Trace Elliot VA 350 - The "unknown" Trace tube head...?

[Terrorstorm]

http://www.bassline.ch/produkte/bilder/div_pix/te_va350.jpg

That's it.

There's a chance for me to get one.

Always thought the V4,6 + 8 were the only Trace tube amps, but now I came across this one. wow.. a 400 (?) or 350 wats Trace Elliot tube head with the cool looks (green lights) of the other (transistor) Trace Elliots!

Does anybody know something about that thing?
It isn't too well known, probably. I can't find any reviews anywhere... So I would be grateful for any input from you, guys!

Thanks so far,

Markus

 

[msquared]

These pop up in the classifieds from time to time. Try doing a search there and asking the sellers/buyers what they think. Whenever someone is selling it they rave about it (go figure).

 

[James Hart]

DEVILMAN has a VA400 he's been trying to sell. Wow does it sound great!

 

[00Funk]

Is that really a tube head ? Wow. I thought I had seen all the Trace heads.

 

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I've been playing mine for the past six months. What do you want to know about it?

 

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Is that really a tube head ? Wow. I thought I had seen all the Trace heads.

Yep. Pop the preamp and tube gain control out after unscrewing them and there are three 12AX7's and six 6550's inside.

 

[Terrorstorm]

I've been playing mine for the past six months. What do you want to know about it?

Thanks for postig!

hmm.. In general I would like to know something about its character sound wise... Would be cool if you could describe the sound a little bit. I heard Trace Elliots and loved thier tone, but never played one myself.

If you know.. How does it compare to an Ampeg SVT (I wanted to buy one, but missed it on Ebay. Now this baby crossed my way... ) , does it have a good rock-sound?


Is is a problem for you to have only a graphic EQ and not a parametric one with just Mid, Bass and Treble...?


Thanks a lot!

 

[John D Harris]

I've been playing mine for the past six months. What do you want to know about it?

Just the fact that you've been playing it for the past six months (given the choices you have available) suggests to me that you really like the way it sounds.

Did you do any re-tubing for tone's sake? [And if so, with what tubes?]

 

[Psycho Bass Guy]

In general I would like to know something about its character sound wise... Would be cool if you could describe the sound a little bit. I heard Trace Elliots and loved thier tone, but never played one myself.

It's very midrangey and "British" sounding, like a Marshall guitar amp, but the graphic EQ and preset mid cut can help tame that if you don't like it. It sounds very much like a tube version of their solid state SMX heads. I used to prefer to just use the direct instrument tube input, but recently discovered that the s/s preamp sounds good; you just have to crank the input gain wide open and run the master volume low. Even then, the preamp compresses a bit much for my tastes.

If you know.. How does it compare to an Ampeg SVT (I wanted to buy one, but missed it on Ebay. Now this baby crossed my way... ) , does it have a good rock-sound?

Yes, I know. I've got five SVT's. Does the VA350 cop their vibe? No. They're two different animals, BUT the mids on the Trace make it more versatile, especially if you need to make stylistic changes between songs. It'll do rock but do it with its own voice. FWI, I'm primarily a rock player myself and I don't keep any amp that can't hack it onstage. As a bonus, the VA350 is much easier to work on than an SVT, though both are a huge pain to remove from their headcase.

Is is a problem for you to have only a graphic EQ and not a parametric one with just Mid, Bass and Treble...?

It works like most graphic EQ's although the bandwidth in low bands (everything below the 340 Hz slider) tend to overlap. I don't do much boosting, just cut what I don't like. It also is "tweakier' in terms of having to make changes for different basses. An SVT sounds like an SVT with whatever bass is in fornt of it. The Trace is more tempermental between basses; different type basses require EQ tweaks to maintain the basic tone. It's not bad, just a quirk.

Just the fact that you've been playing it for the past six months (given the choices you have available) suggests to me that you really like the way it sounds.

Truth be told, I just hauled it out of storage to keep the caps in good shape, but the more I played it, the better it sounded. I had never really messed with the s/s preamp and found it to be to my liking. It replaced my Wizard as my practice amp, mainly because the Wizard is too boomy and undefined in the low end and note pitches tend to slur together. (It's probably the KT90's in it more than the amp itself, but I don't have any other tubes that can survive the Wizard and already have far too many 'spare' 6550/KT88 types to start auditioning more.) Basically, the VA350 is cleaner at louder volume.

Did you do any re-tubing for tone's sake? [And if so, with what tubes?]

When I first got it it had a mixture of GE 6550A's and Chinese 6550ST's. I pulled them and replaced them with the then "Sovtek KT88," now "Tungsol 6550." The preamp tubes are Sylvania and Philips which seem to set very well with Trace tube amps. I did some other work to it, mainly just swapping out the plate and screen loads for higher wattage resistors and solder touch up's (techie anal stuff). They weren't scorched, but the ones in my VR400 had been, so I figured I'd just do some preventative work while I was giving it a checkup.

 

[John D Harris]

Sounds like it would be a interesting amp to have.

It's very midrangey and "British" sounding, like a Marshall guitar amp, but the graphic EQ and preset mid cut can help tame that if you don't like it. It sounds very much like a tube version of their solid state SMX heads. I used to prefer to just use the direct instrument tube input, but recently discovered that the s/s preamp sounds good; you just have to crank the input gain wide open and run the master volume low. Even then, the preamp compresses a bit much for my tastes.



Yes, I know. I've got five SVT's. Does the VA350 cop their vibe? No. They're two different animals, BUT the mids on the Trace make it more versatile, especially if you need to make stylistic changes between songs. It'll do rock but do it with its own voice. FWI, I'm primarily a rock player myself and I don't keep any amp that can't hack it onstage. As a bonus, the VA350 is much easier to work on than an SVT, though both are a huge pain to remove from their headcase.



It works like most graphic EQ's although the bandwidth in low bands (everything below the 340 Hz slider) tend to overlap. I don't do much boosting, just cut what I don't like. It also is "tweakier' in terms of having to make changes for different basses. An SVT sounds like an SVT with whatever bass is in fornt of it. The Trace is more tempermental between basses; different type basses require EQ tweaks to maintain the basic tone. It's not bad, just a quirk.



Truth be told, I just hauled it out of storage to keep the caps in good shape, but the more I played it, the better it sounded. I had never really messed with the s/s preamp and found it to be to my liking. It replaced my Wizard as my practice amp, mainly because the Wizard is too boomy and undefined in the low end and note pitches tend to slur together. (It's probably the KT90's in it more than the amp itself, but I don't have any other tubes that can survive the Wizard and already have far too many 'spare' 6550/KT88 types to start auditioning more.) Basically, the VA350 is cleaner at louder volume.



When I first got it it had a mixture of GE 6550A's and Chinese 6550ST's. I pulled them and replaced them with the then "Sovtek KT88," now "Tungsol 6550." The preamp tubes are Sylvania and Philips which seem to set very well with Trace tube amps. I did some other work to it, mainly just swapping out the plate and screen loads for higher wattage resistors and solder touch up's (techie anal stuff). They weren't scorched, but the ones in my VR400 had been, so I figured I'd just do some preventative work while I was giving it a checkup.

 

[Terrorstorm]

It's very midrangey and "British" sounding, like a Marshall guitar amp, but the graphic EQ and preset mid cut can help tame that if you don't like it. It sounds very much like a tube version of their solid state SMX heads. I used to prefer to just use the direct instrument tube input, but recently discovered that the s/s preamp sounds good; you just have to crank the input gain wide open and run the master volume low. Even then, the preamp compresses a bit much for my tastes.



Yes, I know. I've got five SVT's. Does the VA350 cop their vibe? No. They're two different animals, BUT the mids on the Trace make it more versatile, especially if you need to make stylistic changes between songs. It'll do rock but do it with its own voice. FWI, I'm primarily a rock player myself and I don't keep any amp that can't hack it onstage. As a bonus, the VA350 is much easier to work on than an SVT, though both are a huge pain to remove from their headcase.



It works like most graphic EQ's although the bandwidth in low bands (everything below the 340 Hz slider) tend to overlap. I don't do much boosting, just cut what I don't like. It also is "tweakier' in terms of having to make changes for different basses. An SVT sounds like an SVT with whatever bass is in fornt of it. The Trace is more tempermental between basses; different type basses require EQ tweaks to maintain the basic tone. It's not bad, just a quirk.



Truth be told, I just hauled it out of storage to keep the caps in good shape, but the more I played it, the better it sounded. I had never really messed with the s/s preamp and found it to be to my liking. It replaced my Wizard as my practice amp, mainly because the Wizard is too boomy and undefined in the low end and note pitches tend to slur together. (It's probably the KT90's in it more than the amp itself, but I don't have any other tubes that can survive the Wizard and already have far too many 'spare' 6550/KT88 types to start auditioning more.) Basically, the VA350 is cleaner at louder volume.



When I first got it it had a mixture of GE 6550A's and Chinese 6550ST's. I pulled them and replaced them with the then "Sovtek KT88," now "Tungsol 6550." The preamp tubes are Sylvania and Philips which seem to set very well with Trace tube amps. I did some other work to it, mainly just swapping out the plate and screen loads for higher wattage resistors and solder touch up's (techie anal stuff). They weren't scorched, but the ones in my VR400 had been, so I figured I'd just do some preventative work while I was giving it a checkup.

Thanks a lot, that was very helpful! I saw on a picture that it has 2 inputs + an instrument input (why's that!?) Where do you have to plug in then? And why is there Stage Output AND Volume? What are the differences?

Does it have a good vintage tone and a good tube overdrive tone too?

so many questions.. I know .. But it seems like you're the only one, who can help me with that amp!

Thanks

 

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I saw on a picture that it has 2 inputs + an instrument input (why's that!?)

The top two inputs feed the s/s GP 11 preamp. Input two is padded (though not much) for active basses. The instrument input on the bottom bypasses the GP11 preamp completely and goes instead to a gain only (no EQ) tube preamp.

And why is there Stage Output AND Volume? What are the differences?

The "Stage Output" is the volume control for the GP 11 preamp's output to the power section. The "Master Volume" is for the bottom instrument input only. You use "Stage Output" for when you go through the GP11 and "Master Volume" when you go through the "Instrument Input." Neither impacts the other otherwise.

Does it have a good vintage tone

Yes, it can get an old-school bass tone no problem with the mid cut and graphic EQ. I would consider my tone through it to be 'vintage.'

and a good tube overdrive tone too?

Yes. The instrument input on the bottom is easily overdriven for fuzzed out Cream sounds, but you will lose some low end. You can also overdrive the power section using the GP11 and running its master volume higher for a whole array of different distortion tones. It's by far the most versatile tube amp I've ever run across.

so many questions.. I know .. But it seems like you're the only one, who can help me with that amp!

Don't worry about it. I'm happy to help. It's a killer amp that never got much attention.

 

[four2oh]

man, i miss my old Trace Elliot VA 350 head.. had such a fat sound.

 

[Terrorstorm]

The top two inputs feed the s/s GP 11 preamp. Input two is padded (though not much) for active basses. The instrument input on the bottom bypasses the GP11 preamp completely and goes instead to a gain only (no EQ) tube preamp.



The "Stage Output" is the volume control for the GP 11 preamp's output to the power section. The "Master Volume" is for the bottom instrument input only. You use "Stage Output" for when you go through the GP11 and "Master Volume" when you go through the "Instrument Input." Neither impacts the other otherwise.



Yes, it can get an old-school bass tone no problem with the mid cut and graphic EQ. I would consider my tone through it to be 'vintage.'



Yes. The instrument input on the bottom is easily overdriven for fuzzed out Cream sounds, but you will lose some low end. You can also overdrive the power section using the GP11 and running its master volume higher for a whole array of different distortion tones. It's by far the most versatile tube amp I've ever run across.



Don't worry about it. I'm happy to help. It's a killer amp that never got much attention.

man, that's nice to hear!

I already had one tube amp in my life. It was the Mesa 400+. I liked the headroom and it had a really fat and also warm tone, but I wasn't so impressed too with the sound. Whenever I wanted to dial in old school 70's rock tones, it didn't really work... too clean, not enough mids....

Actually I wanted to get myself a SVT-CL, because I also like the Ampeg sound very much, but I am student and I haven't got that much money. They are very expensive here in Austria.


I can get the Trace a lot cheaper. Looks like it is really versatile ...and maybe I can get some SVT-like tones out of it if I use my sansamp with it. Just when I want them...

 

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I can get the Trace a lot cheaper. Looks like it is really versatile ...and maybe I can get some SVT-like tones out of it if I use my sansamp with it. Just when I want them...

You don't need the Sansamp to get SVT "like" tones out of it. For that, you just boost the low mids a little and scoop out the upper midrange. It's not identical to an SVT's tone, but they're both from the same neighborhood. I've used a Sansamp and the VA350 gets a LOT closer to SVT tone than the Sansamp.

BTW, I forgot to mention there's a blacklight on the bottom of the front panel and it looks REALLY cool. It's switchable so you don't have to run it all the time (and it will cause hum withs single coil pickups when it's on).

 

[Terrorstorm]

wow!
You mean violet light? I know some Trace heads have this.

Or is it just the green background light, that nearly every Trace has?
Man, I love how this monster looks..

 

[Terrorstorm]

One more question..

Could I plug into both, the GP 11 preamp and the Tube preamp on the bottom, and then use a A/B box to switch between?

 

[Psycho Bass Guy]

One more question..

Could I plug into both, the GP 11 preamp and the Tube preamp on the bottom, and then use a A/B box to switch between?

Yep.