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Trace Elliot, then and now.

#61
After commenting on this thread I decided to check Craigslist and stumbled upon an utterly pristine GP12 SMX 2x10 combo, circa 1994, for under $300. Used only for practice and never gigged with. Wasn't even dusty.
And yes, I dropped what I was doing and bought it the next day. I'm still curious what Peavy intends to do with the Trace line, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
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#62
BlushResponse said:
After commenting on this thread I decided to check Craigslist and stumbled upon an utterly pristine GP12 SMX 2x10 combo, circa 1994, for under $300. Used only for practice and never gigged with. Wasn't even dusty.
And yes, I dropped what I was doing and bought it the next day. I'm still curious what Peavy intends to do with the Trace line, but I'm not holding my breath.
Click to expand...
Excellent score, wanted one of those also back when i had my 410 SMX combo.
 
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#63
Okay I don't mean to be out of the loop here but is Trace Elliot Company located in the U.S., I'm a little confused here, I thought maybe the company was located in England and had dealers here in the U.S. but apparently it doesn't look that way and again I do apologize for not being up on the Trace Elliot brand but I went to the website again and the customer service contact info is the Peavey location and I assumed since Peavey was closing everything they where also closing the doors on Trace Elliot, it does say on the Trace Elliot website that there product is made in the U.S.A.
So if somebody could enlighten me what exactly is going on and for the original OP please chime in so I can figure out who your U.S. dealers are and to also let me and everybody else know if Trace Elliot is still in business or not.
 
#64
BlushResponse said:
After commenting on this thread I decided to check Craigslist and stumbled upon an utterly pristine GP12 SMX 2x10 combo, circa 1994, for under $300. Used only for practice and never gigged with. Wasn't even dusty.
And yes, I dropped what I was doing and bought it the next day. I'm still curious what Peavy intends to do with the Trace line, but I'm not holding my breath.
Click to expand...

I would've done the EXACT same thing ! The SMX has always been my favorite line of TE, that is years after only knowing the legendary GP11 and gigging with a set of AH150 GP11's.

Also, the 210 is my favorite configuration. So, add the 210 and a SMX GP 12 and you have the perfect Trace Elliot.
 
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#65
I became infatuated with the Trace Elliot look and sound after seeing Mark King/Level 42 open up for Madonna on her, "Who's That Girl" tour. After the show, I went on a manhunt for Level 42 CDs. An old band was doing an East Coast tour and I stopped in Alpha Music in Virginia Beach and there it was.... A wall of Trace Elliot amps!! I eventually got a AH350SMX head from a Maryland based dealership. The head was shortly followed up with a 2103X cab and a 1153 1X15" cab. At current I have a 1991, 1225V combo, which has the same speaker configuration as the 2103X cab (2x10x2X5"). My 2103X has been modified and upgraded over the years (due to not being able to find 5"/4.5" replacement drivers). The 2103X is a 1993, as is my BLX Series 6 combo and 1993 AH250SMX head.

The 1225V combo had a replacement speaker in it when I got it 6 years ago. Just last night, I decided to swap out the replaced driver with the 2103x cab, since the cab has been prior modified 3 years ago. With the upgraded 5" horn/speakers, it can now pump 400 clean watts :)

AcesTrace 5615.jpg
 
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#66
Alan Ace Cooper said:
I became infatuated with the Trace Elliot look and sound after seeing Mark King/Level 42 open up for Madonna on her, "Who's That Girl" tour. After the show, I went on a manhunt for Level 42 CDs. An old band was doing an East Coast tour and I stopped in Alpha Music in Virginia Beach and there it was.... A wall of Trace Elliot amps!! I eventually got a AH350SMX head from a Maryland based dealership. The head was shortly followed up with a 2103X cab and a 1153 1X15" cab. At current I have a 1991, 1225V combo, which has the same speaker configuration as the 2103X cab (2x10x2X5"). My 2103X has been modified and upgraded over the years (due to not being able to find 5"/4.5" replacement drivers. The 2103X is a 1993, as is my BLX Series 6 combo and 1993 AH250SMX head.

The 1225V combo had a replacement speaker in it when I got it 6 years ago. Just last night, I decided to swap out the replaced driver with the 2103x cab, since the cab has been prior modified 3 years ago. With the upgraded 5" horn/speakers, it can now pump 400 clean watts :)

View attachment 611389
Click to expand...

I would've LOVED to see that tour. I remember my friend Victor went to it and said "the opening band sucked". I told him he sucks.

Wow, Trace Elliot combo with Bag End speakers - VERY COOL ! It also looks like the Valve state head.

Also, I remember in 1991 Rush's ROLL THE BONES tour, Geddy played his Rickenbacker 4001 and had a WALL of Trace Elliots. Now, how COOL is that ?
 
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#67
Ahhh.... I tried an 8 ohm Bag End for a while. I think the amp guy got the ohmage twisted up, so when I tried to use the extension cab, it popped a fuse. I took it out, rewired it but never took the Bag End sticker off. Now it's just filled with the old Celestion/Trace speakers.
Yes, the 1225V is a hybrid head. It has a tube preamp section.
 
#70
loveandbass said:
also, it should be noted that OP made this thread and then vanished...hasnt logged in since the day after the thread was made. So perhaps that could be a contributing factor into the demise of a once awesome, now neglected brand.

Was really hoping for some sort of dialog with OP but alas, here we are.
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Especially since he asked us for our opinion ! He sought us out.
 
#71
The OP, Michael, is a product manager for Peavey, Trace, and Budda MI divisions. Trace has been working on new products. I am involved because I designed the power sections, and I have served as an ambassador between Trace engineering in the UK and Peavey engineering/manufacturing in the USA since 2007. When Michael started this thread, he was gearing up for a presentation about the direction of the Trace brand. Basically, it was like, here are the new products that we're working on, here are some other new product concepts, and let's also talk about direction moving forwards. In the presentation, some of you who posted in this thread were quoted as, here's what Trace fans say. Many of us here, including Michael, already know what a lot of you have said and have been screaming it for years, but sometimes it helps to solicit comments to build a case. In other words, I think Michael was looking for affirmation, and he got it.

I have been keeping an eye on this thread. Since Michael seems to have vanished, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their comments.
 
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#72
Wow! I am now officially (more) impressed with your contribution here, BbbyBld! (I'd still like to see Micahel return here, though...)
Your visibility here makes a difference to me, and many with me, I guess.
Even if we TB posters represent a tiny fraction of the potential buyers, we come here because we are passionate, have experience and like to communicate. I could not imagine a stronger "grass root crowd" to market new and innovative products/ideas. I am sure this forum has had a measurable impact on sales of MarkBass LMII/LMIII, tc electronic 250, sansamp VT Bass, Dark Glass and other less known products and brands. That said, I hope for new and inspiring gear from Trace Elliot!
 
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#73
BbbyBld said:
The OP, Michael, is a product manager for Peavey, Trace, and Budda MI divisions. Trace has been working on new products. I am involved because I designed the power sections, and I have served as an ambassador between Trace engineering in the UK and Peavey engineering/manufacturing in the USA since 2007. When Michael started this thread, he was gearing up for a presentation about the direction of the Trace brand. Basically, it was like, here are the new products that we're working on, here are some other new product concepts, and let's also talk about direction moving forwards. In the presentation, some of you who posted in this thread were quoted as, here's what Trace fans say. Many of us here, including Michael, already know what a lot of you have said and have been screaming it for years, but sometimes it helps to solicit comments to build a case. In other words, I think Michael was looking for affirmation, and he got it.

I have been keeping an eye on this thread. Since Michael seems to have vanished, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their comments.
Click to expand...
Thanks BbbyBld for the feedback and update on the inner workings of Peavey/TE. It goes without saying that we've got our eyes on Trace Elliot and are interested in how this will play out in the form of product offerings.
 
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#74
Looking at Mark King's Trace ad I read "tube modded MP-11"... OMG !!! That's the Live At Wembly rig right there! I'd be all over a tubed MP11 preamp in a New York second. That would be something forward thinking to mass produce. :cool:
 
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#75
My 2c.
Over the many years, I have seen numerous brands be the desirable. Trace, Eden, Redheads, Markbass, Genz Benz (even Acoustic and Fender back in the day).
Ampeg seem to have held their own over the years. For me, Trace was hugely desirable in the late 80s for their innovation and reliability. I think when Mark Gooday left to start up Ashdown, you can see where Trace may have been heading had he stayed.
 
#78
Ahhhh.... I scored an 122H/12 Band SMX/2×10" combo in Excellent shape last week. It arrived yesterday. It's easily 20% louder than my Series 6 1225v combo. Its about 7 lbs heavier too! The 1225 sounds more open and organic. The new baby is tighter, more compressed, even with the dual compressors dialed out. I think the Kevlar impregnated speakers are the biggest factor. It looked like it just survived a dust storm, so im in process of cleaning it out.

PhotoGrid_1431478451756.jpg
 
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#79
As usual I'll be the oddball. I have a small 15w tube Trace Elliot Velocette guitar amp.

Since it is an unobtrusive little green box that looks like some sort of old furniture, it is my choice
as a "stealthy" bass amp when playing with acoustic guitarists, fiddles, etc.

Not even the most hypersensitive of people has ever noticed it, and it does the job just great.
 
#80
jshinal said:
As usual I'll be the oddball. I have a small 15w tube Trace Elliot Velocette guitar amp.

Since it is an unobtrusive little green box that looks like some sort of old furniture, it is my choice
as a "stealthy" bass amp when playing with acoustic guitarists, fiddles, etc.

Not even the most hypersensitive of people has ever noticed it, and it does the job just great.
Click to expand...

Excellent idea! Damn, now I'll have to be on the lookout for one.
 

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