• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Trace Elliot V-type Club!!

#881
Microbass said:
Definitely proceed with caution. Super rare and great amps, get a pro to look it over.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I chalk it up to faulty wiring in the venue, the place is old and needs major updating but being the shady place it is, that's not about to happen. Both the Trace Elliot and my main amp, A Mesa 400+ blew fuses that night. The Mesa is working fine after replacing the fuse. I'll see how this one does and go from there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Microbass
#882
Early Version of V-Type V4 (Deep and Bright Switches Reversed Compared to Later Models) And It's Matching 1248H Cabinet.
 

Attachments

  • early_vtype_resized.png
    early_vtype_resized.png
    10.8 MB · Views: 31
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: boamedt, Microbass, bonin in the boneyard and 1 other person
#885
I bought the head and speaker as a set from Midwest Music in Cincinnati when I lived there in the 90s. Rusty the sales guy said it was a demo from Trace Elliot. That's all I know, I didn't think to ask any more questions at the time. I wish I had. It may have an interesting background. It was manufactured in'95 and has serial number T601-0051-195. That makes it number 51 in first quarter of 95.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex
#886
Ed Brown said:
I bought the head and speaker as a set from Midwest Music in Cincinnati when I lived there in the 90s. Rusty the sales guy said it was a demo from Trace Elliot. That's all I know, I didn't think to ask any more questions at the time. I wish I had. It may have an interesting background. It was manufactured in'95 and has serial number T601-0051-195. That makes it number 51 in first quarter of 95.
Click to expand...


Sounds like it may be a preproduction model.

This is what the regular guts look like. As you can see the switches are wired directly to the preamp circuit card. Does yours have a hand-wired preamp or a different circuit card?
1731369945443.jpeg


AFAIK, the V6 used the same exact cards, with a few extra components stuffed on the output card to service two additional tubes.
1731370194494.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: bonin in the boneyard
#887
Don't hate me. I've never even looked at the chassis when it's been out for service! I just had it completely gone through this spring too. Next time I have it in, which might be next summer, I'll ask my guy to snap a few pictures. I wish I could answer your question. While we were talking I noticed that ground and lift are also flipped upside down the DI.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex
#889
El Negro Gato said:
Wanted:bassist:-1990's Trace Elliot V-Type V4 bass guitar amplifier.The V-Type V4 is powered by four KT88's valve power tubes. These are configured for grid biased View attachment 1069453 CLASS A/B.This is the traditional arrangement for a high powered amplifier of this type, to efficiently produce approximately 200 watts rms with the valves supplied at the rated nominal mains input voltage.:woot:
Click to expand...

Greetings good man,
I hope you are well.
it has been a few seasons since you posted the "Wanted" - here is your chance to make a dream come true:
https://reverb.com/item/57780573-tr...-tube-v-4-type-80s-90s-green-tolex-and-carpet

Best of Luck
 
  • Like
Reactions: boamedt
#891
golower said:
Was wondering about the V type preamp? How do you like that?
Click to expand...

I truly love it. I am not sure what specific details make it different from other "Fender tone stack" preamps, but it seems the most similar to the Alembic F-1X (which I used to own and regard in high esteem), but I preferred the V Type preamp, and sold my F-1X. If you are familiar with the Fender tone stack and what it can (and can't) do, the V Type preamp is one of my personal favorite iterations.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jugghaid, Wasnex and golower
#892
tombowlus said:
I truly love it. I am not sure what specific details make it different from other "Fender tone stack" preamps, but it seems the most similar to the Alembic F-1X (which I used to own and regard in high esteem), but I preferred the V Type preamp, and sold my F-1X. If you are familiar with the Fender tone stack and what it can (and can't) do, the V Type preamp is one of my personal favorite iterations.
Click to expand...
I just purchased an RAH250SMX after abandoning it back in 1996. Really digging the Trace GP12SMX tone again after all these years. Wanted that tube input. I used to play one with two Trace 4-10 cabs using a Stingray5. That was a beautiful thing. Looking to maybe purchase a V type. Send me a tone sample of your Vtype if you would. There are no videos on the internet of them that I can find. Probably because they are a rare bird.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1185.jpeg
    IMG_1185.jpeg
    3.7 MB · Views: 15
  • Like
Reactions: bonin in the boneyard
#894
golower said:
I just purchased an RAH250SMX after abandoning it back in 1996. Really digging the Trace GP12SMX tone again after all these years. Wanted that tube input. I used to play one with two Trace 4-10 cabs using a Stingray5. That was a beautiful thing. Looking to maybe purchase a V type. Send me a tone sample of your Vtype if you would. There are no videos on the internet of them that I can find. Probably because they are a rare bird.
Click to expand...

The V-Type is voiced different than the solid state TE preamps. The same preamp circuit is used in all of the original V-Types. This included the preamp, hybrid, the V-Type head, the V4, and the V6. I call these Mk1 V-Types. The later Mk2 V4 and V8 added a switching OD circuit and a compressor.

This video features the V-Type head. Lot's of talking and a short demo:

The Mk1s are a bit more mid-scooped than Mk2s with glassy highs and big focused lows. The Mk2s are less mid scooped with leaner, looser lows, but a bit more transparency. Too my ears the Mk2s have more of a rock sound.

All V-Types use a Fender tone stack with a few extra components added to form the Mid shift and Deep circuits. The Mid shift varies the upper cutoff frequency of the bass control. With the control pulled, the cutoff is moved further into the mids.

I would say the voicing is in the Fender tone universe, but not dead center. The Orange AD200B is much closer to the center.

Amps like the Sadowksy SA200, Aguilar DB359, Mesa D180, 400, and 400+ are different flavors in the Fender tone universe. None of them sound exactly like the V-Type.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LilacEnrgy, bonin in the boneyard and tombowlus
#895
tombowlus said:
I truly love it. I am not sure what specific details make it different from other "Fender tone stack" preamps, but it seems the most similar to the Alembic F-1X (which I used to own and regard in high esteem), but I preferred the V Type preamp, and sold my F-1X. If you are familiar with the Fender tone stack and what it can (and can't) do, the V Type preamp is one of my personal favorite iterations.
Click to expand...
It's my favorite preamp as well. And my standard for recording basically any type of music. Super versatile.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tombowlus
#898
Wasnex said:
IMHO $900 is a pretty decent price...but local pickup only.

This handle is the closest match to the OEM handle I have found.

Penn Elcom H1000-PE1 ($32)
View attachment 7185561
View attachment 7185563
Click to expand...
Yeah, the price is definitely good. And I get not wanting to ship. It's a pain. Someone in the area should snag it though. It's only 3 hours from Boston.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex
#899
I just picked up a V4 Mk1 from Reverb. Looking forward to getting this in. There's barely any clips out there so I've been wanting to try one of the all tube V-Types in person for a while now. Since it's based on a Fender tone stack I don't see why I wouldn't like it.

One piece that's eluded me is if you can get some decent overdrive tones from the preamp?

Borrowing a listing pic for now...

1763398221336.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kristjankisi, LilacEnrgy and Wasnex

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back