Quality content! Your videos get better every time. Nice indepth view of this amp and refreshing to hear something else coming out of it, than just straight metal shredding. I thought about buying it for a long time, but now I settled for a cheap all-tube 5watt head for my home rig. Cheers!
@@Andreas_tropicalwinter You're welcome, keep up the good work! I found this super cheap kustom defender 5h second hand. Just one nob, for me a perfect (tube) pedal platform. I alwasy thought, why get a expensive amp with 3 different gain channels if i will just use the clean one anyway...😋. I updated the tubes and have to use a power soak for home use, tho.
I was torn between getting a Micro Dark or getting a used Quilter 101 Reverb, when the Quilter was sold I picked up the Microdark. I was pretty amazed by the clean tone. For the money it's a workhorse. It gets a nice slightly scooped clean with the EQ around 2' o clock. It's a clean that is closer to an american amp than the typical mid forward orange tone. This one has an FX loop so adding reverb was simple.
I have Quilter 101 mini reverb and orange micro dark and orange micro terror. Strangely the dark came with ruby 12AX7C5 HG tube instead of JJ tube. It breaks up pass noon, about let’s say 2 o’clock using guitar with 2 humbuckers. Sometimes I think this unit is defective due to low volume achieved . But certainly the clean tone is superb . Far superior in comparison with the Quilter and the micro terror, adding that the feel of a tube preamp is notorious. Never tried the effects loop. I guess I will do that when I purchase a tech 21 fly rig 5 v2 with effects loop.
Love tone and channel. Starting TH-cam channel yesterday. Home recording with small amps and some pop culture stuff. Love you vid quality. Taking notes
Its not bad for a car stereo amp chip. I put an EQ in the loop also. I swapped in a 12AT7 which diminished the gain a bit but adds a bit of air and definition. An optical compressor in the loop will add some faux tube sag. Bought mine 2nd hand, bad opamp oscillation caused constant pink noise unaffected by volume or gain levels. Pulled the TL072s installed sockets, plugged in low noise versions of the TL072, now its pretty amazing clean. My headphone jack is far too noisy to use with phones or as the claimed DI. Its an old school talking toy chip, like the talking Dora the Explorer doll. Amazing that this is less expensive than most pedals
That's such useful information! I find my headphone out pretty quiet, but it falls apart tone-wise so quick when adding gain. Intried to put a cab sim afterwards, but haven't found a useful one by now. I remember putting in a 12ay7 and it expanded to clean headroom a bit if I'm not mistaken and putting a pedal like the Carbon in front makes a vood job adding sag. Thanks for taking the time commenting!
@@brianlashomb2830 I can't try it since I've sold the Tumnus a while ago, but for me an Eq pedal is the better tone shaping tool. Boosting at 100-200Hz and having a cut at 400Hz isn't possible with pedals like the Tumnus. Sometimes I need a little boost at 3k but leaving the 6.5k where it is, which is not going to work without a dedicated EQ pedal. When I use my Milkman at home it tends to get very resonant and boomy in the lows, so it's easily done cutting at 400Hz and leave everything else untouched.
Nice review ! I agree, great pedal platform for home, rehersal or small gigs. It has a scooped american flavor. After some experiments, I found that this chain works well with the Micro Dark and my yamaha 112 cab : polytune 3 /subnup mini/Keeley compressor/Westwood EQD/Plumes on mode 2 for mid clean boost/ODR1 bass cut on at 18v. In the fx loop : Vertex Boost v2 with an expression pedal /Keeley Halo/Ocean 12 EHX/Boss RC10. Westwood for base sound (or Timmy, BD-2, ...) works well with Teles which are mid focused guitars, I prefer the TS mini or Plumes on mode 1 or 3 for strats. The Plumes mode 2 brings a nice chimey sound or can boost my OD. With the EQD Westwood you can sculpt your sound effectively (I like BD-2 or Keeley Super Phat as well). Btw, what's your pedalboard ? pedaltrain novo 24 ?
Yes your right, it's the pedaltrain novo 24. You really put some work into fitting the mocro dark your needs. It's interesting to read about. I like that the amp is a perfect platform for experimenting. At first I ran the EQ in the FX loop, but nowerdays everything runs into the front and it also works fine. I got myself the MilkmanTheAmp100 for more headroom and the Orange can get so close in sound with a bit use of the GE-7. There's no need to ever get rid of the MicroDark. With overdrives, I pretty happy using the SpecialCranker and TheCarbon by BrowneAmplification.
Thank you both for all that informations I do my first steps in the guitar world My first amp is a Rolland cube 30x that I'm practicing and is fine for me right now However that Micro Dark smiles 😊 to me
@@dimitris70 Hi Dimitri I updated my signal chain in the first post. The Micro Dark replaced my HT20MKII for home use with my pedalboard, perfect. I use Katana head MKII and Boss Nextone for band/jam contexts. Roland Cube is great all rounder too. I'm now thinking also of an ampless rig configuration, to simplify the chain with a multieffects/modeler and few pedals. I started playing bass too. Have a nice tone quest, this is fun !
@@dimitris70 The MD has a limited EQ, you can use a GE7 in the loop for that or an overdrive / dist with a good EQ in front of the amp. The HT20 tubes need to be replaced sometimes. The HT5 is cheaper but with a less refined sound than HT5. Very few cons regarding these two amp. I found a Yamaha 1x12 cab with Eminence speaker that pairs well with the MD.
From 3:50 to 5:30 you can hear how it sounds clean. I just added EQ and Compression, which doesn't change the character. Since it's my pedal platform amp, it's pretty much necessary to add pedals in the rest of the vedeo I guess... 😅
@@Andreas_tropicalwinter Thank you for the reply, and I meant no disrespect. You can add lipstick to a pig, right? Thank you for the content. And thanks for pointing out that section I missed. I have the Micro Terror and wanted to hear a “dry” comparison. I’m surprised how well these amps sound, especially for a pedal platform, and at 20 watts, they are amazing. God Bless.
It wasn't meant that way. I really think it makes a good recording amp, since it's the perfect platform for me, but it's simply more convenient for me to use amp sims. The cab sim on the MicroDark isn't the best, otherwise I would use it direct. I tried to use an IR after, but wasn't that satisfied yet.
Quality content! Your videos get better every time. Nice indepth view of this amp and refreshing to hear something else coming out of it, than just straight metal shredding. I thought about buying it for a long time, but now I settled for a cheap all-tube 5watt head for my home rig. Cheers!
That was compliment...thanx!!! Which amp did you get...?
@@Andreas_tropicalwinter You're welcome, keep up the good work! I found this super cheap kustom defender 5h second hand. Just one nob, for me a perfect (tube) pedal platform. I alwasy thought, why get a expensive amp with 3 different gain channels if i will just use the clean one anyway...😋. I updated the tubes and have to use a power soak for home use, tho.
I was torn between getting a Micro Dark or getting a used Quilter 101 Reverb, when the Quilter was sold I picked up the Microdark. I was pretty amazed by the clean tone. For the money it's a workhorse. It gets a nice slightly scooped clean with the EQ around 2' o clock. It's a clean that is closer to an american amp than the typical mid forward orange tone. This one has an FX loop so adding reverb was simple.
I thought that too about it's voicing...
I have Quilter 101 mini reverb and orange micro dark and orange micro terror. Strangely the dark came with ruby 12AX7C5 HG tube instead of JJ tube. It breaks up pass noon, about let’s say 2 o’clock using guitar with 2 humbuckers. Sometimes I think this unit is defective due to low volume achieved . But certainly the clean tone is superb . Far superior in comparison with the Quilter and the micro terror, adding that the feel of a tube preamp is notorious. Never tried the effects loop. I guess I will do that when I purchase a tech 21 fly rig 5 v2 with effects loop.
Love tone and channel. Starting TH-cam channel yesterday. Home recording with small amps and some pop culture stuff. Love you vid quality. Taking notes
Thanks, that's so nice to hear. Good luck with your channel!
Great sounds!
Thanks!!!
Great, now I have to buy the micro dark😅. Awesome video.
I think you won't be disappointed... It's such a great clean sound!!! 😅
Its not bad for a car stereo amp chip. I put an EQ in the loop also. I swapped in a 12AT7 which diminished the gain a bit but adds a bit of air and definition. An optical compressor in the loop will add some faux tube sag.
Bought mine 2nd hand, bad opamp oscillation caused constant pink noise unaffected by volume or gain levels. Pulled the TL072s installed sockets, plugged in low noise versions of the TL072, now its pretty amazing clean.
My headphone jack is far too noisy to use with phones or as the claimed DI. Its an old school talking toy chip, like the talking Dora the Explorer doll.
Amazing that this is less expensive than most pedals
That's such useful information! I find my headphone out pretty quiet, but it falls apart tone-wise so quick when adding gain. Intried to put a cab sim afterwards, but haven't found a useful one by now. I remember putting in a 12ay7 and it expanded to clean headroom a bit if I'm not mistaken and putting a pedal like the Carbon in front makes a vood job adding sag.
Thanks for taking the time commenting!
EQ in the loop is some big brain business indeed
Using an EQ-Pedal really has become a standard for me by now. Such a versatile tone shaper...
I’m curious how far you can get with just the controls on the Tumnus vs the dedicated EQ
@@brianlashomb2830 I can't try it since I've sold the Tumnus a while ago, but for me an Eq pedal is the better tone shaping tool. Boosting at 100-200Hz and having a cut at 400Hz isn't possible with pedals like the Tumnus. Sometimes I need a little boost at 3k but leaving the 6.5k where it is, which is not going to work without a dedicated EQ pedal. When I use my Milkman at home it tends to get very resonant and boomy in the lows, so it's easily done cutting at 400Hz and leave everything else untouched.
Well done.
Nice to hear, thanks
Nice vid man , good tone!
Love your sound and setup man
Nice to hear...thank you
Nice review ! I agree, great pedal platform for home, rehersal or small gigs. It has a scooped american flavor. After some experiments, I found that this chain works well with the Micro Dark and my yamaha 112 cab : polytune 3 /subnup mini/Keeley compressor/Westwood EQD/Plumes on mode 2 for mid clean boost/ODR1 bass cut on at 18v. In the fx loop : Vertex Boost v2 with an expression pedal /Keeley Halo/Ocean 12 EHX/Boss RC10. Westwood for base sound (or Timmy, BD-2, ...) works well with Teles which are mid focused guitars, I prefer the TS mini or Plumes on mode 1 or 3 for strats. The Plumes mode 2 brings a nice chimey sound or can boost my OD. With the EQD Westwood you can sculpt your sound effectively (I like BD-2 or Keeley Super Phat as well). Btw, what's your pedalboard ? pedaltrain novo 24 ?
Yes your right, it's the pedaltrain novo 24. You really put some work into fitting the mocro dark your needs. It's interesting to read about. I like that the amp is a perfect platform for experimenting. At first I ran the EQ in the FX loop, but nowerdays everything runs into the front and it also works fine. I got myself the MilkmanTheAmp100 for more headroom and the Orange can get so close in sound with a bit use of the GE-7. There's no need to ever get rid of the MicroDark. With overdrives, I pretty happy using the SpecialCranker and TheCarbon by BrowneAmplification.
Thank you both for all that informations
I do my first steps in the guitar world
My first amp is a Rolland cube 30x that I'm practicing and is fine for me right now
However that Micro Dark smiles 😊 to me
@@dimitris70 Hi Dimitri I updated my signal chain in the first post. The Micro Dark replaced my HT20MKII for home use with my pedalboard, perfect. I use Katana head MKII and Boss Nextone for band/jam contexts. Roland Cube is great all rounder too. I'm now thinking also of an ampless rig configuration, to simplify the chain with a multieffects/modeler and few pedals. I started playing bass too. Have a nice tone quest, this is fun !
@@roastedmaple can you tell me what are the cons of MD vs Blackstar?
@@dimitris70 The MD has a limited EQ, you can use a GE7 in the loop for that or an overdrive / dist with a good EQ in front of the amp. The HT20 tubes need to be replaced sometimes. The HT5 is cheaper but with a less refined sound than HT5. Very few cons regarding these two amp. I found a Yamaha 1x12 cab with Eminence speaker that pairs well with the MD.
dope video
Is there a full version of the intro song anywhere?
@@LJones113 Not by now, but I'm working on it!
@@Andreas_tropicalwinter nice. Looking forward to it.
A $100 amp with $2000 worth of gear….how about just the amp?
From 3:50 to 5:30 you can hear how it sounds clean. I just added EQ and Compression, which doesn't change the character. Since it's my pedal platform amp, it's pretty much necessary to add pedals in the rest of the vedeo I guess... 😅
@@Andreas_tropicalwinter Thank you for the reply, and I meant no disrespect. You can add lipstick to a pig, right? Thank you for the content. And thanks for pointing out that section I missed. I have the Micro Terror and wanted to hear a “dry” comparison. I’m surprised how well these amps sound, especially for a pedal platform, and at 20 watts, they are amazing. God Bless.
So, in your opinion, the Micro Dark is not really good for recording?
It wasn't meant that way. I really think it makes a good recording amp, since it's the perfect platform for me, but it's simply more convenient for me to use amp sims. The cab sim on the MicroDark isn't the best, otherwise I would use it direct. I tried to use an IR after, but wasn't that satisfied yet.