BassAdder60

Spent a session playing the LBT sans pick and using fingers … Adding a smidgen extra mids and treble and backing off on the bass by one notch and this worked well Lovely warm sound and clean and full sounding. There is something special about this little 500w head, can’t quite put my finger on it but maybe it’s that Orange amp tone but clean and pleasant

I have been in bands as a guitarist and found the bass player turning down so as not to be heard !! It makes no sense and although when the bass is present often you / audience don’t realise it but stop playing and the whole sound changes. Yep I’m more let’s be heard and felt bassist and found a pick achieves this better for how and what I play. All credit to finger players ( Steve Harris ) who clearly are heard and no pick required !

At first this might seem an odd question but in the context of your bass tone and music genre where do you prefer your sound to sit in the mix Feel but not be heard Feel and heard but a more woolly tone Heard and distinct more like a bass and rhythm punchy sound ? In a rock context I find playing bass in a band with one guitarist needs a full punchy and distinct bass tone which fills the band sound and adds depth and drive Finger style or pick can achieve this as many great players do so. More recently I’ve gone over to using a pick as I find I actually hear the True Tone of the bass guitar more so than the softer attack and rounded finger style tone. Some songs in rock needs the bass sat in the background of the mix, present but hard to hear in the mix. Some songs need the bass upfront in the band sound to compliment the guitar and punch the song along … I know where I prefer to have my tone and that’s why I play rock and now mostly with a pick

After many hours of playing this bass amp it is truly one of the best finds for my needs. It has such a great tone and although as I’ve said it leans slightly to the rock genre it isn’t like the Terror Bass so it’s a pretty clean tone and very very loud. Eq that works very well and not difficult getting a great sound. Ive overlooked Orange amps for Bass although I’ve seen many bands use Orange but never considered trying them over say Ashdown and Ampeg etc If you are looking for a simple but very effective and loud 500w head I can recommend this amp. There are not many reviews for this head as it’s only been out a couple of years but this is a keeper for sure

No valves at all in LBT

Will find out next band rehearsal but there is a weight behind the sound with authority. It’s a really nice rock tone which I guess Orange do so well

Yep I agree Dave it’s an easy head to get nice tones from .. well thought out EQ and lovely sounding

New amp today - LBT from Orange First impressions are simple to use looks nice too and lightweight No input gain just plug in and go although it has a -6db pad switch for active or very hot basses. The EQ section is simplicity itself with the only slightly confusing part being the mid frequency adjustment. You have one control to zone in on a particular mids freq. and the other mid control to either boost or cut it. Treble is voiced well and no silly high frequency that you will never need. All controls are stepped and this is nice to stay in place when moving head etc, I like that feature. Next the main output volume and this head is very loud … massively louder than the PF500 and getting close to my Ashdown RM800, I’m pleased with that. Compressor ( foot switchable ) is more like a boost compressor and the more you turn it up the more aggressive the sound gets, not drive but just more aggression and compression. This mimics a valve amp very well. Tone … this is a rock amp through and through ideal for all rock and punk but can do other less aggressive tones too as it can play very cleanly. This amp is easy to get a good sound from, it’s a lot easier than say the Ampeg PF500 My chosen bass to test it was my Fender Player Series PBass and it’s a perfect match. I played it with a pick for my kind of rock ( nothing too heavy ) and it brings out the tone of the bass nicely. Played finger style with a little adjustment to the mids and it was warm and punchy. The fan is very quiet ( whisper quiet ) No mute button ( I don’t need one ) and Di is post EQ and volume .. I don’t see that being an issue. And as mentioned this 500w head is very loud and I played it into my Ashdown ABM210H EVO IV Pro Neo cab I can recommend this head totally and think in time will become a best seller for Orange. Better than Ampeg PF500 / PF800 yes I think it’s much better in my opinion. Better than Ashdown RM800 nope as good as only simpler which in itself is a bonus.

It doesn’t have tubes ( the Terror Bass does have pre amp tubes ) Yep you’re right the DI is post volume, in reality I don’t think a small adjustment live would worry the FOH mix too much and that could be turned down slightly. Im sure Orange have a valid reason to do this

My LBT is arriving today and will report back how it sounds with Ashdown cabs and PBass

Or the Orange AD200B for full valve 👍

Orange Tube amp Terror Bass perhaps ?

I think you’re right, while playing the PF500 doesn’t sound loud enough but when you listen back to a recording it’s well balanced. Looking forward to trying the LBT and see how it sounds with my PBass

I’ve just ordered one to try out I want to use it as an alternative to the RM800 at times and hope it’s a powerful 500W head The RM800 is super loud with loads of headroom and I’m interested if the LBT can show some thump too The Ampeg PF500 just seems underpowered for a 500w head

Is it a loud 500w head ?

Would you say it’s louder than say the RM500 or PF500 Im finding my PF500 a bit underpowered I think

How did it do at the gig ? Loud enough ?

We are about to add Weak and maybe this to our setlist 👍

Yes of course .. welcome 👍

For the new production models serial numbers are as attached

Yep 2012 seems to be the era where many fell over and of course people sold them so the issues moved along for a few years later The current ones have a new serial number format as part of the Yamaha QC changes

I think some of the failures were folk running the input gain very high ( distorted input ) which I think most amps would suffer if ran like that for hours

I was hesitant buying one, but it’s now 2021 and if you get a new one I’m confident it will be totally as reliable as any Class D amp Sadly the past issues still plague this line of great amps and maybe that’s why Ampeg keep the prices affordable for the PF line

As over the years there has been so much press about Ampeg PF amps failing or cutting out I’ve started an owners club post for people who are using and enjoying their PF350, PF500 or PF800 Recently purchased ( 2021 model ) I’m liking the growl and warmth this PF500 gives. It sounds very nice with my Ashdown Pro Neo cabs too Under Yamaha ownership I’m hoping Ampeg have sorted their QC issues and the PF range become loved again

Some good class d amps around now we are really spoilt for choice as bass players and so much kinder on the back No more lugging the SVT-CL and 610 cab to a pub gig !! Although I’m sure my SVT bass rig was nice I don’t feel my PF500 or RM800 are lacking in the tone dept