Amps That Slam... like an old Trace Elliot

[jcidulka]

I recently purchased a Trace Elliot from 1994, an AH250SMX GP12. I played it through a variety of my cabs, which includes Bergantino HD212, an old GK 410, a Bag End 115 stack, and a Genz Benz 210.

I was just amazed at the amount of slam in the old trace Elliott amp, and it even provided more authority then by Mesa D800 and TC electronics heads. Just blown away at the punch and heft of the notes.

But the Trace amp started distorting after purchase. So reliability with an almost 30 year old solid state amp might not be the best.

So, I’m looking to get your input on which modern amps from the past 5 years have that slam and heft like an old Trace Elliot solid state head.

Thanks!

 

[Wasnex]

I recently purchased a Trace Elliot from 1994, an AH250SMX GP12. I played it through a variety of my cabs, which includes Bergantino HD212, an old GK 410, a Bag End 115 stack, and a Genz Benz 210.

I was just amazed at the amount of slam in the old trace Elliott amp, and it even provided more authority then by Mesa D800 and TC electronics heads. Just blown away at the punch and heft of the notes.

But the Trace amp started distorting after purchase. So reliability with an almost 30 year old solid state amp might not be the best.

So, I’m looking to you all to get your input on what you think which modern production amps have that slam and heft like an old Trace Elliot solid state head.

Thanks!

Try a Genz Benz GBE1200. This is primarily a very clean amp, but it has massive heft in the low end while remaining very tight and focused. These are the qualities I remember of an old AH350SMX I used to play through. I do think the Trace was a bit warmer.

It's a led sled so its a bit heavy by modern standards, but it's stupid cheap for the level of performance you get: 550/1000/1200 watts at 8/4/2 ohms. AFAIK the reliability of this amp is rock solid.

The amp has a dual channel switching preamp (tube/FET), so I suggest looking for one with the footswitch.

I usually run both channels at the same time. I get my basic sound on the FET channel and then use the tube channel to peak the frequencies that I want to give a bit of a tubey quality. If you want to dirty it up a bit, don't hesitate to go really nuts with extreme tone settings on the tube channel. For example you might max out one or two of the tone controls and also dip a few of the controls. You can turn the Tube gain up just the point of breakup and the use then the Tube Volume to balance the Tube Channel against the FET channel.

The biggest negatives for this amp are the very, very bright LEDs and it weighs 42lbs sans case.

28 amps in my collection and I think the GBE1200 is my favorite. I find it very easy to dial in, but it helps that IMHO it sounds almost perfect. Of course, you tastes may be very different than man.

Good luck!

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I recently purchased a Trace Elliot from 1994, an AH250SMX GP12. I played it through a variety of my cabs, which includes Bergantino HD212, an old GK 410, a Bag End 115 stack, and a Genz Benz 210.

I was just amazed at the amount of slam in the old trace Elliott amp, and it even provided more authority then by Mesa D800 and TC electronics heads. Just blown away at the punch and heft of the notes.

But the Trace amp started distorting after purchase. So reliability with an almost 30 year old solid state amp might not be the best.

So, I’m looking to get your input on which modern amps from the past 5 years have that slam and heft like an old Trace Elliot solid state head.

Thanks!

Find another '94 SMX series and be sure to hit those caps @ 4 Ohms. If you were only running it @ 8 Ohms, you are in for a treat! Nothing sounds that good!

Find another or have the one you have looked at by someone familiar with TE.

...you may find THUNDERFUNK 750/800 to your liking, too. It's what I play now...

 

[LowWay]

I had a gp12 smx preamp driving a crown power base 2 and 2 trace Elliot 410s and also 2 Eden 410xlts. The only thing I’ve ever had that competes is my current rig. 2 amps. 1200 watts. Amazing tone and volume, and sounds killer at bedroom levels. The whole rig including the bass is lighter than 1 410.

 

[Bassgeige]

My experience mirrors that of the OP. Even the 150W Trace heads have a 'kick' to them that most other amps I've tried haven't been able to replicate. And I've owned quite a few of the amps that are rated on this forum. There may be others, but the only modern one I've found that has a similar type of heft is the Ashdown RM500 - although not the Retroglide oddly enough.

 

[Sparky Mark]

I own a couple of Trace Elliot Series 6 AH200 heads. I bought these because they don't have fan cooling and a manageable size/weight. I was amazed at how powerful they are and suspect the 200 watt rating may be very conservative. The only modern solid state head that I've owned that has a similar low end heft/slam is the Ashdown ABM600 Evo IV. This latest Ashdown is a step up from their previous generations in my experience.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I stopped with British manufactured Ashdown EVOII amps. I have not found the Chinese manufactured offerings to be superior to anything TE/Ashdown did in England.

I have played Series 6 and original SMX amps from the 500X to the AH600 to the ABM500/900 EVO & EVOII. The TE tube combo to the Ashdown Mark King Combo to the 1215SMX to the EVOII-C110. I can say I've owned everything except a TE HexaValve or V8 tube amps because I've actually never found a HexaValve for sale in my personal experience.

If the OP can or wants to drag TE/Ashdown, the sound is, and always will be, worth doing for the vintage amps! I found a no compromise 21 lbs. replacement (THUNDERFUNK) that, in certain respects, slams as hard, but doesn't have "the Trace Elliot sound" that you either love or many just don't.

 

[2saddleslab]

GK 1001rbII has slam as it's middle name.

 

[DAcat]

The Mesa Boogie Titan V12 Hybrid @ 1200 Watts pushing 2 410 cabs (today’s alignment of Mesa Boogie PH410 on top of a GB Uber 410 on the far left in this picture) is my go-to “slamming SS amp”. But when I want my“Ultimate Slamming Rig, then I just Plug those same cabs into my Mesa Boogie 400+ all tube amp!! But when and if I ever get backed into a corner , where it’s calls for the “No Holds Barred Slamming Situation, then I’d add my Bergantino410 and Mesa 212 to the to t 2 prior amp stacks and run them both at 2 ohms, plus power my 2 MAS 110 cabs with my Mesa D800+Amp, a power my lightweight Schroeder 112 on top of a 115 with a powerful yet articulate Genzler Magellan 800W head. (This is the Bass section of my home studio) I have to say there was a time when our band (around early 1970)we were trying to decide on our Big rigs without the help of TB back then nor the ability to try before buy (the only flavors in our town were Fender and a smattering of Gibson) - and we were tired of lugging around a van and Uhaul full of ineffective Fender amps( few good PAs existed back then)....so in trying to decide which rig I liked best , at one point we had an Acoustic Control Corp rig consisting of a 361 preamp and 2-360 powered cabinets, as well as an Ampeg SVT with 2 - 810 cabs, all brand new for about 6 -8 mo before I finally chose to go with the Acoustic rig (which was a solid state amp).
Peace, DAcat

 

[Matthias]

Gallien-Krueger 700RB
I almost bought a MB 500, but for some reason A/B-ed it with the 700RB they also had in the shop. Went with the 700RB because of the heft it has...

 

[jcidulka]

Great input so far. Greatly appreciate it.

 

[nixdad]

I recently purchased a Trace Elliot from 1994, an AH250SMX GP12. I played it through a variety of my cabs, which includes Bergantino HD212, an old GK 410, a Bag End 115 stack, and a Genz Benz 210.

I was just amazed at the amount of slam in the old trace Elliott amp, and it even provided more authority then by Mesa D800 and TC electronics heads. Just blown away at the punch and heft of the notes.

But the Trace amp started distorting after purchase. So reliability with an almost 30 year old solid state amp might not be the best.

So, I’m looking to get your input on which modern amps from the past 5 years have that slam and heft like an old Trace Elliot solid state head.

Thanks!

The original TE’s (Mark IV & early Mark V) from the mid 80’s (when TE was first introduced to the U.S.) are my favorites, but all models were solid for many years into the mid 90’s. As you’ve stated, the power sections and tone would eat your children. The design included big, heavy transformers along with other key components which contributed to the volume and tone.
Even the AH130’s (mentioned above) were far louder than most amps rated up to 350 watts or more.

I no longer own a TE, but have many fond memories and lots of history with the company. It’s cool to read about some of the current amps which have similar power but are a fraction of the weight.

 

[Killing Floor]

The old TE amps were killer. You’re right.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I recently purchased a Trace Elliot from 1994, an AH250SMX GP12. I played it through a variety of my cabs, which includes Bergantino HD212, an old GK 410, a Bag End 115 stack, and a Genz Benz 210.

I was just amazed at the amount of slam in the old trace Elliott amp, and it even provided more authority then by Mesa D800 and TC electronics heads. Just blown away at the punch and heft of the notes.

But the Trace amp started distorting after purchase. So reliability with an almost 30 year old solid state amp might not be the best.

So, I’m looking to get your input on which modern amps from the past 5 years have that slam and heft like an old Trace Elliot solid state head.

Thanks!

SVT 4PRO

 

[BOOG]

I recently purchased a Trace Elliot from 1994, an AH250SMX GP12. I played it through a variety of my cabs, which includes Bergantino HD212, an old GK 410, a Bag End 115 stack, and a Genz Benz 210.

I was just amazed at the amount of slam in the old trace Elliott amp, and it even provided more authority then by Mesa D800 and TC electronics heads. Just blown away at the punch and heft of the notes.

But the Trace amp started distorting after purchase. So reliability with an almost 30 year old solid state amp might not be the best.

So, I’m looking to get your input on which modern amps from the past 5 years have that slam and heft like an old Trace Elliot solid state head.

Thanks!

Maybe, Ashdown has what you’re looking for? Mark Gooday was Trace Elliot and started Ashdown if memory serves me right. Not the same sound but the same driving force and the same design philosophies.

 

[Kukulkan61]

GK Legacy...

 

[cableguy]

GK 1001rbII has slam as it's middle name.
View attachment 4117480

I'll second this..........

 

[nixdad]

Maybe, Ashdown has what you’re looking for? Mark Gooday was Trace Elliot and started Ashdown if memory serves me right. Not the same sound but the same driving force and the same design philosophies.

To clarify, Mark was with TE early on and was eventually promoted to Managing Director (deservedly so.) Mark and his team were directly responsible for many of the models and enhancements we all witnessed throughout the years, the Kaman acquisition and more.

If I remember correctly, Mark started Ashdown after Kaman was no longer affiliated with TE and was subsequently sold to Gibson (Peavey currently owns the TE name and is producing said products. When this happened years ago, many of the original TE crew from England were involved which was cool to see.)

 

[Wasnex]

I have some of the amps being suggested here. I call my Titan a wrecking ball. This amp creates a more tactile sensation than any other amp I have ever played. It also induces more sympathetic vibrations in surrounding structures than any other amp I have played. This is the perfect amp for a toxic narcissist, I.E. it has really strong and obvious voice that it pretty much impossible to ignore. It's also super loud.

But I find the Titan's low end profile is very different from the old AH350SMX I played. The Titan has more of a low mid thing going on. I think the old TE amps focused the energy a bit lower. The front end of the note spoke fairly quickly but I remember a bit of overhang after the note was cut off that gave the sound sort of weighty feel. The magic to me is the sound remained tight and focused instead of getting loose and woolly. This is a rare and elusive combination of qualities in my experience, and it's something I think my GBE1200 does very well. Although not exactly the same as the old TE, I think the low frequency response and feel is very close.

I also have a series I GK 700RB and a couple of older GK 2000RBs. These are great sounding amps, but I think they sound best if you run the lows on the lean side. I think they excel more with growly/grindy sounds than pumping out massive fat. I find GKs to be fairly compressed when pushed, and the low end gets a bit blurry and unfocused if you try to crank up the bass too much.

Although I have not played through one many times. I would suggest trying an Aguilar DB750 or DB751. These amps have huge weighty lows, but it's not quite as tight and controlled as an old TE.

 

[rtav]

I still use old Trace Elliot amps and will be buying another ASAP.

it just CRUSHES.