Thoughts on the Elf

[themickster]

The Elf head is 200w @ 8 ohms and 130 @ 8. The speakers are all 8 ohms. The 1x10 is 300w; the 2x8 is 400. That makes for a waste of what the speakers could. Trace could build a head that run 200-250w @ 8 ohms and 300+ at 4. It could have the same width and depth as the head and therefor fit into the tray on the speakers. I would have bought it with a 2x8. The Markbass 500w head would go well with the Elf 2x8.

 

[Mushroo]

Let us know how it goes with the Markbass 500w! I've heard good results of users using non-ELF heads into a pair of the 2x8 ELF cabinets. I remember seeing a photo somewhere of a Quilter 800 on top of a Trace 4x8 stack, it was a cute & compact rig.

 

[Redbrangus]

IMHO if you have to ask "will this be loud enough?" then the ELF stack is the wrong tool for the job.

+1

 

[themickster]

I already have Markbass 121P combo and matching speaker. I was only thinking aloud about the Elf. As soon as I found out about MB, I put thoughts of buying Elves aside.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I had to stop even considering the Elf, because I play with the Gain up high & then the volume is too much, just cracking the volume knob is LOUD when the Gain is up.

 

[Hummergeist]

I had to stop even considering the Elf, because I play with the Gain up high & then the volume is too much, just cracking the volume knob is LOUD when the Gain is up.

yes it's true, just the slightest touch. Boosting the gain works great if you're not using a cab, because it starts to trigger the compressor, but yeah very sensitive controls and no matter what I do, they always seem to be in a different position every day.

 

[themickster]

I don't know if it's an Elf thing, but the one I borrowed at a gig came in suddenly on the level. Nothing until 1ish and wham right in there. Am I being cynical by saying that the main thought was making it tiny?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

There were obviously compromises made when designing it, even the output jack, which should actually be a SpeakON, but those take up space.

 

[Redbrangus]

I think it's safe to say that the form factor is a big part of the appeal, and was probably pretty high on the list of design criteria. Realistically, how many folks would buy one if they were as big as a cigar box instead of a couple of packs of cigs?

 

[jeffb28451]

Mine sounded good, esp with. Transit B in front, but lots of compromises...too many. Those cited, among others.

 

[rysker6]

I love my 2x8, I have it paired with a DarkGlass

 

[themickster]

I would have gone for an Elf, if it matched up to the Markbass better. I might still get one to have as a tweeter box.

 

[themickster]

I love my 2x8, I have it paired with a DarkGlass

Which one is it?

 

[Downunderwonder]

Lots of people buy the Elf and rock it.

The rest complain it would be perfect if it was bigger.

They could come each with a model like they used in the initial promo and some would complain she wasn't blonde.

 

[KJMO]

Yeah, it's called an Elf. The priority is small, and what else is that small? When you optimize one thing, you have to give up others. If the amp is enough power, it works well with the speakers (you can't really put 300w into one 10" speaker anyway), and if you need more, you can still use the speakers. I think that was the best way to do it, frankly.

 

[Strung_Low]

 

[Audiomicrowave]

I bought the Elf head and 1x10 cabinet last fall, as a lightweight replacement for an older Fender Bassman 60. The Fender served me well, but just got too heavy as I got older.
The Elf has exceeded all my expectations. When using it as a small combo during practice, I've never had to turn it up over halfway. Same when playing smaller outdoor gigs. Everyone has been amazed by the output from this tiny package. When playing larger gigs, I was able to use the head with my 4x10 Ampeg cabinet, and it held it's own...looked silly, though. It's a relief to have a backup in case my GK head dies in the middle of a gig. I think my next step will be to order an additional 1x10 cabinet to bridge the gap from my 1x10 to my 4x10.

 

[micguy]

The Elf head is 200w @ 8 ohms and 130 @ 8. The speakers are all 8 ohms. The 1x10 is 300w; the 2x8 is 400. That makes for a waste of what the speakers could.

Power ratings aren't as simple as you might think. The speakers are probably rated on an intermittent thermal basis. The head, if you cranked it up and played a bunch of low notes for a while, might actually be more than those little speakers can handle.

 

[micguy]

IWhen using it as a small combo during practice, I've never had to turn it up over halfway.

What that means is it has more gain than you need. The power than an amp is putting out (or the headroom it has left) is not something you can deduce from knob positions*. Most amps will, with most basses, and playing hard, run out of power (clip) long before the gain knob is all the way up. Manufacturers taper their gain controls in part to give users the (unfortunately flase) impression that the ELF gave you - that's it "powerful". The tradeoff is that the gain is less controllable, as the top end of the gain control is usually not usable.

* For more on this topic, see Spinal Tap's "11" scene

 

[Downunderwonder]

TomB can put a Quilter 800 into two of the 208 Elf cabs and give the knobs a good workout. I'd say those cabs are rated as well as any.