Paul S

I am up and running with my new lightweight rig so the remains of my old vintage Trace Elliot gear has to go - both head and cab are probably at least 25 years old - maybe someone who knows can chip in here? Firstly my Trace Elliot AH250 GP11 mk V head. If you know about these skip the next paragraph. Size-wise 53 x 42 x 18cm and a lumbar wrenching 22kg. I bought this about 6 months ago on Basschat for £250 - wasn't able to use it much because of my back issues. I've just spent £96 on getting it fixed and serviced at a Trace Elliot approved service centre, so it is ready to rock. The guy in the repairers reckons this is the best head Trace Elliot made, so who am I to argue? No real issues - the sliders on the EQ have had non-standard knobs glued on, which makes access to the back tricky. not a problem for me, I can assure you. One of the rubber feet is missing from the end, so when you stand it up up end it leans a bit. Pretty good nick, tolex is used but not abused - not perfect but it *is* old. Sounds immense and tone is, er, more than immense - plug in, switch on, engage the pre-shape and you will rule will world. If that wasn't enough it lights up prettily from the UV bulb, too! 'El Gordo' the leviathan Trace Elliot 1x18 cabinet - 61 x 79 x 43cm and approx 40kg. This beast is rather tatty but works perfectly well - I paid £220 for it from PMT in Southend some time last year. Perfect for old school rock or anyone starting a hobby in siesmology. I had intended to buy a can of satin black, take all the metal bits off and give him a makeover - the tolex isn't too bad - but, well, won't bother now. On 4 casters, 2 are lockable. Actually seems to have a broader range than the Trace 1X15 cab I had - seems to register the highs a little better for some reason. [attachment=82083:TErig1.jpg] [attachment=82084:TErig2.jpg] [attachment=82085:TErig3.jpg] [attachment=82086:TErig4.jpg] [attachment=82087:TErig5.jpg] [attachment=82088:TErig6.jpg] The two together are a match made in Rock Heaven - simply sublime. Hard to better IMO - my new rig is just as loud and sounds just as good but it somehow doesn't quite melt the heart the way this stuff does. Still, needs must and I have move on. Ideally I'd like to sell them as a pair, in which case I am after a ridiculously cheap £300 including a kettle lead and jack-jack lead. That's 1 x Trace Elliot Watt per pound sterling. Sold separately I would want £250 for the head and £100 for the cab. Because of the weight and size the logistics of sending this via courier would be complicated and expensive so collection only from Benfleet in Essex or I can deliver for the cost of the diesel. Cash on receipt.

Bargainaceous bump. This is an absolute steal for £100 and for anyone with back issues this has to be the fretless of choice. I wish I had use for a fretless, this is such a good deal!

Sold pending the usual!

Sort of on hold.

Here are some pics: [attachment=81386:B2A1.jpg] [attachment=81387:B2A2.jpg] [attachment=81388:B2A3.jpg] [attachment=81389:B2A4.jpg] [attachment=81390:B2A5.jpg] [attachment=81391:B2A6.jpg] [attachment=81394:B2A9.jpg] [attachment=81393:B2A8.jpg] [attachment=81392:B2A7.jpg] There was a 'tug bar' fitted when I got it, I took it off and may even still have it - I'll chuck it in the bag. Currently fitted with rounds I also have a set of Status double ball end flats that I fitted for a little while (cost £18) that are almost brand new - used for maybe 10 hrs max - I can add them in for an extra £10. I would prefer bank transfer but will do PayPal if you cover fees.

And replied. Pics soon. I've been told that early models didn't have 'Licensed by Steinberger' stamped on the bridge, which would explain that and makes it more likely that is is a genuine one that has just had the guts fiddled with, presumably when the pre-amp bust.

Pics to follow, meanwhile some history. I had a B2A a couple of years back and sold it during a period when I was maintaining a 'one in, one out' policy. Obviously that didn't last very long and, as I regretted selling it, bought this on here by way of a replacement - the first one that came long - August last year. It is odd. The body and neck I am sure are genuine Hohner. The little foldaway leg rest is genuine. But, frankly, I am not sure about anything else. The bridge looks like the Steinberger system but isn't - it isn't stamped anywhere and the edges are not quite as rounded. A sort of cheap imitation, although it works perfectly well and keep totally in tune like these do. The electrics have been royally messed with at some point - just volume for each pickup and tone. The tone isn't the proper stacked 2 band eq, it is just a simple tone dial that works actively or passively. The pickups look like the proper ones but aren't - they work just fine but don't quite have that woody tone that these basses have. Currently the neck pup volume pot has a dead spot just below full. The preamp is not working properly and distorts heavily. Battery compartment lid is missing, so it is difficult to keep a battery in place anyway. It is generally a bit worn around the edges, dinks and bumps here and there. The input jack crackles a bit. It also has an input XLR socket but I have no idea if that works or not. All in all a mystery. But it plays just fine - decent straight neck, low action. I have gigged with it when my back has been bad - used passively it actually sounds fine, too. And it is as light as a feather - a shade under 6lbs according to my bathroom scales and lighter, in fact, than the 'proper' Hohner B2A replacement I have just bought. I can see this being used as a very cheap back-up bass where space and/or weight are an issue or a project - replace the electrics with an [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARTEC-SE2A-se2-a-Bass-Guitar-electronics-board-/360342631902?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item53e61835de"]Artec SE-2A[/url] for example, and most of the issues with it are solved. I would have done this except I wanted the drop D bridge, which I now have. Looking for £70 including a cricket bat sized Warwick padded gig bag ([url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/rockbag_rb20500b_steinberger.htm"]£15 from Thomann[/url]) and £10 for postage. So £60 if you want to collect from Benfleet, Essex.

Good call - it is unlikely you would get another one as good. As an aside I 'upgraded' mine - put slightly better pups in it (Kent Armstrong - a bit more growl and bite than the stock ones) and a J. East P-Retro and it has *totally* opened up and expanded the sound range. If it wasn't so bloody heavy I'd use it all the time.

My advice is to get in touch with cetera who is looking for one. They really don't fetch anything like what they are worth. Depending upon condition I'd say £200 +/- which, for an instrument of that quality, is a crime. With case, in good nick, you maybe struggling to get past £250.

Yes, Geoff, 2x10 has gone. Ziggy [url="http://www.electronicmusicservices.co.uk/traceelliot/"]here is their website[/url]. The deal is you take it in, then 2 weeks later ring up and say 'how are you getting on?' and then they start working on it. Anyway, I'll check in with Thornybank when I am ready and then let you know what the score is. I am soooo tempted to keep the head just, well, because. Depends what I get offered for it I suppose. I did a head to head play along with my TC Electronics head the other day when I got the AH250 back, both through the 18" and although the TC is extremely good it didn't quite have the magic. Still, my back will appreciate the 20+kg difference.