Am I going crazy...I think I am

[OrangeSunn]

I'm on the verge of selling my OR120 Pix only. I've sunk close to 1k into this thing and something just doesn't seem right. I run a descent size pedal board into this. So, one week it sounds great, the next week it hates every fuzz pedal I throw into it. No matter configuration I use, it'll refuse to sound good. On the the other hand, it sounds clean just plugged straight in. I've read more than enough quotes from people saying how reliable their OR120's are. I'm seriously about to get out from underneath this damn thing. I'm gonna take it to my tech one final time for the 7th time in like three years. Hopefully something pans out here. Somebody please talk some sense into me, am I overreacting.

[skullservant]

Seems like that's the way with those man, plug straight in and doom out. If you're wanting to use pedals, maybe consider an additional cleaner head to use when you get that itch

[OrangeSunn]

So I need cleaner headroom in this amp? Perhaps tubes that don't break up much?

[skullservant]

No what I am saying is instead of trying to make that amp do both things that you want, pick up another head in addition to it that you can run pedals through more easily.

[friendship]

I had a Mesa that was constantly in the shop and one day I said fuck it and sold it at a loss. I thought I'd be bummed about the decision but the only thing I kicked myself for was not doing it sooner.

[phantasmagorovich]

Try some oldschool bass/all-purpose amp like a Fender Bassman, Marshall Superbass, or derivatives. Hiwatts are also good, but like with Mesa there are some models that are crappy, I can't tell you which ones those are, though.

[Holy Schnikes]

I'd have to be in love with every aspect of an amp to take it to a tech that frequently and sink that kinda ca$h into it. If you don't love it and it's problematic, I say let it go and get something different. Lots of great amps out there. Not many that will do a convincing OR120 tone but sounds like you use lots of pedals anyway...

[D.o.S.]

Dibs?

My OR takes pedals fine with guitar and bass ('73 Pix & Text), so I'd be curious as to what you're experiencing.

[OrangeSunn]

No what I am saying is instead of trying to make that amp do both things that you want, pick up another head in addition to it that you can run pedals through more easily.

I do like that idea. Maybe it's time to really consider that.

Hey friendly, that's exactly what I'm saying. Thinking about parting ways with it almost makes my stomach turn. But, I do know there are some amazing amps out there. I wonder what I could out this amp.

[OrangeSunn]

Dibs?

My OR takes pedals fine with guitar and bass ('73 Pix & Text), so I'd be curious as to what you're experiencing.

Well...I'll try to describe it best I can. I set my amp volume just below crunch. So when I turn on any fuzz pedal it sounds like it just has no punch, speakers sound farty and fizzy. Volume level does no justice either way. The tubes are fresh. Just replaced them a couple month ago and appear to look fine still. Tested them and everything. Voltage meter reads consistent.

[OrangeSunn]

There's only so many things it could be causing it sound so bad. I doubt it's the pedals. Cause there have definitely been many times where it just sounds killer no matter I put in front of it.

[Tristan]

Did you get a different brand of tubes in there, did the sound and volume of the amp change when the tubes were replaced at all?
And, maybe even more important, what kind of speakers / cab are you using the amp with?

[OrangeSunn]

I have two quality techs available. Most resent tech, Dean Zink, threw in a quad of EH el34's. They worked fine right out the gate. I did have NOS Mullards before that. I got maybe 100 hrs out I them. So I'm kind of partial on getting NOS tubes again. But anyway, I did have a post master volume mod done on it when the EH's where installed. Prior to that service it had been a year since I took it in.

[OrangeSunn]

I'm currently running one of either two Orange cabs. One has 412 Celestion 100's the other has V30 and Man o War cross pattern.

[OrangeSunn]

I might just have to send this amp into an authorized orange tech and get a clean bill of health.