That is grate.
and sad.Thank you for your response. We look forward to what you have to release.
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Trace Elliot, then and now.
- Thread starter pvbassfan
- Start date
and sad.Thank you for your response. We look forward to what you have to release.
Plus one on the grill on all combos. Keep the reptile eye for all combos.I was not a fan of the tone of late 80s models, although I loved the looks. I later learned that you could do a lot more than the bright compressed tone for which they're famous.
When the Twin Valve got out I was interested and when V Type series got out I was hooked.
I see Trace Elliot as reliable gear with solid tone in all circumstances.
I was interested when the new models arrived mid 2000s, it was great to see a brand renew itself yet keeping tradition.
Nowadays I mostly play bars and small dives, I don't see myself hauling around 80 pound 2x10 cabs.
I think Trace Elliot should keep what made it famous : the GP7 and GP12 preamps (including the detents on knobs), black lights, green theme, diamond gril.
Then update it with technology of today : Class D / switching power supply / neo cabs and all.
Oh yeah the BLX80 was distinctive (pretty much unique design AFAIK) and although underpowered, it had the best projection I've seen on any amp.
If I was a TE designer I'd use this form factor for all combos.
I have an AH250 with the GP12 and an 1153t from 1997.
I'd say I love the GP12 as a unit - pre-shapes and dual compression as well as mix dial for Tube and Solid State - on what is essentially a mid-range amp (price and power back then).
the speaker - while the cheapest of the many options presented at the time has the same sturdy build and quality as the 4010 and 1518 did.
Oh - and keep the grilles and the green bits - very imposing!
I'd say I love the GP12 as a unit - pre-shapes and dual compression as well as mix dial for Tube and Solid State - on what is essentially a mid-range amp (price and power back then).
the speaker - while the cheapest of the many options presented at the time has the same sturdy build and quality as the 4010 and 1518 did.
Oh - and keep the grilles and the green bits - very imposing!
Have you ever plugged two cabs in? I have same amp with the big 15. I lent mine to a joker whose RB800 was misbehaving. He was abusing it with a 4ohm 410 plus 8 ohm 115 so he used mine and his 115. Holy cow.
Years later I got a 210 for rehearsals as I tired of the 1518 manoeuvres. Of course I tried both stacked. Then I got a trolley.
No - never had the time or skill to warrant a 2nd cab. Looking to offload them now anyway.
It does sound god though, the amp is so versatile.
In the mid-90s, the band I was in played a gig in a music store. The deal was to just plug into the store's amps. Instead of my rig with two 15", I'm playing through a Trace Elliot combo amp. I was blown away by the power and clarity of the TE. Double bass drum attack? No problem. Twin guitar shredding? You could still hear the bass right in the mix. I knew it was top of the line amplification, and that gig proved it.
Huge TE fan here. I haven't played everything out there (especially all the new stuff), but the GP12 SMX amps and preamps are "the sound in my head" and are still better than anything else I've played (for me) in 30 years of playing. I also love the MOSFET amps in those heads. To me the coolest thing in the world would be if y'all could bring back the GP12 SMX preamp (or some modern incarnation thereof) and a new line of power amps.
My only nits with the preamp would be: 1) wider range for the crossover, and 2) more parameters to adjust on the compressor
My only nits with the preamp would be: 1) wider range for the crossover, and 2) more parameters to adjust on the compressor
And oh, please excuse me, I forgot to include a pic. I have 5 SMX's: 3 heads and 2 preamps, and no, I don't have enough. Anybody got one to sell? 
What? Next time, remember there are loyal TBers out there like me that are in desperate need of (another) one! 
The other thing I would note is that though some might prefer the light weight of the Class D power section, I myself prefer the tone and power of the MOSFET power sections. To me, this is half of the TE sound (at least in the SS realm). I have a 900W Class D head, and an 800W per channel Class D power amp, and my 280W TE SMX head trounces them both in terms of loudness, tone, and bass response. The closest match I have found is one channel of my Crest CA9, and it is 50/50 on which one I would take (for power, tone, etc).
So on that front, I would much prefer a linear amp with a SMPS to save weight, rather than going Class D. Granted, I don't have to lug this stuff to gigs, since I'm no longer in the band scene, but to me, going Class D is giving up too much.
So on that front, I would much prefer a linear amp with a SMPS to save weight, rather than going Class D. Granted, I don't have to lug this stuff to gigs, since I'm no longer in the band scene, but to me, going Class D is giving up too much.
I have an old mosfet power amp which begins to clip at 300w of sine production. It isn't nearly as gutsy as my 250smx even with gp7 pre giving it soundalike quality.
Years ago I read of similar Trace amp bench tested to give only rated RMS output completely clean sines. I think there is something to the architecture that gives bass guitar authority quality, whatever that is, we know it.
Years ago I read of similar Trace amp bench tested to give only rated RMS output completely clean sines. I think there is something to the architecture that gives bass guitar authority quality, whatever that is, we know it.
Me, last night during setup at Vic's Cobra Lounge in Chicago, chilling on my GPS7/200 4x10 + horn combo. It's my mid-sized goto when I don't need to unleash the Trace full-stack beast from hell. At 200 watts, it just KILLS, cutting through and going low without ANY sign of fatigue. Sure, it weighs 135 pounds - but if the sound is all that matters - the sound is ALL that matters (or it isn't).
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To me, this is a no brainer. Which ones are the hardest to come by:the tube amps(along with the v type pre) same applies to Peavey, ie classic 400(along with the tb raxx).
The world has enough weenie amps from the like of markbass, tc electronic etc.
I agree with other comments saying the latest TE gear(not cabs) is flimsy.
The world has enough weenie amps from the like of markbass, tc electronic etc.
I agree with other comments saying the latest TE gear(not cabs) is flimsy.
Hi all my old TE gear is about 25 years old now has never missed a beat n love it, the only thing ive heard that sounded better n louder was when i made a bass rig out of a FOH 2000w pa system dual 32 band eq cross over 2 15in with horn x 2. It made hole theatre shake
I
know they are taller than your average 4x10 but you are still a midget?
