Amps That Slam... like an old Trace Elliot

[nixdad]

More than I knew before! Thanks for the added input.
One thing I know from dealing with Ashdown Engineering is that anytime I have had a question or needed help, Mr. Gooday and/or Mr. Green have been more than accommodating and quick with response and action. Though they’re across the ocean and in another country, they’ve been as supportive and helpful as my experiences with Hartke and Mesa Engineering. They’re top notch in my book.

Mark and Rob are both good people.

 

[Altitude]

Yep, this is the same rig I was playing in ‘85:
View attachment 4118351

This is an area where Mark King’s presence at the time was underrated, let’s be honest. He is all over that picture even though his name never appears.

 

[nixdad]

This is an area where Mark King’s presence at the time was underrated, let’s be honest. He is all over that picture even though his name never appears.

Agreed!

 

[jcidulka]

I bet the above was very, very LOUD.

 

[Gsnorgathon]

Y'all are giving me GAS so bad it's visceral. (Maybe I need to see my cardiologist?) The only time I played through a TE I had a religious experience. Not enough to go into debt... but still. I don't need a 50-lb amp, I don't need a 50-lb amp, I don't need a 50-lb amp...

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

That’s the rig I was dreaming of in ‘85. Seriously. Guitar Resurrection in Austin had a Status just like that on the wall at that time. It was $2500, which was more money than there was in the world to me then.

Ah yes, Guitar Rez...I worked next door @ Erlewine's. Chuck and I have remained friends til this day. If you ever need TE/Ashdown repair, he IS the guy to talk with!

That rig was actually setup to run two of the 1818X cabinets as standard with the two Hi/Low power sections. AMAZING SOUND!

 

[Altitude]

Ah yes, Guitar Rez...I worked next door @ Erlewine's. Chuck and I have remained friends til this day. If you ever need TE/Ashdown repair, he IS the guy to talk with!

That rig was actually setup to run two of the 1818X cabinets as standard with the two Hi/Low power sections. AMAZING SOUND!

Guitar Rez is still doing a brick-and-mortar, which surprises me but I'm glad they are. It's on North Lamar at 183 now, not the same cachet as the old Guadalupe location. I moved away too, but I stop in now and then when I'm down there.

 

[nixdad]

I bet the above was very, very LOUD.

Indeed it was!
Same rig used by many bands back in the day. Unimaginable power and tone.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I remember GAS-ing for a Trace Eliot amp back in the mid 90's. Too bad I was a poor college student at the time.

 

[jcidulka]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your input. I have some great options to explore.

Hope my tech is able to fix my AH250SMX. His first guess was the MOSFETs, given it sounds fine when it’s cold, for 30-60 seconds. Then the distortion kicks in when you play a note, and it ramps up in intensity’s the amp heats up.

 

[jcidulka]

Had to replace 2 mosfet transistors. Previous owner replaced them with the wrong ones. Amp is now thumping again. I can’t turn it past 2, very very loud. And great tone with eq.

 

[kobass]

I picked one of these up back in the fall.

ABM-EVO IV DUAL-VU-RACK-HEAD

I haven't had a chance to gig it yet, but it definitely has "that slam." Made in England too. (I emailed Ashdown and Mark replied within a few minutes to tell me it was built right there in "sunny" Essex. )

 

[Omega Monkey]

I would say the early Peavey era Trace stuff should get one in the ballpark, at least where bigness is concerned. I have the AH 600-12, and it is a killer amp. I kind of want an AH 1200-12 to do a badass stereo rig (with my pair of Genz Uber Quads), and a tiny hot air balloon to cart it around.

I do also have one of the Genz GBE amps (the 750), and it does have a very similar vibe in some ways as the AH. As well as the aforementioned older Mesas (along with the M series).

None of those may sound exactly like a Trace from the early years, but there are some similar things happening. It's really about what you're going for. I do find my AH 600-12 to be a bit mid forward without the preshape and without the EQ engaged, BUT, the preshape changes that, and the EQ is fairly powerful. I will say though the EQ takes a fair amount of tweaking (at least with my main bass, it's less pronounced with others). It seems like maybe the bands are fairly close together but still with a fairly wide Q, so there's a lot of interaction between bands.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

Fortunately, the OP crossed paths with a repair person who knew to use the correct replacement parts in the AH250SMX and is now SLAMMING unlike most other amps!!

 

[jcidulka]

There is an AH1200 GP7 for sale on reverb. 72lbs. Wow.

https://reverb.com/item/38180689-trace-elliot-ah1200sm-1996-1997-black

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

There is an AH1200 GP7 for sale on reverb. 72lbs. Wow.

https://reverb.com/item/38180689-trace-elliot-ah1200sm-1996-1997-black

So, you would run 4 x 1048 + 4 x 1158 Trace cabinets for 600 watts on each side @ 2 Ohms as rated.

...WOW!

 

[pisces_bass]

What a fun thread. My big rig in the late 90’s was a TE AH600SMX and SWR Henry 8x8 + Big Ben 1x18. It most certainly slammed with a Warwick Thumb 5. I dearly miss that rig but it was a different time and my priorities were very different

 

[jcidulka]

I literally can’t turn up my Trace amp beyond 2, running at 4ohms into Berg HD212. It’s the unbelievably loud. Almost like something is wrong.

Tone is good. The eq and settings provide a ton of flexibility. Just so freaking loud.

 

[808State]

Aside from Aesthetics even the Old Peaveys had a lot of Slam. Anything from old 400 to 800 series amps.
But the Mark IV has Power and Very Elaborate PreAmp. Even today as far as EQ or Channel Switching it can do everything for guys looking for Signal Chain Features. Something Simple would be a Century 200H.

Way before Mosfets took over.
I really think people forget how reliable older BJT solid state was.

People wanted light amps I guess, that doesn't happen unless you reduce heatsinks or lighten power supplies.
I always found 150 to 300 watt amps with no fan and a huge power supply. To be more than Enough.
And Actually sound better.

 

[nixdad]

BTW, I'm looking for a photo of the Trace Elliot Artists Poster from 1985. It's a list of 15-25 bands & artists on a black vinyl poster with green lettering. It would have included Level 42, Killing Joke, Tears For Fears, Spandau Ballet, Katrina and the Waves and a bunch more.