VTypeV4

[quote name='chriswareham' timestamp='1404494674' post='2493250'] Hi Ash, There was a mint condition Celestion 18" speaker up on eBay a couple of weeks ago. It didn't sell for the original BIN of £80, so the seller then put it back on at £100 and surprisingly it sold. I'd held off buying it as the seller had some negative feedback that looked a bit worrying. However, there is a guy on eBay that's selling Peavey cabs pimped to look like old Vox ones and he had a 2x15" last time I looked. [/quote] Apparently loaded with Black Widows which are generally quite tough, the 1502DT found in most peavey bass cabs is pretty 'standard issue' but I'd be happy to use one.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1404497317' post='2493283'] It makes me wonder if the person stating the required cabs to get the best from it was from sales or marketing. [/quote] And to my knowledge they never made a production 4 ohm 410 or 115 to get 300w per side.. Cheeky! Most of the time I ran mine with 1153 (compact 15) and 1048H (410 + HF) which was pretty pokey.. I found the 400w model to be pick of the bunch tho..

It's a funny thing the old 'power' struggle.. My amps are all in the 'oldskool' bracket as are the speakers I use. In the real world gigging situations I find myself in, I don't require 140dB SPL nor an extended range down to 22Hz as I don't play in a crazy doom setup. Without getting bogged down in the numbers, I've gigged with less than 60 and in excess of 600w on-stage and it's usually been enough. Can't say as I've sat and thought 'another 100w and this would be cutting the mustard' or indeed how much power the amp is making, just whether it's compressing / clipping.. As an engineer I see lots of modern / lightweigh (Markbass / TC etc) amps coming through as well as any number of big valve (Ampeg being the most common) rigs and the odd SS thing (Carlsboro / Ashdown MAG) thrashed to within an inch of their life all through varying speakers with varying results. Most players seem happy with their system irrespecive of it's power and SPL capability. In the time I've been playing which has been since the mid-late '90s, I have seen a steady trend of increased power and reductioon of bulk and weight. To me, king of rigs when I started was either a Trace AH600SMX boasting 2 x 300w, the 400w V-Type V6 or of course the big Mesa 400+ or AMpeg SVT. All big and heavy usually associated with lots of speakers which were also big and heavy. Trace specified two 410 and two 115 plus a bright box to get the most out of their 600w offering. Monster! Great sounding but you'd need a transit van plus a roadie to move it! Compare that to todays market.. In a nutshell, power is cheaper today than it's ever been and watts have always been a great marketing point to boot. I'm happy with my glass bottles irrespectiveof how much power they make..

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1402156428' post='2470552'] I guess the presence of the ashdown cab underneath it tells us all we need to know .. [/quote] I wonder what the implication there might be.. Hmmmm, now let me think

I think this is great, adding sonic precision to your system to achieve the required result using a bit of home brew and ingenuity. I raise a glass to you.

It's all good, man. Production ceased after Gibson was done with the brand which was around 2001 / 2002 and nothing was built between '02 and '05. i'm not entirely sure when Peavey purchased Trace but the 'new' amps appeared in 2005 and have been with us ever since. The original ones were built in the UK (I think at the Peavey UK / Corby facility) and I thought they still were but there's every chance they now buiilt over seas (like most things!) for a fraction of the cost. As previously stated I have no problem with the new ones, I just think they're just too expensive to buy new. Second hand ones represent a lot of bang for buck with the 12 band 350 / 400 watt models being cream of the crop IMO.

I suspect wooly thing comes from excessive bottom end boosting on the graphic allied to using the pre-shape. The pre-shape gives boost at 50Hz and 2k6 but also cuts around 400Hz (All low Q seemingly) so any boost on the graphic is adding to the already boosted low . The effect is further enhanced by that reduction in the low-mids adding to the amount of apparent bottom end. The classic deep 'smiley face' generally yeilds a poor result with a Trace as it's all boom and clank with nothing left in the middle. It might work for a certain effect but doesn't tend to work in a group mix. On 12 band models the first two / three bands are generally better as a cut - do we really need 30 and 40Hz as frequency components in our sound? On 7 band models it's a 50Hz slider with a lower Q which covers a similar range. For me it's a no so I save the speakers and headroom by reducing them in my sound. I treat them in the same way I approach PA, (afterall it's where they were developed from anyways) I'd never boost the lowest frequencies as it would murder my drivers and sap amplifier power without achieving much in terms of sound. 20, 25, and 31Hz are moot on my FOH graphic anyway as my HPF is in at just below 40Hz but a trace doesn't have an HPF. I believe this is where things go wrong as folk assume the left side of the graphic 'must mean bass' rather than looking at the numbers, understanding where and how those frequency components fit into their sound. I'm not trying to defend Trace here, put simply their products don't work for everyone in every situation but I do believe a little investgaton and an open mind goes a long way..

That driver looks a bit suspect to me altough it's tricky to say without a full spec. I'm quite sure you'll not get the same sound from it either as i looks like a rather cheap speaker if I'm honest. if it was mine and I was looking to upgrade then i'd be on the hunt for the old 100w 18" Celestion or Goodmans with the really heavy cast frame, 3" coil and big magnet as it's period and may sound similar to your existing driver. If you wanted to go a bit further the only other driver I can think of thats a 'full range' 18 and is up to the job is the old JBL E155 which is a great speaker but rather weighty. Not sure about the old 18" Peavey BW, I don't have the specs for it, sorry.

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1401290997' post='2462114'] I have the AH250SMX, got it new in about '93. Belting - I keep looking around, as you do, but I can get my sound with the TE so no need to change. I use it through a EA 1x12 with tweeter, sounds superb. Used to have various other cabs, always sounded great. By reputation, [i][b]all the English made ones are well worth getting[/b][/i].. well built and repairable. I think the rep slipped after the Gibson takeover, but I have no direct experience of those or later. [/quote] Without being pedantic, they were all built in the UK [i]possibly[/i] with the exception of some of the later Boxer range (TE engineering badges) and [i]maybe[/i] some of the Goldtone guitar amps with Gibson badges.. All GP7, GP12, V-Type and Commando ranges were built in the UK.

I had a 300SM for a while and it was a great amp. Never had any upset with it but the power stage was what Trace called the 'Bi-Polar Bear' was occasionally known to be naughty. To be fair, they haven't been built for 15 years so any that have gone bang will have been fixed by now or replaced with the later 'Clive Button' module. The pre-amp is flexible but personally I preferred the later SMC variant which came with the compressor and ditched the EQ level and balance controls. Both came with a decent DI (as long as the input level is correctly set) which had a low noise floor and a quality sound. And don't be too put off by the Gibson thing, if it's a black (not grey) control panel and green furry carpet finish then it's Gibbo one. Anything built after '97 is a Gibson one so if you clock one on eBay and it says pre-gibson, it's probably a fib. The earlier pimple-finish and grey panel ones were rated at 250w although there's probably not a discernable difference between the two despite being pre-gibson. Most of the Trace amps I've owned have been Gibson era models and I've had very little trouble with any of them. The V4 could be a funny bugger sometimes but all the SS / Hybrid ones never caused any upset other than the odd dry joint. I've never ran one with a 'modern' cab but it always sounded well through the Trace cabs I had at the time. To be fair, it'll probably sound great through something new. Currently thinking about 300 / 400w SMX personally.

I've owned many a Trace.. Combos: Boxer 30 712 SMC 4808 V-Type 715 GP-7 TwinValve Combo Commando 15 Mk2 (long term lend, wasn't actually mine) Heads: AH 300 SM AH 300 SMX AH 400 SMX RAH 600 SMX V4 Mk2 Cabs: 2103H 1153 1048H 1084 Largely all good but somewhat heavy, especially the 4808, V4 and 1084. Currently toying up with getting a 300 or 400 SMX as a 'take anywhere and do anything' rather than mauling the heavy combo or big Ashton head. The 300 is lighter and smaller but the 400 has a UV strip..

A graphic EQ is still an effective form of sonic correction / tone shaping whether fashionable or not IMO.. I was thinking about it last night and I reckon if they did an MP11 / Superfly type font end coupled to a high power lightweight power stage then they'd be onto a winner. In green of course!

I've been waiting for a new line of Trace suff for a while now. There was a bit of a hoo-har when they had their re-launch back in '05 as I recall but there doesn't look to be anything due. I do think a new 'lightweight' version of the existing 7 and 12 band series would be a winner for the brand. A face lift for the existing range would probably be good too. I've tried the new stuff and whilst it does 'the sound' and many others, it's loud and the new cabs do sound better I'm not a fan of those sticky out plastic graphic sliders. Maybe it's something they could address in a new line? Personally, I'm happiest with the SMX range with the 400 being the best of the bunch IME although the SMC 7-band with compressor is pretty slick too. The TwinValve combo is wicked but it weighs 8000 tonnes and is probably massively unfashionable because of it. 115w / ~30 Kg vs something like a MarkBass combo which weighs less than 20kg and does 500+ watts. I've always loved TE gear as it's always done the sound I like and seems to 'come with me' wherever and whatever I'm doing. I do hope the company moves forward and doesn't stagnate like some of the others mentioned above. Come on Peavey, help the boys in green out..

Yeah, 50w is a bit border-line especially in dinky combo form..

It seems unlikely that you'll be damaging the amp by using the passive input, I rather suspect there's something else going on. Also consider the position of the knobs on the control panel as it doesn't always tell the story of how hard the amplifier is actually working. I think that by boosting the lows (a little too much possibly) you may have asked too much of the speaker causing it to move further than it was designed to. This usually manifests itself as a papery / fluffy type sound that gets worse as the volume is increased. If you have hurt the amplifer electrically, it's probably in the power amp stage as by boosting those lows, you're asking it to make much more power. This in itself doesn't usually cause problems but if the amp is over-due a service or has a weak component then the extra stress may have caused it to fail. 220w or 300w or 60w or 1000w is entirely subjective for many reasons.. 1: Different companies may have different standards to achieve their 'rated power' so aren't always comparable. 2: Speakers have different senitivities so one with 96 dB / 1w / 1m will take twice the power to achieve the same volume as one with a spec of 99dB / 1w / 1m. At rated power this may change with power compression etc but it makes the point. 3: Valve amplifiers always sound different too with their ratings not always being comparable to their SS counterparts. Personally I've kept up with drummers using a 60w amp with lots of speakers. Normally I use between 60w and 300w and I rarely run out of steam. My 100w Trace and 300w Ashton are more than enough in every situation I've been in recently. For many years I used 300 and 400 watt SS Trace Elliot heads with no real problems albeit never in a metal setup. Is it time for an upgrade? Isn't it always!? (I appreciate this comment ins't helpful, sorry!)

+1 on a limiter.. One with variable attack and release times too so you make sure the compressor 'grabs' the transient by setting a border-line zero attack time and probably a quick release time so once the transient is under control the compressor 'lets go' and doesn't kill the note. A highpass filter may help also as suggested depending on the frequency content.

I recently had a play with an Allen n Grief Qu16 which for the money seems to be pretty much unbeatable. It was easy to use and all the facilities sounded great. My only criticism is the display looked basic but that may percived by someone else as clear and functional. I do like a bit of fancy! I appreciate that the Yamaha is capable of so much more than the Qu16 but in a similar way to my 328XD, it's more than on top of whats it's capable of unlike the LS-9 that kinda gets lost in itself somewhere behind 8 million menus.

I used an ABM900 Ashdown with the matching 410 tonight largely because I couldn't be bothered to maul the Ashton or Trace about. It kinda worked OK but I don't really get on with them as a rule. So, for the first time in a long time, I didn't use my own gear this eve.

Great pic! Ha! I would occasionally use my little Crest VS650 to drive a Peavey HiSys 2MXT when I played in my soul band which worked well. I simply used the NE-1 as a pre-amp which was small and convenient. Don't get me wrong, I generally prefer some glass bottles in my signal path and usually big ones as a power stage but as a stage monitor, it worked a treat. Glad you're happy with the new kit.

Billy, have a look here.. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/176021-ashton-bv300-all-valve-300w-bass-head/page__pid__2454020#entry2454020"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/176021-ashton-bv300-all-valve-300w-bass-head/page__pid__2454020#entry2454020[/url] This is my bit of a review, hope it's of interest. This amp is also badged as Fame and Smarvo as well as Ashton. The old Eden 300T is also a version of this albeit with an inverted chassis and a (apparently - I found a few arguments on other forums including Eden's own) modified pre-amp. Their other ranges of bass amps are 500w micro-amps and a more traditional solid-state line of combos and heads with the same blue-brushed metal front panel as mine although the larger ones also have a graphic EQ and possibly a compressor. The combos start with tiny 20 watt offerings up to the big 400w head. I tried the 200w head and whilst it lacked a little bit of identity, it was quite pokey and with my usual EQ curve gave a pleasing sound. Count Bassy.. I left him a little note saying if he thought any were suspect that he should replace them but he says it was a simply a bit of bad luck and that the others are fine.

Just as a foot-note, I had a cap fail in this amp (5/14) but it was quickly, cheaply and easily remedied without any further problems. It's given three years of service without a single issue till now so I can forgive it this minor blunder. [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/FixedBV2_zps19e3ccb3.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/FixedBV2_zps19e3ccb3.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Still a great amp that I'm very happy with and would happily take to any gigging or recording session. And lastly, I cracked the cabs open to see what drivers were in there and they are indeed Celestion Tru-Vox / TF series. The tens are the 100w TF1018s and the fifteen a 250w TF1525.

[URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/FixedBV1_zps7121a255.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/FixedBV1_zps7121a255.jpg[/IMG][/URL] New black cap in place.. Sorry the image is fuzzy, it was tricky trying to balance the chassis and take the pic! [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/FixedBV2_zps19e3ccb3.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/FixedBV2_zps19e3ccb3.jpg[/IMG][/URL] An arty shot.. And yeah, they stink not to mention the smoke! It's cost less than 30 quid for someone else to fix so I'm a happy bunny.

Amp fixed and cap uprated to 450v vs the old dead one of 350v. I do have a pic, will upload later..

[quote name='Chimike' timestamp='1400318768' post='2452829'] Pity you are so far away, you could have tried out my collection of Trace valve amps ! V-type pre VA 350. X 2 V4 combo V4 head V6. My favourite ! Must learn how to use my camera phone, put up some pics Mike [/quote] You're making me drool now! I loved my old V4 head (MK2) (now Longtime Freds) and the 4808 combo too but I could never really be without a trace hence the TwinValve. I've done some recording this week and it sounds top-notch. And put some pix on please, just to upset me some more. Ha! Chassis shot of the big'un.. [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/AshtonFail1_zps3d1f37bc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/AshtonFail1_zps3d1f37bc.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1400399550' post='2453391'] That Ashton stack on the first page is doing very strange things to me. A valve amp is now top of the list for equipment I need - going to have to start searching for a bargain! [/quote] The Ashton is lovely, there's a review of it elsewhere on the forum. It's had a minor wobble this week with a failed cap but it's back on all 6 cylinders now..

It is indeed allowed as I'm sure I've put my TwinValve on here.. Oh we all know I have a rather soft spot for Trace too! I'm getting itchy for a new amp at the min but have holiday to pay for so I'll have to wait till after June. I'm thinking along two lines.. 1:) Something powerful and covenient so either a 300w / 400w / 500w 12 band Trace. 2:) Something mega pokey but awesome so a V6 or possibly Quattra / Hexa or even a VA.. Hmm, thinking out loud never looks good does it..