Cancel those accordion lessons! (Sorry grandma!) You won't be able to let go of your guitar when you hear the pro level tone and added features of the amazing NEW and easy-to-do Mercury Upgrade Kit
You can turn your "Tiny Terror" into the tricked-out "HOLY TERROR" with the help of Mercury iron and a few coo Alan Cyr circuit tweaks.
It's our simplest Upgrade Kit, yet. All you (or your amp tech) do is swap the transformers and make a few minor circuit mods. The kit also includes an optional Pentode/Triode mode selector switch that more than doubles the tonal possibilities!
What do you get? Oh man, it's H-U-G-E!!!! Orange attitude 'till it's busting at the seams. Throw away the straw because this is true big gulp overdrive with your Orange drink!
Our "HOLY TERROR" Upgrade Kit features custom-tuned performance Axiom series transformers. The same or higher quality as those used in boutique amps costing substantially more. After you hear the improvement you'll never settle for stock transformers again. The improvement in tone is beyond dramatic. Remember, more than any other component, your amp's transformers determine its tone.
Check out these YouTube demos of the "Holy Terror" by Bob McGilpin of MVamps.com:
Choose your choice of Mini-Choke or MultiChoke at the bottom of the page!
The "McMod" by Bob McGilpin
What's that odd little transformer doing on the chassis? That's a Mercury Mini-Choke. Think of it as a shock absorber for your amp's power. And the Mini-Choke delivers a big affect on the overall tone of your amp! Mini-Chokes come in different values so that you can select the tone you like best. Bob McGilpin of www.MVamps.com in Nashville, made the modification and along with this YouTube video also supplied instructions to show you how to do it (now included in the "Holy Terror" Upgrade Kit manual). We're listing it as an option with Bob's recommended part -- or for a few bucks more you can get one of our Mercury MultiChoke that will let you to dial in the ideal choke setting for your amp.
The Multi-Choke
Taking the addition of a Mercury Mini-Choke one step further these photos show a "Holy Terror" Upgrade with one of Mercury's new Mercury MultiChoke installed. The Mercury MultiChoke was invented by Mercury engineers to allow amp techs (and savvy amp builders) to easily sample different choke values before selecting the best-sounding choke to install.
The Mercury MultiChoke shown in these photos allows for five different Henry values (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) to be tested. But Mercury also makes other variations, depending upon your need. And we're beginning to see amps that utilize our MultiChokes with rotary switches that allow the values to be changes on the fly! Very cool! We also built a rotary switch demo for the LA Amp Show (see below).
The Mercury MultiChoke is installed following the Upgrade Kit manual's supplemental instructions for the "McMod" The only difference is that you must solder a lead from one of the marked MultiChoke terminal values. You can then easily resolder to each subsequent terminal to test the amp until you've found the optimum sound for your amp. It's really easy to do, and will provide you with extremely informative and usable results. Tweakers love the Mercury MultiChoke because it allows them to easily find the right tone for their playing style.
The Mercury MultiChoke is sold as a option to the Upgrade Kit (see pricing below), it's inexpensive and you'll be blown away by the results.
As a special demonstration project for the LA Amp Show, we built this MultiChoke version of the "Holy Terror" with a rotary switch that allowed all 5 Henry settings -- plus the original resistor from the "Tiny Terror." The tone shifts subtly at each setting, but the most radical tonal improvement occurs with the original resistor pitted against the 9 Henry setting. Indicating that a 9 Henry Mini-Choke is the best way to go.
*BIG NOTE: The Orange Holy Terror Mercury's kit does not include the amplifier!!!! It only includes the components necessary for the upgrade of an existing amp.
This project and its documentation is the result of technical investigations made by the engineering staff of Mercury Magnetics. The disclosure of the information herein may pertain to proprietary rights, and the furnishing of these documents does not constitute an expressed or implied license to use such materials. Mercury reserves the right to make changes to the Orange "Holy Terror" kit or its components without notice, at any time.
CAUTION! The voltages in your amplifier can be dangerous. Transformers and chokes are not user serviceable parts. Installation of these components should always be performed by an experienced technician. The simple ability to use a soldering iron is not enough to qualify a "do it yourself person." Those who are inexperienced in working with electronic circuits should never attempt to service their amplifier. Household line currents can be deadly!! Transformers, chokes and large filter capacitors can store a dangerous charge for several days or more after the amplifier has been unplugged. Never touch the terminals of such devices without being certain of their charge status. Risk of shock and damage to equipment may result from mishandling and/or improper use of these components. Please use common sense and always think safety first. After all, tone is most enjoyed when you are alive to hear it.
