Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: EKDENTON on March 31, 2016, 10:33:49 am
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Has anyone put together an orange dark terror or a tiny terror amp? A friend dropped off a dark terror for me to try out and I LIKE IT ALOT. I found schematics for it but I can't find any layout diagrams anywhere. Then i found the tiny terror schematic. It looks simmilar but does not have the 7watt/14 watt switch or the effects loop. I think after i finish my current amp build i wouldnt mind trying to put together a tiny terror.
I like how the gain and the shape controls work.
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From the search done using Yahoo's engine, the tiny and the dark are pcb based, therefore, any layout would have to be clone based.
I did see a clone, and a layout that used two maybe three boards to keep the layout clean. my search stream was
"orange dark terror schematics"
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Yes it is. I have kinda made it a project to try and make a turret board layout for the amp. I have never made a layout from schematics except for effects pedals, so i hope it goes well. I have it almost done. Unless I have the parts drawn way out of scale it is going to all fit on a 3 x 11 board. I can post the .pdf diagram of what I have so far if anyone is interested in it.
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I'd like to see it Ed.
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Okay here is what i have so far, i'm almost to the power tubes. I haven't gone back and checked for mistakes in layout and i hope i don't have it all wrong. The program i am using doesn't have a dual pot, so i had to improvise and show part A and part B of the pots. The layout is the pdf.
Also i am not sure if I have the wiring to the pots correct, I may need to study that part more, especially the shape pots.
If you notice anything i need to fix, or possibly a better layout, let me know.
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Okay I think I have it pretty much finished. I could not find can caps the same size as the schematic, so I substituted for the closest ones i could find. On the shape pots, I was not sure since in the schematic the two pots are facing opposite directions should the wiring on the lugs of one half of the dual pot be wired the opposite? (so when one pot increases resistance the other pot decreases resistance?) Also I didn't show the tube heater wiring layout.
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A couple of questions. First i am wondering if it would be better to move the grid resistor on V3 directly to the tube socket pin2, and delete the shown 1M resitor, then connect from that 68k to the turret just past the coupling cap where the 68K is now?
Also does this look like it may have a chance of working? I keep going back over it and fixing mistakes but it seems to be as the schematic near as i can tell. Some of the connections may be best connected below the board.
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I came across your thread here and registered. I am working on a dark terror clone myself and was wondering if you finished this project and any insight you might pass on from your experience. Sorry to revive such an elderly thread, but curiosity is compulsive.
Thanks
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I never completely finished the layout for the dark terror however I did complete a working layout for the tinyterror, and successfully completed the build. The tinyterror is now my favorite and go to amp. Very nice sounding amp, and if it is a metal sound your looking for it will do it. I also have a layout for the shape control that is on the dark terror. I used it on my own designed amp I call the Ace High. The shape control is sweet but won't work on the tiny terror unless you add a gain stage. Also I did build a second tiny terror using the 18 watt transformer set. It also sounds great but not as good as the first amp with Mercury transformers.
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Thank you for the quick reply. I browsed through your posts before registering and messaging you.
Your tiny terror build looks great, a real work of art in my opinion.
Yes, I am looking for high gain metal tone for my new 7 string build. I have the components for the dark terror and constructed the circuit on the original eyelet boards of an AO-33-3 (Hammond Q-40) It is a work in progress.
Also, wanted to commend your work on the Ace High, again, a great looking amp & an inspiration. I have a few similar transformers on hand and have planned a similar project when time permits. I will likely attempt a pair of 6CW5/EL86 as output. I have the OTs on hand and they need a purpose.
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Very good then. Yeah I got into ham radio and have my license now, so I have not been spending any time amp building. I had borrowed a dark terror from a friend and liked it. That is why I started the "Orange" adventure. I really like the range of tone variation you get with that shape control.
Every place I looked for a layout for the dark terror I was told that their was not one, and that it was a "secret" from Orange mfg.
I found the schematic and figured what the heck I will just roll my own layout. I got into it about half way and I cant remember why I did this but I stopped the dark terror layout and went to the tiny terror layout. With a lot of help from Steve here on Hoffmans and messaging I was able to complete the tiny terror. I think it actually worked first try with no major issues if I remember correct. Some day I will get back to the dark terror layout LOL.
I have now been making some cigarbox guitars and having fun playing these little guitars. Great for blues in open tuning with 3 or 4 strings. the one I just built has 3 strings and the neck is just a pc of oak from home depot with the fret markers burned in with my soldering iron. Took a whole afternoon to build the guitar and about $25 in parts. Next I might try a cat water bowl resonator with......gosh I will advance to 4 strings maybe LOL.
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One day I also plan to focus more on HAM. I have refurbished a number of "flea market, craigslist, etc." finds and sold back into the community via e-bay mostly. I have a Stromberg 58-L receiver in reserve. I have not decided whether to refurbish it as usual or repurpose it yet.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/stromberg_58l.html (https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/stromberg_58l.html)
I know what you mean with the lack of documentation of the Dark terror. I walked a similar path. :BangHead:
I rescued two of these Q-40s from a former Methodist church in 2011 after a tornado had destroyed the sanctuary. I restored one to original and couldn't seem to give it away. Stock they have a balanced input and sound okay if you direct the proper signal to them. The transistor reverb is weak even when working properly. I tried several line matching transformers, dedicated phase inverters, pre-amps etc. and after time the tone cabs just sat collecting dust. I removed the reverb transformer from one and reserved it, and recreated the dark terror layout on the stock boards. I tried tying the NFB to the PI from the bass channel OT (treble power stages disconnected) and I have signal, but have made some mistakes and have not had time to go back to it yet.
I had a little fun with cigarboxes and planks some years ago. As a pipefitter I could never wipe out resonators and other steel guitars from my mind and have not thought about the fun I had with the cigarboxes in years lol.