Trace, Eden or Marshall

Swicked · #1 07-14-2011, 01:49 AM

I've been looking at finally getting a proffesional rig and retiring my old trace combo. So far I've narrowed it down to either a Trace Elliot AH600-12, Eden WTB700 and Marshall VBA400. I come to you guys for help.

I run a lot of effects, but I'm bi-amping so I need a good punchy clean tone from the get go.

I'm looking for a punchy,middy in-your-face sound, but have no idea which of these will give it to me.

Your thoughts?

shtik · #2 07-14-2011, 01:53 AM

Of course it's a matter of taste but Marshall and Trace are my most hated amplifiers for bass. When I play on any one of them, I have to EQ massively before I can even hear a tone that I can work with..

Swicked · #3 07-14-2011, 02:08 AM

I found the same deal with my Trace combo. Endless EQ adjusting. But when I tried the AH600-12 with the valve blend it sounded pretty good, I just don;lt know how it compares to the eden or marshall

inmate13 · #4 07-14-2011, 02:26 AM

I dunno about new TE amps, but i have old TWIN VALVE and that baby cuts thru heavy 7 strings with peavey heads and messa boogie cabs.

Maybe you should also try Gallien Krueger. With your choises i would definetly go for EDEN.

Swicked · #5 07-14-2011, 03:08 AM

Well money isn;t an issue cause this is long-term and i'm starting to get regular paid gigs, so it;s paying for itself. I've tried Gallien Kruegar and it wasn;t for me. Leaning towards the Eden option as of right now.

tekdiver500ft · #6 07-14-2011, 04:19 AM

I've never liked any of those. For clean sound, Genz-Benz have been my favorite, and they still get warm and fuzzy, or dirt-nasty.

Unfortunately, the best answer is to play a ton of YouTube videos of various gear tests, narrow it down to a few, then go play them yourself. We can't tell you what you'll like. Sorry.

Rockmusician · #7 07-14-2011, 04:23 AM

I have always liked Eden.

shtik · #8 07-14-2011, 04:31 AM

If I wasn't obvious before, from these 3 options, I would definitely go with the Eden.

I would also recommend that you check out Mesa Carbine series and Ampeg SVT series before you make your decision. Not sure about biamping options but they sure have that "good punchy clean tone from the get go" that you're after.

Swicked · #9 07-14-2011, 04:31 AM

I tried Genz-Benz I don;t know why but I didn't like it, it was way too..."usual" I guess. I'm not sure.But you do have a point. It;s just an issue because the nearest distributors are about 2hrs away and even then they may not have they amp i want to try out in stock.

nysbob · #10 07-14-2011, 06:01 AM

The VBA400 will leave the others mentioned in the dust.

grendle · #11 07-14-2011, 10:33 AM

I don't think you can even put the Eden in the same class at the others. Eden by far, and it will hold it's value much longer also.

kaputsport · #12 07-14-2011, 10:38 AM

I am biased here, but Marshall all the way. The VBA400 is immense.

I play DBS7400 heads and I have tone and volume for days.

I do like Eden though. Great heads, but honestly worrying about "held value" verses punch you in the wedding vegetables and crap down your throat tone is not an argument.

I would rather go with attitude. Trust me, the Marshall will be clean, but can get gritty.

enricogaletta · #13 07-14-2011, 01:16 PM

Eden absolutely!
Cheers. Enrico
YouTube
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Muttleybass · #14 07-14-2011, 01:23 PM

I've seen a ton of guys get a great sound out of the TE, but I always found I had to use the EQ to the extreme. Never cared for the Marshall bass stuff. Out of the three, my vote is for Eden.

Of course, this is from a GK guy.

slap5string · #15 07-14-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muttleybass

I've seen a ton of guys get a great sound out of the TE, but I always found I had to use the EQ to the extreme. Never cared for the Marshall bass stuff. Out of the three, my vote is for Eden.

Of course, this is from a GK guy.

+1

My ears tell me to go w/ GK, Ampeg, Eden, Mesa, Aguilar
Long before you even consider Marshall!!! Ughhh!

jumbodbassman · #16 07-14-2011, 01:56 PM

you need to go with what you like not us.... go try everything out....

shtik · #17 07-14-2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

The VBA400 will leave the others mentioned in the dust.

Well.. The all tube flagship heads of all manufacturers will probably sound good (even Markbass has a very good all tube head).

When it comes to FET heads, all Marshall has to offer is a lot of knobs that don't make the initial sound of the head any better, while others actually have punch and clarity with only 5 knobs all set to flat.

But again - a matter of taste

JimmyM · #18 07-14-2011, 05:49 PM

When two SS heads are compared to ANY tube head, I always take the tube head. I hate Eden products (except for the old 90's Nemesis stuff), and I liked Trace back in the day but never as much as Ampeg. So by default the Marshall wins. Put it up against an SVT and I'll take the SVT every time, but between those three heads, yeah, no contest...the Marshall.

However, my opinion is completely irrelevant to yours. Buy what YOU like, not what any of us other yahoos like.

chadds · #19 07-14-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

However, my opinion is completely irrelevant to yours. Buy what YOU like, not what any of us other yahoos like.

Whoa!

Swicked · #20 07-14-2011, 07:48 PM

I would but, I don;t have much option of trying them out save for the trace stuff. I'm leaning towards the eden I must admit.