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the TRACE ELLIOT thread

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#23
tombowlus said:
Yeah, and he rubs it in my face every chance he gets! :p
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Sheesh. MIA for a few days and look what happens! Firstly, thanks to Joe for posting the V8 pic.

Now Tom, you know that you can't own EVERY amp made, although I am certain that you want to (it's an affliction that I know all too well).

I would consider myself a Trace fan. In addition to the V8 I have a brand new condition AH600SMX with a 1048H (4x10" + horn) and 1818 (1x18") in Rolls Royce green and of course the venerable TwinValve.

Currently I'm also on the lookout for a HexaValve to replace the one that UPS destroyed, or perhaps a VR400 if I get lucky.
 
#24
I wish I had a V8. Oh hang on I DO!!!!!

TraceV8.jpg
 
#26
IvanMike said:
my experience was strictly with the solid state units like the smx 300 and 400. LOUD LOUD LOUD. the 300 made an swr sm-900 cry for it's momma in terms of plain old make ya sweat and peel the paint volume.
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I know man. I tried some SWR's, and some GK's all 600+ watts...didn't come close to my AH250. Not only are they louder than alot of high wattage "big brand" amps, They sound sweeter too.

Oh yeah...i'm currently fiending for a V8/6/4 right now. Those of you who own them are making me very jealous. I've never had a chance to play one, How do they sound? (as if I even need to ask)
 
#28
simple, I spoke to THE guru of TE, Shane @ Link Removed. The man is in "the know"...

I'd like to actually get an exact # & date on the production of these beast. They're definetly not you typical SVT or Aggie rip off. The real shame beyond TE packing up in general is you'll never see a company produce such esoteric gear that was under "10K" & was basically affordable but unable to compete in such a booming industry, all IMHO. Oh well, who knows what lies in the roads ahead...

~S~
 
#29
Kelly Lee said:
I try to collect about anything thats TE! I collect .pdf manuals and schematics, pics, factory paper manuals, and even apparel! BTW, if anybody wants to get rid of or finds some paper manuals please let me know.
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Anything on the Twin Valve head or combo?

Thanks, Tom.
 
#34
tombowlus said:
Anything on the Twin Valve head or combo?
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Tom/Kelly, I have the Twin head / combo manual and the VA350 / Hexa manual in .PDF format if you would like, courtesy British Audio Service.

On the subject of the number of V8 amps produced, 75 is actually quite believable. I had to special order mine locally and it came direct from Britain. The production date is Feb. 2000. I am also aware of at least two others that were sold in Canada.

For those who might be interested, here's an excerpt from the User's Manual... "The circuit topology of the V8 has been based on traditional valve amplifier designs, with new ideas incorporated where beneficial for either sound quality or production efficiency. The main signal path through the preamp and power stage sections is 100% valve, relays have been used for all the switching functions and integrated circuits have been used in the DI circuit for quiet operation and impedance matching for the 600 ohm mixer inputs. The chassis is made from gloss black stove-epoxy coated 16 guage zintec. Cabinet made from 3/4" plywood. Highest quality porcelain valve sockets have been used throughout for the KT88s, ECC83s and EM84. The power and output transformers have been custom made for maximum performance using high grade laminations. Windings are resin soaked and manufactured to pass international approvals. A highly regulated DC supply is used for heater filaments in all preamp valves for minimal hum levels. An external biasing facility is featured - this enables techs to check/reset output bias at any time without removing the chassis. Internal wiring and glass epoxy circuit board layouts use multiple return star earthing for low noise and hum. All audio sections have been laid out for sonic performance using 'point to point' wiring principles. Gold plated jack sockets are used exclusively throughout. Two quiet chassis mounted fans keep the power output valves at safe operating temperatures even when playing at high volumes."

Msquared asked about the compressor which I have found to be wonderfully musical. The compressor in the final production V4 / V8 amps is very different than the two band compressor pedal. Again from the manual "The compressor circuit within the V8 is based on simple, vintage studio valve compressors. It's valve gain stage is controlled by a silicon diode side chain that has been designed to respond like a vacuum double-diode. It has pre-set slow attack and release times (best for bass frequencies) and is intended to be used to smooth out and fatten up the sound of a bass guitar (rather than as an extreme limiter effect)."

Well I've pounded my chest enough. Hope this was informative...

*Sheesh dlloyd, couldn't you make that picture a bit bigger? * :p
 
#39
DEVILMAN said:
simple, I spoke to THE guru of TE, Shane @ Link Removed. The man is in "the know"...
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Yep...I just had my V6 serviced by Shane a couple months ago -- one of the KT88s had shattered during shipping. Shane cleaned it up, checked it out, popped in a NOS Trace KT88 that matched the others (which were un-harmed), biased it... and it sounds killer.

He also performed several small mods (ask him what these are, I don't recall offhand) that enhance the reliability/durability... BritishAudioService definitely knows their Trace stuff.
 
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