Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Inder_Cine_Mann

Inder_Cine_Mann

New member
Hey guys, I was hoping some of you could educate me a little about tubes.

When I first bought the head, it sounded good. There was always something off, but I couldn't figure it out.

For the past few months, I finally figured it out. The ****ing amp just sounds really buzzy and annoying. As far as the drive and gain is concerned.

I am playing it thru a 2x12 with a V30 and G12H30 (Avatar Cab)

I've come to the conclusion that it's probably the tubes as they have never been changed.

Thoughts and suggestions?

Thanks dudes:headbang:
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

I hate to be a stick in the mud but it might be the amp! I had the normal Tiny Terror and found the amps distortion with certain cabs very buzzy and shrill... Pedals it was a different story.

As for tubes I would change them and see if that makes a difference. JJ EL84s are pretty good.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Haha did I ever say that?

It's hard to tell if you are being sarcastix or serious but I like to have options sweet cheeks
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Inder_Cine_Mann said:
Haha did I ever say that?

It's hard to tell if you are being sarcastix or serious but I like to have options sweet cheeks
Click to expand...

lol I was just kidding! I have only tried JJ el84s... I liked em in my Mesa LSS 4x10 and my Traynor YGL2 ALOT. For sure there are different tubes out there though depending on what you are after tone wise. Hopefully someone can chime in with more info on the different types of EL84s.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

JJ pre tubes will help the fizzy a little. But really its the nature of the amp.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Some of my favorite 12ax7s. I also really like the el34b ones. But for this amp I wouldn't recommend Tung Sols. They have a bit more treble over JJs. They are also fairly clear. To muffle the fizz/fuzz you would want JJs over a Tung Sols imo. A Mullard might work well too in v1.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

I've got a Dual Terror that I love to death. All JJ's which I normally don't like but they work great in this amp IMO.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

I did some tube swapping in my Tiny Terror. I came to the conclusion that the fuzz around the edges tone is just part of the Orange sound, so the only thing you can do is tighten it up as much as possible.

JJ EL-84's are about as good as it gets for that tube type at a normal price. I swapped NOS to everything else. I ended up with a hot Ruby 12AX7A, which I'm sure is just a Chinese tube tested on the hot side. Name branded Chinese pre tubes usually do a good job in tightening up a preamp, and it sounded better than a handful of others, so there it stays.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

I find most low-cost high-gain tube amps to have that fuzzy quality I think you're referring to... It could also be the pickup(s). It all pretty much starts from there, electrically. Everything plays into the equation......
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

If you'd like a harder edge with less compression/fuzz around the edges you could try the russian 6PI4P-EV's (military spec EL84 equivalents) ..they're a lot clearer/w more headroom than other El84's. The plain 6P14P's (without the EV/EB suffix) are pretty sweet/fuzz-free with a bit of treble roll-off/roundness on top....prefer them to 6P14P-EV's myself.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Once I started using an overdrive with this amp instead of cranking it the buzziness went away....try a good boost or overdrive with it before you swap the tubes...I think everyone owns at least one overdrive pedal...
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Ok thanks guys. Just to clear things up, my definition of fuzzy is good. My definition of fizzy is bad. The mids, upper mids, and highs are fizzy and buzzy.

Also, I generally play with the volume around 1-3 o'clock and the gain 9-11o'clock.

I like the tube screamer up front for sure, I am convinced it's the tubes, I just don't know much about tubes I have to admit.

Pickups and guitars are where my knowledge is the most expansive, but even then I don't know as much as a lot of you guys.

JJ's I am going to try. Honestly, the lows and low mids sound great. I run a 10 band EQ in the loop and that helps, especially with note clarity.

Anyways no biggie I bought the amp new for $375. If I hate it still adter the tube swap it's gone.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Well, I know words sometimes fail us, and I'm not too familiar with Orange amps, but that Orange heavy metal sound is pretty hairy... like there's a lot of grainy harmonic content (which sounds awesome!) but it's like the opposite of that "groomed" kind of high gain of a Mesa. I tend to think that it's component choices in the circuit that make an amp fizzy sounding, but I know next to nothing about circuit design.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Before you buy anything, take a look inside and see what it came with. I was surprised the other day to see my Tiny Terror has JJ's stock.
 
Re: Dark Terror Tube Replacement

Inder_Cine_Mann said:
Ok thanks guys. Just to clear things up, my definition of fuzzy is good. My definition of fizzy is bad. The mids, upper mids, and highs are fizzy and buzzy.

Also, I generally play with the volume around 1-3 o'clock and the gain 9-11o'clock.
Click to expand...
Hmm, so you mean the amp sounds something like a bad band's demo, very unclear? Just curious as to what you're hearing because I'm also using a Dark Terror, haven't heard anything besides the kind of hairy Orange tone that's been discussed and I'm very happy with the amp but maybe my ears aren't picking something up. I remember though speaking with the amp tech at the guitar repair shop I use, and he recommended bringing it in to get the tubes replaced.
 
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