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SWR SUPER REDHEAD combo vs. TRACE ELLIOT 7210 H combo

mb94952

mb94952

Endorsing Artist : SFARZO STRINGS
Inactive
Supporting Member
Apr 16, 2007
9,437
8,453
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Petaluma, California 94952
www.reverbnation.com
#1
I have two sweet 210 combo amps.

SWR Super Redhead from the 1990's

and a
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Trace Elliot 7210H from the 1990's

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They both have excellent reupations and I love them both.

Each has some features the other doesn't. The power is similar in each. In the 300w range, but we know TE is louder.

The weight is similar, but I think the TE is lighter.

Since I play out, I need to get the biggest return for calories spent, so to speak.

So, if you HAD to choose one or the other, which would you choose ? Let's say it was a "desert island" decision ...
 
#3
Yes, both awesome. Trace and SWR are my main brands of choice. Tough decision, but I would probably lean towards keeping the Trace. Great sound and they are a bit harder to find (you will always be able to find another Redhead if you decide you can't live without it).

But having said that, I would keep both unless absolutely necessary.
 
#4
jungleheat said:
Yes, both awesome. Trace and SWR are my main brands of choice. Tough decision, but I would probably lean towards keeping the Trace. Great sound and they are a bit harder to find (you will always be able to find another Redhead if you decide you can't live without it).

But having said that, I would keep both unless absolutely necessary.
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Man, two votes for the Trace Elliot ! Honestly, I didn't expect that. Considering the legendary status of the Super Redhead, I thought it would go that way. Trace growl is unmistakable, though !!

It's like having to choose a favorite child.
 
#10
lakedmb said:
No experience with that Trace Elliot, but I am a big fan of the Super Redhead. Always played bigger than a 210 to me. I would love the chance to play that Trace Elliot combo, looks nice, though it does need some castors. haha
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Haha ! I actually bought some casters for it. I just need to install them. Then it will be easier to transport.
 
#13
OK, so I made this a fair and even challenge by taking them to band practice last night and seeing them in action.

The goal was obvious ; to see which one had better overall tone, power, sits in the mix, etc. The usual criteria, duh...

Winning in a landslide vote (to me, by me, for me since I am the one who will play it) was the SWR Super Redhead. For my tastes, I like the modern hi-fi sound. It out powered the Trace, and just had more personality. It was quicker and punchier. It had more "panache" to use the word Clint Eastwood and John Malcovich used in the movie "In the Line of Fire" .

On the other hand, there were some songs we did that were punk rock style ( just for the fun of it. That's not my style ) and the Trace Elliot was the clear winner there. It did not have the classic Trace Elliot tone, but it had a more "rebellious" tone.

So, to me, the Trace Elliot sat in the mix really well when it came to punk, Black Sabbath, etc.

When it came to music that was more my style like funk, fusion, Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, etc, the SWR "shined"

In the end, of course it's a matter of personal opinion and what you are trying to accomplish with tone.
 
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#14
mb94952 said:
OK, so I made this a fair and even challenge by taking them to band practice last night and seeing them in action.

The goal was obvious ; to see which one had better overall tone, power, sits in the mix, etc. The usual criteria, duh...

Winning in a landslide vote (to me, by me, for me since I am the one who will play it) was the SWR Super Redhead. For my tastes, I like the modern hi-fi sound. It out powered the Trace, and just had more personality. It was quicker and punchier. It had more "panache" to use the word Clint Eastwood and John Malcovich used in the movie "In the Line of Fire" .

On the other hand, there were some songs we did that were punk rock style ( just for the fun of it. That's not my style ) and the Trace Elliot was the clear winner there. It did not have the classic Trace Elliot tone, but it had a more "rebellious" tone.

So, to me, the Trace Elliot sat in the mix really well when it came to punk, Black Sabbath, etc.

When it came to music that was more my style like funk, fusion, Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, etc, the SWR "shined"

In the end, of course it's a matter of personal opinion and what you are trying to accomplish with tone.
Click to expand...

Well-played, sir. :cool:
 
#16
mb94952 said:
Coming from a person who writes about this stuff for a living, ( Yes, I know you're an editor, so maybe you don't write, but just edit ) it is a true compliment. Maybe you can get me a job as a tester / reviewer !! :hyper:
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I actually write quite a bit, but the key here is that you did a very useful experiment, and now you should be able to move forward with an informed decision as to which one to keep and feel good about it. Of course, the gear hoarder in me tells me to tell you to keep them both... :smug: :p :D :bassist:
 
#17
tombowlus said:
I actually write quite a bit, but the key here is that you did a very useful experiment, and now you should be able to move forward with an informed decision as to which one to keep and feel good about it. Of course, the gear hoarder in me tells me to tell you to keep them both... :smug: :p :D :bassist:
Click to expand...

I am definitely a gear hoarder, too, but I choose my battles. I have lots of basses and amps, relatively speaking, and a garage overflowing with SWR cabs !!
 
#18
Came into this one late but yes the SWR is in another league. You wont spend the whole gig trying to move graphic sliders half a milimeter this way and that way to get a bit of character into you sound! Graphic eqs can be handy for tuning your rig to room but too fiddly for quickly dialing up a great sound.
 
#19
Just found this thread, and I just happened to demo a Super Redhead and a 250 watt 12-band trace into a 2x15 cab.

The SWR creates excellent tone; clear and balanced bottom, mids and highs, without harshness. It was the best sounding rig I tried at GC, even bested the Markbass combo.

However, the Trace rig was a monster. It lacked some of the highs, but had beef, body and volume that the Redhead couldn't touch, even with an extension cab. Little else comes close.

Not a perfect apple-to-apple comparo, but considering the TE rig was priced $250 less it was a no-brainer.
 
#20
I also used to play a super redhead mated with a goliath 210 cab and the tone was definately HI-Fi SWR using MM Stingrays nice combination plus I owned the very 1st Trace Elliot Rig sold in the midwest when they came over from England 410 w a 15 cab powered by a AH250 head
That thing was solid state /loud bliss!!
I am now back to The new Trace Elliot loving the 410 cab setup with 12 band 500w power.

Final conclusion you cant go wrong either way!
 
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