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The Combo Club

#17,781
swink said:
Stumbled on this: The Bassics
Looks interesting.
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Hmmm, ... Certainly a lot to think about, Mr. Thinkologist, sir! Not the least of which is 500 watts (peak, continuous or watt?) Into the built-in speakers and 900 watts (same?) with a 4 ohm extention [sic]! Assuming an 8 ohm internal load that's a 2.67 ohm total load!

Hey, iago! Could be a power cut above your Rumble Stage 800, if continuous; or a big cut below if peak!! But it doesn't have your modeling features, Bluetooth or wi-fi. o_O
.
 
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#17,782
TimBosby said:
Quick gig report for those curious about the Trace Elliott Elf 1x10 combo. I recently picked up one of these tiny punch factories from TB member @Nuage420.

It KILLED at my instrumental surf rock gig this past Thursday night. Guitar, bass, drums, no vocals, no PA. I had way more than enough output. And it couldn't have worked out better since I had to carry it, along with my bass and bag of cords/pedals for about a quarter mile from my parking spot in downtown Omaha to my gig at the tiki bar, which is a basement bar. Anyway, everyone couldn't believe how little and powerful it was. "Punchy" was a term that came up several times. I put it on a wicker chair (picture below) to get some elevation. The bar manager who books us (also a bass player) was really impressed by it. I had previously been using an original series TC BG250 combo, which weighs 36 lbs. All things considered, the TC is still a pretty lightweight amp...and I still have it, because it's a really great 1x15 combo. But I got tired of carrying it from car down to the gig (I'm 42 but my back must be 72) so I decided to look for something lighter, but still powerful enough for bar gigs. The Elf combo is only 18 lbs...half the weight of the TC! It's literally smaller than my 20 watt Acoustic practice amp, lol. Anyway, that's my report on the Elf combo for anyone curious.
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@TimBosby, thank you for this review! Thanks to @Nuage420 in another thread, I’m considering this amp along with a few others for small gigs with bass and jazz guitar.

Does it do somewhat deep bass, as in low D to B? And besides punchy, what is the overall tonal character? For reference, I’m also looking at the Traynor SB106, Micromark 801, Phil Jones Double Four, and Rumble 40. Just curious where the ELF 110 might fall in this spectrum of tones.

Finally, is the fan noise an issue?
 
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#17,783
odrive said:
@TimBosby, thank you for this review! Thanks to @Nuage420 in another thread, I’m considering this amp along with a few others for small gigs with bass and jazz guitar.

Does it do somewhat deep bass, as in low D to B? And besides punchy, what is the overall tonal character? For reference, I’m also looking at the Traynor SB106, Micromark 801, Phil Jones Double Four, and Rumble 40. Just curious where the ELF 110 might fall in this spectrum of tones.

Finally, is the fan noise an issue?
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What fan?;)
It can handle a lot... from clean to the lowest filthiest grit I could throw at it with my rig. Active or passive, clean or dirty.
20210501_091516.jpg
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#17,784
So, the fan is definitely louder than my other amps (TC BG250 combo and Mesa Subway head through a Barefaced SUper Twin), but I only noticed it at home practicing in my office. I didn't notice it at all at the gig. I doubt it would be an issue at a gig, but I suppose it could be for recording. (I bought this combo specifically for small gigs, though.)

I will say I'd rather have fan noise than unexplained hiss, which I've had with other amps in the past (Carvin combo and GK MB series come to mind, though those also could have been related to my house at the time.)

I don't really play 5 string or do drop D so I have no experience with this thing below E. When I first plugged it in, my drummer told me to boost the bass knob. So I think set at 12 it has a more of a mid-range punch/bite with some decent high end. I'm not sure if this is the character of Trace amps or just the fact that it's a 1x10. I ended up taming the highs and mids a bit, boosting the bass a bit, and running the gain at about 40% and the volume at about 60%. I haven't really tried the other amps you mentioned, though I did have a smallish PJB combo years ago (I don't remember which one but I only used it at home) and it got farty with a low B (I used to dabble in 5-string a bit.)

odrive said:
@TimBosby, thank you for this review! Thanks to @Nuage420 in another thread, I’m considering this amp along with a few others for small gigs with bass and jazz guitar.

Does it do somewhat deep bass, as in low D to B? And besides punchy, what is the overall tonal character? For reference, I’m also looking at the Traynor SB106, Micromark 801, Phil Jones Double Four, and Rumble 40. Just curious where the ELF 110 might fall in this spectrum of tones.

Finally, is the fan noise an issue?
Click to expand...
 
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#17,785
G-Dog said:
Hmmm, ... Certainly a lot to think about, Mr. Thinkologist, sir! Not the least of which is 500 watts (peak, continuous or watt?) Into the built-in speakers and 900 watts (same?) with a 4 ohm extention [sic]! Assuming an 8 ohm internal load that's a 2.67 ohm total load!

Hey, iago! Could be a power cut above your Rumble Stage 800, if continuous; or a big cut below if peak!! But it doesn't have your modeling features, Bluetooth or wi-fi. o_O
.
Click to expand...

And it’s not made by Fender which makes me suspect the quality of construction being I don’t know the company. I’ll pass, but we’d accept it as a legit combo amp. Anyone interested?
 
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#17,789
Hey combo club. I wanna join now that I can brag about finding the *best for me* extension cab for my Markbass 15” players school combo. The 250w is overkill now for playing against my wife’s Musicman Tube stack, whereas previous the single combo could not keep up.

Behold, the 18E Ampeg SVT cab and I’m using an AMT A-Bass tube preamp. This setup sounds soo different depending on the bass like it reall brings out each individual bass. I’m in love with my Warwick all over again and it makes my 82 Precision sound gnarly.

Edit: the 18 fills in everything the small combo can’t do. For real. It sounds so full now even without the preamp engaged. Also the Ampeg is perfect because it is rated for 175 watts at 8ohm. So it matches up like a dream. I found it at guitar center for $186 out the door in mint condition and it’s an older USA made model.

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#17,790
099451057947 said:
Hey combo club. I wanna join now that I can brag about finding the *best for me* extension cab for my Markbass 15” players school combo. The 250w is overkill now for playing against my wife’s Musicman Tube stack, whereas previous the single combo could not keep up.

Behold, the 18E Ampeg SVT cab and I’m using an AMT A-Bass tube preamp. This setup sounds soo different depending on the bass like it reall brings out each individual bass. I’m in love with my Warwick all over again and it makes my 82 Precision sound gnarly.

Edit: the 18 fills in everything the small combo can’t do. For real. It sounds so full now even without the preamp engaged. Also the Ampeg is perfect because it is rated for 175 watts at 8ohm. So it matches up like a dream. I found it at guitar center for $186 out the door in mint condition and it’s an older USA made model.

Link Removed
Click to expand...

099451057947, welcome to the Club! In case your name is a prison number or something, don't worry, our membership is for 18 to life. ;)

Seriously, thanks for the request and pic to prove you are playing through a combo and then some. I did a little research on your 'Peg cab and there's some interesting info right here on TB about it from a guy who worked at SLM in the late 90s/early 2000s. He offered a bit of history on it and the reading was informative. Just Google it and it'll pop up first.

Being you own and use that nifty Markbass Players School combo, I hereby award you membership #249. Please add it to your signature and wear it with pride. Sounds like you've got all the firepower you need now to hang with the Mrs. I had a buddy who played in a few bands with me and he ran his Gibson SG into a MusicMan 212 tube combo, and man, was that thing loud! So I can understand your need for a little bit more to compete with.

Thanks again for the request!

FL :hyper:
 
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#17,794
swink said:
Don't bother to thought.... Thought, is one of the archives of the Thinkology departement.... ;)
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Too late, the browbeating I sensed I was getting prompted me to go look him up. It obviously showed my ignorance of British sound engineers from the sixties, but I found it an interesting read nonetheless. Sounds as if he was a true pioneer, first at Trident and then with his own companies. So I guess we're to thank him for the pedal-based bass preamp too? Thanks for the enlightenment.
 
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#17,795
099451057947 said:
Hey combo club. I wanna join now that I can brag about finding the *best for me* extension cab for my Markbass 15” players school combo. The 250w is overkill now for playing against my wife’s Musicman Tube stack, whereas previous the single combo could not keep up.

Behold, the 18E Ampeg SVT cab and I’m using an AMT A-Bass tube preamp. This setup sounds soo different depending on the bass like it reall brings out each individual bass. I’m in love with my Warwick all over again and it makes my 82 Precision sound gnarly.

Edit: the 18 fills in everything the small combo can’t do. For real. It sounds so full now even without the preamp engaged. Also the Ampeg is perfect because it is rated for 175 watts at 8ohm. So it matches up like a dream. I found it at guitar center for $186 out the door in mint condition and it’s an older USA made model.

Link Removed
Click to expand...

Holy Molely.. An 18!!!! Shiver me timbers. There goes the China cabinet followed by every window in the house.
 
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#17,796
iagtrplyr said:
YL, it gives me great pleasure to award you membership #240, all because you uploaded a couple of fine pics of your SWR W-10. She may be an oldie, but if it's working for ya, then let 'er rip! Ya know, with the rat fur and big plastic corner protectors, it kind of reminds me of a Markbass combo a little. Enjoy and welcome to the club! :hyper:
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, it is an honor and a privilege to be accepted into such an august institution.
 
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#17,799
Hello everyone! Hope your day is going well. If you read a day or two ago, Nu's TE combo was sold to one of our newest members, Tim from Omaha, and we were kidding about my PJB D4 combo. Truth is, I'd made that deal because I've felt the Double-Four was slowly getting edged out both by the new Ampeg and the Markbass combo. Heck, I was even thinking about driving to Kalamazoo and dropping it off at RR's place free of charge so he could have stereo amps!

But this afternoon I found the perfect niche' for my little breadbox and that's using its Aux In for #2's iPad and record GarageBand sounds through it to the waiting mic. Let me tell you, it is perfect for that duty. The clarity from the twin speakers was astonishing as I added glockenspiel and flute, along with two channels of my bass, to "Eleanor Rigby." Yep, still working on this recording thang and I must admit, it's getting more fun. I'm assuming the PJB will also work beautifully for acoustic guitar too and plan to find out soon. I included a photo of my setup. Not overly professional-looking, but the hominess is relaxing. Thanks for reading! :woot:

IMG-2622.JPG
 
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#17,800
iagtrplyr said:
Hello everyone! Hope your day is going well. If you read a day or two ago, Nu's TE combo was sold to one of our newest members, Tim from Omaha, and we were kidding about my PBJ D4 combo. Truth is, I'd made that deal because I've felt the Double-Four was slowly getting edged out both by the new Ampeg and the Markbass combo. Heck, I was even thinking about driving to Kalamazoo and dropping it off at RR's place free of charge so he could have stereo amps!

But this afternoon I found the perfect niche' for my little breadbox and that's using its Aux In for #2's iPad and record GarageBand sounds through it to the waiting mic. Let me tell you, it is perfect for that duty. The clarity from the twin speakers was astonishing as I added glockenspiel and flute, along with two channels of my bass, to "Eleanor Rigby." Yep, still working on this recording thang and I must admit, it's getting more fun. I'm assuming the PBJ will also work beautifully for acoustic guitar too and plan to find out soon. I included a photo of my setup. Not overly professional-looking, but the hominess is relaxing. Thanks for reading! :woot:

View attachment 4339631
Click to expand...
I hafta ask: what kinda J with the PB? And what kinda bread(I like sourdough).
 
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