Trace Elliot is stepping up...By going small.....

[Ironbar]

That is nice.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

But that is my point - how much bigger would they have to make it? Can't be much. I get the "small is good" idea, but function over form and all that.

The point is it would need to be bigger, just to accomodate a connector type that not everyone particularly wants.

So unless they said they were designing the amp just for you, get used to the idea that fitting the amp in the model's jeans pocket was more important than including a - badly-designed - connector type.

I'm getting one of these... perfect as backup to my tube head (which uses jacks, incidentally).

 

[Hahaha]

Does it come with ears?

It should have little tiny handles on each side to make it easier for elves to carry.

 

[delta7fred]

My main amp has Speakon and my standby amp has a jack. Guess what, I carry speaker leads for both.

I also carry a spare Speakon lead for my main amp, spare guitar leads, mic leads, mic clips, mains leads, patch leads, tools, fuses, medical kit, etc so one short jack to Speakon isn't noticed in my leads case (but as always YMMV).

 

[Hahaha]

All the more reason to check your pants pockets before throwing them in the washing machine.
"Honey, have you seen my amp anywhere?"
"It's in the dryer."

 

[Downunderwonder]

View attachment 1041131
All the more reason to check your pants pockets before throwing them in the washing machine.
"Honey, have you seen my amp anywhere?"
"It's in the dryer."

It would get to the dryer too. Not enough mass to throw out the washer spin cycle.

 

[ctmullins]

It would get to the dryer too. Not enough mass to throw out the washer spin cycle.

But remember that it's only safe to use it with a low-wattage dryer, what with that 1/4" jack...

 

[Deleted member 165050]

But remember that it's only safe to use it with a low-wattage dryer, what with that 1/4" jack...

Tube watts or SS watts?

 

[bherman]

I'm waiting for the whining about no rack ears.

 

[Hahaha]

Oh no!! I left my amp in my other pants!!

 

[Tom Baker]

I don't really expect much for $299. The reason I'm not buying it is because I already have an amp. Amps are commodities. There are numerous good amps that are light and cheap. I don't carry a backup amp or a backup bass. Best case scenario I have a set of spare strings. I gig regularly but I don't gig for a living. maybe if my GK combo dies (unlikely) I would entertain it but there are so many options. Being a former (long time) trace elliot user I can't help but feel like it's not really filling that niche because there is no graphic EQ. I haven't delved far enough in to see if the classic pre-shape is there.

I might like an amp that fits in my pocket but I really don't care. I'm going to throw it in my gig bag and there many options at that size. Really the defining characteristic of this amp seems to be that it is green. Personally I prefer combo's so when will there be an ultralight 1x12 combo?

 

[Double E]

I don't carry a backup amp or a backup bass. Best case scenario I have a set of spare strings. I gig regularly but I don't gig for a living.

I gig for fun too... to me that is just as good a reason to carry a backup. I would hate to have my fun or other's fun spoiled because of equipment failure so I carry a backup bass and amp to just about every gig. Now, in many years of gigging, it's only come up once that I needed to use my backup amp but I came through a hero instead of a zero that night.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I'm waiting for the whining about no rack ears.

Yes what were they thinking of... no rack ears, no built-in tuner, no 1/3rd octave full-range graphic eq, no DSP with automatic room correction... so all you get is a little amp in its own bag. With jacks

 

[-Asdfgh-]

View attachment 1041131
All the more reason to check your pants pockets before throwing them in the washing machine.
"Honey, have you seen my amp anywhere?"
"It's in the dryer."

Is that an amp in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?

 

[delta7fred]

I don't carry a backup amp

I was like you for about 40 years, never carried a backup amp or needed one.

Then one night we were booked to play a generator powered gig and I threw an old Crate Poweblock (150W class D guitar amp) in my car "just in case". Good job I did because the generator voltage was way out of spec (180V instead of 230V) and my Peavey IPR1600 refused to power up (I don't blame it). I used the crappy Crate amp and our guitarist put his pedal board through my powered floor monitor because the low line voltage was biasing his tube amp way too hot.

Not the best sound that night but we got through it until the generator caught fire half way through the last set. The gig was cut short and we loaded out using tea lights and a cell phone flashlight app.

Now I never leave for a gig without my old Crate guitar amp.

 

[Daveshady]

For years I played my majority of gigs through my trusty Trace Elliot 1x15" combo amp, which I still have but has become too fragile for travelling. So I have been playing through a GK MB500 and a Genz Benz 4x10. So I am extremely stoked to see Trace Elliot coming out with a class D "pocket" size amp. Cannot wait to try one out and see if it can replicate the original Trace tone!!! And 200 watts should be plenty but would love to see them come out with a unit with a little more power...

 

[tombowlus]

Okay, folks. I was able to play the new Trace Elliot rig (in for review) at band practice tonight, and let me say, I was honestly impressed!

This rig was able to keep up with two guitarists (not terribly loud, but certainly not quiet), a medium-hitting drummer (only the kick was mic'd) and vocals through a full PA. I wasn't running it wide open, but I was certainly pushing it to probably 2/3 to 3/4 of its max volume. Those cabs really help. Not only do the cabs sound great, but the tall stack had great dispersion and got the drivers closer to my ears.

I have not had a chance to A/B the ELF to any of my older Trace Elliot heads, but I plan on doing so. Initial impressions are that it's not especially "Trace Elliot" sounding, but that it's also not way off base, either. The EQ seems predictable and competent. The overdrive was a bit touchy to use, as it is designed to only kick in when the Gain is pretty much maxed. As it turns out, the compressor also gets much more aggressive when you crank up the Gain, so it was hard to find a spot that had a good amount overdrive, but wasn't getting too squishy from the compressor. It also likes to feedback a bit when cranked all the way up. Just as I was about to shrug my shoulders and move on, though, I found a setting that worked really well. So, while it's not super adjustable (though you can change the nature of the overdrive quite a bit via the EQ), there are some usable overdriven tones lurking in there!

Once again, this overall stack was pretty impressive, but seeing as how I was dealing with 800w of power handling on the cab side of the equation (each 2x8 will handle 400w) and only pushing them with 200w from the head, I thought I'd try it with an 800w head. As it turns out, the Quilter Bass Block 800 fits just perfect, and sounds amazing!

The ELF head is quite impressive. While crazy small, it feels solid and substantial, and it performed beyond my expectations at practice. More to come, though...

The cabs, however, just may be "instant classics." I am not sure, but I am guessing that they have ceramic drivers, as they are not crazy light. However, given their small size, they are an easy carry. They feel very substantial, and employ 18mm ply, and 200w Faital drivers. At 8 ohms, each, they make a great 4-ohm load. The tone is definitely in the Trace Elliot wheel house. Plenty full, but not boomy, and plenty clear, but not harsh or brittle. This is my first time firing them up, but I am pretty darned excited about these cabs (and I get to play around with a lot of really nice gear).

Full reviews to come!

 

[Brad Johnson]

Speakon wouldn't fit...too wide. Use an adapter.

This. With power this low 1/4" or an adapter should be fine.

 

[Groovegestapo]

This. With power this low 1/4" or an adapter should be fine.

I used high powered TE SMX amps for yrs with 1/4 speaker outs and they worked just fine.

 

[McFarlin]

Okay, folks. I was able to play the new Trace Elliot rig (in for review) at band practice tonight, and let me say, I was honestly impressed!

This rig was able to keep up with two guitarists (not terribly loud, but certainly not quiet), a medium-hitting drummer (only the kick was mic'd) and vocals through a full PA. I wasn't running it wide open, but I was certainly pushing it to probably 2/3 to 3/4 of its max volume. Those cabs really help. Not only do the cabs sound great, but the tall stack had great dispersion and got the drivers closer to my ears.

I have not had a chance to A/B the ELF to any of my older Trace Elliot heads, but I plan on doing so. Initial impressions are that it's not especially "Trace Elliot" sounding, but that it's also not way off base, either. The EQ seems predictable and competent. The overdrive was a bit touchy to use, as it is designed to only kick in when the Gain is pretty much maxed. As it turns out, the compressor also gets much more aggressive when you crank up the Gain, so it was hard to find a spot that had a good amount overdrive, but wasn't getting too squishy from the compressor. It also likes to feedback a bit when cranked all the way up. Just as I was about to shrug my shoulders and move on, though, I found a setting that worked really well. So, while it's not super adjustable (though you can change the nature of the overdrive quite a bit via the EQ), there are some usable overdriven tones lurking in there!

Once again, this overall stack was pretty impressive, but seeing as how I was dealing with 800w of power handling on the cab side of the equation (each 2x8 will handle 400w) and only pushing them with 200w from the head, I thought I'd try it with an 800w head. As it turns out, the Quilter Bass Block 800 fits just perfect, and sounds amazing!

The ELF head is quite impressive. While crazy small, it feels solid and substantial, and it performed beyond my expectations at practice. More to come, though...

The cabs, however, just may be "instant classics." I am not sure, but I am guessing that they have ceramic drivers, as they are not crazy light. However, given their small size, they are an easy carry. They feel very substantial, and employ 18mm ply, and 200w Faital drivers. At 8 ohms, each, they make a great 4-ohm load. The tone is definitely in the Trace Elliot wheel house. Plenty full, but not boomy, and plenty clear, but not harsh or brittle. This is my first time firing them up, but I am pretty darned excited about these cabs (and I get to play around with a lot of really nice gear).

Full reviews to come!

I bet three of those 2x8 cabs would be nice under a 2-ohm capable micro.

The website says, "The 2x8 cab features two 8" Faitel drivers..." I'm thinking those knock-off drivers should go great with my Goochie amp carry bag.