Trace sound from a lightweight amp?

[uk_lefty]

I sold my trace rig some months back because I live in a second floor flat and it was just so unbelievably heavy, too heavy to cart around and I have had back trouble before. Ok, my Ashdown combo does its job well but last night I played through a trace GP7 head and trace 4x10 cab. Wow. My drummer and I LOVED it. Playing a jazz with bartolinis through this combo, hartke vxl for a touch of eq, stainless roundwound strings, it was tone heaven.

Is there anything that comes remotely close to trace Elliot sound but in a lightweight unit? Has anyone paired a trace head with a lightweight cab successfully?

[Lozz196]

I`ve always found the Trace cabs to have a certain sound, especially those with 10s in as these seem to be voiced to be both cutting but with bucketfuls of depth as well. I think it`s the combination of the two.

[Musicman20]

The closest I've got to thinking 'hey, this can get close to the Trace sound' is the Genz Benz Shuttlemax amps.

Genzler make the new Magellan 800, which will no doubt also get close to that Trace sound if it is similar to the Shuttlemax.

[bagsieblue]

I've got a [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]AH350SMX - great head - probably the best I've ever had..[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]So easy to get in a great sound. But, yep, is a heavy old beast.[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I pair it with 2 x EBS Neo 110's which are small and lightweight and it sounds great![/font][/color]
[font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]I'm interested to hear what other BC'ers say as lightweight options for a similar sound.[/color][/font]

[discreet]

I think you need to use Trace if you want 'that' Trace sound. Just as you need to use an Ampeg SVT for 'that' SVT sound. You can generally get close-ish by other means, but it's never quite the same and always a compromise in some way compared with 'the real thing'. All in my opinion, of course.

[Paul S]

^^This^^

I found the same. When I first hurt my back badly I wandered in the class D head wilderness for a few years, tried all sorts of manufacturers and ratings, never quite got there. To my knackered old ears a TC RH750 got close but not close enough.

I bought on here an AH300-12 SMX that had been rack-mounted into an ABS case, making it 12kg. A nice balanced one hand carry when I have my Barefaced Supercompact in the other hand. Couldn't be happier.

[Bass Culture]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1468924722' post='3094300']
To my knackered old ears a TC RH750 got close but not close enough.
[/quote]

I use a TC RH750 for the same reason - gets reasonably close to the sound I had from my own AH300-SMX. That said, I agree, it's missing a certain 'something' but it's simply a case of weighing up the pros and cons. I'm happy with my RH750 on that basis. Mind, I can't say I wouldn't be tempted by a keenly priced 12-band SMX head again if one popped up.

[Merton]

Ashdown Retroglide??

[franzbassist]

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1468926001' post='3094322']
Ashdown Retroglide??
[/quote]

You beat me to it! Seems the obvious choice, or the Ashdown Mark King/JJ Brunel head if you want non-digital?

[chris_b]

IMO this is the wrong question.

Get a great sound out of the best new amp you can find and don't worry about what you used to sound like.

Trying to make one amp sound like another is bound to fail.

[BassBod]

Yep, been using the Retroglide 800 for a few weeks now, it's essence of a TE GP11 in a smaller format. Like the GP 11, to me it has no sound, as such..you get your sound with the graphic. It hasn't got the preshape/slap switch (don't miss it) and it doesn't have a transformer DI.

I've still got a MIV GP11, and they are very much the same thing. The R800 also has less circuit hiss.

Thomann were selling the R800 very cheap a week or two ago - worth a check?

[discreet]

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1468935821' post='3094465']
Yep, been using the Retroglide 800 for a few weeks now, it's essence of a TE GP11 in a smaller format. Like the GP 11, to me it has no sound, as such... you get your sound with the graphic.
[/quote]

Really? That's very interesting. I see Thomann are doing them for £417... hmm...

[BassBod]

That's a lot less than I paid to the local PMT "on a deal"

Despite that, I'm really pleased with amp..it's great.

[discreet]

Presumably you could connect the tone-shaper or Pre-amp of your choice into the Return socket, thus using it as a pre-power set up. If you wanted.

[uk_lefty]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1468924722' post='3094300']
^^This^^

I found the same. When I first hurt my back badly I wandered in the class D head wilderness for a few years, tried all sorts of manufacturers and ratings, never quite got there. To my knackered old ears a TC RH750 got close but not close enough.

I bought on here an AH300-12 SMX that had been rack-mounted into an ABS case, making it 12kg. A nice balanced one hand carry when I have my Barefaced Supercompact in the other hand. Couldn't be happier.
[/quote]

Sounds like an option I could explore of trace head plus lightweight cab. Just interested in how much of the tone comes from the cab itself...

[BassBod]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1468937815' post='3094481']
Presumably you could connect the tone-shaper or Pre-amp of your choice into the Return socket, thus using it as a pre-power set up. If you wanted.
[/quote]

Yes, effects return or line in (jack). I also use a Sansamp VT in front, if I'm doing a blues or jazz gig. I think of the R800 as a power amp with eq on the front. Works well with the old rack preamps, and it can just sit on top of a rack bag. I'm sure it could also be mounted on tray if you wanted to get it into a rack case, but I would'nt bother.

[LewisK1975]

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1468926001' post='3094322']
Ashdown Retroglide??
[/quote]
Beaten to it - also beaten to the comment that Thomann seem to be knocking them out mega cheap right now....

[2elliot]

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1468942029' post='3094539']

Beaten to it - also beaten to the comment that Thomann seem to be knocking them out mega cheap right now....
[/quote]

£416 is crazy for a custom shop head.

[thodrik]

Track down a Trace Elliot EQ pedal, then use a lightweight amp and cab.

[Deedee]

I'd recommend getting your hands on one of the 'smaller' Trace heads such as a 250 SMX. All the bells and whistles of the 350 etc (other than the UV light) but in a smaller, lighter package. I've paired mine with various Barefaced cabs and it always sounded great. Finally settled on a Super 12 - it sounds immense.

[BassBod]

Retro 800 in the amps for sale today...😜

[discreet]

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1469095088' post='3095631']
Retro 800 in the amps for sale today...😜
[/quote]

Yes I saw that. Extremely tempting.

[tauzero]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1468922527' post='3094276']
I think you need to use Trace if you want 'that' Trace sound.
[/quote]

I remember 'that' Trace sound - "nnnnnng nnnnnnng nnnnnnnnnnng ooomeback".

[Japhet]

I went from a Trace SMX head to a Genz Benz Streamliner which gives a (to my ears) a nice, fat, rounded sound. Also has some nice gain available if you drive the preamp tube.