HI! just to let you know if you like this video and want to show your appreciation, you can buy me a cup of coffee with the "Thanks" button which is just next to the share button! ✌❤ Please support me in what I do thru Patreon! www.patreon.com/Jonathankoh 0:00 Intro 0:59 Song 3:31 Demo (Mic'ed) 8:38 Demo (DI) 12:13 Review 14:22 Conclusion
Amazing as always! I'm really a fan of this little Dark. Surprisingly good cleans, which when added to the great loop is awesome for your pedals. Just amazed at how versatile this is. I think a lot of people don't even consider it because they just think "Orange" or "dark" or something and assume it's not what they're looking for. Anyways, keep it up!
The 'Shape' control supposedly affects the Mids. It boosts the Mids when turned one way, and cuts them the other way. It reminds me of the Contour control you see on some amps.
These are great for what they are, I have a very early one, I suspect Orange revised the headphone chip/circuit, early ones are too noisy to use even for headphones: its a early talking toy/doll chip wired exactly like the data sheet example circuit. Inside it's 4 TL072 opamp gain stages, the tube runs at "starved plate" low voltage so each half works as a diode rather than a gain making triode, just like diodes in a Klon or OCD. The tube makes the distortion, that's to say. If you swap the 12AX7 for a 12AT7 or 12AU7 less voltage passes thru the lower gain tubes so you get a greater range of clean tones on the gain knob, an X will start to break up around 11 oclock, a T around 1 oclock. The character and tone of yhe distortion depends upon the physical construction of the tube so its not dusimilar from swapping out diodes in a drive pedal. NOS tubes tend to pass more voltage than new JJs et al, and they can sometimes be less noisy. The opamp gain is really sensitive to microphonics tho so give your tube candidates a little thump before you button the amp all back up. Mine had the dreaded opamp oscillation some of the early ones displayed, constant pink/brown noise unaffected by the volume or gain controls. I pulled all the ICs, socketed 4 out of 5 and replaced them all with low noise replacements for TL072s. Couldnt feasibly replace the headphone IC. The amp is an older 40w automotive stereo chip L/R x2 (front seat/back seat speakers of course) we hear one channel summed to mono. Like I said, for what it is, and how great it sounds, and that it can be had for $150US, its pretty amazing. Especially through a 2x12 Heritage Creamback cab. With 2 you could have 40 wet/dry watts and easily stay in front of your drummer in small venues.
Another wonderful little orange Amp Jon. It sounds phenomenal. As did the Intro. i should have gone with this instead of the Joyo Jackman it sounds a lot more like what I was hoping from the Jackman. Mind you it’s very affordable. Excellent review as ever - cheers 😄👍❤️
Awesome playing and great review as always. I'm trying to decide between the Tweedy you demoed the other day and the Micro Dark. Leaning toward the Tweedy for now.
I'm wondering if the Cabsim out can do the same hack as the micro Vox MV50 heads to bypass the Cabsim? With the Vox MV50s you can just slightly unplug the cable one click which bypasses the analog speaker sim, thus allowing you to use your own IR's direct to interface of via an IR pedal. I used to own a Micro Dark, and I wish I knew about that Vox MV50 hack before I sold it. Been thinking about getting another to use as a direct recording preamp by way of the FX Send to interface. Mainly as a possible "digital hybrid" way to convincingly use/demo analog fuzz, OD, and distortions pedals silently using my Focusrite and TwoNotes Wall of Sound? I hope all that makes sense?! haha! Great content as always Jon! Cheers!
Awesome, thank you. Would be curious as to your opinion of the Micro Dark with a 108 to practice versus a Yamaha THR10 for tone as it is a tube hybrid versus a solid state! By the way, that Orange Schecter was made to go with a matching Orange amp!😁
I am windering that as well. But the power section is solid state, so in theory you should be able to set the gain low and max out volume on the amp for loud clean
Cool video Jon. I finally got this head from someone off Reverb after it took over a month to ship to me. My main purpose for buying it was to use at work with headphones, but I struggle to get good tones with the gain knob above like 2-3. My main amp that I keep at home is a Boss Katana Artist with the GAFC footswitch. It sounds amazing and I can get a huge range of tones, but I’ve been considering getting a 1x12 cabinet for the micro dark and trying it out as my main amp. It can be tough not to waste too much practice time tweaking the Katana. I also have a Boss ME-80 that I could use with it. Thoughts?
I main the micro dark now. Got rid of all my other amps. I run a 1x12 cab that really makes the sound full, and if I need extra volume I run it direct into the PA the line out doesn't kill the speaker output, neither does the effect send you can run this into 2 different power amps and still use the cabinet and it takes pedals really well. I run the volume cranked, shape at around 10 o clock and gain just where it starts to break up with a hard strum. Varies from guitar to guitar, but it's my favorite clean tone of any amp.
@@MrJbangoy I recently got a a 1x12 cabinet from Monoprice with a Celestion 30 speaker for $179 shipped. Way too good of a deal to pass up and I’m so glad I went for it. It sounds awesome with the micro dark and I’m dialing in great tones so easily now. For home use, I can barely get the volume knob past 2 with high gain and it still sounds killer. Needless to say, my Katana and footswitch is now for sale 😂
@@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84 heck yeah man! I just traded my Fender Mustang 3 and all 3 footswitches and a cheap guitar I never played for a 2007 Schecter S1 Elite that screams through this thing.
Awesome improvisation Jon. I got a little or Orange micro dot I play with head phones on so my wife dont complain. She wants to watch TV LOL. The Orange colored strat is nice and the neck is really cool I love it. Plug that micro Dark into the big cabinet it will sound great then.
Mine had a constant & nasty pink/brown noise that was unaffected by the volume or gain controls, swapped 4 opamps for low noise versions and the JJ for a NOS GE tube. It's loud enough clean I use it for bass practice at home w/a 2x15. Headphone is far too noisy to use as DI or as headphones, it's built with the talking toy/doll chip, not good.
@@dante_gonal It's the PPC 108, 20 watt 1x8" cabinet. You can get either the MT or MD with the cabinet, and a bunch of other do-dads, as a bundle online.
Your tone is phenomenal
Thank you
HI! just to let you know if you like this video and want to show your appreciation, you can buy me a cup of coffee with the "Thanks" button which is just next to the share button! ✌❤
Please support me in what I do thru Patreon! www.patreon.com/Jonathankoh
0:00 Intro
0:59 Song
3:31 Demo (Mic'ed)
8:38 Demo (DI)
12:13 Review
14:22 Conclusion
The small speaker cab is available for 20usd in my area. Thinking if picking it up. Sounds pretty good. Thanks for the demo!
Hope you enjoy it!
Those Nick Johnson signatures are so amazing…. I was so distracted by the tone that I’m just now getting that it’s orange because of the orange theme.
Lol✌️
@@JonIsJustTooLoud I was so distracted by the tone I had to edit for grammatical errors lol
Amazing as always! I'm really a fan of this little Dark. Surprisingly good cleans, which when added to the great loop is awesome for your pedals. Just amazed at how versatile this is. I think a lot of people don't even consider it because they just think "Orange" or "dark" or something and assume it's not what they're looking for. Anyways, keep it up!
Thank you✌️❤️
The 'Shape' control supposedly affects the Mids. It boosts the Mids when turned one way, and cuts them the other way. It reminds me of the Contour control you see on some amps.
✌🏻❤️
I love that diverse tone of Orange micro dark.
cool! ✌♥
Great review. I have had the Micro Dark for a number of years and it's such fun as a home recording tool. Thanks Jon.
most welcome!✌
best gear review channel. great amp.
Thank you✌️❤️
These are great for what they are, I have a very early one, I suspect Orange revised the headphone chip/circuit, early ones are too noisy to use even for headphones: its a early talking toy/doll chip wired exactly like the data sheet example circuit.
Inside it's 4 TL072 opamp gain stages, the tube runs at "starved plate" low voltage so each half works as a diode rather than a gain making triode, just like diodes in a Klon or OCD. The tube makes the distortion, that's to say.
If you swap the 12AX7 for a 12AT7 or 12AU7 less voltage passes thru the lower gain tubes so you get a greater range of clean tones on the gain knob, an X will start to break up around 11 oclock, a T around 1 oclock. The character and tone of yhe distortion depends upon the physical construction of the tube so its not dusimilar from swapping out diodes in a drive pedal. NOS tubes tend to pass more voltage than new JJs et al, and they can sometimes be less noisy. The opamp gain is really sensitive to microphonics tho so give your tube candidates a little thump before you button the amp all back up.
Mine had the dreaded opamp oscillation some of the early ones displayed, constant pink/brown noise unaffected by the volume or gain controls. I pulled all the ICs, socketed 4 out of 5 and replaced them all with low noise replacements for TL072s. Couldnt feasibly replace the headphone IC.
The amp is an older 40w automotive stereo chip L/R x2 (front seat/back seat speakers of course) we hear one channel summed to mono.
Like I said, for what it is, and how great it sounds, and that it can be had for $150US, its pretty amazing. Especially through a 2x12 Heritage Creamback cab. With 2 you could have 40 wet/dry watts and easily stay in front of your drummer in small venues.
Thanks for sharing!!✌️❤️
Another wonderful little orange Amp Jon. It sounds phenomenal. As did the Intro. i should have gone with this instead of the Joyo Jackman it sounds a lot more like what I was hoping from the Jackman. Mind you it’s very affordable. Excellent review as ever - cheers 😄👍❤️
Thank you Tom!✌
Incredible playing my friend. Love that tone!!!!!
Thanks a lot!✌♥
New subscriber here your playing is wonderful. Killer Phrasing!!!🤘
Thank you! Welcome to the channel!!✌️❤️
Awesome playing and great review as always. I'm trying to decide between the Tweedy you demoed the other day and the Micro Dark. Leaning toward the Tweedy for now.
😄
Awesome Demo (as always) Jon! You ROCK Bro!
Thank you ✌️❤️
Just bought this like 10 minutes ago I'm so freaking excited
✌️❤️
good choice !
@@FIVECENTFISH it really was! Dang it blasts! It gets so loud!
orange on the left, on the right, even in the front, orange everywhere! ;) really enjoy your videos jon, keep going on!
lol
Love that guitar too
✌️❤️
I'm wondering if the Cabsim out can do the same hack as the micro Vox MV50 heads to bypass the Cabsim?
With the Vox MV50s you can just slightly unplug the cable one click which bypasses the analog speaker sim, thus allowing you to use your own IR's direct to interface of via an IR pedal.
I used to own a Micro Dark, and I wish I knew about that Vox MV50 hack before I sold it.
Been thinking about getting another to use as a direct recording preamp by way of the FX Send to interface.
Mainly as a possible "digital hybrid" way to convincingly use/demo analog fuzz, OD, and distortions pedals silently using my Focusrite and TwoNotes Wall of Sound?
I hope all that makes sense?!
haha!
Great content as always Jon!
Cheers!
Thank you✌️❤️
Awesome, thank you. Would be curious as to your opinion of the Micro Dark with a 108 to practice versus a Yamaha THR10 for tone as it is a tube hybrid versus a solid state! By the way, that Orange Schecter was made to go with a matching Orange amp!😁
I’ll take the Micro anytime.. and yes .. mostly because it’s in orange lol ✌️❤️
@@JonIsJustTooLoud great, thank you Jon! Will go nicely with my Fullerton s-500, a guitar I know you love too!
Excellent video Jon! As i said it before, i have this amp and really love it. Thank you for this review!
Most welcome!😄
Sweet playin!
Thank you✌️❤️
Thanks for the review! Great guitar playing, good amplifier.
Greetings from Russia. 🖐️😊✌️
YOU are most welcome✌
Great review. Really think about buying it. But what a great guitar are you playing there? Looks and sounds awesome.
Thats the schecter Nick Johnston (Modded)
Nice Review Jon! Is there a lot of Clean Headroom from the Amp? Thanks and Cheers from Salem,Ohio US!
Thanks!! yes..not too much but enough ✌♥
Great review! Its enought to get a clean tone with a micro dark terror with a 1 x 12 speaker to rehershal with a drumer and a bass player?
Not too sure…it might✌️❤️
I am windering that as well. But the power section is solid state, so in theory you should be able to set the gain low and max out volume on the amp for loud clean
I own the micro dark y'all. I love this thing thing so and delivers some great stock tones. Loud as well!!!
✌️
Cool video Jon. I finally got this head from someone off Reverb after it took over a month to ship to me. My main purpose for buying it was to use at work with headphones, but I struggle to get good tones with the gain knob above like 2-3. My main amp that I keep at home is a Boss Katana Artist with the GAFC footswitch. It sounds amazing and I can get a huge range of tones, but I’ve been considering getting a 1x12 cabinet for the micro dark and trying it out as my main amp. It can be tough not to waste too much practice time tweaking the Katana. I also have a Boss ME-80 that I could use with it. Thoughts?
Go for it!!✌️❤️
I main the micro dark now. Got rid of all my other amps. I run a 1x12 cab that really makes the sound full, and if I need extra volume I run it direct into the PA the line out doesn't kill the speaker output, neither does the effect send you can run this into 2 different power amps and still use the cabinet and it takes pedals really well. I run the volume cranked, shape at around 10 o clock and gain just where it starts to break up with a hard strum. Varies from guitar to guitar, but it's my favorite clean tone of any amp.
@@MrJbangoy I recently got a a 1x12 cabinet from Monoprice with a Celestion 30 speaker for $179 shipped. Way too good of a deal to pass up and I’m so glad I went for it. It sounds awesome with the micro dark and I’m dialing in great tones so easily now. For home use, I can barely get the volume knob past 2 with high gain and it still sounds killer. Needless to say, my Katana and footswitch is now for sale 😂
@@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84 heck yeah man! I just traded my Fender Mustang 3 and all 3 footswitches and a cheap guitar I never played for a 2007 Schecter S1 Elite that screams through this thing.
Awesome improvisation Jon. I got a little or Orange micro dot I play with head phones on so my wife dont complain. She wants to watch TV LOL. The Orange colored strat is nice and the neck is really cool I love it. Plug that micro Dark into the big cabinet it will sound great then.
yes it will ✌
have you tried the vox pathfinder 10 . I am looking for something for practice but idk if the vox has enough gain.
No I have not..✌♥
Mine had a constant & nasty pink/brown noise that was unaffected by the volume or gain controls, swapped 4 opamps for low noise versions and the JJ for a NOS GE tube. It's loud enough clean I use it for bass practice at home w/a 2x15. Headphone is far too noisy to use as DI or as headphones, it's built with the talking toy/doll chip, not good.
Still under warranty?
I just got both
Cool
Tremendo Jon
Thank you ✌️❤️
What is the model of the speaker?
No idea
I mean the cabinet model
@@dante_gonal It's the PPC 108, 20 watt 1x8" cabinet. You can get either the MT or MD with the cabinet, and a bunch of other do-dads, as a bundle online.
😊
✌♥