the TRACE ELLIOT thread

[amper]

Ah, I just *have* to post in here...

I am a die-hard Trace Elliot fan. Here's my list...

Series 6 AH200 head (sold in favor of an NOS original V-Type head)
two NOS SMX compressor pedals (sold in favor of a JoeMeek VC1Qcs)
one SM7EQ pedal (with a loose LED that I need to fix)
my NOS original V-Type head (which is now my main rehearsal amp and backup for my SWR main gigging rig)
another V-Type head (was my backup, bought with the 1248H below in fair cond., restored it and eventually sold it)
2102 cabinet (one of my main gigging cabs)
1153 cabinet (the other of my main gigging cabs)
1248H cabinet (has seen better days, a couple of cracks in the MDF and a torn driver I repaired with fiberglass packaging tape, sounds great but too heavy to move, stays in the studio, will probably create two 2x12's out of it, eventually)
an NOS V-Type pre (that lives in my main gigging rack along with my SWR gear)

and as to that post about Trace Elliot strings--I used to use nothing but Trace Elliot strings, until I couldn't get them anymore. Now, it's a mix of Rotosounds and TI Jazz flats.


Yes, I too would like someday to own a V8.

I once passed up what might have been the very last V6 available new anywhere in the world. It was going for 700 or 800 bucks on clearance at Victor's in Paramus, as I recall--what a stupid move...

The only thing that's ever bugged me about Trace Elliot is that they used MDF for their cabs, which makes them extremely heavy. As to reliability? I've never once had a piece of Trace Elliot gear fail on me. And all my V-Type gear has the original tubes.


Thansk very much to the great guys at Guitar Resurrection in Texas for selling me the NOS V-Type head and NOS V-Type preamp. I will never part with these! Also the great guys at Music Museum in NJ for selling me the NOS SMX pedals (although I did sell those to two very appreciative eBay'ers). One more thanks to the great guys at Zapf's in Philly (now Music123.com), who in 1995 actually had a V-Type head and 1248 cab on the floor that got me hooked on V-Type gear, though at the time I could never afford it.

It's truly a shame what happened to this fine company. One good thing to say about Gibson--when I needed parts for my second V-Type, Gibson came through with flying colors! Very friendly to deal with, reasonable prices, and quick service. This was during the period when production was supposedly being transferred to the US. I was able to obtain new tube retainers, rubber feet, the plastic cups that go on the top of cabs, the plastic feet that go on the bottom, 18V adapters for my pedals, and some other odds and ends.

The person that sold me the 1248H and V-Type head that looked like they'd been through a war? What a jerk. That was the only time I've ever been burned on eBay--at least the head came out alright once I replaced the parts it needed and cleaned it up. It went to another very appreciative eBay'er.

The 1248H cab can never be resold in the condition it's in. Surprisingly my fiberglass tape patch didn't affect the tone of the cab (that I can tell), but I should have ordered a replacement driver from Gibson when I placed my parts order. I have a source (I think) for the custom Celestion 12" drivers that were used in the V-Type cabs, so I think I'll order one and build two 2x12 cabs out of what I've got. I also know where the green tolex and grille cloth went, so I'll build them to match.

 

[amper]

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I also have one of those cool little dealer displays that looks like a combo amp with the blacklight shining on the Trace Elliot logo...I paid way too much for it on eBay a few years ago, but I just *had* to have it!

 

[DEVILMAN]

...what kind of "V-type" head do you actually have?...

~S~

 

[Waabs]

By strict definition all V8 amps were made during Trace's Gibson era. However, the real fiasco there came with the announcement that the UK plant was closing down, early 2003 if I recall correctly. Look for the "Made in Britain" union jack sticker on the back of the amp. The last two digits of the handwritten serial number indicate year, so prior to "03" is better.

Awesome. The last three numbers on my V8 are 301 and it has the Union Jack made in Britain sticker.

 

[amper]

...what kind of "V-type" head do you actually have?...

~S~

I'm assuming you mean me?

The original V-Type head was rated at 220W out of four KT-88 tubes. It was packaged in a British Racing Green tolex cabinet with the familiar Trace Elliot texture. The preamp consisted of a 2x12AX7 front end with a 12AX7 as the phase inverter. The front of the cabinet was solid and covered with the same vinyl. It was known simply as the "V-Type Head"

The next one to come out was the V6, with the same preamp section paired to a 6xKT-88 power section, rated at 400W, packaged in a green carpet-covered cabinet that had a grille cloth front.

The second generation series V-Type's (V4 & V8) were in a black vinyl cab with a black metal grille and a completely different preamp that has eight 12AX7's and an EM83(?) tube, and contains a compressor section.

Here's a pic of the original V-Type (my second one, which I sold):

Invalid Link Removed

 

[DEVILMAN]

Cool. Thanks for the life-size pic. I guess it's an early incarnation of the V-4? What year(s) were they produced?


~S~

 

[amper]

I think 1995 until they came out with the V4...I'm not reallt sure when that happened, but it couldn't be later than 2000-2001, possibly earlier? The second gen series didn't last long before TE went away.

 

[pickles]

You don't get many amp threads where nobody posts about hating the amps! One of the best sounds I've heard to this day was a Hamer USA PJ bass through an SMX350 and 2 or the 410 cabs. Just amazing ... big and taught at the same time. But there is just so much great gear out there these days that I've never put a trace rig together ... maybe someday.

I do use the dual comp pedal all the time and think it sounds just great, and so simple to use, I only wish it was availible as a rack unit to get it off the floor. I preferred it over an RNC I had by a wide margain, especially with my P bass.

 

[tombowlus]

I do use the dual comp pedal all the time and think it sounds just great, and so simple to use, I only wish it was availible as a rack unit to get it off the floor. I preferred it over an RNC I had by a wide margain, especially with my P bass.

Good to hear! I just bought a Dual Compressor pedal off bassgear.com!

 

[popinfresh]

Bump. So guys... i'm gonna be giving this V8 a serious look. It would be my first tube amp, so what should I look for?
He says it was the last of the UK made ones, just for reference, and it looks to be in physically good shape.
What should i be looking at internally etc? Is there any way of telling if the tubes are on their way out, or how long they'd roughly have left? (A V8 is going to be a bitch to re-tube).
Any components (fuses etc) that I should have a close look at on these certain trace amps? I've read a bit on the V-Type pre's having a push-pull mid switch... do the V8's have them? Can the V8 run at 8ohms?

Also, how do these amps go in recording situations? Quiet in the studio?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[popinfresh]

Trace fuse holders suck! For as well as the rest of the amp is built, I have no idea why they used such a crappy fuseholder. I ended up replacing the one in my VR400 after it shorted. It's a cheap fix that any compenetent tech can do pretty quickly and a good fuse holder costs about $5 max. Get it replaced.

Oddio, is this what your talking about with the cold fuse joints or whatever? Even when (or if) i get the V8, if it's seems to be working fine, should I get the fuseholder changed?

Yep (nods agreement). The V8 with the half-power switch set is loud and still has enough headroom for many cabinets. Set to full power it had enough ooomph to drive a pair of Acme B2 cabinets well with the right amount of headroom still available. When I compared to my V6 (sold a while back) it seemed to have more power than was expected.

What do you mean by half power switch?

 

[oddio]

Oddio, is this what your talking about with the cold fuse joints or whatever? Even when (or if) i get the V8, if it's seems to be working fine, should I get the fuseholder changed?

Yes, the problem is related. If the amp is working fine then best to leave it, but at the first sign of trouble (blowing internal fuses) get a competent tech to replace them.

What do you mean by half power switch?

There is a half/full power switch one the back of the amp.

 

[popinfresh]

Oddio, does that mean you can make it run at 200watts? Meaning you could clip it easier?

Also, could you answer any of those questions in my other post about looking at the used one? Thanks!

 

[oddio]

Oddio, does that mean you can make it run at 200watts? Meaning you could clip it easier?

In half power mode the V8 runs 4 x KT88 tubes instead of 8. Yes, it would clip a bit more easily if that's what you are after.

Also, could you answer any of those questions in my other post about looking at the used one? Thanks!

The V8 runs with 2 or 4 ohm loads only, so 8 ohm loads are not an option. Apart from a clean chassis and external appearance, if you are actually going to look at the innards check for burnt or melted wiring near the fusholders on the main circuit board. Be careful if you are poking around inside. Remember that tube amplifiers can injure or kill you even when they are unplugged. The internal fans are quiet and the amp is fine in the studio. If the amp sounds great and has plenty of power you should be fine with the existing tubes, provided that none of the LEDs are lit on the back panel.

 

[pickles]

Good to hear! I just bought a Dual Compressor pedal off bassgear.com!

Yea, they are great ... a little noisier, and more of "a sound" than the RNC, but its been in my signal chain every time I've played since I got it in about '98. I'm scoping for a used Rane dual comp to see if I can get as nice of an effect from a rack unit.

 

[tombowlus]

Yea, they are great ... a little noisier, and more of "a sound" than the RNC, QUOTE]

I've been meaning to pick up the two-channel rack version of the RNC for some time. My PA rig could use two more compressors. The RNC is probably the best do it all compressor in anything close to its price range.

Tom.

 

[Waabs]

In half power mode the V8 runs 4 x KT88 tubes instead of 8. Yes, it would clip a bit more easily if that's what you are after.

The V8 runs with 2 or 4 ohm loads only, so 8 ohm loads are not an option. Apart from a clean chassis and external appearance, if you are actually going to look at the innards check for burnt or melted wiring near the fusholders on the main circuit board. Be careful if you are poking around inside. Remember that tube amplifiers can injure or kill you even when they are unplugged. The internal fans are quiet and the amp is fine in the studio. If the amp sounds great and has plenty of power you should be fine with the existing tubes, provided that none of the LEDs are lit on the back panel.

The V8 manual says it's ok to run it at 4 ohms and use an 8 ohm cabinet. It's probably not ideal though.

I've tried to get it to clip at half power but I always run out of guts before the amp does. I actually can't really tell the difference in volume between half and full power. Once I start turning it up on either all I know is that it's really really loud!

 

[madthumbs]

Does anybody know the model name for this amp?

 

[popinfresh]

Allright... I'm gonna go check out this V8 tomorow hopefully So no-one better bid on it by then! haha.

Madthumbs, i think i had the chance to buy the same as what you have (Or the cab might have had the red stripes in it), in head and cab form for $1000. I so should of taken that deal, still kinda regret it as all i've done with my rig is add more to it, and still havn't got the volume i need! Hopefully this v8 will sort that out

 

[Kelly Lee]

Does anybody know the model name for this amp?

I'm not for sure but the later model version was called the 1210H.