Hi Michael, aka pvbassfan. First of all, thank you so much for checking in. This is one thing I love about Talkbass. We get to talk with the guys at the top and all across the board here. The horse's mouth, so to speak.
I was a true Trace Elliot freak back in the 1990's. I was one of the few players here in Sonoma / Marin county who had not one but two Trace Elliots on stage. I had two AH 150's . One for me, and one for the drummer and guitar player to hear me. It was great, plus I used a stereo chorus, so it was really phat sounding.
My tone was definitive Mark King tone. That was the coveted tone that seemed unachievable to most, but I had it and gained the respect of all my peers and needless to say, I was in awe myself every time I heard my own tone. I had the cutting edge tone.
Now, I wouldn't ever own Trace Elliot. I have tried to capture lightning in a bottle and bought some older 1980's AH350's, AH500's and so on. They were all way too tired. They hissed, and just were no good. I understood what "dated tone" meant. I have always thought good tone is good tone and good tone is timeless. As far as old Level 42 goes, yes, it will ALWAYS sound good. But, for me, the honeymoon is over and I've moved on.
As far as the Peavey owned Trace Elliot goes like the new Trace Elliot AH1000 goes, I don't like them one bit. They sound sterile, boring, and beginner-ish. There is no edge to it and the "classic Trace Elliot mid scoop" is gone. Even though the button is still on the front panel, it doesn't at all sound like how I would want it to sound.
And, as far as people wanting to see Trace Elliot come out with class D stuff goes, I am not a fan. Yes, I see how the younger generation who grew up with class D like it and I certainly won't argue with the easy portability of it, but I hate the tone of class D stuff. I will never play it. Class D makes you work twice as hard for every single note. I am exhausted after only one song ! There is no substitute for the tone of a good old iron transformer. Sure it weighs more, but it is worth every sweat dropped while carrying it to the stage. I am 46 now and I HATE carrying gear. I have a dolly and I roll all my gear. My main rig is a Mesa Walkabout head and whatever cab I feel like using that day. A=t only 13 lbs, and a real iron transformer, it's a win-win.
So, I am being as honest as I can because anything less would be disrespectful to you. Let me also say that I am a HUGE Peavey fan and I own all Peavey Cirrus basses and Garz custom boutique basses. Peavey makes THE BEST production basses on the planet. USA models, of course. I don't even consider the Indonesian models to be real Peavey's but a copy of a Peavey. I also love Peavey bass amps. I've owned them all at one time or another.
So, in conclusion, "what's missing from the new that was in the old" is mojo. There was a magic to the old Trace stuff that I just don't see in the newer stuff. The old stuff was boutique, top of the line before SWR even existed. When I worked at Guitar Center in the 80's the older guys used to call it "Try Sellin' it" due to the hefty price tag. But, we all knew sporting a Trace rig then meant you were a big deal. Now, I see Trace Elliot as a competitor with Behringer and that's SAD.
Added 4/23/15 - I did own an AH 250 SMX about 7 years ago and it was KILLER. I loved everything about it. That was the last of the Mohicans, so to speak. I think the SMX line was the last amp that still had the old mojo and new technology. The tube / ss blend was stellar, as were the compression, and hi and low shelving. Now, THAT was an amp and I wouldn't be against owning one of those again but they are hard to find.
I was a true Trace Elliot freak back in the 1990's. I was one of the few players here in Sonoma / Marin county who had not one but two Trace Elliots on stage. I had two AH 150's . One for me, and one for the drummer and guitar player to hear me. It was great, plus I used a stereo chorus, so it was really phat sounding.
My tone was definitive Mark King tone. That was the coveted tone that seemed unachievable to most, but I had it and gained the respect of all my peers and needless to say, I was in awe myself every time I heard my own tone. I had the cutting edge tone.
Now, I wouldn't ever own Trace Elliot. I have tried to capture lightning in a bottle and bought some older 1980's AH350's, AH500's and so on. They were all way too tired. They hissed, and just were no good. I understood what "dated tone" meant. I have always thought good tone is good tone and good tone is timeless. As far as old Level 42 goes, yes, it will ALWAYS sound good. But, for me, the honeymoon is over and I've moved on.
As far as the Peavey owned Trace Elliot goes like the new Trace Elliot AH1000 goes, I don't like them one bit. They sound sterile, boring, and beginner-ish. There is no edge to it and the "classic Trace Elliot mid scoop" is gone. Even though the button is still on the front panel, it doesn't at all sound like how I would want it to sound.
And, as far as people wanting to see Trace Elliot come out with class D stuff goes, I am not a fan. Yes, I see how the younger generation who grew up with class D like it and I certainly won't argue with the easy portability of it, but I hate the tone of class D stuff. I will never play it. Class D makes you work twice as hard for every single note. I am exhausted after only one song ! There is no substitute for the tone of a good old iron transformer. Sure it weighs more, but it is worth every sweat dropped while carrying it to the stage. I am 46 now and I HATE carrying gear. I have a dolly and I roll all my gear. My main rig is a Mesa Walkabout head and whatever cab I feel like using that day. A=t only 13 lbs, and a real iron transformer, it's a win-win.
So, I am being as honest as I can because anything less would be disrespectful to you. Let me also say that I am a HUGE Peavey fan and I own all Peavey Cirrus basses and Garz custom boutique basses. Peavey makes THE BEST production basses on the planet. USA models, of course. I don't even consider the Indonesian models to be real Peavey's but a copy of a Peavey. I also love Peavey bass amps. I've owned them all at one time or another.
So, in conclusion, "what's missing from the new that was in the old" is mojo. There was a magic to the old Trace stuff that I just don't see in the newer stuff. The old stuff was boutique, top of the line before SWR even existed. When I worked at Guitar Center in the 80's the older guys used to call it "Try Sellin' it" due to the hefty price tag. But, we all knew sporting a Trace rig then meant you were a big deal. Now, I see Trace Elliot as a competitor with Behringer and that's SAD.
Added 4/23/15 - I did own an AH 250 SMX about 7 years ago and it was KILLER. I loved everything about it. That was the last of the Mohicans, so to speak. I think the SMX line was the last amp that still had the old mojo and new technology. The tube / ss blend was stellar, as were the compression, and hi and low shelving. Now, THAT was an amp and I wouldn't be against owning one of those again but they are hard to find.
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It's great to have options.
