For your Trace guys - "SM" or "SMX" series??

[BT_orangepbass]

Hi guys- first time poster, long time lurker here...this is a great forum.

Have always wanted a Trace head, and I like where the older ones are priced in the used market these days.

I have been scouring the various Trace Elliot threads here for the past few days...and I'm trying to decide between the SM series and the SMX. I can buy a used AH350SM or an AH250SMX locally but the former is a better deal cost-wise (but obviously less-featured, and larger footprint wise).

I tend to favor simpler gear (my last bass head was a Little Mark II) and more vintagey kinds of sounds. I don't play slap bass. So, on the surface, it seems the SM with the small EQ, extra watts, might do the trick...but the compressor and tube pre of the SMX seems to be calling my name.

Anyone have direct experience with both and care to share?
If I can get 90% of the SMX experience with the SM, thats plenty good for my needs.

 

[Downunderwonder]

My main amp is the 250smx. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I also use the GP7 eq preshape pedal. It's nothing like as tweakable as the 12 band. Your 350 might be 11 bands?

I don't know about the 350 but the smx has a highpass available on the effects loop. This leaves your lows intact.

The compression is very neat. Mild to squidged. These days I have it off.

The 2nd preshape is way too scooped for my liking, I even put more mids back with the graphic if I use shape 1. The 350 may have only shape 1 iirc, not missing anything there.

My 250 is in the factory sleeve case, 30lb is light enough I don't gas for a micro. If it got stolen I would be looking for another, I would have to look hard at a 350SM but probably hang out for an smx.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Forgot, the tube in the pre gives it a bit of warmth but that's all.

 

[Jools4001]

I've had both. First an 130SM that I ran for the gigs I was doing with an accoustic folky band, then a 350SMX that I got for bigger gigs.

I prefered the versatility of the SMX preamp.

 

[BT_orangepbass]

Thanks guys. This is good info. Much appreciated. The 350 I'm looking at is 7band eq.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I like how the 12 band lets me tailor the lows to get bottom B big without killing my cabs. Can't do that with the 7 nearly as well.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I've had both. First an 130SM that I ran for the gigs I was doing with an accoustic folky band, then a 350SMX that I got for bigger gigs.

I prefered the versatility of the SMX preamp.

On a whim, I snagged a used TE SMX pre here on TalkBass based solely on hype and reputation....I'd never even seen one firsthand before. The expanded options, including GEQ, are very handy. I generally run mine with the SS / tube drive @ 2:00, pre-shape #2, and then use the GEQ to tailor the low mids. Even the dual-band comp works well unlike other built-in's I've seen.

Riis