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Trace Elliot GP12 SMX 1215 Combo

mldavis

mldavis

Guest
Jul 22, 2013
133
23
South Wales, UK
#1
Hi folks

Anybody had one of these? Just wondering how they’d compare to something more modern, like an Ashdown ABM or Fender Rumble?

It would be used for small to medium size venues and wonder how it would hold up.

There’s one being sold local to me and I have messaged to see if I can go and try it out, but would be good to hear the thoughts from anyone who has one of these or previously owned one.

Cheers

Martin
 
#2
If I was looking for the sound of the GP12 SMX preamp I wouldn't ask a question for any other amp.

If you are not familar with the sound of a distinct amplifier its a good idea to check it out first.

I like the GP12 SMX sound very much but also like different sounds such as the svt sound. It does not mean these sounds meat your cup of tea.
 
#4
I just picked these up about a week ago and couldn’t be happier. It’s got its own character for sure. To me it hits a spot somewhere between Ampeg and GK but definitely its own thing. And don’t be fooled—the power rating is deceptively conservative. It gets thunderously loud.

16688AF1-80F5-4390-8DA5-590BE9179650.jpeg
 
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#7
I probably worded that poorly. Not tubey like Ampeg or harsh/hi fi like GK, just its own beast. I use an Ashdown Spyder for band practice, and I’d say it and the TE are in the same neighborhood. Both are great pedal platforms, which is key for me.
 
#9
Keep in mind the one he is looking at is Peavey not the old Trace SMX. You don't hear much about the Peavey Trace until they got with the Elf / Transit programme.

Edit. Seems advertiser must have mixed it up for OP. It's a 90's one after all!
 
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#11
Downunderwonder said:
Keep in mind the one he is looking at is Peavey not the old Trace SMX. You don't hear much about the Peavey Trace until they got with the Elf / Transit programme.
Click to expand...

Never mind then. My experience was with an old green rat fur amp. I don't miss carrying it after a gig, but loved it when on stage.
 
#12
I have no experience with the combo, but did own a TE amp with 4x10, 1x15 cabs. It was LOUD, and it was HEAVY, but somehow I couldn't get the sound I wanted, although I played it for years.
Sold it, and bought an Ashdown ABM EVO II C575 combo, with an C115 extra cab. Loud a.f., even louder than the Trace, and yes, both were/are Mark Gooday products. But the Ashdown is way more versatile and punchier in my humble opinion. If I had to choose again, not a single second in doubt: the Ashdown is the way to go. For me, that is.
 
#13
Gerben said:
I have no experience with the combo, but did own a TE amp with 4x10, 1x15 cabs. It was LOUD, and it was HEAVY, but somehow I couldn't get the sound I wanted, although I played it for years.
Sold it, and bought an Ashdown ABM EVO II C575 combo, with an C115 extra cab. Loud a.f., even louder than the Trace, and yes, both were/are Mark Gooday products. But the Ashdown is way more versatile and punchier in my humble opinion. If I had to choose again, not a single second in doubt: the Ashdown is the way to go. For me, that is.
Click to expand...

I was a Trace user and decided a combo was the way to go and sold it for an Ashdown and was very disappointed with the tone which I felt was somewhat muddy. It got wrecked when I sold it so I ended up with the amp part back and I wish I knew what I did with it as it was pretty reasonable as a preamp and I suspect it was the speaker cab letting it down. It was a 1x15 but I use 1x15s now from TecAmp and they aren't muddy at all.
 
#14
Friend of mine uses this combo with double bass (and fretless bassguitar). He's got an ordinary plywood bass, realist pickup, no preamp; I'm always surprised how great he sounds. The only setback is that the combo is really heavy; he cut the head off and made it head+box to ease the transport.
 
#15
Thanks for the responses guys, some great feedback shared!

The one I’m looking at is a 90s amp with carpet type cloth. It looks immaculate and the owner has had it from new and I’m hopefully going to try it out over the next few days.

My main question is, will this be loud enough for medium size gigs? We will typically be going through a PA so I’m guessing it will be fine.
 
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#17
My experience over the decades of playing rock and funk music told me that a 115 did rarely fit my "volume" needs on stage .
Can't remember I ever played this music genre without PA support.

The last time I played a backline 115 combo on a "noisy" stage (it was a couple of years ago) and also had PA support I did wish to have an extension cab.

Sometimes a 115 combo/cab is loud enough, sometimes its not. As usual it all depends.

btw, it might be benefical with the TE combo that there is no HT device present thus the power amp can (likely) be pushed a little harder without getting (nasty) distortion artifacts.
 
#18
jj.833 said:
Friend of mine uses this combo with double bass (and fretless bassguitar). He's got an ordinary plywood bass, realist pickup, no preamp; I'm always surprised how great he sounds. The only setback is that the combo is really heavy; he cut the head off and made it head+box to ease the transport.
Click to expand...

When I had a TE combo I popped the head out and built a box for it. With an extension cab it was heavy overall. Then I got a more powerful head and 2x10 that was even heavier. So now I'm dedicated to light 1x15s as the speaker area is similar but they weigh less
 
#19
mldavis said:
Thanks for the responses guys, some great feedback shared!

The one I’m looking at is a 90s amp with carpet type cloth. It looks immaculate and the owner has had it from new and I’m hopefully going to try it out over the next few days.

My main question is, will this be loud enough for medium size gigs? We will typically be going through a PA so I’m guessing it will be fine.
Click to expand...
So not a Peavey one. Most likely similar to the one pictured in the stack above but carpeted. Plenty loud for a monitor and will handle not so loud bar gigs with vocal PA.
 
#20
Well I bought the amp and must say, I’m really impressed with it.

Firstly, it’s in fantastic condition for it age and the previous owner said it hasn’t been played much which I believe is true upon closer inspection.

I haven’t played with the EQ much yet, but the volume of this amp is incredible! I now know what people mean when the say ‘trace watts’.

Does anybody have an EQ setting that they like which they could share?

Pic attached.
 

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