Replacing an Orange Terror Bass Amp

[themickster]

Hi!

I very recently acquired an Orange Terror Bass 500 head in a trade. It's a REALLY nice amp with simpler controls than my now sold Hartke TX600, but quite a lot of tonal range. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a headphone out, so it's of limited value as I do most of my playing in headphones so as to note wake up the kids/rattle the windowpanes.

Any suggestions for a replacement at a similar price point? I really like the onboard clean/distortion options of the Orange, so looking for something similar. What I've found are the Laney Digbeth 500 (Laney Amplification - Since 1967), the Darkglass Microtubes 500 ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]), and maybe the Mesa Boogie Subway (Mesa/Boogie | Subway D-800+ Bass Amp (Metal Head)).

The Laney looks awesome as it has a simple interface, plus volume control for both the audio in/headphone out. And the headphone out tone is managed by all the same controls as the cab out (unlike my Hartke that only shuffled out the preamp). Laney was also really fast at answering some of my questions this morning.

The Darkglass also looks really cool. It also has loadable cab sims for the headphone and DI outs, which could be a neat feature. AND it have a few different circuits (vintage microtubes and B3K), so I wouldn't need the Vintage microtubes pedal I bought on a whim to get that sound. My only concern is that I saw some posts on here about QC issues with the unit. I don't want to spend this kind of money to then be embroiled in a long battle to find a working amp.

I haven't looking into the Mesa as much, but including it as I think it's a well-regarded brand.

any insight would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

But a headphone amp

 

[Troglodyte1911]

Always read the full manual.

I’m such a troglodyte - all this time I thought the F in RTFM meant something else.

 

[Gearhead17]

I’m such a troglodyte - all this time I thought the F in RTFM meant something else.

The "F" always had two meanings.

For headphone practice, I recommend this unit: Zoom B1 FOUR Bass Multi-effects Processor

I am literally using it right now! It's quiet, has tone controls, and you can bypass the amp/effect patches if desired. Plenty loud, clean, easy to adjust. And it's a $100. Don't get rid of the Orange head if you like it.

Back to practice!

 

[groovaholic]

My guess: that statement in the manual was cut & pasted from the manual for another amp.

The only time an amp HAS TO have a load attached is when it has an output transformer.

ALL tube amps have output transformers, very few solid-state amps do.

I’m 99% sure your Terror Bass would be perfectly fine without a speaker connected - just don’t do that with an AD200!

 

[H K]

Hi!

I very recently acquired an Orange Terror Bass 500 head in a trade. It's a REALLY nice amp with simpler controls than my now sold Hartke TX600, but quite a lot of tonal range. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a headphone out, so it's of limited value as I do most of my playing in headphones so as to note wake up the kids/rattle the windowpanes.

Any suggestions for a replacement at a similar price point? I really like the onboard clean/distortion options of the Orange, so looking for something similar. What I've found are the Laney Digbeth 500 (Laney Amplification - Since 1967), the Darkglass Microtubes 500 ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]), and maybe the Mesa Boogie Subway (Mesa/Boogie | Subway D-800+ Bass Amp (Metal Head)).

The Laney looks awesome as it has a simple interface, plus volume control for both the audio in/headphone out. And the headphone out tone is managed by all the same controls as the cab out (unlike my Hartke that only shuffled out the preamp). Laney was also really fast at answering some of my questions this morning.

The Darkglass also looks really cool. It also has loadable cab sims for the headphone and DI outs, which could be a neat feature. AND it have a few different circuits (vintage microtubes and B3K), so I wouldn't need the Vintage microtubes pedal I bought on a whim to get that sound. My only concern is that I saw some posts on here about QC issues with the unit. I don't want to spend this kind of money to then be embroiled in a long battle to find a working amp.

I haven't looking into the Mesa as much, but including it as I think it's a well-regarded brand.

any insight would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

I've got one of the early Terror bass 500's. The early models didnt differentiate between 1 or 2 cabs being hooked up, so you get 500w out of it either way, which is nice. Anyway, I LOVE the damn thing. I run it as part of my 2 amp setup, for the "treble" part of my rick o sound. It powers a fender rumble 410. I found that on a 115 the sound quickly got muddled. But on a 410 it's crisp but warm.
I vote to keep it. They are getting hard to come by, and 2nd hand prices are very close to the "new" prices. Like some have suggested, you could get something else for practicing with headphones. Examples: Vox Amplug, a literal jack plug with a mini amp in it that lets you connect headsets; The Vox headphones which have built in bass drivers, a cheap powered mixer, a pedal-style mini amp. The list goes on. Might even be possible to just get an adapter for the DI output? Idk. Personally I use a super cheap mini Laney amp for practice away from the studio. Just like a 30$ amp to get some volume.
ANyway, yeah, my votes for a cheap mixer and a decent headset, Less-Than-200$ total for this purpose.

If you are hellbent on getting rid of the Orange, I'd say it's hard to find something that sounds identical.. They're known for having a pretty unique sound. But some other options I guess could be Ashdown, Fender rumble series, OR, get one of the Ampeg micro stacks. The SVT ones are amazing. Best of luck!

 

[fdbishop1]

I switched to the mesa tt800 and love it, but has the same question on the orange. This is the reply I got … this is for the newer terror bass 500

 

[MtManiac]

For headphone practice, check out the Darkglass VMT Ultra. Cabsim options, aux in, and headphones. The Ampeg SCR-DI works really well for this too.

Using a small mixer won’t give you cab sim. Between that and RCA & 1/4” cable adapters, it’s a PITA and doesn’t sound great, plus you have to research and deal with the whole speaker load question.

 

[U4EA]

Check out the Quilter bb800. Great for headphones, very portable yet powerful and has similar tone controls as the Terror Bass.

 

[JES]

I have a Quilter TB200 which doesn’t sound exactly like the Orange but can approach the same vibe, and has plenty of gain and a great headphone out with speaker sim. It’s more than you need, but it definitely fits the bill. My bandmates love my TB500 though.

 

[Aggy]

To close the loop on this one, Orange got back to me. Apparently the Mk2 Terror head can be run without a load, but not the Mk1.