Orange turns out to be a lemon no more

[Guest MoJo]

I have contacted Orange's technical department. I'll post their reply when it comes through

[Protium]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1384615975' post='2278786']
I have contacted Orange's technical department.
[/quote]

Best of luck with that, given past experience.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Protium

[Guest MoJo]

[quote name='Protium' timestamp='1384800099' post='2280902']


Best of luck with that, given past experience.
[/quote]

Oh dear. Plan B is to A/B mine with a guy in a local band

[RandomBass]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1384800758' post='2280915']
Oh dear. Plan B is to A/B mine with a guy in a local band
[/quote]

Is that what the Orange tech bods said?

[Guest MoJo]

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1384806199' post='2280993']


Is that what the Orange tech bods said?
[/quote]

No. They've not replied to my email

[RandomBass]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1384812303' post='2281124']
No. They've not replied to my email
[/quote]

Ah ok fair enough, I misunderstood lol. I hope they don't take their time to get back to you.

Fingers crossed.

[Guest MoJo]

Several days on........still waiting

[Guest MoJo]

Reply from Orange

Hello, 
Congratulations on your purchase.Taking into account the output of your Bass and the settings you are using I would expect very little or no distortion.I hope your Terror Bass gives many years of service and pleasure. 
Best regards

[Roland Rock]

Well, that's that settled then. Case closed.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Roland Rock

[RandomBass]

WTF? The BB414 has one of the hottest passive outputs I've come across. I know that Orange fixed the issue of an overly enthusiastic pre gain, and the associated DI, but if this is the result then they have gone too far and potentially destroyed one of the USPs of this amp.

[Happy Jack]

I don't understand this at all.

Just to be on the safe side, have you tried A/B-ing your OTB500 against another?

There must be loads of them in the Midlands.

[RandomBass]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1385059874' post='2284048']
I don't understand this at all.

Just to be on the safe side, have you tried A/B-ing your OTB500 against another?

There must be loads of them in the Midlands.
[/quote]

+1 to this. If I had one I'd post the thing to you so you could compare

[omikin]

When I had one, my passive P Bass into the TB500 would definitely break up soon past nine. As Lozz said, by 2 you're into serious Lemmy territory.

Would it be worth asking them to switch it for another?

[Musicman20]

[quote name='omikin' timestamp='1385073133' post='2284292']
When I had one, my passive P Bass into the TB500 would definitely break up soon past nine. As Lozz said, by 2 you're into serious Lemmy territory.

Would it be worth asking them to switch it for another?
[/quote]

+1

If its new, ask for another. Especially if you've only just got it.

[Guest MoJo]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1385059874' post='2284048']
I don't understand this at all.

Just to be on the safe side, have you tried A/B-ing your OTB500 against another?

There must be loads of them in the Midlands.
[/quote]

Gary (grunge666) has offered to A/B mine with his on Saturday night. I'll report back with the results

[RandomBass]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1385121819' post='2284650']
Gary (grunge666) has offered to A/B mine with his on Saturday night. I'll report back with the results
[/quote]

That's good news. Obviously I don't need to tell you this, but check if its an earlier one and whether it's had a pre valve swap for lower gain ones, or if it's a later one with hopefully the same valves as yours, for a clearer level playing field comparison.

Cheers

Geoff

[Guest MoJo]

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1385122000' post='2284654']
That's good news. Obviously I don't need to tell you this, but check if its an earlier one and whether it's had a pre valve swap for lower gain ones, or if it's a later one with hopefully the same valves as yours, for a clearer level playing field comparison.

Cheers

Geoff
[/quote]

Gary did tell me that he's swapped the valves in his for military grade 12AY7's because the 12AX7's were just too harsh. He says he gigs with an old P bass with the gain and master at 9 o clock and it's loud enough through his Barefaced S12 to hold it's own in a 5 piece band. I realise the cab does alter the results but my Schroeder is rated at 103dB/1w/1m so it's pretty efficient. If I have my gain and master at 9 o clock, we're talking living room levels

[Happy Jack]

When you listen to Gary's amp. it'll be worth remembering just how big a step-down in gain you get moving from 12AX7 to 12AY7 ... roughly a 40% reduction.

[RandomBass]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1385125872' post='2284729']
Gary did tell me that he's swapped the valves in his for military grade 12AY7's because the 12AX7's were just too harsh. He says he gigs with an old P bass with the gain and master at 9 o clock and it's loud enough through his Barefaced S12 to hold it's own in a 5 piece band. I realise the cab does alter the results but my Schroeder is rated at 103dB/1w/1m so it's pretty efficient. If I have my gain and master at 9 o clock, we're talking living room levels
[/quote]

Ok, well for info with my TB500 through a BF Compact, 9 oclock on gain and master at home would have been divorce level.

[Guest MoJo]

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1385126675' post='2284744']


Ok, well for info with my TB500 through a BF Compact, 9 oclock on gain and master at home would have been divorce level.
[/quote]

[Lozz196]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1385125872' post='2284729']
Gary did tell me that he's swapped the valves in his for military grade 12AY7's because the 12AX7's were just too harsh. He says he gigs with an old P bass with the gain and master at 9 o clock and it's loud enough through his Barefaced S12 to hold it's own in a 5 piece band. I realise the cab does alter the results but my Schroeder is rated at 103dB/1w/1m so it's pretty efficient. If I have my gain and master at 9 o clock, we're talking living room levels
[/quote]

That def doesn`t sound right. Having had similar powered amps into a Schro 21012 the walls would be shaking at those levels. I`d return this specific amp and ask for a replacement.

[Jonesy64]

Hi Mark,

I still haven't had the luxury of cranking the gain on mine...I'll make an effort to try it out this weekend and give you some feedback.

[Guest MoJo]

[quote name='Jonesy64' timestamp='1385141829' post='2284988']
Hi Mark,

I still haven't had the luxury of cranking the gain on mine...I'll make an effort to try it out this weekend and give you some feedback.
[/quote]

Thanks

[cameltoe]

I've played my TB500 for about 4 years now, always through passive precision basses, and I don't get the whole 'breaks up after 9 o'clock' thing on mine. It's probably 5 years old, and has the hot DI issue.

Mine is fairly clean until about 12 o'clock, when it starts grinding. 3pm sounds nice and raspy, any more than that and it's farting!

That's how it behaves with the standard, cheap chinese ECC83's that came with it, although I have done some fiddling with it...

I've tried Tung Sol 83's, which were very dark sounding, and I now have some Phillips ECC81's in there, which have given it a warmer tone.

The downside to the 83's in my experience, is it can sound a bit boomy, but even with them I can play at around 10-11 o'clock gain without it breaking up like others have described.

I do have a light touch though, and play with fingers.

Edited November 23, 2013 by cameltoe

[Guest MoJo]

A/B'd with Garys........sounded just as loud at the same settings. Maybe it's the voicing of the Schroeder that makes it seem quiter