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OrangeTerror 500... Almost it, but not quite, what next?

LakeEffect

LakeEffect

Supporting Member
Feb 21, 2013
1,132
679
Denver
#1
Any and all input is appreciated. Always will try before I by, but I'm looking for some direction given that the culmination of my drawing board now has a return label on it.

Two weeks ago I bought an Orange Terror Bass 500 and an Orange 2x10 after having played it in a local shop.

For the first week, I was in love. I loved the edgy/gritty/warm sound... that is until I realized you couldn't "turn it off" (eq your way out of it, really). I've come to realize it is just an inherent voice in orange products.

My dilemma is that I love that inherent sound, but want to at least occasionally go without it and play something clean.

To the point... any recommendations of 300-500 watt amps that have that have that warm/gritty (I'm guessing from the "tube preamp") the orange had, that can at least approach a clean hip-hop/reggae vibe? I understand thats a whole best of both worlds request, but maybe there is a happy medium I'm not aware of.

I've always been drawn to Eden, but that is based of my experience with a combo amp - likely not a true representation of their heads. Really though, all recommendations welcome. Thanks in advance!
 
#2
Turn the gain way down, turn the master way up, turn the bass up a scoche. It does hip hop/reggae fine.

I'd try a different cab too. I've used mine for a huge variety of tone with my F215; sure another full bodied cab could do the same.
 
#3
Yeah, I guess I should mention that I got the sound I wanted at low volumes. The problem is when I needed to ramp it up a bit, had to use the gain, came back. Like I said, I love the sound, I just felt a little constrained by the amp. I also should mention that I play a thumb, so I'm fighting an uphill battle on those tones in the first place, I know there they're though.

I'm not in a rush to find a rig so I want to shop around, I may very well come back to the Terror in the event I don't like anything more (just want to be sure before I commit the money).

I hear you on the cab, I'm looking into that too, just have a better idea with those than amps.
 
#4
They changed the gain at some point, earlier ones have no clean until you swap valves, later ones have some sort of control in the gain knob. Flat eq is max mids, min treble and bass. Wish Matamp would hurry up with their mini class D head, would solve all of this.
 
#6
Sounds like you may need to give the Genz Benz Streamliner a look/listen. You can get a real clean tube like tone and add as much grit/hair/fur to it by using the gain and volume knobs. You can run it right on the edge and use your attack to get what you want. Great head in my opinion.
 
#10
Doodaddy said:
Has a clean tone to die for. So smooth and sleek, but if you drive the tube section (two 12AX7s), that grit shines up and is very gritty. I really feel like this is the amp for you.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the "M-Pulse", because if so thats way out of my price range, other than that all I see is the detachable combo version, do they still make just the head?
 
#11
How far did you turn the master up? Don't be shy about it. Honestly, it goes all the way up just fine.

That said, some technical solutions:
1) Change the input tubes out to something lower gain. Look around, people have had quite a bit of success with tube swaps.

2) Get a louder cab. If you can get the sound you want at lower volumes louder cab will add a lot of volume.
 
#12
LakeEffect said:
Are you talking about the "M-Pulse", because if so thats way out of my price range, other than that all I see is the detachable combo version, do they still make just the head?
Click to expand...

Orange Terrors have nearly the same resale as the Walkabouts.

They frequently under $600 shipped. If possible, opt for one with the Active/Passive switch on ,front and the FX bypass on the back (newer model).

Example:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f127/fs-ft--mesa-walkabout-amp-992299/

It really has been a wonderful amp for me. I often wish it were slightly more powerful (300@4ohm), but it's always gotten me by. I have a second 310 coming and we'll see how it does at 2.66ohms (it is 2 ohm stable).
 

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#15
Ashdown ABM 500 head does warm, warm and gritty and loads of other tones with a much more flexible 9 section EQ. You can also turn the valve drive on/off via footswitch. I've found the Ashdown kit i've used so far does tend towards the warm side but i get a great warm, loud and clean tone out of it with my P bass, which can get narly when i engage the valve drive. Try one out, if you like the TB500 i think you'd like it.
 
#16
I,ve found with mine that the sound close up to the amp and cab where you normally would be playing is pretty loud but go out front and it sounds different and is clearly audible and sounds different when full band is playing.
So set your sound to that not the solo on it,s own sound.
This is for all amps in a band situation.
i,ve got one of the newer ones with the gain and DI out fixed.
DI works a treat and the gain is there but you just turn the dial up.
Good advice with the gain down and up the volume as it is clean and articulate .
Try a preamp in front of the amp-bdi21,hartke bass attack or a pod.
It responds very well to these as I,ve tried them and use them live.
I,ve got the sp212 cab of which there has been a great amount of debate but it works for me,plenty volume and great sound.
I use basses with different sounds-musicman,p-bass,thunderbird and a Ricky and it handles them all easily.
 
#20
TC.65 said:
Sounds like you may need to give the Genz Benz Streamliner a look/listen. You can get a real clean tube like tone and add as much grit/hair/fur to it by using the gain and volume knobs. You can run it right on the edge and use your attack to get what you want. Great head in my opinion.
Click to expand...

+1 on the Genz. The variety of tone is astounding.
 

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