Orange Amps Forum

Ok so it hasn’t happened so far but was thinking what’s happens if your amp goes down mid-gig?

Rather than have a ‘back up amp’ (and another thing to lug around) are there alternative ways to get you to the end of the gig that you use such as just plugging direct into PA?

Fits in your case

Thanks, like the idea, appreciating its a ‘get me to the end of the gig’ situation, how does the micro terror stand out? Is it loud enough and will cut through the mix?

Digestive wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:47 pm

Thanks, like the idea, appreciating its a ‘get me to the end of the gig’ situation, how does the micro terror stand out? Is it loud enough and will cut through the mix?

Loud enough is subjective. For certain music style/band/guitarist, a 10 watts tube amp is enough; for other, they need 100 watts.

The short is answer is : if your amp is mic, the micro terror will do the job; if not, it probably wont be enough.

Thanks, what could be other options...plugging direct into the PA from the pedal board via a DI box?

Digestive wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 29, 2019 5:08 am

Thanks, what could be other options...plugging direct into the PA from the pedal board via a DI box?

That is another option, but I guess it has to be tested and set up with PA guy. I would not expect it to work in the middle of the gig. Still, I'd say switching to your backup amp is still the fastest way to survive.

A second amp in my view is the best option ....ive gone for small easily portable ones, my HWTT for example or Rocker 15 terror, ones that still provide a good tone and I can still hear through the cab....and also gives the option of using this as the main gig amp, which I've done quite a few times.

The only time one of my Orange amps stopped working during a gig was quite a few years ago when I had a blackstar ht5 which had an xlr emulated out, so was ran straight to the PA. It got me through the gig but sounded terrible!!

IMO, a pedalboard straight to a PA will sound dreadful. There needs to be some kind of preamp in there, as well as cab simulation.

If my Rocker 15 Terror goes down mid-gig, I'm reaching for my VOX Nigh Train. The convenience of being able to tote two lunchbox heads is why I switched to them from using a combo. And I'll never need more power than what they provide.

I'm always mic'ed for my drummer's in-ears, but I'm now preferring to patch into the board through a Two-Notes Torpedo Captor, an excellent loadbox/DI/cab simulator. I get excellent stage volume from my cab and get a touch in my monitor mix (nice to be surrounded by my playing). Then I can get as loud as I need through the mains.

This happened to me in front of 4000 people when I was 17... The bad thing about it is that the amp I had was a tube amp that could also be switched to Solid State. My tubes crapped out and I panicked. We had to stop mid-song and switch amps... I could have just switched it to Solid State and finished the set...

I always have a palmer pocket amp, a kind of DI in a pedal format to plug in the PA, but never had to use it so far.

That's why I have a backup mantra. I tend to acquire gear in twos. Two AD30TC's; two OR80's; two Marshall JTM-45's, many backup Teles, six Strats, three Duesenberg's, etc. Only thing I don't have a backup for is my G-System, but I've been considering it...

bclaire wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 07, 2019 1:24 pm

That's why I have a backup mantra. I tend to acquire gear in twos. Two AD30TC's; two OR80's; two Marshall JTM-45's, many backup Teles, six Strats, three Duesenberg's, etc. Only thing I don't have a backup for is my G-System, but I've been considering it...

Billy, I don't think that's a Mantra... I think that's a disease...

Dark Helmet wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2019 4:54 pm

bclaire wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 07, 2019 1:24 pm

That's why I have a backup mantra. I tend to acquire gear in twos. Two AD30TC's; two OR80's; two Marshall JTM-45's, many backup Teles, six Strats, three Duesenberg's, etc. Only thing I don't have a backup for is my G-System, but I've been considering it...

Billy, I don't think that's a Mantra... I think that's a disease...

Ha ha ha ha... maybe.

Losing your amp mid gig is a guitarist's 'mare!
Happened to me when I was using a vintage Peavey Deuce at a high profile gig.
Mid song, blue flash out back of amp. Guitar totally dead. (Blown tube and fuse!)....Band had to 'Take a short break' while I raced to my van, drove 3 miles home, grabbed an old Fender M80 I used for practice and hot footed it back to the venue.
Carried that M80 in the van for every gig after that, until I moved to Orange (R30 HD, PPC 2012 OB)......now I carry a micro terror in my cable bag. That little 20 watt box kicks out a surprising volume and a pretty decent tone, nowhere near the grunt and tone of the R30 but holds its own through the PPC212, and slap a mic in front and it will get you to where the venue hands over the bucks.
Bang for footprint, weight and 'carry in' hassle, it fits the bill. If there was no such micro toaster amp available, I would definitely pack a Tiny Terror. Bigger footprint but still small enough to stash in a kit bag, and great tone to boot!!
I will never gig without a spare amp again!!

Jondog wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:34 pm

Fits in your case

I need to order parts to fix my big amps, so I'm using it a lot now.

Sounds great through a 4x10", I kind of like it even better than with 12" speakers because it sounds tighter. I use it with pedals and would have no problem using it as a main amp.

There are smaller alternatives like pedal amps the size of an MXR pedal, but I doubt they sound better.