Opinion on new Trace Elliot amps? AH600-12

[deputyjk]

All

I'm considering buying one of the new trace elliot amps. I'm looking at the AH600-12 in particular.

Currently using a GK1001rb. Tried an old TE (not sure of model) at a gig a few years back and thought it was amazing - Big, warm and chest thumping.

Has anyone on here ever tried one? I know a lot of people on here have the opinion that their new amps are not as good as the older generation amps but I'm looking someones actual experience.

[deputyjk]

no one?

[BruceBass3901]

I got a chance to play through its big brother (the AH1200-12) at the London Bass Guitar Show this year and thought it sounded incredible. It was a really nice warm, deep sound but really versatile as well.

If you get a chance, try one first through the speaker cab(s) you intend to pair it with, becasue I got a drastically different sound trying it through an 8x10 and then 4x10 and 2x15

[deputyjk]

Thanks Brucebass

Good to hear your view. I would be going into a SWR Golight 410. I tried an older one years ago and loved it so good to hear they still have the warm deep sound. I would be buying it off the net wont get a change to try before I buy.

[Downunderwonder]

Check in with the Team Trace Elliot thread, actually the old thread. Tracebassplayer was commenting on the new vs old being similar.

[Daniel Piper]

Everything I have heard from that series of amps sounds amazing. Do you have an inside running on a cheaper one? All the prices I have seen are really high.

[markorbit]

I read all the reports both good and bad on the 'new' Trace gear. I watched numerous great videos with Paul Stevens who sounded like he knows how to make a good amp. I adore the old Trace gear but simply sold it not so long ago as I was getting concerned with the age and reliability of it all.

In retrospect I should have kept a GP12SMX preamp but I didn't.

So recently I tried an AH600-12 head through a couple of Berg 1x12s. Conceptually it has everything I need well laid out and although I don't find the looks offensive something doesn't sit right with the font they use IMO.

I proceeded to set the gain correctly. Great to have clear feedback of this.

Initially the sound was so-so but not great. The amp defaults with the preshape activated and although I used to like this back in the 80s, in recent years I preferred just getting my sound with the graphic alone. So I turned it off and played a bit and tweaked the graphic. Again, the sound wasn't as good as the older Traces. Plenty of inherent top end and low end but something missing. Not as punchy or warm.

On to the valve section. Now we have a DRIVE and a BLEND. Should be good. I engaged the circuit with both rotaries down. I put it to full blend so I could hear the same sound but with the valve warmth like the SMX series.

It was overdriving already and the bottom end had disappeared. It was a harsh horrible sound with nowhere to go but up on the DRIVE knob.

Oh well, let's try the good old compressor. My one complaint with the SMX series is the Hi/Lo compressor is very sensitive and you rarely need to go beyond 3 o clock on the dials. Perhaps they addressed that now? I engaged the circuit with both rotaries down. WHOOOAA.... far too much compression!!

And nowhere to go but UP!

I was very disappointed with this amp. Why can't they reproduce the goodness they once had?