Trace Elliot heads - which ones are the gems?

[GeoffByrne]

I have an Ashdown MAG and play through a Trace G7 at practice and they sound & EQ completely differently.

I'm becoming a Trace convert.

 

[Bassflute]

I have a GP12X preamp that I absolutely love.

I really like Eden stuff, and just haven't been able to get my hands on one. So, comparing the trace to the Eden, I think the trace is every bit as good as the Eden, and gets the sound I was looking for out of the eden. With a 12 band EQ section, I can get nearly everything I want.

BTW, Mine is a 1989 made one.

Having owned both, the Trace wins in pretty much every respect.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[Bassmec]

For what its worth, I talked to a British audio service tech, and he said nothing really changed when Gibson took over. He said the the same techs that built the old Traces were building the new ones.

Yup I should think that Alfred Hitchcock might have had just as much of
shock as Essex Constabulary had the bulk of Maldon Towns residents
suddenly disappeared only to be replaced with entirely new people overnight clocking in, Spooky!

 

[Krügmeister]

I had a 1986 AH350X and I also had a 08 AH1000-12 and I think they were both brutes and had tone in spades.
The new AH1000-12 is an awesome but HEAVEY amp and very well built.
I used my AH350 for 20+ years and it is still going strong.

 

[OxJohnson]

I have a '95 AH250RMX (I actually think that it started life in a combo... but I dunno). The thing kills, but I never get around to playing it. I will probably never sell it, it is that good... now I think that I am going to have to go hook it up... thanks guys .

BTW, Through my '70s Peavey 212, there is no better lo-fi old school sound that I have found!

Ox.

 

[Kelly Lee]

There is nothing wrong at all with the Gibson era Trace heads. I think this myth got perpetuated due to the timing of the internet really taking off and people being able to communicate more. In '98 the net was really booming and who owned Trace at that time? Gibson.

Now, if I can only find me a Gibson era AH1000-12 with the foot controller I will be a very happy man!

 

[mvw356]

There is nothing wrong at all with the Gibson era Trace heads. I think this myth got perpetuated due to the timing of the internet really taking off and people being able to communicate more. In '98 the net was really booming and who owned Trace at that time? Gibson.

Now, if I can only find me a Gibson era AH1000-12 with the foot controller I will be a very happy man!

yeah i second that. the v series which is highly regarded, especially the V8, were made by Gibson.

 

[hasbeen]

I was affiliated with Trace back in the early 90's. It as commonly discussed around the office that our reliability issues came about when we came out with the SMX series.

Many also thought the pre-SMX sounded thicker, fatter ...growlier.

 

[Microbass]

Trace ftw.

My v4 is the greatest amp ever. I love my gp12smx, but i EQ'dd like crazy... I never believed that the perfect set up was plug and play. My V4 is exactly that with sometimes a little mid-adjustment to cut through.

I also bought an SMX compressor pedal... haven't properly tried it through the v4 yet tho!

The new trace gear looks and sounds great imo; the new compressor isn't as nice as the old school SMX! So when are the new V-series coming out???

 

[Bigbri]

V-type All tube heads The v-type (earlier V4 all tube version), V4, V6, and the illustrious V8. But good luck finding any one of them. No seriously good luck, these are the ones you want.

I read the V6 was the first and only version. The V4 came later as a less expensive head, and the V8 as the top of the line model at 100 heads doesn't really exist for most people. 1000 V6's were made and comming across mine was just pure luck.

 

[Bigbri]

I use an AH-300 and a AH-500x. I have to worry about being too loud.

I had an AH500X too. 2x250 watts in bi-amp, stereo or whatever. It was the amp that got me to sell my SVT.

 

[Bigbri]

I hear everyone complain about cabs being contructed with MDF. Personally, I prefer it over plywood.

It is a lot heavier but it also doesn't resonate like plywood. I think the sound quality is worth it. MDF, for any given thickness, is denser than a plywood of the same thickness. I admit it can't handle being rained on repeatedly like a good plywood can but who in the he!! leaves their cab in the rain that long?

I carry a huge 10sp rack along with my 215, 115, Bright Box, and atleast two basses to every gig. I guess the weight just doesn't bother me yet. Maybe when I get in my 40's or 50's I might think deffirently about the weight. Maybe...


I have a QuatraValve. It is my favorite Trace Elliot head. It's 200 watts are plenty for just about anything IMO.

If you like old school sound then this is probably not the amp for you. Yes, it is tube. Yes, it is warmer than a SS amp. However, it is basically like a tube version of a Series 6 SS head. It has a traditional Trace tone that is sweetened by them glowing tubes. It is a very clean sound unlike a V8 or vintage Ampeg SVT.

The main complaints when I had my AH500X were that it is "sterile" and the Ampeg SVT had "10% distortion." The quatraValves were I guess, something in between.

 

[nocalkind]

+1 for the AH400SMX. It's been a tank for me since I got it in 1994. As mentioned, the tube input blend, eq, and 2 band compressor are all top notch. I've gigged it extensively over the years and have never had any complaints.