Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

[Surgeon]

Anyone? If you have any experience please chime in...
I'm on the verge of being really stupid... the good kind, but still stupid.

Thanks!

 

[VanDerchuck]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Please explain the good kind of stupid. I've played one for about an hour, had to use a boost pedal to get some good crunch with a 70's LP. But didn't need the boost when I turned up the volume. It really came alive when cranked. My friend has used it on tour with great results, and is thinking about getting rid of the back up 2203 he has for larger venues for a second Orange 50. Does that help?

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Ditching the TH30 already?

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Thanks for the reply...

Stupid: buying another amp.
Good stupid: I have the money.
Stupid: I kinda feel guilty as I don't gig nowadays.
Good Stupid: while I can pay for it, I'll clear some gear to make room for this one.

This could go on.

I'm assuming that, like any tube amp, it'll always sound better when cranked. however, I'm wondering if it can be used at home without blowing out the windows while still having great tones by using the attenuator. That's the only thing that's keeping me on the fence right now. I'm sure that when cranked it'll be more massive and great sounding than my TH30 but at the same time, if I can't use it at home with good results, it's just a waste of a great amp (and money).

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Ditching the TH30 already?

Maybe... I still love it but a TV, if useable at home-volumes would be an amazing amp.
I love the TH but I find I'm missing the heavier crunch of EL34s.
I wish I could keep both... maybe I will...
I never use more than half the gain available on the TH, which makes me think that I could probably benefit from something a little less gainy...

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Maybe... I still love it but a TV, if useable at home-volumes would be an amazing amp.
I love the TH but I find I'm missing the heavier crunch of EL34s.
I wish I could keep both... maybe I will...
I never use more than half the gain available on the TH, which makes me think that I could probably benefit from something a little less gainy...

I hear ya on the gain issue. I'm in a 90's alt-rock cover band and when I first got the amp I was running the dirty gain at around 1:00 to 2:00 on the dial.... after hearing a live recording, I've since backed it off to no more than noon (except on two or three heavy songs). I found that using a 12AT7 in both the FX loop and PI slots has tamed it down for live use. Now when we gig, I can run it on full power with the dirty volume at noon, and only at 9:00 on the clean channel. The tube change, a reduction in dialed gain, and increased volume has made all the difference in the world. All I need to do now is replace the EH's with TAD's in the power section and I'll be golden.

 

[VanDerchuck]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Thanks for the reply...


I'm assuming that, like any tube amp, it'll always sound better when cranked. however, I'm wondering if it can be used at home without blowing out the windows while still having great tones by using the attenuator. That's the only thing that's keeping me on the fence right now. I'm sure that when cranked it'll be more massive and great sounding than my TH30 but at the same time, if I can't use it at home with good results, it's just a waste of a great amp (and money).

That always depends on the attenuator. But you probably know this. I've ditched them for smaller amps and pedals. I've blown through one OT with an attenuator, I'm not going to risk it again. Learned my lesson.

Is there a smaller version with the same pre-amp? It wouldn't take much to run it cathode biased. It would obviously change the sound, but cut back on the over all power by twenty watts or so.

There is also Skipz Circuits Vari-Watt. Adding variable wattage to it might help also. A cool mod that will make your friends think your a genius.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

I hear ya on the gain issue. I'm in a 90's alt-rock cover band and when I first got the amp I was running the dirty gain at around 1:00 to 2:00 on the dial.... after hearing a live recording, I've since backed it off to no more than noon (except on two or three heavy songs). I found that using a 12AT7 in both the FX loop and PI slots has tamed it down for live use. Now when we gig, I can run it on full power with the dirty volume at noon, and only at 9:00 on the clean channel. The tube change, a reduction in dialed gain, and increased volume has made all the difference in the world. All I need to do now is replace the EH's with TAD's in the power section and I'll be golden.

Those are great tips... My sweet spot is around 10-11 on the gain and 10 on the shape and it sounds great... TADs do sound really good.

That always depends on the attenuator. But you probably know this. I've ditched them for smaller amps and pedals. I've blown through one OT with an attenuator, I'm not going to risk it again. Learned my lesson.

Is there a smaller version with the same pre-amp? It wouldn't take much to run it cathode biased. It would obviously change the sound, but cut back on the over all power by twenty watts or so.

There is also Skipz Circuits Vari-Watt. Adding variable wattage to it might help also. A cool mod that will make your friends think your a genius.

by attenuator I meant the on-board attenuator on the TV... I'm assuming it's more akin to a mastervolume than anything else.

Again, having a TH30 that does the 7 watts thing is great so if lowering the mastervolume/attenuator-a-magig on the TV doesn't cut it, it's not worth it for me.

Thanks again for your input my friend!

 

[Kam]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

That always depends on the attenuator. But you probably know this. I've ditched them for smaller amps and pedals. I've blown through one OT with an attenuator, I'm not going to risk it again. Learned my lesson.

Is there a smaller version with the same pre-amp? It wouldn't take much to run it cathode biased. It would obviously change the sound, but cut back on the over all power by twenty watts or so.

There is also Skipz Circuits Vari-Watt. Adding variable wattage to it might help also. A cool mod that will make your friends think your a genius.

I believe the Thunderverb has a built-in attenuator and that's what Surgeon's referring to.

I've never actually played a TV myself, but two of my favourite local bands use them and they sound GODLY. Just insane, insane, amps. I realise they're not playing at low volumes and this post is basically worthless, but I wanted to post and say that I always ****ing love your threads.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Those are great tips... My sweet spot is around 10-11 on the gain and 10 on the shape and it sounds great... TADs do sound really good.

That's around where I run it too. Volume at noon, gain at 11-12, shape around 11. Have a BOSS eq and EH holy grail in the loop to round everything out. Those two pieces have made a world of difference with the amp. It's alive now.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

I believe the Thunderverb has a built-in attenuator and that's what Surgeon's referring to.

I've never actually played a TV myself, but two of my favourite local bands use them and they sound GODLY. Just insane, insane, amps. I realise they're not playing at low volumes and this post is basically worthless, but I wanted to post and say that I always ****ing love your threads.

Why do you think I'm still looking into them? My favorite heavy band has been using them a lot and a few others that I really like...
I'm always looking to start a band when I finally find folks who wanna do what I wanna do so having something that sounds killer at higher volume is important too.
It's quite sad that most of my electric playing is done at lower volumes nowadays but still necessary for me to have something that can accomodate me on that level... hence the questioning.

That's around where I run it too. Volume at noon, gain at 11-12, shape around 11. Have a BOSS eq and EH holy grail in the loop to round everything out. Those two pieces have made a world of difference with the amp. It's alive now.

I've heard that an EQ can do a lot to the tone of this amp. It just seems cumbersome to me. I'm more of a guitar-cable-amp guy than the one who fiddles with a bunch (even 2 is a bunch to me) of pedals... I do love the SHO in front of mine just to juice it up a bit.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

The TH30 isn't a very good amp...you should ship it south! It will work better at this Lattitude :cool2:

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

I've heard that an EQ can do a lot to the tone of this amp. It just seems cumbersome to me. I'm more of a guitar-cable-amp guy than the one who fiddles with a bunch (even 2 is a bunch to me) of pedals... I do love the SHO in front of mine just to juice it up a bit.

Get an EQ, put it on top of the amp with cables to the loop, and you're all set. No fiddling on the floor. Just set it and forget it!

 

[VanDerchuck]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Now my curiosity is peeked. I have to go play one again.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

The TH30 isn't a very good amp...you should ship it south! It will work better at this Lattitude :cool2:

I'm sure it'd sound killer over there too! But the shipping I'd have to charge you might be in the 6-700$ range.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Why would anyone play an amp named "THUNDERverb" quietly? Have you heard THUNDER before? It's LOUD!

I think maybe you should be looking for an amp named Kittenverb or Meadowstreamverb or maybe even Sleepingloversbreathingverb. That might suit your needs better.

Just kidding. Good luck with the amp.

Brian

 

[Kam]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

I would absolutely bring the ****ing DOOM on a Kittenverb.

 

[Hoss]

I'm sure it'd sound killer over there too! But the shipping I'd have to charge you might be in the 6-700$ range.

I might have to think seriously about that!

Seriously!

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Who's played an Orange Thunderverb 50 at low volumes?

Why would anyone play an amp named "THUNDERverb" quietly? Have you heard THUNDER before? It's LOUD!

I think maybe you should be looking for an amp named Kittenverb or Meadowstreamverb or maybe even Sleepingloversbreathingverb. That might suit your needs better.

Just kidding. Good luck with the amp.

Brian

Those are all great names... how did you come up with them? I'm betting they're tentative names for your signature amp right?

Still, It's not that I plan on ONLY playing this this at bedroom volumes but in my current situation, any amp I own has to perform at those levels...

I would absolutely bring the ****ing DOOM on a Kittenverb.

I bring doom to celery and vegetables in general... I leave animals alone but hey, whatever you do on your own time is your business.

I might have to think seriously about that!

Seriously!

Welcome to my world... I'm seriously thinking about a lot of stuff today... I just played it for about 30 minutes and man does it sound sweet, making me think of "if it ain't broke don't fix it"...

I'm just in a situation where, with a little squeezing, I could buy a really KILLER amp for a good price, even though my current amp does a great job...

 

[Hoss]

I know. Id have to sell my Traynor to get it. That scares me...i already mesh with it so well. But, that Orange is a dream amp of mine!?