Preamp pedal in to effects return

[SteveXFR]

I've never been 100% happy with my Orange Terror 500 mk1. Its plenty loud but turning up the gain sounds really wooley and I want plenty of gain. Yesterday I tried my Two Notes Le Bass straight in to the effects return which I believe bypasses the Orange preamp and just uses it's power section. It sounds much better but could it cause any harm? I had to run the master volume a bit higher but I guess that's just because I'm missing the preamp gain.

[pete.young]

You can't cause any harm doing this, and it's a lot easier than changing the pre-amp valve for a lower gain version.

[pbasspecial]

To be fair, I changed the preamp valve on my old OBT. Really easy to do. 10 min job. 1 min to change the valve, 9 mins to unscrew it. 
If I can do it, anyone can 😂

[SteveXFR]

1 hour ago, pbasspecial said:

To be fair, I changed the preamp valve on my old OBT. Really easy to do. 10 min job. 1 min to change the valve, 9 mins to unscrew it. 
If I can do it, anyone can 😂

 

I had the amp repaired last year after the power section blew up. While he was in there he checked the preamp and was of the opinion that the valves were fine. He said it just sounds how a mk1 Terror sounds. 

[Jonesy]

You'll be safe enough going through the effects return and bypassing the pre in your terror. I have a quilter 800 and do the very same with 2 different pre amp pedals for different bands.

[Happy Jack]

1 hour ago, SteveXFR said:

He said it just sounds how a mk1 Terror sounds. 

 

Yes, but the Mk I Terror needs to sound how YOU think it should sound, and the originals had issues. Don't ask me how I know.

 

Changing the preamp valve is a genuinely simple job and it opens a whole new rabbit hole for you to fall down. 🤑

 

Not surprisingly for a nearly 12-year-old thread the useful and informative photos are long-gone, but the text will still tell you all you need to know:
 

 

And no, I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA where those seals came from. 😂

[SteveXFR]

Do the AT7 valves solve the wooley sounding distortion? That's my biggest problem with the amp.

[Happy Jack]

Ah well, now we're "dancing about architecture", aren't we? 😉

 

I had three OTBs at different times, with an interesting assortment of preamp valves in them. I don't think the word woolly ever crossed my mind, so I'm not about to make great claims for what re-valving can achieve.

 

Hell, for all I know you're playing a 50s Gibson through it with an enormous mudbucker!

 

[SteveXFR]

Nope, just a simple Mexican P bass but tuned down to A#

[Happy Jack]

34" scale Precision tuned down SIX steps and you think it's the AMP that's woolly?

 

Are you using the BEAD strings from a 5-set? I've done that myself and it works of course, up to a point, but IMHO there are few 34" scale basses that can properly deliver a low B, let alone a low A#.

 

 

[Newfoundfreedom]

1 hour ago, Happy Jack said:

 

Yes, but the Mk I Terror needs to sound how YOU think it should sound, and the originals had issues. Don't ask me how I know.

 

Changing the preamp valve is a genuinely simple job and it opens a whole new rabbit hole for you to fall down. 🤑

 

Not surprisingly for a nearly 12-year-old thread the useful and informative photos are long-gone, but the text will still tell you all you need to know:
 

 

And no, I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA where those seals came from. 😂

 

It's always a good idea to replace the seals while you've got the amp stripped down. 

[SteveXFR]

Just now, Newfoundfreedom said:

 

It's always a good idea to replace the seals while you've got the amp stripped down. 

 

No one wants to blow a seal.

 

 

Yes I'm immature and crude

[Waddo Soqable]

14 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

 

No one wants to blow a seal.

 

 

 

Tho, everyone has their price.... 

[Newfoundfreedom]

34 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Tho, everyone has their price.... 

 

Is a new Harley Benton too cheap? 

[BassmanPaul]

1 hour ago, Happy Jack said:

Are you using the BEAD strings from a 5-set? I've done that myself and it works of course, up to a point, but IMHO there are few 34" scale basses that can properly deliver a low B, let alone a low A#.

Four string sets B E A D are available. I use a set on my Warwick Streamer. They work well.

 

[Waddo Soqable]

1 hour ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

 

Is a new Harley Benton too cheap? 

Hold out for a Rickenbacker

[fretmeister]

3 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

Nope, just a simple Mexican P bass but tuned down to A#

You need a j pickup in there.

 

Detuned precisions all sound woolly or downright flubby. It’s just the nature of the pickup and notes that low.

There’s a reason why there’s hardly any 5 string basses with just a P pickup, and it’s woolly flub.

 

The answer is a Jazz or a PJ bass.

 

I’ve got a cheap 32 scale PJ that is often in Drop A and there’s no flub.

[SteveXFR]

3 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

You need a j pickup in there.

 

Detuned precisions all sound woolly or downright flubby. It’s just the nature of the pickup and notes that low.

There’s a reason why there’s hardly any 5 string basses with just a P pickup, and it’s woolly flub.

 

The answer is a Jazz or a PJ bass.

 

I’ve got a cheap 32 scale PJ that is often in Drop A and there’s no flub.

 

I used to use a Stingray 5 string and didn't find that any better.

[fretmeister]

15 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

 

I used to use a Stingray 5 string and didn't find that any better.

I’ve never rated stingray 5s unless the low B is about a .140+ to get the tension up high enough. Just something about them that doesn’t work as well as other designs.

 

 

[mario_buoninfante]

it seems like the FX loop uses the valves too

pic from https://orangeamps.com/products/bass-guitar-amps/terror-bass/

[Newfoundfreedom]

1 hour ago, fretmeister said:

You need a j pickup in there.

 

Detuned precisions all sound woolly or downright flubby. It’s just the nature of the pickup and notes that low.

There’s a reason why there’s hardly any 5 string basses with just a P pickup, and it’s woolly flub.

 

The answer is a Jazz or a PJ bass.

 

I’ve got a cheap 32 scale PJ that is often in Drop A and there’s no flub.

 

Personally I'd go with a humbucker, preferably with the option to split the coils. Best of both worlds. 😉

[mario_buoninfante]

ok, in this video it says that the FX send, not the return, uses the valves
 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by mario_buoninfante

[Downunderwonder]

11 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

I've never been 100% happy with my Orange Terror 500 mk1. Its plenty loud but turning up the gain sounds really wooley and I want plenty of gain. Yesterday I tried my Two Notes Le Bass straight in to the effects return which I believe bypasses the Orange preamp and just uses it's power section. It sounds much better but could it cause any harm? I had to run the master volume a bit higher but I guess that's just because I'm missing the preamp gain.

All good.

[msb]

I use the effect return to bypass the tone stack and front end of the amp , I run a multi tube pre so l get a warm tube sound with some serious slam behind it. 
Downtuning a Pbass that far might cancel that though.

[Skybone]

I run a POD Go into the Effects Return of my amp. 

 

Works for me.