Orange Little Bass Thing 500W Solid-State Bass Amplifier Head

The Orange Little Bass Thing 500W Solid-State Bass Amplifier Head packs serious gigging power, flexible tone shaping and professional connectivity into an exceptionally compact 2.95kg design.

Delivering 500 watts RMS from a Class D power section, the Little Bass Thing is designed for bassists who want plenty of clean headroom without carrying a traditional heavyweight amplifier. Its all-analogue front end keeps operation immediate, while the three-band EQ adds a sweepable mid-frequency control that lets you quickly adapt your sound to different basses, cabinets, rooms and playing styles.

A built-in compressor, -6dB input pad, balanced DI output, effects loop and headphone facility make this much more than a stripped-down lightweight head. Whether you're playing rehearsals, club gigs, larger stages or recording sessions, the Little Bass Thing gives you the essentials of a professional bass rig without unnecessary menus or modelling.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Orange
Model	Little Bass Thing
Amplifier Type	Solid-state bass amplifier head
Output Power	500W RMS
Power Amp	Class D
Minimum Speaker Load	4Ω
EQ	3-band with sweepable mid frequency
Compressor	Built-in, footswitchable
Input Pad	-6dB
DI Output	Balanced
Effects Loop	Yes
Weight	2.95kg
Main Appeal	Serious bass power and control in a highly portable head
Best For	Gigging, rehearsals, recording, funk, rock, pop, fusion and modern bass rigs

What's Included?

• Orange Little Bass Thing 500W Bass Amplifier Head

Speaker cabinet not included.

Footswitch not included and available separately.

Why Choose The Orange Little Bass Thing?

500 Watts Without The Heavy Lifting

The Little Bass Thing delivers 500 watts RMS from a compact Class D power section, giving gigging bassists substantial output and clean headroom without the size and weight traditionally associated with high-powered bass amplification.

Sweepable Midrange For Proper Tone Control

Rather than limiting you to a fixed middle-frequency control, Orange gives the Little Bass Thing separate Middle and Frequency controls. This allows you to decide which part of the midrange you want to boost or cut, making it much easier to shape the bass around a particular cabinet, venue or band mix.

Built-In Compression

The onboard compressor provides an easy way to smooth dynamic peaks and tighten your overall bass sound without adding another pedal to the signal chain. It can range from subtle control to a more obvious compressed response and can also be remotely switched with a compatible footswitch.

Works With Active And Passive Basses

A -6dB Pad switch reduces input sensitivity when required, making the Little Bass Thing easy to use with hotter active electronics as well as conventional passive bass guitars.

Professional DI Output

The balanced DI output allows you to send a bass signal directly to compatible mixing or recording equipment, making the amp well suited to live situations where front-of-house takes a direct bass feed.

Effects Loop For More Complex Rigs

The effects loop provides a practical place for pedals and processors that you want positioned after the amplifier's preamp section, giving you more flexibility when building a professional bass setup.

Orange Little Bass Thing Compared With Popular Alternatives

Orange Little Bass Thing vs Orange Terror Bass 500

Both offer compact 500-watt Orange bass amplification, but they approach tone differently. The Terror Bass uses a valve preamp for players who specifically want more vintage-inspired warmth and growl. The Little Bass Thing is the better choice if your priorities are cleaner response, sweepable mids, built-in compression and greater control over a modern bass sound.

Orange Little Bass Thing vs Markbass Little Mark IV

The Little Mark IV is another popular lightweight 500-watt bass head and is a strong option for players who favour the familiar Markbass approach to EQ and stage control. The Orange stands apart with its sweepable midrange, onboard compression and straightforward Orange layout, making it particularly attractive if you want focused tone shaping without a complicated front panel.

Orange Little Bass Thing vs Orange Crush Bass 100

The Crush Bass 100 is a self-contained combo, making it convenient when you want the amplifier and speaker in one enclosure. The Little Bass Thing is better suited to bassists who want considerably more amplifier power and the freedom to choose different speaker cabinets for rehearsals, gigs and recording.

Orange Little Bass Thing vs A Traditional Heavy Bass Head

Large traditional bass heads can offer plenty of character and stage authority, but portability can become a real concern for regular gigging. At just 2.95kg, the Little Bass Thing is designed for players who want serious output without dedicating half the boot of the car to an amplifier.

Who Is The Orange Little Bass Thing For?

The Little Bass Thing is particularly well suited to players who need a powerful, clean and highly portable bass amplifier.

It is a strong choice for:

• Regularly gigging bassists

• Players travelling with their own equipment

• Bassists using active or passive instruments

• Funk and fusion players wanting articulate clean response

• Rock and pop musicians needing dependable stage power

• Five-string and extended-range bass players

• Pedalboard users needing an effects loop

• Bassists sending a DI signal to front-of-house

• Studio players wanting a compact professional bass head

• Musicians upgrading from lower-powered bass combos

Looking for advice on choosing the right bass amplifier, speaker cabinet or complete bass rig? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Suitable Genres And Uses

Funk and fusion: The responsive clean character, compression and sweepable mid control are ideal when note articulation and dynamic control matter.

Rock: With plenty of output available, the Little Bass Thing can provide the solid low-end foundation needed beneath loud drums and electric guitars while pedals can be used to add extra grit where required.

Pop and function work: Its clean response and flexible EQ make it easy to adapt quickly between instruments, venues and different styles during a varied set.

Alternative and modern bass: The effects loop and strong clean foundation provide an excellent platform for octave, modulation, drive and more involved pedalboard setups.

Studio recording: Balanced DI connectivity and precise EQ make the head useful when you want both amplifier-based tone shaping and a practical signal path into recording equipment.

Why Are Sweepable Mids So Useful On A Bass Amp?

Bass guitar lives across a much wider part of the mix than simply the lowest frequencies. The mids are particularly important because they control how clearly individual notes, finger attack, pick definition and harmonic character come through alongside drums, guitars and keyboards.

A sweepable mid control lets you choose which mid frequency you are shaping rather than relying on one predetermined centre point. This can help you reduce an awkward room resonance, add definition to a bass that sounds too soft in the mix or create extra presence without simply turning up the overall volume.

Lightweight Bass Heads: Are They Powerful Enough For Gigging?

Modern Class D amplification makes it possible to produce substantial output from a much smaller and lighter chassis than older amplifier designs.

The Little Bass Thing delivers 500 watts RMS while weighing just 2.95kg, making it entirely viable as the centre of a serious live bass rig when paired with suitable speaker cabinets.

The important consideration is not simply the physical size of the amplifier. Cabinet efficiency, impedance, speaker configuration and the volume of the rest of the band all contribute to how a complete bass rig performs on stage.

Story & Context

Orange has long been associated with large, characterful bass amplifiers, but modern touring musicians increasingly need equipment that delivers professional performance without excessive size and weight.

The Little Bass Thing takes a different approach from Orange's valve-inspired Terror Bass. Instead of building the sound around intentional valve coloration, it focuses on clean power, an all-analogue front end, flexible EQ and integrated compression.

That makes it an important alternative within the Orange bass range: still straightforward and musician-focused, but designed particularly for players who need clarity, portability and fast control rather than a heavily coloured vintage amplifier response.

Compatibility & Recommended Pairings

Bass Speaker Cabinets

The Little Bass Thing requires a suitable passive bass speaker cabinet or cabinet combination presenting a minimum total impedance of 4 ohms.

This gives you flexibility to build anything from a compact single-cabinet rig to a larger multi-cabinet stage system, provided the total impedance remains within the amplifier's specification.

Active And Passive Bass Guitars

Passive basses can be connected normally, while the -6dB Pad provides additional input headroom for active instruments and other higher-output sources.

Effects Pedals

Compression, octave, overdrive, fuzz and filter pedals can be connected in front of the amplifier, while modulation and other processors can also be incorporated through the effects loop depending on how you prefer to build your signal chain.

DI And Recording Equipment

The balanced DI output makes the Little Bass Thing suitable for sending a direct signal to compatible mixers, PA systems and recording equipment.

Footswitch

A compatible footswitch can be used to remotely engage or disengage the onboard compression, which can be particularly useful when switching between different sections of a live set.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Orange Little Bass Thing
Product Type	Solid-state bass amplifier head
Channels	Single channel
Power Amplifier	Class D
Output Power	500W RMS
Minimum Total Speaker Impedance	4Ω
Preamp	All-analogue
EQ	Bass, Middle, Treble
Mid Control	Sweepable frequency
Input Pad	-6dB
Compressor	Built-in, adjustable and footswitchable
DI Output	Balanced
Effects Loop	Yes
Headphone Output	Yes
Suitable Instruments	Active and passive bass guitars
Dimensions	27.6 x 8.5 x 25.1cm
Weight	2.95kg
UPC	5060299177550

Power Requirements

The Orange Little Bass Thing is a mains-powered 500W bass amplifier head.

Connect it only to the correct mains supply specified on the amplifier itself.

A passive bass speaker cabinet must be connected when using the amplifier conventionally as a head-and-cab rig. The minimum total speaker impedance is 4 ohms, so never connect a cabinet configuration that falls below this load.

Always use a dedicated speaker cable between the amplifier's speaker output and your cabinet rather than a standard bass or guitar instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Orange Little Bass Thing is an excellent example of what a modern bass head should do: provide plenty of clean power, useful control and professional connectivity without becoming unnecessarily complicated or difficult to transport.

The sweepable midrange is a major advantage in real-world use because it gives you significantly more control over how the bass sits in a mix than a basic fixed three-band EQ. Add the onboard compressor, DI, effects loop and -6dB pad and there is very little missing from a practical gigging setup.

At 500 watts and only 2.95kg, it is especially easy to recommend to working bassists who regularly carry their own equipment.

Best suited for: Gigging and recording bassists looking for powerful, clean, portable amplification.

Main benefit: 500 watts of stage-ready bass power in an exceptionally compact and lightweight chassis.

Value proposition: Combines a professional power amp, flexible analogue EQ, compression and useful live connectivity without the cost or weight of a large traditional amplifier.

Standout feature: The sweepable mid-frequency EQ combined with onboard compression.

Customers usually upgrade from: Lower-powered bass combos and entry-level heads when they need greater headroom, cabinet flexibility and professional DI connectivity.

Most commonly paired with: A suitable 4Ω or 8Ω bass cabinet setup, quality speaker cable, tuner and effects pedals, plus a compatible compressor footswitch where required.

Our tip: Don't automatically scoop the mids when setting up your bass sound. In a full band, carefully boosting the right mid frequency can make you sound clearer and more powerful without needing more overall volume.

Showroom feedback: The Little Bass Thing makes particular sense for players who regularly gig and want a head they can easily carry in one hand without sacrificing the power needed for a proper stage rig.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our Birmingham showroom has helped generations of musicians find the right instruments, amplifiers and equipment, backed by a knowledgeable musician-led team who understand the products we sell.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Flexible finance options available, subject to status

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Secure online ordering

• A large Birmingham showroom

• Decades of experience with both new and pre-owned musical equipment

Whether you're building a compact touring bass rig, upgrading from a combo or matching a new amplifier head to the right cabinet, we're happy to help you choose the right setup.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, bass, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next piece of equipment even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Orange Little Bass Thing loud enough for gigs?

Yes. With up to 500 watts RMS available into a suitable speaker load, it is designed as a professional gigging bass head rather than a small practice amplifier. Actual stage volume will also depend on the cabinets being used and the rest of the band.

What speaker cabinet should I use with the Little Bass Thing?

Use a properly rated passive bass cabinet or cabinet combination that does not present a total load below 4 ohms. Your choice of speaker size and cabinet configuration will affect the overall feel, projection and portability of the rig.

Can I use an 8-ohm bass cabinet?

Yes, provided the cabinet is suitable for bass amplification and the overall speaker load remains within the amplifier's safe operating range.

Can I connect two 8-ohm cabinets?

Two 8-ohm cabinets connected in parallel produce a 4-ohm total load, which matches the Little Bass Thing's stated minimum impedance. Always ensure both cabinets and the amplifier are connected correctly with proper speaker cables.

Does the Little Bass Thing work with active bass guitars?

Yes. The -6dB Pad is specifically useful for higher-output active instruments, giving you additional input headroom when required.

Does it have built-in compression?

Yes. The onboard compressor allows you to control dynamic peaks directly from the amplifier and can also be remotely switched with a compatible footswitch.

Can I connect the Little Bass Thing directly to a mixing desk?

Yes. The balanced DI output is designed for connection to compatible professional live and recording equipment, making it useful when front-of-house requires a direct bass signal.

Does it have an effects loop?

Yes. The effects loop allows compatible effects and processors to be positioned after the amplifier's preamp section.

Is the Little Bass Thing suitable for a five-string bass?

Yes. Its clean, powerful design and flexible EQ make it a strong choice for four-, five- and extended-range basses, provided your speaker cabinet is capable of reproducing the low frequencies effectively.

Should I buy the Little Bass Thing or Terror Bass 500?

Choose the Little Bass Thing if you prioritise clean headroom, sweepable midrange EQ and onboard compression. Choose the Terror Bass 500 if you specifically want the added warmth and coloration of a valve-based preamp design.

Final Buying Advice

The Orange Little Bass Thing 500W Bass Amplifier Head is a particularly strong choice for bassists who want professional power without carrying a large, heavy amplifier.

Its combination of 500W Class D output, all-analogue preamp, sweepable midrange EQ, built-in compression, -6dB input pad, balanced DI and effects loop covers the features that matter in real-world rehearsal, recording and live situations.

At only 2.95kg, it is easy to transport, but its biggest advantage is not simply its weight. The Little Bass Thing gives you enough control to adapt quickly to different basses, cabinets and venues while keeping the actual operating experience straightforward.

For working bassists who value power, clarity, portability and practical control, it is one of the most focused bass heads in the Orange range.