More Channels Please

In the past 12 months my fellow guitarist in the band I’m in has changed his gigging amp three times. Every time the justification for doing so has been different to the last; the reason behind the first change was that the new amp had more bells and whistles than his current one; the second change came about because the new amp was just too damn heavy (in fairness it was quite possibly the heaviest combo I have ever had the misfortune of having to carry on occasion); and the third and final change was due to the fact that the new amp only had two channels.

“In an ideal world my amp would require a control room and at least two scientists to operate it.”

Recently he’s admitted that he’s not totally happy with the latest one either (it was to be expected) so change number four is on the horizon. The reason this time…surprisingly, the same as last time; still not enough channels (despite this one having three). All of this got me thinking about how we actually use our amps when it comes to its fundamental voices i.e. the number of channels, and whether or not some of us are missing opportunities with the amp we have because we’ve overlooked other options.

So before you condemn your amp to e-bay or your local music store as part of a part-ex deal, here’s some alternative ways of adding that extra channel you so badly need…

USING THE EFFECTS LOOP
If your amp has one…do you use it? Have you even played around with it? If it doesn’t or you haven’t then you could be missing a big opportunity. If you’re not in the loop (sorry…couldn’t resist) about effects loops you might want to have a quick look here, but in a nutshell effects loops allow you to place effects after your amp’s preamp but before the power amp. So what good does that do when it comes to more channels you say? Well…placing an EQ pedal in the effects loop can allow you to create another voice or it could be used as a boost for solos. Alternatively placing a clean booster here will allow you to hike your volume for solos without affecting your overall sound. So that’s possibly three new channels already.

WARNING: this suggestion only works if your amp has a serial effects loop. If your amp has a parallel effects loop, using either an EQ pedal or boost pedal won’t have the desired effect.

EFFECTS PEDALS
If you’re happy to use your amp’s clean sound as a foundation i.e. as a pedal platform, then there’s a whole load of overdrive, distortion or fuzz pedals available that pretty much cater for all tastes and can provide you with an endless number of channels. You could also try using the aforementioned EQ or Boost pedal and don’t forget that a volume pedal such as Ernie Ball’s VP Jr, or something like EHX’s Signal Pad could be the solution. Remember depending on your starting point i.e. your amp sound, the guitar you’re using and where you place the effects in your chain they’ll have differing results…experimentation is the key.

YOUR GUITAR
And last but definitely not least…don’t forget about your guitar. Your guitar is vital to your sound and how you use it is really important. The choice of pickup used (i.e. neck, middle (if it has one) or bridge) and how you set (fully open they need not be) and use your tone and volume controls may give you access to several different channels / sounds. It can be quite fiddly but with a bit of perseverance using your guitar’s controls can pay dividends (if you need a bit of inspiration watch Joe Bonamassa, he can’t help ride those controls).

BI-AMPING
This isn’t necessarily in the same league as the previous suggestions and doesn’t really match the brief, but running a second amp alongside the first may be the solution for some of you. A lot of the pros do it but then again they’ve got an army of roadies and techs to lug the bloody things about and set them up, and a tour bus is slightly bigger and easier to load gear into than your car. Plus their pockets tend to be a bit deeper. But all that said if one amp doesn’t give you everything you need perhaps two (or even three) amps might.

So…still think your amp doesn’t offer you enough channels? It may not (and only you know the answer to that) but don’t write the poor little bugger off straight away if you haven’t considered the above options. They may not get you anywhere near where you want to be and trying them out may drive you to the edge of insanity but until you try ‘em don’t knock ‘em…besides who doesn’t like messing around with gear?

– Darren Carless

by Alex Auxier

Uncategorized

Its Never Enough

By Darren Carless

If you’re a guitarist (or any kind of musician for that matter) there’s nothing better than standing back and admiring your gear in all it’s glory (for anyone reading this who hasn’t done this…it comes highly recommended). It’s hard to put the feeling into words…there’s just something about the smell of your amp, the sight of the cables snaking their way around the floor, your guitar sat in its stand, your pedals’ lights…it just gives you a warm feeling inside (you know the one). But as a guitarist how many times have you stood there admiring what you have and thought to yourself ‘if only I had one more pedal’ or ‘if I got rid of that and changed it for this’?

Gear Acquisition Syndrome (or G.A.S. as it’s more commonly known) is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact with today’s improvements in research methods and technology, scientists have discovered that it’s a very common ‘problem’ among guitar players. They’ve also been able to establish that more often than not the condition will affect you for your whole guitar playing life and in the majority of cases is unfortunately incurable. That said there does seem to be some hope and there have been several key discoveries made with regard to controlling the condition. Trials are still on-going but to date the most successful treatment seems to be the threat of physical violence or divorce by your better half (no-one’s really sure why this seems to have such a profound impact).

And thus marks the 400th time we’ve used this picture…

So hands up…who’s got G.A.S.? Who’s longing to add another pedal to their board even though the ones they’ve got already don’t fit on it, or who’s dying to get their hands on the guitar they need to complete their collection, despite the fact that they already have every model imaginable. Do we really need that new thing or should we be happy with what we’ve got and call it quits?

It’s pretty much a certainty that the one little voice inside your head (let’s call it common sense) will at all times be saying that you don’t really need anything else but another little voice (the little mischievous one) is without doubt smoothly suggesting that you could improve on some part of your setup.

Now unfortunately in this day and age common sense doesn’t get much support (other than from the aforementioned better half and in most cases it doesn’t need much more). The ever expanding Internet & smart technology (e.g. mobile phones, tablets etc.) mean that today anytime or any place we’re able to log on and check out what’s new in the world of guitars and amplifiers, what’s for sale where and even do a price comparison check and consider several reviews all before we’ve even really thought about it. It’s not like the good ole days where you had to visit your local music store (which was usually at least an hour’s drive away) or know someone who knew someone to satisfy your G.A.S..

Manufacturers don’t help the situation either. They constantly feed our desires by releasing new models or updated versions of the classics. There’s always a new edition (or a special limited edition) of the same pedal, guitar or amp with additional knobs and extra switches, that has been refined and improved upon since its previous incarnation using the latest technology and materials available.

Or the oldest technology and materials available

As guitarists we’ll claim that it’s all about the quest for tone…but that’s a whole different story (in fact see our previous article). We’ll justify the expenditure by saying that we haven’t quite found what we’re looking for, or that what we have doesn’t do what it should, and without doubt we’ll always claim that our latest purchase is ‘the’ purchase, that it will fulfill every expectation and we will never ever again need to purchase anything of its like (sound familiar?). We’ll all go about it in different ways too because every one of us has our little niche that gets us going. For some it will be guitars, for others it will be pedals…there’s just so much stuff!

But all this isn’t meant to dissuade you from expanding or bettering your gear collection. After all…changing your gear and getting new toys to play with is part of the fun. But the next time you feel the G.A.S. building up…stop and ask yourself: do I really need this? Will it make me happier? Will it really let me do something that I can’t already do? Or is it simply a stop gap until the next time? Only you know…

by Alex Auxier

Uncategorized

The Terror Series of Amps Explained

In 2007 Orange released the Tiny Terror. It was the beginning of the “lunchbox” craze of low-wattage, portable amps. Since then we’ve expanded our offerings in the series to include the Dual Terror, Dark Terror, Micro Terror, Jim Root #4 Signature Terror, and the Tiny Terror Combo. But exactly what are the differences between these amps and what was the inspiration behind them? We get this question quite often so we’ve decide to clear it up for you.

Tiny Terror

Year Released: 2007

Older Sibling: AD30H

Why we did it: In the words of the Tiny Terror’s designer, Ade Emsley, he wanted an amp “that could fit on a piece of A4 paper.” So was it just a matter of convenience? “No,” says Emsley, “it needed to sound like the guitars in the first three AC/DC albums AND be the size of A4 paper.”

What it does: The Tiny Terror is a crunch machine. It’s become one of the most sought-after tones for producers, particularly for its rhythm capabilities. While it can clean up, most players use it for straight-up rock and roll.

Webpage: https://www.orangeamps.com/products/guitar-amp-heads/tiny-terror-series/tiny-terror-head/

Best Demo Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWj5sB8PM-E&list=UUIq45Twz23R1srjvWyozIOw

Tiny Terror Combo

Year Released: 2008

Older Sibling: N/A

Why we did it: We sold about 10,000 Tiny Terrors in the first year of its release, so there was no question we’d be making a combo out of it.

What it does: The Orange “Voice of the World” speaker – based on Celestion’s Vintage 30 – in this combo adds a lot of weight to the bass and mid tones, giving it a true Orange vibe. The Vintage 30 has a long-standing history of use in Orange products.

Webpage: https://www.orangeamps.com/products/guitar-amp-combos/terror-series/tiny-terror-combo/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Gy2UUqzV0

Dual Terror

Year Released: 2009

Older Sibling: AD30C Combo

Why we did it: Adding an additional channel to the already successful Tiny Terror was another no-brainer. The consumers wanted more options and a higher-wattage setting so they could keep up with a full band.

What it does: The added wattage means additional headroom and a higher threshold for break-up. The “fat channel” is perfect for rhythm while the original Tiny Terror channel works great for lead tones.

Webpage: https://www.orangeamps.com/products/guitar-amp-heads/tiny-terror-series/dual-terror/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zouXnTnetc

Dark Terror

Year Released: 2011

Older Sibling: Thunderverb 50 and 200

Why we did it: “Orange’s popularity amongst metal guitarists was taking off around this time. The high-gain British crunch that’s inherent in many of our amps – the Dark Terror was no exception – was seen as a equal alternative to the more nasally American metal tones. The Dark Terror was released just as other company’s were beginning to copy the original Tiny Terror.” – Alex Auxier, Artist Relations

What it does: Much as the Tiny Terror became a producer’s dream amp, the Dark Terror is a hard rock and metal amp that has become a standard in the studio. The “shape” knob is a mid-EQ scoop that’s capable of classic rock overdrive at 9 o’clock and treble-blasting metal when dimed out.

Webpage: https://www.orangeamps.com/products/guitar-amp-heads/tiny-terror-series/dark-terror-2/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZGh1xNZE5k&list=UUIq45Twz23R1srjvWyozIOw

#4 Jim Root Terror

Year Released: 2012

Older Sibling: Rockerverb 100 MKII

Why we did it: The first signature amp we ever made in our 45 year existence. A lot of people questioned why we’d team up with Jim Root for our first. If you play this amp you begin to understand. Jim isn’t just about metal or hard rock. He’s a huge classic rock enthusiast too. That’s why he wanted the retro Orange logo and the pics-only face plate. But the tone he requested was that of his Rockerverb 100’s dirty channel mixed with our vintage-inspired OR series. We couldn’t argue with that suggestion!

What it does: Despite being associated with metal royalty, the #4 actually an extremely versatile amp due to the full EQ options. It can clean up to a creamy chime or blast into modern metal territory, all the while retaining the darker-side of the classic Orange mid-range tone.

Webpage: https://www.orangeamps.com/products/guitar-amp-heads/tiny-terror-series/4-jim-root-terror-signature-head/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J0EZddav2o

Micro Terror

Year Released: 2012

Older Sibling: Tiny Terror

Why we did it: If you get famous making small tube amps that sound awesome, then the only logical “next step” is to make EVEN SMALLER tube amps that still sound awesome. Could we make an even smaller amp still? Don’t hold your breath.

What it does: Bedsides being an almost perfect practice amp, the Micro Terror is an amazing back-up amp for almost any size stage. Plug one of these into a 212 or 412 cab and prepare to wet yourself with the amount of presence you’ll achieve.

Webpage: https://www.orangeamps.com/products/guitar-amp-heads/tiny-terror-series/micro-terror/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzDohmkXeJs

6 Comments/by Alex Auxier