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Posted by: yell03 May 1 2008, 11:59 AM

I've went through many amps trying to find the perfect sound, that 80s type Tube distortion without a pedal.

Listen to some early Kiss songs, "Hotter than Hell", "Cold Gin", etc.. or even some AC/DC (Back IN Black). you'll know the tone.

Those bands used Marshalls cranked to the hilt, but that is too loud for my Home so after lots of traveling to Music stores and buying and returning amps I found the perfect amp.

It is the Orange Tiny Terror Class A Tube Amp.
It has a toggle to vary between 7 watts or 15 watts.
Only 3 control knobs - Gain, Tone, and Volume.

Even at low Master Volumes tunring the Gain Knob gets you anywhere to Marshall Crunch to Heavy Hard Rock/Metal Distortion.

Within the last month I bought and returned a Peavey Valveking 112 50w tube amp ($400) and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 112 40 watt Tube amp ($590).
The Peavey had slightly better distortion, but not great, the Fender Hot Rod had beautiful cleans, but the distortion sucked without a Boss DS1 Pedal. Oh yea, I retuned the $40 pedal too as it is no longer needed.

I also returned my Fender Vibro Champ XD 5 watt Tube/Digital amp ($240), it was nice, but not that authentic sound and the 1x8 speaker was weak.

I also sold my Roland Cube 60w modeling amp and my Fender Microcube amp along with my Dean Vendetta XM.

All those returns, exchanges, and sales left me with $1000 to spend on a perfect amp.
I played the Marshall DSL and TSL combos, the Mesa Express 5:25 and 5:50, and my favorite a Marshall JCM2000 head thru a 4x12 Marshall cab.

Then it happened, the little Orange won me over. The guy felt bad about not recommending it first and cut me a great deal at $400 BRAND NEW for the head, then he was going to sell me a New Marshall 2x12 cabinet specially wired for the Head for $290, but I explained it would not fit in my sports car and it was kind of heavy after my Back surgery..

I asked him about the Epiphone 1x12 Cabinet. He looked it up and said that would actually be even better, but he did not have one in stock. So off to GC and $130 later I had the perfect cabinet.

I still have a $230 credit at the one Music Store, hmmm, maybe a nice reverb/delay pedal (any suggestions?) and/or a Vox DA5 battery operated practice amp for travel when I don't want to risk losing my Orange.

Here is a video of the exact combo I found on YouTube, it is not me, but at least you can hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bng-zXiZfMY

Howard

Posted by: OrganisedConfusion May 1 2008, 12:01 PM

Where's the video :s

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic May 1 2008, 12:03 PM

Yeah I cant see the video too.

Posted by: Fran May 1 2008, 12:09 PM

Nice story! You seem to have tried all the amps on the planet before deciding, lucky you!

Post the video when you can

Posted by: mattacuk May 1 2008, 12:31 PM

The Tiny terror is a great amp!!

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic May 1 2008, 12:42 PM

Yeah sounds cool on bout of the cabinets.

Posted by: skennington May 1 2008, 02:15 PM

Thanks for the share man. I've heard good things about those Orange Heads.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 1 2008, 02:30 PM

I actually don't like either of the cabs. The blackheart has a lot of mids and sounds more concrete but thin and harsh. The Epiphone is scooped and too muddy.

Posted by: Danilo Capezzuto May 1 2008, 02:41 PM

I like both. The Epiphone in smooth and scooped, the black heart is more aggressive, more top-end, I think is really nice with a single coil to get a nice crunchy tone!

Posted by: yell03 May 1 2008, 05:09 PM

I edited it in, you might have to refresh your browser.




see above



I heard that Orange is actually coming out with a combo, that would have been my 1st choice.




I am blown away.




Nice compact little cabs.




Glad to post up, I just can't shut up about this amp.




Neither cab is my 1st choice, but portability was key.




I am tempted to buy the Blackheart cab also for fun, it is only $149.

Again, the Orange Tiny Terror combo would have been amazing I am sure.

Howard

Posted by: MickeM May 1 2008, 08:37 PM

Congrats on the amp.
On my wishlist is an Orange Rockerverb

Posted by: yell03 May 1 2008, 09:34 PM

That would be nice.

Today I brought my $39 Fender Mini Tonemaster to work, It surprisingly has a decent Fender Voicing to it.
Of course the 2" or 3" speaker doesn't sound great, but it gets nice distortion.

Howard

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea May 1 2008, 09:48 PM

congrats on the amp .thanks for sharing

Posted by: yell03 May 2 2008, 12:46 AM

Thanks.

I just got done jamming for like and hour, I love the sounds this amp puts out.

Howard

Posted by: audiopaal May 2 2008, 01:21 AM

Nice, congratulations

Posted by: yell03 May 2 2008, 02:13 AM

Thanks.

Now that I've found the sound, I gotta get back to practicing and not just playing.

Posted by: JVM May 2 2008, 04:54 AM

Very nice. Good sound you get there, I looked at getting the tiny terror or an orange rockerverb before I got my mesa f-50. Great test review you did there, a lot of video reviews don't do comparisons well or are biased. You did great, was easy to compare and contrast them. I lean more towards the blackheart, the epi was a little too muddy for my taste but then I'd have to hear them in person to really decide

But I'm happy with the Black Shadow in my mesa cab

Posted by: yell03 May 2 2008, 11:26 AM

That actually was not me doing the test, it was a video I found on YouTube.com

I agree the Blackheart has a more raw sound, but in person the Epiphone sounds great.
I also played it through a Marshall 2x12 cabinet (only through one speaker as it was 4 ohms mono) and the Epiphone sounded at least as good.
They were going to rewire the Marshall for 8 ohms if I wanted it, but my aching back said no.

I am tempted to spend another $149 to pick up a Blackheart cab, kind of like having two different amps.

I have a $230 credit at the one music store, I am tempted to pick up a Reverb and/or Delay pedal, but I want analog and I truthfully don't know if I will use either all that much. I might just be better off keeping the $$$ until I want something else. I really am not gig on pedals.

I also heard a Vox DA5 Practice amp, it was amazing for $139 there, I am very tempted to pick one up for upstairs practice and travel. It is much better than my $39 Fender Mini Tone-master.

Mesa is high quality stuff, very nice.

Howard

Posted by: Fran May 2 2008, 12:05 PM

That test is really well done.

There really is a huge difference in their sound, I guess both are OK, but epiphone is a bit smoother and I like it better.

Posted by: yell03 May 2 2008, 06:29 PM

I have the Epi, but I think the Blackheart sounds great too, I wish I could have heard it live.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 2 2008, 08:46 PM

Congrats on the Epi cab. It is better imo too. (tho I don't like 'em both )

Posted by: yell03 May 2 2008, 09:36 PM

Chances are I'll come across a deal on a used Orange 1x12 cabinet and then life will be GREAT!
I'm always looking.

Howard