MGR/Brian Johnston « Better than a few small Orange Amps I've Owned »
Published on 08/15/24 at 04:40
Best value:
Excellent
Audience:
Anyone
GUP Tech’s PORCorn is a Rockerverb preamp. I’ve never played through a Rockerverb, but have had two smaller Orange amplifiers, and I will say that this pedal sounds as good as an orange amp, and even better (with more tone variations) than the two smaller orange amps I owned. Consequently, if you’re interested in an Orange, and have a clean channel available on your amp (either FX Loop or direct to the front), I would recommend the PORCorn for only $140 Canadian!
For the demo, I ran the PORCorn through a solid-state Quilter Tone Block 202, both at 9v and 12v (it also runs on 18v, but I don’t have that power source). At 9v, this pedal sounds great, and very much like a quality distortion; but on 12v, it behaves more amp-like, has greater headroom and dynamics, but while maintaining that biting aggression. One key feature is the IN GAIN (referred to as Input Gain on the video), as this partially determines (with the GAIN) how intense PORCorn gets. With In Gain turned down half-way or less, and with Gain about quarter way, there is modest breakup, ideal for blues, light rock, etc. With In Gain turned all the way up, with Gain still quarter way, you’re into light to moderate crunch territory. With both Gains cranked, you’re now into Metal territory, with various degrees of crunchy Hard Rock between. Very diverse, as this pedal could literally act as a boost or overdrive, as much as a solo preamp platform.
The three-band EQ is highly usable. There are no extremes with this EQ, in that turning the Bass all the way down or all the way up does not sound unreasonable to the ears. Same with the Midrange and Treble. You could dial in a number of tone combinations that will fit nicely in a mix and without being out of place. No flubby bass, honking midrange or shrill treble.
My fixation tends to be on preamps, which are amazing when considering the cost and studio real estate of full-blown amps and heads. And being into hi-gain gear (although not a Metal player or composer exclusively, and a mediocre one at that), the PORCorn is one of my favorites, and for the price is certainly a top pick.
For the demo, I ran the PORCorn through a solid-state Quilter Tone Block 202, both at 9v and 12v (it also runs on 18v, but I don’t have that power source). At 9v, this pedal sounds great, and very much like a quality distortion; but on 12v, it behaves more amp-like, has greater headroom and dynamics, but while maintaining that biting aggression. One key feature is the IN GAIN (referred to as Input Gain on the video), as this partially determines (with the GAIN) how intense PORCorn gets. With In Gain turned down half-way or less, and with Gain about quarter way, there is modest breakup, ideal for blues, light rock, etc. With In Gain turned all the way up, with Gain still quarter way, you’re into light to moderate crunch territory. With both Gains cranked, you’re now into Metal territory, with various degrees of crunchy Hard Rock between. Very diverse, as this pedal could literally act as a boost or overdrive, as much as a solo preamp platform.
The three-band EQ is highly usable. There are no extremes with this EQ, in that turning the Bass all the way down or all the way up does not sound unreasonable to the ears. Same with the Midrange and Treble. You could dial in a number of tone combinations that will fit nicely in a mix and without being out of place. No flubby bass, honking midrange or shrill treble.
My fixation tends to be on preamps, which are amazing when considering the cost and studio real estate of full-blown amps and heads. And being into hi-gain gear (although not a Metal player or composer exclusively, and a mediocre one at that), the PORCorn is one of my favorites, and for the price is certainly a top pick.