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TRACE BASS CRAP...

#22
I love my trace elliot. I often play through an old warwick pro tube and an ampeg 8x10, and still prefer my old beat up 1x15.

and the absolutely best live tone I`ve heard was v6 + 4x10 + 1x15 - with a cheap, crappy bass that thing growled like mad, and had pently of warmth when needed.

the big difference between a trace sound and "normal" bass amp sound, is that it`s actually clear in the low end and has good midrange. also, the eq section is very, very powerfull - cut a bit of that midrange (300-600 or so) and I`m sure you will find a tone you like.

one more thing - a tone you think is ugly may sound really great in a band context. I`ve played numerous gigs with my trace, and heard nothing but complements about my tone (and complains about my time, but that`s another story;) - but that was after i`ve discovered that boosting lows and higs is not a good idea, despite the fact that it sounds "nicer" while practicing alone.
 
#23
addylewis said:
there is nothing wrong with my bass, I got a MIM jazz with hot pickups, compared to an american bass by my teacher, and I love the sound of it through almost every other amp I've tried - and I got 2 other jazzes which also sound good through my Kustom so...

Thanks for the advise on the EQ thing :) I'll have a bash and C if it makes it sound better... I still prefer the sound of my Kustom over almost everything I've tried though, so I think a Kustom rig or large combo would probably be a good alternative...they got more watts too!

I suppose it is all down to personal taste, and maybe the trace combo just isn't for me :D

I usually just have the EQ wih a kind of hump leaning more to the left and tailing off a lot near the high mid-treble.

If an amp has warmth it just gives it a nicer tone, I can't really explain it - it's like "Why do people prefer valves over trannies?" - to me it just sounds unexciting and sterile, I didn't know till just that trace did valve amps too, so I can't really comment on their valve sounds...

Just out of interest, tho here prefers a valve amp to a solid state?
Click to expand...
I prefer the valve sound for most of the music i play, altho SS is still good, just would lean towards the valve side, there is no was to get the true valve - SVT overdrive on a solid state amp
 
#24
addylewis said:
I suppose it is all down to personal taste, and maybe the trace combo just isn't for me
Click to expand...
Now you're getting the idea. Of course, it might help if you had a handle on the EQ.

addylewis said:
Just out of interest, tho here prefers a valve amp to a solid state?
Click to expand...
Both have their uses. Try this thread I picked up using the nifty search function: HERE
 
#25
Interesting. My trace is very warm ;) It's all Valve though, but I have always liked the SS Trace amps too.

It's personal preferance, but then again, you say Peavey? I've always found Trace warmer than most Peavey gear.

But seriously, making a thread title of 'TRACE BASS CRAP' and pretty much just flaming the company in your initial post, did you really expect to strike some intelligent conversations?
 
#26
addylewis said:
It's Kustom or peavey or vox for me all the way, as I say, maybe it is just my amp, and I didn't realise they did valve stuff too... :hiding:

and as for "LEARNING how to use the EQ" - WHAT THE f***?!?! - I have you know I'm doing a muso tech degree aproaching my final year, so I think I know when I can get a good sound out of the amp - and i'm sorry to say, I can't with my trace - unless I use a POD, but thats an extra 350 quid or whatever just to get decent tone like I'd expect with an amp. :mad:

My vox would be great with new valves, my Kustom 8-inch practice amp has 100 times more warmth then the trace, which just sounds flat and boring whatever I do to it o its own - I dunno if its perhaps the own brand speaker thats in it...what U reckon, could that be it?
Click to expand...
If your mastery of EQ is on par with that of your spelling and grammar, don't be too optimistic about getting a great sound out of your Peavey.

Edit: Oooops. Eight posts. Now it all becomes clear. You might want to bring down the testosterone fader just a skosh. You're just a pup around here.
 
#27
I like my trace quite a bit.
It seems as though I am capable of getting any sort of sound I need out of it. I am curious as to others perceptions of the "trace sound", as many people seem to think they have a distinct colour to them.
 
#29
Tash said:
I don't like Trace, but for exactly the opposite reason. I could never get mine to sound clear enough, it was alway muddy and soft.

That's just personal preference, I am a fiend for crisp, clean ringing bass tones.
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As I am the anti-Tash ;) I have to disagree with Tash as usual. :D Tash, you are definately the only one that I know of that has ever called Trace stuff "muddy and soft."

My SMX series head is very clear yet still has a nice but not overbearing warmth. Even my QuatraValve is tight but with more warmth than the SMX. Neither are muddy (IMO) like Ampeg or sterile like SWR. They fall somewhere in the middle.

As always, everything is subjective. One mans warmth is another mans mud.
 
#30
addylewis said:
there is nothing wrong with my bass, I got a MIM jazz with hot pickups, compared to an american bass by my teacher, and I love the sound of it through almost every other amp I've tried - and I got 2 other jazzes which also sound good through my Kustom so...

Thanks for the advise on the EQ thing :) I'll have a bash and C if it makes it sound better... I still prefer the sound of my Kustom over almost everything I've tried though, so I think a Kustom rig or large combo would probably be a good alternative...they got more watts too!

I suppose it is all down to personal taste, and maybe the trace combo just isn't for me :D

I usually just have the EQ wih a kind of hump leaning more to the left and tailing off a lot near the high mid-treble.

If an amp has warmth it just gives it a nicer tone, I can't really explain it - it's like "Why do people prefer valves over trannies?" - to me it just sounds unexciting and sterile, I didn't know till just that trace did valve amps too, so I can't really comment on their valve sounds...

Just out of interest, tho here prefers a valve amp to a solid state?
Click to expand...

Not to sound like a jerk, but we are supposed to believe you have a degree in anything related to music and that's your method for great EQing?

And sorry Kelly, I gotta agree with Tash, I've heard a few 4x10's and a 1x15 and they all had a muddy almost overdrive sound to them. Very musical I think, they were all used by death metal bassists so it could have been the EQing, but that's the tone I associate with those cabs...
 
#31
haujobb said:
And sorry Kelly, I gotta agree with Tash, I've heard a few 4x10's and a 1x15 and they all had a muddy almost overdrive sound to them. Very musical I think, they were all used by death metal bassists so it could have been the EQing, but that's the tone I associate with those cabs...
Click to expand...
I was really only talking about the heads, not the cabs. However, I think the cabs are very versatile like the heads. You can get them muddy/fuzzy if you try to. I imagine the death metal guys you heard definately have them EQed that way. Hell, they might even be running some effects as well. I have my rig (RAH350SMX and 215 cab) EQed pretty flat and my tone is really tight. (BTW, I only have Trace 15's)

Here is how I have my EQ set if it helps the original poster or anyone else that might care:
30hz - down 3db
40hz - down 1.5db
60hz - flat
100hz - flat
180hz - flat
340hz - flat
660hz - down 1.5db
1.3 khz - down 3db
2.6 khz - down 1.5db
5, 10 khz - flat
15 khz - down 3db
 
#32
popinfresh said:
Interesting. My trace is very warm ;) It's all Valve though, but I have always liked the SS Trace amps too.

It's personal preferance, but then again, you say Peavey? I've always found Trace warmer than most Peavey gear.

But seriously, making a thread title of 'TRACE BASS CRAP' and pretty much just flaming the company in your initial post, did you really expect to strike some intelligent conversations?
Click to expand...
Not jumping to this guys side, but i find my firebass700 + peavey 410 cab is warmer and just place nicer sounding than the trace head (ill find out at some point what it was, it was solid state, probably about 300 watts (tops) and it had the neon lights (well, they just didnt work)) through a trace 410

But as i said before, i dont think that amp is exactly a prime example of trace equiment

And shame on you lot for dissing a Peavey, for shame :scowl:

And first impressions are always important eh :smug: dont think he'll be round here long
 
#33
i_got_a_mohawk said:
Not jumping to this guys side, but i find my firebass700 + peavey 410 cab is warmer and just place nicer sounding than the trace head (ill find out at some point what it was, it was solid state, probably about 300 watts (tops) and it had the neon lights (well, they just didnt work)) through a trace 410

But as i said before, i dont think that amp is exactly a prime example of trace equiment

And shame on you lot for dissing a Peavey, for shame :scowl:

And first impressions are always important eh :smug: dont think he'll be round here long
Click to expand...

That's why I said MOST ;) I like the Firebass amp, and i've always thought Peavey as really reliable gear that sounds descent, not trying to diss them at all :)

I just think a nice Trace amp with a different cab, is a really nice combination.
 
#34
popinfresh said:
That's why I said MOST ;) I like the Firebass amp, and i've always thought Peavey as really reliable gear that sounds descent, not trying to diss them at all :)

I just think a nice Trace amp with a different cab, is a really nice combination.
Click to expand...
good stuff ;)

never tried a decent trace amp with a decent cab of any sorts, as i said, shall have to try some out sometime
 
#36
Did I say that was my method of GREAT eq-ing? No...

I just said thats the closest I can get to the sound I like (Mowtown-esque) with a much over-rated brand of amp.

Hell, my 70's vox V125 could p*** all over the Trace in terms of quality of sound - and WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT MY SPELLING & GRAMMAR???! (It's just not got anything to do with the matter - seems like your having a go at me personally simply because we disagree over amps...I mean COME ON :eyebrow: , if we were disagreeing about BASSES I'd understand but...) :rolleyes:
 
#38
addylewis said:
Did I say that was my method of GREAT eq-ing? No...

I just said thats the closest I can get to the sound I like (Mowtown-esque) with a much over-rated brand of amp.

Hell, my 70's vox V125 could p*** all over the Trace in terms of quality of sound - and WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT MY SPELLING & GRAMMAR???! (It's just not got anything to do with the matter - seems like your having a go at me personally simply because we disagree over amps...I mean COME ON :eyebrow: , if we were disagreeing about BASSES I'd understand but...) :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I think the problem here is that you've started off by flaming an amp that's generally well thought of in these parts by way of introduction...then proceeded to back it up by name checking Vox, Peavey, and Kustom...3 amp choices not generally known for their stellar tone.

On the spelling and grammar thing, well...at least you didn't type in ALL CAPS or AlTeRnAtInG lettering. The fact is, proper spelling and grammar are good habits on a message board, where the only way people can get a handle on who you are is by your writing.
 
#40
addylewis said:
- seems like your having a go at me personally simply because we disagree over amps...I mean COME ON :eyebrow: , if we were disagreeing about BASSES I'd understand but...) :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
The reason people are "having a go" at you is not about disagreeing about amps but rather you having a whopping 10 post, you just joined 6-1-05, and your sweeping statement that Trace Elliot sucks and is highly overated. I quote:
Hell, my 70's vox V125 could p*** all over the Trace in terms of quality of sound...
I just said thats the closest I can get to the sound I like (Mowtown-esque) with a much over-rated brand of amp.
Click to expand...
Basically you are saying that anyone who likes Trace is wrong and you are right! Obviously YOU know better than US. Thats what you are saying. Maybe you can't get "your" Motown sound out of it but that doesn't imply that I can't.

Sound quality? Please, In my opinion Trace absolutely kills Peavey, Kustom, or Vox. Does that make you wrong that you don't like Trace Elliot? :eyebrow:

Overated? Maybe in your opinion but not mine. If you don't like it so much then sell it. Problem solved with the Trace.

Why even start a thread bashing a specific brand of equipment? If you wanted to alienate people then, your on your way. Thats the stuff trolls do. Are you a troll?

Anyways, like I said, sell it. You don't like it and you obviously already have your mind made up that it can't do what you want so sell it!

Danomite64, Fender never owned Trace, Gibson did.
 

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