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The Trace Elliot V-type Club!!

Hmm I'd have to look up that model number, but the "C" is typically for Celestion.

Are there any numbers/codes written on the arms of the basket?

It's certainly the original speaker.

What threw me was in the original picture, the dust caps don't look like any of the usual Celestions, and also, I've never seen a 15" Celestion in a Trace cab that was mounted that way.


I'll have to check as the cab is put back together now. I didn't notice anything when I had the speaker out. It sure sounds killer though.

For reference, this is what is sitting on top:

 
I'll have to check as the cab is put back together now. I didn't notice anything when I had the speaker out. It sure sounds killer though.

For reference, this is what is sitting on top:


Awesome!

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it.

It's definitely an original Celestion, custom made for Trace Elliot.

Now that I've had a chance to zoom in on the picture, on a different device, I can see that the speaker housing has 8 bolts (unusual to have a mix of bolts, and flats/clamps), and I do recognise those dust caps in closeup.
 
Awesome!

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it.

It's definitely an original Celestion, custom made for Trace Elliot.

Now that I've had a chance to zoom in on the picture, on a different device, I can see that the speaker housing has 8 bolts (unusual to have a mix of bolts, and flats/clamps), and I do recognise those dust caps in closeup.


Thanks !

So, definitely pre Gibson then and very early 90's it looks like. Seems to be a low serial, so I assume one of the earlier ones

Thanks for the info !
 
Thanks !

So, definitely pre Gibson then and very early 90's it looks like. Seems to be a low serial, so I assume one of the earlier ones

Thanks for the info !

Their serial numbers are an inscrutable mystery to me, but yeah that Series 6 range is during the transition from original Trace, to Kaman.

SMX (1993) was the first true Kaman era product.

Gibson was late 90's.
 
How do you decipher the British serial numbers on Trace Elliot bass guitar amplifiers?:eyebrow: I just noticed the faint handwritten pen markings with a serial number on the back of the amplifier panel of my Trace Elliot V 4 V-Type bass guitar amplifier reads T 607 /988/ 395 ?:help:
My V6 says the model# is V6-3. No idea what the 3 is for.
 
How do you decipher the British serial numbers on Trace Elliot bass guitar amplifiers?:eyebrow: I just noticed the faint handwritten pen markings with a serial number on the back of the amplifier panel of my Trace Elliot V 4 V-Type bass guitar amplifier reads T 607 /988/ 395 ?:help:
If they go the same as the V8, you read the serial numbers as follows: Product Code/Number/MonthX YearXX
So yours was the 988th V4 made, in March 1995. Did they make that many?
 
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I think there were a lot more. The v4 had 3 incarnations. the vtype 220 the V4 MK1 and MKII. I think the V4 MKII is the rarest at 25 made. Apparently 1000 v6's were made and less than 100 v8's. They deserve the title, vintage and rare.
If they go the same as the V8, you read the serial numbers as follows: Product Code/Number/MonthX YearXX
So yours was the 988th V4 made, in March 1995. Did they make that many?
The faint handwritten pen markings of a MK I ? Trace Elliot V 4 V-Type bass guitar amplifier serial number T 607/9 or 0?88/395:jawdrop:reminiscent of a faded graffiti sighted on a West Sacramento,California Union Pacific Cotton Belt grainer train.
27332504_1522526634469771_6582306146340383568_n.jpg
En route to a central valley California Union Pacific rail yard.:snaphappy:
CALIFAS ONE NINE NINE THREE
W.O.R TILL I DIE :laugh::smug:
 
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The faint handwritten pen markings of a MK I ? Trace Elliot V 4 V-Type bass guitar amplifier serial number T 607/9 or 0?88/395:jawdrop:reminiscent of a faded graffiti sighted on a West Sacramento,California Union Pacific Cotton Belt grainer train. View attachment 2899359 En route to a central valley California Union Pacific rail yard.:snaphappy:
CALIFAS ONE NINE NINE THREE
W.O.R TILL I DIE :laugh::smug:
;):thumbsup:
27458901_1524529854269449_2159689783871099904_n.jpg
 
Hey everyone - for a tube amp virgin what can the V6 offer me in comparison to most other amps? I've heard they are the shizzle of tube amps, but the closest I've ever come to owning a full tube amp is my Warwick Quad VI that has 3 preamp tubes, 1 power amp tube then a mosfet power section.
Is the EQ Fender tone stack type?
Can you get any dirty overdrive from these guys?
Do they resemble in any way the TE solid state amps?
 
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Hey everyone - for a tube amp virgin what can the V6 offer me in comparison to most other amps? I've heard they are the shizzle of tube amps, but the closest I've ever come to owning a full tube amp is my Warwick Quad VI that has 3 preamp tubes, 1 power amp tube then a mosfet power section.
Is the EQ Fender tone stack type?
Can you get any dirty overdrive from these guys?
Do they resemble in any way the TE solid state amps?

I have one, yes, Fender tone stack, difficult to get much overdrive even with the gain turned up, with KT88 tubes it it has to be stupid-loud to get any power amp dirt either, but takes pedals very well if dirt is your thing.
I have been running mine straight bass-to-amp lately, and am blown way by the tone-
Buttery smooth but with great clank when you dig in, very responsive to playing dynamics.
I never played a SS Trace, but am very happy I chose this over an SVT, and am torn choosing the V6 or my Fender Super Bassman as my favorite amp.

The Fender is more versatile, but there really is something special about the V6 when equipped with KT88s.
 
Hey everyone - for a tube amp virgin what can the V6 offer me in comparison to most other amps? I've heard they are the shizzle of tube amps, but the closest I've ever come to owning a full tube amp is my Warwick Quad VI that has 3 preamp tubes, 1 power amp tube then a mosfet power section.
Is the EQ Fender tone stack type?
Can you get any dirty overdrive from these guys?
Do they resemble in any way the TE solid state amps?
They have a gain stage but it doesn't do much. To overdrive it you really need to use an active bass in the normal input. At that point it sounds like an SVT. Otherwise it's incredibly clean, warm and powerful. 6 KT88 tubes give 400W of warm tubey bass that is very noticable when you hear it. You have to hear one to believe it. It's nothing magical but the rarity adds to the rep. You can dirty up a V6 but cannot clean up an SVT. It's all in the tubes, kt's are bassey with a very clear top end. 6550's are midrangey and dirty. just as the 2 amps sound.
Apparently it has a Fender showman(?) like tone stack but it doesn't do alot. It's a very mono tone amp. But it's almost a perfect tone. Only a bass mid and treble. Mid doesn't do alot, only at the extremes.
They do not resemble the SS TE amps in any way. No more than you could try to get tube warmth out of one without a single tube.
When I got this amp I lost all interest in SVT's but now I want one of each. Mesa boogie make a KT88 amp. check them out. They have more tonal variations and are just as expensive. check out a KT88:eight. that is mesa's answer to the V8. I will never sell my V6 at this point because I know I will never find another. Believe it or not, I got mine at a charity sale for 200+tax and at the time had no idea what it was.
 
I have one, yes, Fender tone stack, difficult to get much overdrive even with the gain turned up, with KT88 tubes it it has to be stupid-loud to get any power amp dirt either, but takes pedals very well if dirt is your thing.
I have been running mine straight bass-to-amp lately, and am blown way by the tone-
Buttery smooth but with great clank when you dig in, very responsive to playing dynamics.
I never played a SS Trace, but am very happy I chose this over an SVT, and am torn choosing the V6 or my Fender Super Bassman as my favorite amp.

The Fender is more versatile, but there really is something special about the V6 when equipped with KT88s.

I've owned an SVT, a TE AH500X, and now a v6. I've yet to try a superbassman or a DP750/1.
The main complaint about the AH500X at the time was that it was "sterile" No tube warmth, just transparent power. I used it maily for bi-amping and/or in stereo. Real stereo through an SPX90.
I had a early 1970 blueline SVT with the 123 on the mid control and that would be my amp. I got my 78 stingray so I am saving for the svt. there are alot of high end tube amps out now costing well over 5 grand a pop.
If you want to overdrive your V6 more plug an active bass into the normal input. I accidently did that when I got the stingray, and I was thinking when did this amp start sounding like an svt??? Plugged into the active inpt and back to v6 pureness.
Other than the stereo days, I always have gone straight to amp. I am really curious about the compressor on the V8 and want that in a pedal. Anybody know which?
 
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Hey everyone - for a tube amp virgin what can the V6 offer me in comparison to most other amps? I've heard they are the shizzle of tube amps, but the closest I've ever come to owning a full tube amp is my Warwick Quad VI that has 3 preamp tubes, 1 power amp tube then a mosfet power section.
Is the EQ Fender tone stack type?
Can you get any dirty overdrive from these guys?
Do they resemble in any way the TE solid state amps?


If you can buy a V6 at a decent price jump on it. It's a rare head and sounds incredible. Tonally, the V6 is a lot like an Orange AD200B played clean. The V6 will get a lot louder and has more articulate and deeper lows. The amp is optimized for clean headroom, so if you want distortion I recommend you get a pedal. The solid state TE amps tend to be voiced a lot warmer in the mids than their tube amps. IMHO, Two very different flavors of awesome!
 
I am really curious about the compressor on the V8 and want that in a pedal. Anybody know which?

IMHO, engaging the V8 compressor circuit adds a bit of gain and slightly changes the EQ. I always leave it on as the circuit increases clarity and makes the amp sound more open. IMHO, The compression is pretty subtle; similar to what you would get with a Diamond BCP-1. Nice for gentle smoothing and sustain.
 
Hey everyone - for a tube amp virgin what can the V6 offer me in comparison to most other amps? I've heard they are the shizzle of tube amps, but the closest I've ever come to owning a full tube amp is my Warwick Quad VI that has 3 preamp tubes, 1 power amp tube then a mosfet power section.
Is the EQ Fender tone stack type?
Can you get any dirty overdrive from these guys?
Do they resemble in any way the TE solid state amps?

Having many amps from the TE family, the V's are a totally different animal! As has been stated, it doesn't break up without help. It IS very dynamic, clear and has gut thumping lows. This is a hard thing to describe, but the V's, to my ear are more transparent. That means they don't color the tone of what's plugged into them as much as, say a GK would. I like that, but all my Basses have low output, passive PUPS, and the only effect I rarely use is a phaser or chorus.
Robin
 
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Having many amps from the TE family, the V's are a totally different animal! As has been stated, it doesn't break up without help. It IS very dynamic, clear and has gut thumping lows. This is a hard thing to describe, but the V's, to my ear are more transparent. That means they don't color the tone of what's plugged into them as much as, say a GK would. I like that, but all my Basses have low output, passive PUPS, and the only effect I rarely use is a phaser or chorus.
Robin
Boss CE2? People are always asking about running amps at their rated ohms. I have been using an 8 ohm cab at home quietly with the V6. When I got the Stingray last week, I put the volume at 2/3 and was plucking fairly lightly until the power fuse blew. My SVT used to blow power fuses. It was an old SVT but it was the same 8 ohm cabinet. I will not be running any of my amps at to many ohms ever again. People say it usually doesn't matter, but I now think it does. I could have destroyed my V6.
 
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