaks up very nicely. If I boost the gain a little more it's all out chaos. Will be interested to see how the amp sounds in a band context, and I should know that over the weekend.

Overall, this is even at this early juncture, I like this amp better than any I've owned (Eden VT .40, G-K 1001RB, SWR Bass 350, Trace Elliot). She may look like a toaster but she's a keeper!



image-3206942573.jpg
 
#414
mouthmw said:
Is there any danger that while using TB with 810 Ampeg, the TB could rattle and fall off the cab?
How do you set your TB on top of a big cab like 810? I really want one, but I'm a bit scared it might just drop off the cab during a crazy rockfest show. Especially if I doze out in my music and forget to check it behind me. It's only 5 kg.
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This happens to me almost nightly with my TB500 on top of my Ampeg 410HLF. I have to re position the head after just about every song. I'm thinking about putting two pieces of velcro on top of the cab.
Anyone else have their own remedies for this problem?

BTW, my TB500 head died on me at a gig last month. The power faded in and out for about 10 minutes until it finally died all together. I had to play the rest of the show through the house PA with no monitors. It sucked.
I contacted Orange, and they ended up giving me a brand new head. It was a pleasant surprise! The guys at Orange are great. They're all musicians and in my experience have been very generous with their customer service!
 
#415
Played the first show last night with the TB. Thanks to the head, I kept up GREAT against 3 guitarist and their tube-powered 2x12's.

D Bopp said:
BTW, my TB500 head died on me at a gig last month. The power faded in and out for about 10 minutes until it finally died all together. I had to play the rest of the show through the house PA with no monitors. It sucked.
I contacted Orange, and they ended up giving me a brand new head. It was a pleasant surprise! The guys at Orange are great. They're all musicians and in my experience have been very generous with their customer service!
Click to expand...

I just noticed Guitar Center's selling manufacture refurbs for $200 off now. You're bum TB is going to make someone very happy, sir.
 
#416
Can someone please list the pros and cons of getting the TT 1000w instead of the 500W? I by no means need the volume, but am looking for more versatility in tone- specifically cleaner and warmer. I will be playing in basements and perhaps small clubs, so I won't be pushing it much. I have 2x10 (sp210) and 1x15 cabs (OBC115). Thanks
 
#417
Well...

Pros - The 1000W can give you more clean volume with the gain knob set lower.

Cons - It will cost more for power you might not even need. Although you won't blow anything up if you're careful to listen to when your cabs sound like they are being pushed to the limit, you never know what might happen if someone else tries to crank it if you share amps at gigs!
 
#418
To anybody that's not read this, Bass Gear Mag's analysis of the EQ in the Terror Bass is well worth a read: Link Removed

Main points:

- Treble and bass are boost/cut, mid is cut only
- 95% of the knob sweep occurs between off and noon, not much difference after noon (hence some claiming the eq doesn't do much)
- Flat setting is with the mid cranked and bass&treble almost all the way down!
 

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