TC Electronics BAM200 vs Trace Elliot Elf

[jallenbass]

Does anyone have direct experience with both of heads? From the YouTube videos, it sounds like the BAM200 sounds more "modern" and the Elf has a more "vintage" sound. The BAM200 is fairly new but any experience with the reliability of either would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[74hc]

Im interested in this comparison as well. But I won't hold out hope for the TCE amp if they are still rating on "sounds like" watts. The ELF I played didn't seem to be short of watts compared to it's rating. It also was surprisingly heavy the first time I picked it up. I have to say heavy as compared to the size and what my brain thought it should have weighted.

The only downfall to the ELF that I could tell was the carrying case advertised is actually not included. Good thing though because if it did and I bought one, my wife would divorce me.

I'm waiting for a good sale to come around on the ELF. I missed the GC sale earlier this year.

 

[JGbassman]

The ELF is an amazing piece of gear. I gigged one steadily for about 6-8 months, running it through everything from a 110 cabinet to an 810 cab. The sound is very useable, with a sort of "tubey" compression with the master gain around noon. Very musical. I wouldn't consider the sound vintage, but versitile. It could suprisingly cop more sounds than one would think.

The DI sounds great, and kills through FOH. It can be mounted on a pedalboard for an in ears system, with an option to power a cab, or throw in a bag or case for a fly rig. It can run a poweramp through the DI or headphone out, and I've even used it as a recording preamp in a studio. Set up a cab at practice and one at home, and you have a 1.6 pound amp to carry back and forth.

They run warmer than most amps, I'm guessing because of their minuscule size, but it's never an issue or of cause of alarm. They are rock solid.

It does what it does well. It's the best piece of gear I've bought in a long time.

Do a search and you can find a long thread about it.

I know nothing about the Other amp you mentioned, so I can't comment on it.

The ELF's 200 watts @ 4ohm is very strong and loud. More than enough on most stages. Ran through a 410, 212, or 810, it will be plenty loud. (An Ampeg SVT is only 300 watts for perspective)

 

[ctmullins]

The only downfall to the ELF that I could tell was the carrying case advertised is actually not included.

Not sure where you got your info, but my Elf came with the little bag. I love it (the amp and the little bag)!

 

[JGbassman]

Not sure where you got your info, but my Elf came with the little bag. I love it (the amp and the little bag)!

I'm guessing he was talking about the one that was made out of jeans material, attractively shaped....

 

[ctmullins]

Oh that one.

 

[joe vegas]

the TC's half the Elf price, and to my ears sounds just as loud. it's also got a slightly more contemporary, transparent sound quality as has been noted, not quite as compressed. also doesn't do an overdrive thing in the gain section, which the Elf does- that was my deal breaker.
great for upright, 4 & 6 string, played maybe a dozen gigs with it so far, very impressed by the clarity & headroom.

 

[Jephmo]

Just got an ELF yesterday. Got it going through a Fender Rumble 210 cabinet. Sounds amazing, so much so that I removed my Boss lmb-3 limiter from my signal chain because the ELF's natural sound was that good. I would highly recommend.

 

[obascin]

I have the TC BAM 200 and have used the Elf for a short trial. I have to say the TC absolutely wins. It definitely is loud enough (small bar/coffee shop-sized gigs, practice) and it "sounds like 200 watts". I actually run it through a 4x10 8 ohm cab regularly (which would be closer to 130 watts RMS vs. 200 watts RMS at the rated 4 ohm load). I normally don't need to run it past noon with two guitarist who use ~50-75 watt amps. It truly is a lot louder than I was expecting.
I personally love the fact that it is super clean and the compression that happens at higher gains gives it a punch I wasn't expecting. For half the price it pretty much does everything you'd ever want. Not knocking the ELF by any means, I do think the TC is the better option for that particular set of features and size.

 

[blastoff]

Any more reports on this subject?

 

[Ric Vice]

Does anyone have direct experience with both of heads? From the YouTube videos, it sounds like the BAM200 sounds more "modern" and the Elf has a more "vintage" sound. The BAM200 is fairly new but any experience with the reliability of either would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Having played through both amplifiers and owning a the TC Electronics BAM200. While the Trace Eliot is a well built amplifier, it has a distinctive Trace Eliot voicing and you cannot disengage the limiter, it's on all the time. I prefer the BAM 200 because you can use the EQ to get

the voicing you need. Just my take.

 

[ctmullins]

While the Trace Eliot is a well built amplifier, it has a distinctive Trace Eliot voicing and you cannot disengage the limiter, it's on all the time.

Not exactly. The compression circuit is engaged once the gain knob gets past a certain point. Below that, the compression is off.

 

[Ögon]

I'm seriously considering the BAM200 and Trace Elliot ELF 200w with a TC BC208 or TE 1x10, i would love to hear thoughts about any of these.

Not sure where you got your info, but my Elf came with the little bag. I love it (the amp and the little bag)!

What are your thoughts on the ELF 200w so far?

Do you have any experience with TC Electronic heads?

I have the TC BAM 200 and have used the Elf for a short trial. I have to say the TC absolutely wins. It definitely is loud enough (small bar/coffee shop-sized gigs, practice) and it "sounds like 200 watts". I actually run it through a 4x10 8 ohm cab regularly (which would be closer to 130 watts RMS vs. 200 watts RMS at the rated 4 ohm load). I normally don't need to run it past noon with two guitarist who use ~50-75 watt amps. It truly is a lot louder than I was expecting.
I personally love the fact that it is super clean and the compression that happens at higher gains gives it a punch I wasn't expecting. For half the price it pretty much does everything you'd ever want. Not knocking the ELF by any means, I do think the TC is the better option for that particular set of features and size.

Did you ever try the TC Electronic BQ250? I'm curious how it compares to the BAM200.

-----

Did anyone compare the Trace Elliot 1x10 cab with the TC electronic BC208?

The MarkBass Little Mark 250 seems okay too. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Redbrangus]

I went online at the GC web site to buy an Elf and ended up buying open box deals on a TC 208 and a TC BQ-500 for less than the cost of the Elf by itself; I couldn't be happier. I haven't directly compared the Elf 110 to the TC-208, but the TC sounds amazingly good to my ears; it's hard to imagine a 110 doing any better, but I suppose it's possible.

Edit/correction: I went back to check my facts: I actually paid $408 for the head and cab combination, so I did pay more than the street price of the Elf...but not much more.

 

[Zbysek]

I have been using ELF for two years. I can recommend it.

I have no experience with TC BAM.

 

[TrevorG]

LOVE my Elf but I suspect the price is the only difference between the two. Like the pedals but never found T.C. excite me in the amp division. The Elf is also fabulous with headphones.

 

[Zbysek]

Like the pedals but never found T.C. excite me in the amp division.

Me too

 

[Zbysek]

I suspect the price is the only difference between the two.

Let me add that ELF is smaller and lighter (a little bit). It features compression and overdrive while BAM doesn't.

 

[seamonkey]

Let me add that ELF is smaller and lighter (a little bit). It features compression and overdrive while BAM doesn't.

I would bet the BAM does have both also. If you recorded the bass straight, and another track off the BAM you would find they wired in Compression and Overdrive. That's why they added a "Master". No sense adding a master if you can't distort the pre-amp.

You'd also find limiting built in as it keeps the amp from shutdown mode.

All bass heads have some EQ and compression built in as a signature sound these days. They BAM has cabinet emulation on the headphones, which adds more EQ and compression of sorts.
They may not advertise it but I'm sure it's part of its secret sauce.

 

[Papuzzo]

Do you have any experience with TC Electronic heads?
Did you ever try the TC Electronic BQ250? I'm curious how it compares to the BAM200.

The MarkBass Little Mark 250 seems okay too. Any thoughts on that?

I really like TCE gear, and I find it to be pretty neutral sounding and a good starting point for building a tone with effects, either by toneprints or pedals. I also like their cabs, and have 2 BC212 cabs and a K410. That being said, when I tried the BQ500 I thought it sounded anemic compared to the BH550, so I went with a BH550. I later got a BH250 as a backup head. Since then I have tried the BAM200 and it doesn't have the fullness of the BH250. Then, with the BH series you can add a toneprint, and I add the spectracomp which makes the sound much more rich and thick, for lack of better terms. So, my suggestion with TCE gear is to spend a little more and get the BH250, or the BH550 if you can afford it.

I also have an older Markbass Little Mark 250, not the latest black line amp. I love this amp. It just sounds great and has that rich thick tone that I like. The magic with these amps is in leaving the EQ pretty much flat and just using the VLE and VPF filters to craft your sound. Turning the VLE filter from far left to right starts to cut highs and yields that old school sound. Turning the VPF starts a mid scoop that dials in a modern tone.

As for the thread, I personally would get the Elf before the BAM 200. I only tried it once, and had a very favorable impression. Sounded great, the EQ was versatile, it had some balls to it, and it is so small that if you had to smuggle it through customs by eating it, you'll probably survive the ordeal afterwards.