Dual Terror on Bass?

[markjazzbassist]

Hello it's been a while since i posted on here. Long Story short I used to own a OR120, AD200, OBC115, OBC410, BAX, etc. I play bass. I mostly play small jazz/r&b gigs where massive volume is not needed. I routinely play a 35-50 watt tube head and don't have it turned up even past 4. AKA i play with drummers that understand what the word dynamics means.

I've always wanted a lower wattage tube head for Bass from Orange but they don't have one. I understand the Dual Terror is 30 watts, i'm only interested in if the low end is present enough. Has anyone ever tried bass through a DT (into a proper bass cab)? I'm mostly interested in how the low end holds up and if it's decently clean for a bit. I realize I could probably get a bigger OT to get more clean headroom as well (did that with my 35w Fender Head and worked a charm).

[bclaire]

Hi Mark-

What would you be using for a cabinet?

[markjazzbassist]

Hi Mark-

What would you be using for a cabinet?

hey billy!

OBC115. So i know the tone from the cab and power handling would be there. Just maybe need to find a store that carries a DT and 15 and try it i guess.

[bclaire]

Yeah. I'd be concerned that the volume you'd need might have too much dirt to be loud enough...

[markjazzbassist]

i reached out to Jule Amps, he's apparently well known for modding these things. Wondering if a Output Transformer swap (to get more clean low end for bass) and maybe a couple Resititor/Cap changes in the tone circuit could make it workable. I would just love to have a 30w Orange lunchbox all tube for bass. OBC115 and i'm off to the races.

[fiveightandten]

Have you considered a used Terror bass head? It’s a lunchbox amp with a tube pre, and will have all the low end you want. Class D power amps sound great at low volumes.

[markjazzbassist]

i have had 2 of the terror bass, sadly i'm an all tube guy. the SS power section doesn't have the same girth and heft.

JUle got back to me and said OT is too small and a replacement would be too large to fit. no go.

just need to find that pot of gold so i can get an OR120 again

[fiveightandten]

i have had 2 of the terror bass, sadly i'm an all tube guy. the SS power section doesn't have the same girth and heft.

JUle got back to me and said OT is too small and a replacement would be too large to fit. no go.

just need to find that pot of gold so i can get an OR120 again

If a 500W dedicated bass amp didn't have the girth and heft you are looking for, I doubt that you will find it with a 30W EL-84 powered guitar amp. That's going in the other direction.

If you want an all tube low powered bass head, you may check out the Ashdown Little Bastard:
http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass ... -Bastard-/

[Les Paul Lover]

i have had 2 of the terror bass, sadly i'm an all tube guy. the SS power section doesn't have the same girth and heft.

JUle got back to me and said OT is too small and a replacement would be too large to fit. no go.

just need to find that pot of gold so i can get an OR120 again

If a 500W dedicated bass amp didn't have the girth and heft you are looking for, I doubt that you will find it with a 30W EL-84 powered guitar amp. That's going in the other direction.

If you want an all tube low powered bass head, you may check out the Ashdown Little Bastard:
http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass ... -Bastard-/

One if my friend is has this and loves it.

Another option might be the Thunderverb 50.
Between the cost of a 2nd hand dual terror and (impossible) transformer swap you were thinking about, I reckon the TV50 should cost about the same.

The TV50 and TV200 have pretty sturdy transformers designed to handle low tuning, the TV200 was marketed as a guitar/bass guitar amp too.

[3l3phantstomp]

I know you are an all tube guy, I was the same. Played a 70's Ampeg V4b for years. Then I purchased a TB500 and a SP212cab and it changed my last 5 years of gigging/playing. I've had a national act play a 6 string Alembics bass thru it and blow their mind doing every style of play possible (finger, plectrum, chording, solo notes).

Two years ago I put in two of these cryo tubes and they tripled the headroom, allowing for so much clarity and tone...
https://watfordvalves.com/product_detail.asp?id=1956

You do you for sure, but everything you are requesting is gained with that head and those tubes. And the head retains it's used value so getting one second hand will not cause a loss if you don't hear what I've lived. May eat the tube investment however. Either way cheers and happy thumping bass brother!