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The Trace Elliot V-type Club!!

#721
traceV said:
Hi guys, new to this forum and just wanted to share my love for the TE V-Type. I have one which I got yesterday. A friend of mine owns it and has had it for over 20 years. We have been playing for 2 years now and he had this thing behind a sofa, jamming with 60+ years old guys. I didn´t pay much attention to it at the time. We changed local and got in to my studio where he was using Custom Sound amp. Now, he was asked to get the V-Type because it took too much space. So I got it in my studio and tried it. What a beast of an amp! So clean sounding, no hiss or hum, got Billington Gold 5660 tubes in it. What I have read is this is the first version dating back to and starting from 1996 right? I can´t see the serial number or any other for that matter because it´s too faded. With it is a matching 4x12" cabinet. This thread is about the amp that came after this one. So what I want to know is the difference between this and the V4. And how many was made. And maybe how much love this amb and cab is getting.
Kind regards :)
Click to expand...

There should be a sticker inside the chassis with initials and dates for factory QC.

AFAIK there is no electrical difference between the all-tube V-Type and the later Series I V4. The original V-Types had tolex covered head cases, and the later amps used green rat fur.

Here's a more thorough post on the subject. The Trace Elliot V-type Club!!

Here's a link showing the V4 and V6 use the same circuit cards, the V6 is just populated with necessary extra components for the two additional tubes, and of course, the transformers are different.
The Trace Elliot V-type Club!!

For context I own a Series I V-Type and V6, and a Series II V8. The V-Type dates to 95, the V6 dates to 96, and I believe the V8 dates to 2000.

The V-Type and V6 sound almost identical, except the V6 stays super HiFi noticeably louder. There is some slight difference in tone, but I think it is due to variances in the tubes. The V6 is running Sovtek KT88 and the V-Type is running JJs. Also they are running different tubes in V2 of the preamp. The V6 is running a Tube Store Preffered Series 7025 and the V-Type is running a Gold Lion ECC83/B759.

I rolled tubes in the V-Type and V2 was the only slot that seemed to make much difference, and it was still very minor. I selected the Gold Lion because it opened up the mids a bit and made the amp sound closer to the V6. I think if I had a Preferred Series 7025 it would probably be even closer. Both amps are running the original stock TE tube in V1, V3, and V4.
 
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#722
Wasnex said:
There should be a sticker inside the chassis with initials and dates for factory QC.

AFAIK there is no electrical difference between the all-tube V-Type and the later Series I V4. The original V-Types had tolex covered head cases, and the later amps used green rat fur.

Here's a more thorough post on the subject. The Trace Elliot V-type Club!!

Here's a link showing the V4 and V6 use the same circuit cards, the V6 is just populated with necessary extra components for the two additional tubes, and of course, the transformers are different.
The Trace Elliot V-type Club!!

For context I own a Series I V-Type and V6, and a Series II V8. The V-Type dates to 95, the V6 dates to 96, and I believe the V8 dates to 2000.

The V-Type and V6 sound almost identical, except the V6 stays super HiFi noticeably louder. There is some slight difference in tone, but I think it is due to variances in the tubes. The V6 is running Sovtek KT88 and the V-Type is running JJs. Also they are running different tubes in V2 of the preamp. The V6 is running a Tube Store Preffered Series 7025 and the V-Type is running a Gold Lion ECC83/B759.

I rolled tubes in the V-Type and V2 was the only slot that seemed to make much difference, and it was still very minor. I selected the Gold Lion because it opened up the mids a bit and made the amp sound closer to the V6. I think if I had a Preferred Series 7025 it would probably be even closer. Both amps are running the original stock TE tube in V1, V3, and V4.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, I´ll check on the inside for the numbers. Was the Billington Gold 5660 tubes something that came as stock? I haven´t open it so I can´t tell what´s in the preamp stages.
 
#723
traceV said:
Thanks for the info, I´ll check on the inside for the numbers. Was the Billington Gold 5660 tubes something that came as stock? I haven´t open it so I can´t tell what´s in the preamp stages.
Click to expand...

Do you mean 6550's? Never heard of a 5660 power tube... If you mean 6550, they are technically interchangeable with KT88's, most commonly found in the Trace V-type amps, although there has been a handful of amps from factory with 6550's. I know for KT88's, these were branded Trace Elliot Sovteks.

I don't know what brand the stock 6550's were when used, but have never heard of the ones you've mentioned!
 
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#725
Microbass said:
Do you mean 6550's? Never heard of a 5660 power tube... If you mean 6550, they are technically interchangeable with KT88's, most commonly found in the Trace V-type amps, although there has been a handful of amps from factory with 6550's. I know for KT88's, these were branded Trace Elliot Sovteks.

I don't know what brand the stock 6550's were when used, but have never heard of the ones you've mentioned!
Click to expand...

Yes, just a brain fart on my behalf. I haven´t tried it in anger but there´s a gig coming up this Saturday and I´m providing the back line for it and I´m curious to know how the DI performs. I´ve gone through 75% of this thread and there´s a different take on how good it is.... so yes, happy times indeed.
 
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#727
traceV said:
Thanks for the info, I´ll check on the inside for the numbers. Was the Billington Gold 5660 tubes something that came as stock? I haven´t open it so I can´t tell what´s in the preamp stages.
Click to expand...

I believe you mean 6550 rather than 5660. AFAIK the V-types were designed for KT88s and originally had Trace Elliot labeled tubes in all positions. You can see the logo used on TE tubes here. These are one of the variants of TE KT88s I have seen.

images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTNvZkw1nA06r4pmpyJZjEArQqflNMkH1ODzzp0J7D5jijV5-3B.jpg

My V8 came with a thrashed quad of TE KT88s, but the glass was shaped a bit different.

I believe mine were like these. This is not my amp.
img_1438-jpg.125063
 
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#729
I got the numbers backwards, I blame it on my ADHD disorder:D
It´s going to be hard shaking that newbie stain off from now on:D
I´ve been reading that the V4-V8 are rare, not too many made.
What about the V-Type 1st gen., same story?

What I got is basically the same as the picture shows.
(from the internet, hopefully that´s ok)
 

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#731
traceV said:
I got the numbers backwards, I blame it on my ADHD disorder:D
It´s going to be hard shaking that newbie stain off from now on:D
I´ve been reading that the V4-V8 are rare, not too many made.
What about the V-Type 1st gen., same story?
Click to expand...

Pretty sure the Series II V4 is the rarest as I have never seen one in person. I don't think I have ever seen one come up for sale in the US either. It's basically a V8 with only four output tubes. Invalid Link Removed

The all tube V-Types are also pretty rare. I think they had a shorter production run than the V4 and V6. The V4 and V6 come up for sale much more frequently than all other models combined.
 
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#733
traceV said:
Yes, just a brain fart on my behalf. I haven´t tried it in anger but there´s a gig coming up this Saturday and I´m providing the back line for it and I´m curious to know how the DI performs. I´ve gone through 75% of this thread and there´s a different take on how good it is.... so yes, happy times indeed.
Click to expand...

I use DI from the amp for recording and have done since I got the amp as well as for every gig it’s been required. No qualms from anyone - infact numerous compliments!

There has been some V-Types shipped with 6550’s stock, including a silver cased V6. I think some of the VA series also had stock 6550’s?
I absolutely love those tolex amps. Look amazing.
As for the MkII V4’s, I’ve read there were only around 25-30 of them shipped and around 200 V8’s?
 
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#735
Wasnex said:
I believe you mean 6550 rather than 5660. AFAIK the V-types were designed for KT88s and originally had Trace Elliot labeled tubes in all positions. You can see the logo used on TE tubes here. These are one of the variants of TE KT88s I have seen.

View attachment 3704877
My V8 came with a thrashed quad of TE KT88s, but the glass was shaped a bit different.

I believe mine were like these. This is not my amp.
img_1438-jpg.125063
Click to expand...

Hey, that was my old amp, man I miss it. One of the dumbest things I ever did was get rid of it. Believe they were rebranded Chinese tubes.
 
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#736
Wasnex said:
Pretty sure the Series II V4 is the rarest as I have never seen one in person. I don't think I have ever seen one come up for sale in the US either. It's basically a V8 with only four output tubes. Invalid Link Removed

The all tube V-Types are also pretty rare. I think they had a shorter production run than the V4 and V6. The V4 and V6 come up for sale much more frequently than all other models combined.
Click to expand...
Microbass said:
I use DI from the amp for recording and have done since I got the amp as well as for every gig it’s been required. No qualms from anyone - infact numerous compliments!

There has been some V-Types shipped with 6550’s stock, including a silver cased V6. I think some of the VA series also had stock 6550’s?
I absolutely love those tolex amps. Look amazing.
As for the MkII V4’s, I’ve read there were only around 25-30 of them shipped and around 200 V8’s?
Click to expand...


Ok, it must be on other thread or forum, I´ve been all over reading about the amp but someone was having none of the DI sound, had some issues with it. I´ve got a studio so it´s encouraging to know I possible don´t need to bother to mic the cabinet as it can be tricky in live recording in not so big open space and still get all the juice.

Billington Gold tubes
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#737
traceV said:
Ok, it must be on other thread or forum, I´ve been all over reading about the amp but someone was having none of the DI sound, had some issues with it. I´ve got a studio so it´s encouraging to know I possible don´t need to bother to mic the cabinet as it can be tricky in live recording in not so big open space and still get all the juice.

Billington Gold tubes
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

I have read various comments that suggest the DI's are a bit noisy, but I have never tried them.

The series I amps have AC heaters in the preamps so there is a bit of residual hum. The series II amps have DC heaters in the preamp so they have a better S/N ratio...at least that is my experience.
 
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#738
Wasnex said:
I have read various comments that suggest the DI's are a bit noisy, but I have never tried them.

The series I amps have AC heaters in the preamps so there is a bit of residual hum. The series II amps have DC heaters in the preamp so they have a better S/N ratio...at least that is my experience.
Click to expand...

For the V-types?

I'm able to get a completely silent feed, but it can be room dependant. I've done a lot of recordings even with the DI being my main feed and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
 
#739
Microbass said:
For the V-types?

I'm able to get a completely silent feed, but it can be room dependant. I've done a lot of recordings even with the DI being my main feed and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Click to expand...

Yes I have read several comments over the years that the V-Type DI's are not great. I haven't really give it a second though as I typically run a DI between my bass and amp.

If your DI works well :thumbsup:.
 
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