Russ Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 The head has shipped - I should have it Wednesday or Thursday, so I'll post some impressions once I've had a bit of time to play with it. I'm actually quite excited - really hoping it's not a letdown. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 1 minute ago, Russ said: The head has shipped - I should have it Wednesday or Thursday, so I'll post some impressions once I've had a bit of time to play with it. I'm actually quite excited - really hoping it's not a letdown. My wallet / bank manager / wife would all like you to hate it please. I, however, would also like it to avoid being a letdown 🤓 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 On 27/02/2022 at 15:51, chyc said: What that 20% gets you is another matter, but to pin the price difference on a spider is a bit wide of the mark IMO. Didn't get the connection eh? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 On 09/03/2022 at 17:02, Rich said: I've seen a lot of comments on US sites/pages suggesting that it is just a re-badged Peavey Mini Mega. I can only assume they're looking at a different Peavey Mini Mega to the one I'm seeing, because apart from the EQ having 4 bands I can't see much similarity at all. Probably both got the same Class Dpower stage. Which is irrelevant as all class D power stages are more or less identical (transparent) and it's all in the choice of preamp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 On 09/03/2022 at 22:05, Russ said: I'd be surprised if they did, but it's certainly possible. Most of the variance of Class D amps comes from the preamp. I've had an Ashdown RM-800 and a Mesa WD-800, which I believe share almost identical power amps, but sound completely different. Bearing in mind my comment above, perhaps the future is relatively inexpensive, easily replaced class D power bricks, and separate preamps that are a cross between a DI box and the front end of an amp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 On 14/03/2022 at 19:58, Stub Mandrel said: Bearing in mind my comment above, perhaps the future is relatively inexpensive, easily replaced class D power bricks, and separate preamps that are a cross between a DI box and the front end of an amp. That’s why I was quite interested in gigging the new Markbass power amp: http://www.markbass.it/product-detail/little-mark-vintage-amp-1000/ I had GR Amps equivalent, which sounded ok, but the fan was very loud imo. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 1 hour ago, Sibob said: That’s why I was quite interested in gigging the new Markbass power amp: http://www.markbass.it/product-detail/little-mark-vintage-amp-1000/ I had GR Amps equivalent, which sounded ok, but the fan was very loud imo. Si What about this? https://www.guitarsoundsystems.com/gss-1000w-sumo-guitar-bass-power-amp-c2x23791314 I doesn't look like it has a fan at all! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 2 hours ago, eude said: What about this? https://www.guitarsoundsystems.com/gss-1000w-sumo-guitar-bass-power-amp-c2x23791314 I doesn't look like it has a fan at all! Yes, I remember a few people talking about these a while ago. The baby Sumo also looks similarly powered to many Class D amps in our sphere. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 It's here. I'll post some thoughts on it later once I've had a bit of a play. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 (edited) OK, first impressions: This thing is LOUD. And - let's get this out of the way - it does sound like a Trace, especially with the pre-shape engaged. It's got that characteristic scoopy punch in spades. The compressor is great, possibly a little heavy-handed, but I recall the original SMX compressor was no different. The volume goes down noticeably when it's dialled anything above around 10 o'clock. EQ las a lot of flexibility, the two mid controls seem to affect quite a wide bandwidth, so there's a lot of sounds in there. I like the footswitch, but it might have been nice to have a cordless Bluetooth one - the MIDI cable kinda gets in the way. Rack ears are cheesy. Only thing I'm not liking so far is there's no input gain monitoring LED or anything like that. It'd be nice to see if I'm overloading the preamp. Might have been nice to incorporate that into the LED that lights the gain knob. Going to A/B it against my Mesa WD-800 next. Edited March 16, 2022 by Russ 8 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Still playing with it. It's good. And my BF Big Twin II is a good pairing for it, since it's got the power handling capacity to properly do it justice. Regarding what I was saying about the input monitoring, an active/passive switch might have been nice. I was using my MM Bongo (VERY hot output) and it was distorting slightly at about 50% input gain. My J-Retro-equipped Jazz and my Spector were super-clean at that level. Did the A/B test with my Mesa WD-800. The Mesa isn't as loud, the tone is a little smoother thanks to the valve preamp, and I really appreciate its highpass filter control to dial out the super-lows. More versatile EQ too. But it's nowhere near as punchy as the Trace. The Trace is, for want of a better expression, more lively and feels "bouncier", if that's actually a thing. One other little niggle though - I've just packed it away in its gig bag and the bag has a carrying handle but no shoulder strap. But at least there's room for the amp, the footswitch and a bunch of cables. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Oh for god's sake. Why couldn't you have told us it was crap? Why? Now I can hear my credit card whimpering from the other room. Rack ears do look a bit, errm, yes... I think I'd be getting busy with the T-Cut to get rid of the logo. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted March 16, 2022 Author Share Posted March 16, 2022 1 minute ago, Rich said: Oh for god's sake. Why couldn't you have told us it was crap? Why? Now I can hear my credit card whimpering from the other room. Rack ears do look a bit, errm, yes... I think I'd be getting busy with the T-Cut to get rid of the logo. I heartily endorse these statements 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deedee Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 7 minutes ago, Rich said: Oh for god's sake. Why couldn't you have told us it was crap? Why? Now I can hear my credit card whimpering from the other room. Rack ears do look a bit, errm, yes... I think I'd be getting busy with the T-Cut to get rid of the logo. 5 minutes ago, Merton said: I heartily endorse these statements As do I. I really do want to try one of these 😍 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 I WANT ONE 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverinebass Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 I am so happy I got a Gallien Krueger Fusion 1200s a few months ago. Means I don't have to say I'm tempted to get one. Wouldn't mind trying one though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 I am content with my current mix of amps, which alresdy includes 2 TEs 😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deedee Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 24 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: I am content with my current mix of amps, which alresdy includes 2 TEs 😃 I’m content with mine, but I still want to try one of these just to be sure. 😜 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 On 09/03/2022 at 17:38, Merton said: Pretty sure Peavey make their own class D amp modules don’t they? From the man himself: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/trace-elliot-design.1521151/page-8#post-26263258 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 For some reason this is not on the Trace Elliot website, the only amp featured is the Elf. But it is on the Peavey website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 2 minutes ago, MacDaddy said: But it is on the Peavey website. But it's not a Peavey 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 26 minutes ago, EBS_freak said: But it's not a Peavey 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 1 minute ago, MacDaddy said: and yes I know that's not strictly true (letter-name effect, etc) but I think Peavey and TE are built in the same factory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 1 hour ago, MacDaddy said: and yes I know that's not strictly true (letter-name effect, etc) but I think Peavey and TE are built in the same factory? And likely designed by the same folk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 But they are definitely not Peavey. Mind you, conversely, you could say that folks driving around in Porsches and Lamborghinis are in reality, driving around in Skodas. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.