Well. After more than a year of lurking on eBay and second-hand-ads websites I found that Trace Elliot 1084 (tweeterless, sealed 8x10" cabinet). Most of you know that I've been gassing for that one with the matching looks with my Trace Elliot V8. Although I didn't find that specific one, I still managed to find that carpeted, red racing stripe version.
I found it in France. It was an hour-and-a-half drive from my home in Belgium. Not too far, but its by far the closest I've ever seen for sale. Most others were sitting in the USA and the UK.
I picked it up last monday. I had to wait another five days to try it out at my bands rehearsal. Can you smell the anxiety?
Last friday was rehearsal time. After arriving a little earlier, I wanted to do some A/B tests with my two Peavey 410TVX cabs before my other band mates arrived, I hooked it up and fired up the V8. Here are my remarks:
• The Trace Elliot 1084 is a whole lot louder than my two 410TVX cabs (i.e. a split 8x10" cab).
• The cab is also somewhat brighter sounding.
• Its a lot smaller than them stacked 4x10" cabs.
• Its easy to cart around thanks to that smart tilt-back design that most 8x10 cabinets feature. Way more comfortable for me and my band mates than those monotithian Peaveys (no wheels on them to much complaint of my band mates).
• Although its heaviness (75kg) its quite easy to tilt into the bands van. Lifting it inside my small Fiat Punto is a little harder. Luckily we have a van.
• When playing alone I couldn't say if this cab was much better or worse than my stacked Peaveys. I have to say that I was rather sceptical when reading all those rave reviews over here about sealed 8x10s and all-tube amps. I couldn't really believe it, you know what I'm talking 'bout, not? So I had to test in real live situations.
• So the band walks in and we start rehearsing our songs.
• Guess what?
• You feel it coming, don't you?
• Indeed!
• THIS CAB IS THE BOMB!
• For the V8 it is.
• Why?
• It's mighty punchy.
• Extremely pronounced.
• I can hear and feel every note I play in a very dense bandmix with two all-tube guitar-half-stacks.
• It just fills the room without overpowering; like the sound is coming from everywhere (my rhythmm guitar players words!!).
• My drummer said he could hear himself even better. My lows aren't overpowering his kick anywmore...
• This cab 'displays' the beautiful grind and rumble of the overdriving Trace V8 in a very beautiful way. With them Peaveys I was (more than) often twisting knobs to find the ultimate sound. I always settled for something that was good but not that sound that I had in my head. Although the V8 sounds very incredible, I sometimes thought I needed some more 'magic'. I found it in this sealed cabinet design.
• My V8 was set to flat all the time. No need for more bass, more mids, more highs or anything; it was perfect from the start. I see myself boosting the bass at some stages but for now flat is perfect (and this is the first time ever with any amp or cab).
• In the end I didn't do any A/B testing with my Peaveys. I wad dead obvious that the Trace smoked the 410TVXs.
So I'm extremly happy with this purchase. The Peaveys are for sale and I'm not looking back. The looks of this cab aren't really what I wanted but I might retolex this cab some day. I might remove that red-racing stripe too. Or I'd buy a second one in tolex.
Thanks Talkbass.com for making me want this cabinet and letting my GAS take over to buy it at last!
No more cabinet gas for now. I finally believe all those sealed cabinet love stories (in combination with all-tube amps at least).
PS - in a few weeks I'll be playing an Ampeg SVT810E. Let's see how it compares. I'm very curious.
Some pictures (not the best, but you get the idea) for your viewing (and gas?) pleasure:
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I found it in France. It was an hour-and-a-half drive from my home in Belgium. Not too far, but its by far the closest I've ever seen for sale. Most others were sitting in the USA and the UK.
I picked it up last monday. I had to wait another five days to try it out at my bands rehearsal. Can you smell the anxiety?
Last friday was rehearsal time. After arriving a little earlier, I wanted to do some A/B tests with my two Peavey 410TVX cabs before my other band mates arrived, I hooked it up and fired up the V8. Here are my remarks:
• The Trace Elliot 1084 is a whole lot louder than my two 410TVX cabs (i.e. a split 8x10" cab).
• The cab is also somewhat brighter sounding.
• Its a lot smaller than them stacked 4x10" cabs.
• Its easy to cart around thanks to that smart tilt-back design that most 8x10 cabinets feature. Way more comfortable for me and my band mates than those monotithian Peaveys (no wheels on them to much complaint of my band mates).
• Although its heaviness (75kg) its quite easy to tilt into the bands van. Lifting it inside my small Fiat Punto is a little harder. Luckily we have a van.
• When playing alone I couldn't say if this cab was much better or worse than my stacked Peaveys. I have to say that I was rather sceptical when reading all those rave reviews over here about sealed 8x10s and all-tube amps. I couldn't really believe it, you know what I'm talking 'bout, not? So I had to test in real live situations.
• So the band walks in and we start rehearsing our songs.
• Guess what?
• You feel it coming, don't you?
• Indeed!
• THIS CAB IS THE BOMB!
• For the V8 it is.
• Why?
• It's mighty punchy.
• Extremely pronounced.
• I can hear and feel every note I play in a very dense bandmix with two all-tube guitar-half-stacks.
• It just fills the room without overpowering; like the sound is coming from everywhere (my rhythmm guitar players words!!).
• My drummer said he could hear himself even better. My lows aren't overpowering his kick anywmore...
• This cab 'displays' the beautiful grind and rumble of the overdriving Trace V8 in a very beautiful way. With them Peaveys I was (more than) often twisting knobs to find the ultimate sound. I always settled for something that was good but not that sound that I had in my head. Although the V8 sounds very incredible, I sometimes thought I needed some more 'magic'. I found it in this sealed cabinet design.
• My V8 was set to flat all the time. No need for more bass, more mids, more highs or anything; it was perfect from the start. I see myself boosting the bass at some stages but for now flat is perfect (and this is the first time ever with any amp or cab).
• In the end I didn't do any A/B testing with my Peaveys. I wad dead obvious that the Trace smoked the 410TVXs.
So I'm extremly happy with this purchase. The Peaveys are for sale and I'm not looking back. The looks of this cab aren't really what I wanted but I might retolex this cab some day. I might remove that red-racing stripe too. Or I'd buy a second one in tolex.
Thanks Talkbass.com for making me want this cabinet and letting my GAS take over to buy it at last!
No more cabinet gas for now. I finally believe all those sealed cabinet love stories (in combination with all-tube amps at least).
PS - in a few weeks I'll be playing an Ampeg SVT810E. Let's see how it compares. I'm very curious.
Some pictures (not the best, but you get the idea) for your viewing (and gas?) pleasure:
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!
