Trace Elliot vs Ampeg..trade or no trade?

capnjim · #1 04-03-2010, 05:32 PM

So I have a fairly new Trace Elliot 715x 500 watt combo. I got it in a trade for a great deal. The sound is OK, but I do find it very scooped and way too much low end. Its also incredibly freaking loud and I have it on 3 and it still gets a bit too boomy.
I can trade it and a guitar (Worth 250$) for an older metal knob Ampeg V4B and an Eden 2x10 cab.
Will this rig give me more mids and less boomieness? maybe a bit more warmth and grit?
I play at reasonable volumes, will the Ampeg be loud enough for a full band playing at moderate levels? Thats my main concern is that the Ampeg won't have enough headroom. I play a Jazz bass.
Thanks

JimmyM · #2 04-03-2010, 05:58 PM

the v4b will get really loud but it does have limits, especially with a 210. now if you had an 810, 410 or a 215, might be a different story. had one for years and just loved it, though. it was a sweet sweet amp, way sweeter than the trace imho.

however, don't be afraid to move tone controls if you're not getting what you want from the trace. it's still a fine amp.

RickenBoogie · #3 04-03-2010, 05:58 PM

The V4B is an awesome amp, but at 100 watts, you'll need more than 2 10's to cut it at full band levels. Otherwise, not a bad trade. (volume means more speakers, generally, moreso than more wattage)

rdwoody1 · #4 04-03-2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnjim

warmth

That, my friend, is an Ampeg word if I've ever heard one. I say go for it. It may work for moderate levels, but I'd still recommend a bigger cab just in case.

newbold · #5 04-03-2010, 07:27 PM

it's up to you, but it's not hard to EQ the scoop out of any rig.

The V4b won't have enough headroom but can still be very loud.

Keep your amp and guitar.

kesslari · #6 04-03-2010, 07:55 PM

Trading in to a shop invariably means getting ripped off. It's just a fact of life, no hard feelings - they need to turn around and sell what they got from you, and their business is to make as much on each sale as they can.

If you want to replace/upgrade your rig, sell it outright, then buy what you can afford and like.

capnjim · #7 04-04-2010, 02:13 PM

Thanks for the reply Kess..its not a store, its a private seller. I have been trying to sell the Trace locally for a month and nobody is buying these days.
Another reason I want the Ampeg, is i do have a nice old 2x15" cab with two speakers I had completely rebuilt.

JimmyM · #8 04-04-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnjim

Thanks for the reply Kess..its not a store, its a private seller. I have been trying to sell the Trace locally for a month and nobody is buying these days.
Another reason I want the Ampeg, is i do have a nice old 2x15" cab with two speakers I had completely rebuilt.

ok, your decision is clear now. v4b. you've never heard an old 215 till you've heard it out of a tube amp. not even going to qualify it with imho. it's fact.

capnjim · #9 04-04-2010, 05:36 PM

Thanks Jimmy...Thats what I am thinking. I bought this old cab for 40 bucks, my speaker guy said they where some of the best ever made, used in Klipsch speakers. I spent 180 bucks on a comlplete rebuild. I am dying to use this cab, but have no head. The dude with the Ampeg will trade the Ampeg and an Eden Cab for the Trace and a Guitar I paid 30$ for. I figure I should go for it.
Thanks.

RickenBoogie · #10 04-04-2010, 05:51 PM

Oh, absolutely!!! The V4BH through a 215 is a tone like no other. Should be loud enough for a band too. You're in for a real treat.

Gearhead17 · #11 04-04-2010, 10:42 PM

On the Trace head, is the Shape button pushed in and lit up? If so, depress it and make sure it is not lit. That is basically the smiley face circuit for Trace Elliot. It comes on immediately when you turn it on. See if the sound works for you now.

I used to own a different model head of what you have and never felt it did anything nice with the midrange. I wanted punchier midrange and it did not give me that. The midrange was there, but not really. Hard to explain

HEADLE · #12 04-04-2010, 10:49 PM

I'm a trace guy through and through and even I would make that trade. That v4-b through a nice 215 is what it's all about. I play my trace head through a 215. oh so sweet!

H

DJJazzV · #13 04-05-2010, 05:18 AM

+1. As soon as you turn the Trace on, you have a scoop. That's the new default. If you don't like it, make sure that the "Pre-Shape" light is off. Don't use the Compressor either. That will slightly increase the highs and lows on you as well.
The EQ should be able to fix what you are missing after you check the other points. Try to cut the 50Hz a little as well.
Also: Don't forget that the cabinet is tuned to 42Hz and it has a 15" speaker. It's meant to put out some nice low bass.
Good luck in whatever you decide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

On the Trace head, is the Shape button pushed in and lit up? If so, depress it and make sure it is not lit. That is basically the smiley face circuit for Trace Elliot. It comes on immediately when you turn it on. See if the sound works for you now.

SwamiRob · #14 04-05-2010, 06:02 AM

Yeah Traces can get a bit boomy, not heard any of the new stuff in person but it sounds alot more sterile then the older stuff from the clips I've heard, would be unfair to make a comparison based on that though. To tame the boomyness try cutting out all of the last couple/few bands (I dunno what band EQ the preamp in your combo has) of the lower EQ and see what gets rid of it, you might find a fairly extreme cut in one of them without touching the others too much might help with the boomyness.

Personally I think they have a great sound for some things, make awesome amps for a aggressive metal sound, but mid heaviness isn't a strong point it seems, I think Traces are bit honky and nasal without the pre shape. Personally I usually end up using the pre shape and then cutting some lows and highs, that's the best sound I get out of them for me anyway. They don't really suit anything I play at the moment, although a nice Trace rig would be awesome for the band I play guitar in.

capnjim · #15 04-05-2010, 06:18 AM

Thanks guys..I don't use the pre-shape. I try to tame it with the 7 band EQ, I have the lower sliders almost off, and the mids almost cranked. It still sounds pretty darn good, just not the kind of mids I know I want.
Thanks for all the replies, I think I'm going to go ahead and do the trade.
I can always get a few bucks for the Eden 2x10, or I might even like it as well as the 2x15.
Cheers