• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Team Trace Elliott Pt 3

Status
Not open for further replies.
Does that mean I get #210.
traceBassRig.jpg

Ok. I have recently acquired a very nice Trace Elliot Series 6 GP7. Not exactly like the one you have, probably a more recent one. It's picture is attached to this post.

The thing is that I'm eager to buy a 1524 cab and I just wanted to make sure if it will be alright in relation to the impedance on my current amp.

The combo (1x15) is 150 watts but I'm not exactly sure if that's on 4 ohms or 8 ohms. Yeah, my bad, the amp is in our practice room and I forgot to check that out last time I went there. The incredible 1524 cab (2x15) is 400 watts at 4 ohms.

Do you think it will be alright? Do I still have a safety net or am I pushing my amp too much? Hopefully you Trace Elliot lovers can help me out.
 

Attachments

  • $(KGrHqN,!h0E+0rwvklUBQDB1bDoZw~~48_20.JPG
    $(KGrHqN,!h0E+0rwvklUBQDB1bDoZw~~48_20.JPG
    65.7 KB · Views: 212
  • Like
Reactions: Jaco Pastashoot
Oh, and I don't have much experience with cab combinations, but do you TB comrades think that 3 15''s will be too bassy? I'm looking for more presence on stage, more surround and maybe a better definition; these are the main reasons why I decided to buy a cab. Now, I'm nor sure how my 3x15 combination will turn out.

I'll keep you updated but meanwhile, I turn to you for holy bass guidance.

Thanks!
 
I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that a single Trace head can handle 3 discrete cabs. My SM130 will only do 8 ohms (single cab, usually) or 4 ohms (two 8 ohm cabs or a single 4 ohm cab)...three cabs would put the overall ohm load to 2 ohms, if I understand that correctly. I probably also should point out that I have next to zero working knowledge of things electronic, and therefore could be off a bit here.
 
The combo (1x15) is 150 watts but I'm not exactly sure if that's on 4 ohms or 8 ohms... The incredible 1524 cab (2x15) is 400 watts at 4 ohms.

I'm pretty sure that any Trace Elliot combo is going to be rated at 8 ohms, and the speaker outputs in the back are wired in parallel. Using a 4 ohm extension cabinet would result in a total speaker impedance of 2.67 ohms. I don't think that's safe, but I haven't tried running a Trace Elliot head at that impedance so I may be wrong. Perhaps someone can chime in.

For what it's worth, each 15" driver would be dissipating the same amount of power as all three would be in parallel, and that's good. I've had combo + extension setups in the past where a single internal speaker ends up dissipating more power than a two-speaker extension (8 ohm 15" combo speaker, 8 ohm 2x15" extension cabinet) and I've always felt weird about that...
 
Not rated for less than 4 ohms, bad plan.

The cab you probably want is a 1153 single 15. Then you will bring the thunder. There are plenty of them about.

The one you have is a bit of a weirdo so it may not sound too great together aside from being freaky loud for 150W. Is it slot ported or rear ported or sealed? The 1153 cabs are all twin ported on the front afaik, but maybe there are properly matching single 15's to go with your combo. Could even have same 1153 numbering?

Otherwise the thing to do is buy the 1524 and take the amp out of the combo to use with either the 1524 OR the combo cab, but never both. I would leave one cab at home and the other at practice and take the amp home.
 
Thanks guys. You saved me from blowing up my amp. I'm gonna buy the 1524 cab anyways (300$... not the best price but it's kind of rare to see those things over here). Then I'm gonna try to sell the combo I currently have, and look for an AH350X head or something similar.

Is it slot ported or rear ported or sealed?

It's rear ported. Just like this pic (not the same amp but similar):

trace-elliot-series-6-gp7-382835.jpg
 
Once you get the full 150W out of your existing amp into the double size speaker it's going to be a whole different animal. You'll be amazed how much grunt you get with the 1524.

Then you might rethink your plan. A little over doubling the power to the 350x is only going to add a smidgeon over 3dB more headroom.

If you need more then you need more, but seeing you've been getting by already I think the only reason to need more would be if you set off a volume war with a guitard. That war isn't winnable with any rig, more of a mutual assured destruction imo. You could get the 350X and he would get a bigger tube amp etc etc.

So be careful with the new beast eh!

BTW, if you weren't using earplugs already you should have been. You will be destroying your hearing for sure with the new cab.
 
$300 for a trace 2x15 is a great deal if its in at least decent shape. I have 4 of them, all 1528s though (8ohm load).
If you have an EXT SPEAKER jack then you can add a 1518 1528 1153t a 1048 or any other 8ohm cab and be good to go
I wouldn't add a 1524 or any 4 ohm cab while using to built ins. I've never seen a 1524 cab, btw.
 
Incomming crappy cell phone pic.

I pulled the front of my V6 to poke around a little bit. In the driver & PI position were a pair of JJs.

V1 & V2 were difficult to read but I managed to pull them out & lo and behold sitting in V2 was an original trace elliot tube.

Invalid Link Removed

I raided my fender deville guitar amp to try some tube rolling. My very limited experience is as follows

replaced the EH 12ax7 in V1 with a GE 6072 black plates triple mica.
Noticeably sweeter sounding and quiter, although less headroom.

V2 replaced with RFT
Was not hugely impressed. Almost preffered the trace tube that was in there. I will try the EH tube here next, although Im tempted to go buy a JJ.
 
Figured this was the place to post this. I have a trace elliot ah500-7. And recently it has been having an issue. All input and output maxed out, it has the volume through a cab of a whisper and the output is clipping as is the input. It started randomly and idk what the issue is. Anyone have any advice? If i can figure out what the issue is id be happy
 
Figured this was the place to post this. I have a trace elliot ah500-7. And recently it has been having an issue. All input and output maxed out, it has the volume through a cab of a whisper and the output is clipping as is the input. It started randomly and idk what the issue is. Anyone have any advice? If i can figure out what the issue is id be happy

I recently had the same problem with a GP7 SM 300... barely any output, and cranking up the preamp and power amp gain caused clipping and a really fuzzy tone. It's a power amp problem. :(

Check the giant filter capacitors by running the amp and tapping or nudging them a bit with a piece of plastic or something safe. Check R1 on the power board which is part of the power-on delay circuit, mine was a 2.5W 1k ohm resistor that was burnt and had damaged the circuit board traces leading to/from it.

Unfortunately for me, replacing R1 with a 5W resistor and re-soldering the filter capacitor solder joints didn't solve the problem. I hope you have better luck.
 
I got the 1524 cab friday night and it looks and sounds great. It has a couple of scratches here and there but the interior was intact and that's good enough for me. The previous owner added a whole lot of cotton padding inside the cab, covering the extremities and most of the wood behind the speakers. He said it's supposed to provide a more defined sound. I'm gonna wait till I play with it for a while before I figure out if I leave it as it is or if I take the cotton out. Any opinions on this sort of stuffing?

Next step is to sell my current combo and buy a nice Trace head. The only one available to me right now is the GP7SM250 so that's were I'm HEADing. ;) It should suit all of my needs at the time.

IMG_0065.png
 
Congratulations on your new cab.
You know you can use it in the meantime . Just unplug the internal speaker from your combo.
There were a couple of trace heads in Ontario Kijiji you might want to look for.
One AH350X and the other was maybe AH250....both same power into a non biamped cab.
 
Won this last week on ebay. I was very much looking forward to my first Trace Tube amp and I was quite thrilled as the cab was in much nicer better shape than I was expecting (knowing the nature of such 'deals').

tv_01.jpg


tv_02.jpg


tv_04.jpg


As soon as I saw the speaker though I knew it was a poor replacement :(
tv_10.jpg

- Researching 'Super Blue 700W '... uggh, auto sub :rolleyes:

more pictures
tv_05.jpg


tv_07.jpg


tv_06.jpg


tv_08.jpg

the tubes are marked 6550
Jolida Tube Factory Annapolis Junction MD
MADE IN PRC

I did play through the amp for a quite some and in all fairness it sounds good --i had to run both Input and Output settings at noon (as in the above photos) to get any reasonable amount of volume. Most likely due to the SPL of the auto sub ?

I've already contacted the good folks over at British Audio service and the rep said the Trace Elliot 15 - 500W 8 Ohm Speaker they feature on the site would be the correct replacement.
http://www.britishaudioservice.com/parts.php?mfg=1&cat=17

If anyone has other input on what might be a suitable replacement or thoughts on the tubes / caps / maintenance tips / keys to a lifetime of happy ownership / whatever else, I'd love to hear it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.