XPAULUSX

So i was at practice last night with my newly acquired Sansamp BDDI. I set it up as a pre amp, so plugged it in through the effects return on my head (Trace Elliot AH300SMX) Stupidly, i had not noticed that the "level" knob on the Sansamp was cranked all the way up!! ( i never left it like that, i must have knocked it or something!) so anyway, to cut a long story short, i turned up the output volume on my head, you know just to see how it sounded, as this was the first time i'd had it in a setting where i could be as loud as i wanted!! anyway, it sounded pretty class while it lasted, but then everything cut out! i turned everything off left it for ten mins, when i turned my head back on, i was getting a horrible farty sound coming out of it!!! i thought id knackered my cab, but i set up using the guitarists head and this worked fine! i then proceded to turn the head off again, left it for ten mins and when i turned it back on, i was getting no power at all, i looked at the fuse just underneath where the kettle lead attaches to the head and discovered that it was blown, i promptly replaced this with an identical fuse, but when i turned the head on again, i had power for about two seconds, then the power fuse blew again. This is obviously something to do with the power supply or the main amp within the head, however, im not so hot at this kind of thing, so was wondering if any of you more experienced basschatters could tell me what it is i have actually done to my Trace!!! (it's going in for repair as soon as poss by the way ) Paul

Just received a Sansamp BDDI from Ben. Really easy guy to deal with, fast delivery, great communications. It sounds class mate, really adds something to my setup. thanks again! Paul

[quote name='jensenmann' post='730764' date='Jan 31 2010, 04:52 PM']You should use it with another cab. Here´s my expierience: I have a vintage SVT rig of which the head was acting up one day before a gig. I took my Trace 600SMX to the show as spare and had to use it. But I could get neither sound nor volume out of my 8x10". I thought there´s something wrong with the Trace, too, but the next day it worked perfectly with my Boogie 2x10" cabs and still goes strong up to today (7 years in between).[/quote] or use another head

[quote name='mikebass78' post='723994' date='Jan 25 2010, 12:31 PM']Wooly sounding E could be string/pup height, might need to tweak your setup slightly?[/quote] I play with a fairly low action to be honest, sometimes with a plectrum, sometimes with fingers. Would a wooly E suggest that it was too close or too far away from the pickup?

[quote name='Mr.T' post='723866' date='Jan 25 2010, 09:33 AM']Doesn't sound like a fault with the amp......?[/quote] i obviously can't EQ properly, i'll have a another go when im next at practice and let you know how i get on. I'll use a flat eq and adjust my sound only using compression and the "EQ Flat" knob. I'll also turn the SS/Valve knob all the way to SS to see what happens. I will let you know how i get on! Thanks for all the help though. Paul

[quote name='Mr.T' post='723472' date='Jan 24 2010, 08:03 PM']Yes, if I remember correctly. Is your sound 'clean' when you play without the rest of the band, or at lower levels?[/quote] yes it is.

[quote name='Mr.T' post='723449' date='Jan 24 2010, 07:44 PM']All I have ever done on a boomy stage is just cut some of the bass. Easy to do on your SMX with the EQ 'bass & treble' balance control.[/quote] is that the "EQ Flat" knob to the right of the EQ?

[quote name='Mr.T' post='723423' date='Jan 24 2010, 07:18 PM']Paul, I fairly sure that if you turn the knob marked 'Solid state & Valve' to solid state, the valve isn't in the circuit. Worth a try? Also, as far as compression goes.... Don't turn it past the 12 o'clock position. (Or turn it off and see if that helps). Thirdly, Try it with the EQ set flat, and the EQ balance in the 12 o'clock position. You could also try turning off the EQ section. Good luck.[/quote] Roger, all i can do is have another experiment with it when im next at practice and see how it goes! i'll let you know how i get on! any advice on the "hollow stage" situation?

[quote name='Merton' post='722029' date='Jan 23 2010, 11:28 AM']What cab are you using? What comp settings - if used incorrectly this can f**k things up right royally? Any fx? Doubt it's the tube, more likely just needs an EQ tweak but a service certainly wouldn't hurt [/quote] absolutely no effects, im straight from my guitar, into my head, im using an Ampeg SVT410HLF cabinet. and i've just had a fiddle round with the compression knobs, to tell you the truth, im not 100% certain on what they do!! But obviously im willing to learn if you'd be so kind enough to explain!! i read somewhere yesterday that if you are playing on a hollow stage (which is what i practice on!) then the frequencies coming from the amp can reverberate through the stage (doubling up low frequencies apparently) resulting in things sounding dull and muddy, this would also explain why i can hear the guitarist, as for most times he places his amp on a table off the side of the stage! would putting something under my cabinet to absorb some of the frequencies make it sound better? im also going to try and position it better (closer to the back wall) apparently there are specially designed floor pads you can buy to do this, but i think that something like an old gym mat (like the ones from back at school) would probably do a good job [quote name='Toddy' post='722034' date='Jan 23 2010, 11:32 AM']Worth replacing that pre-amp tube anyway.....fairly cheap an easy,,, might make a world of difference!! [/quote] wheres the best place to buy pre-amp tubes? im not sure what type i'd need? anybody replaced one in a Trace AH300SMX? just to save me opening it up myself haha Thanks again guys PAULUUUUS

[quote name='Mr.T' post='721478' date='Jan 22 2010, 06:13 PM']Hmmmm.... Not my experience with my SMX. Sounds like something is amiss![/quote] SERVICE? Maybe the preamp tube is buggered???

[quote name='Mr.T' post='720832' date='Jan 22 2010, 09:28 AM']+1 I still regret selling mine, and would certainly jump at another one for that kind of money.[/quote] It's just really annoying me to be honest, was at practice with the pub band last night, and left my EQ flat and just used the compressor settings and the EQ flat dial to adjust my tone to how i wanted it. It sounded great when i was behind the PA speakers and nearer to my cab but when i went out the front for a listen, i was just drowned out by the guitar/vocals. The guitarist is playing a 20 watt all valve orange combo and i can hear him fine, everything i play just seems to be muddy and inaudible to me, if i was to make one comment i would say that my e string is the main offender, when i play notes on it they just sound fuzzy and there is no substance to them at all. I have a Fender Mexican P Bass, so its not as if im playing with something made of cardboard. Neither the guitarist or me are going through the PA, just the vocalist and our two back up mics. this is really starting to bug me now

[quote name='Mr.T' post='719976' date='Jan 21 2010, 11:50 AM']On a serious note.... The SMX series are fantastic amps (IMO). Built to last and very reliable. Personally, I think they are the best of the Trace range. I owned one for about 10 years and it never missed a beat.[/quote] I'm warming a lot more to mine, i only recently picked up my ampeg SVT410HLF so only really used it previously when i knew i was playing gigs with a provided backline. Now i've actually purchased my own cab, i'm trying to find a tone that i like, and suits my style of playing, as discussed in a previous thread, im in two bands, both requiring different "sounds" from my head. I'm in a pub rock band and a thrash/crossover band. I can get my tone how i want it with my "Pub Rock" band as i think the Trace sound suits this kind of music better. However, when im trying to dial in a more (grindy aggressive) tone with my other band, i can achieve the tone i want whilst playing alone, but when the other members of the band are playing, i seem not to hardly cut through at all. It's really annoying me, so much that like i've said, im considering getting a new head, but im starting to think that the problem might be me, as i've been reading around, and my Trace seems to have a reputation for being a great well engineered amp. When practicing with the pub band, we play in a pub's "concert room" meaning that i can use the same settings that i like each week. Whereas when practicing with the other band, we play in some practice rooms at a local studio, resulting in a possible change of rooms each week. This is obviously a factor when trying to dial in my tone. I guess my problem is that im not so sure about how to tweak my sound for different rooms. Any advice on this? I'm not exactly fretting about the situation, as like i said, i didnt pay hundreds for the head but i'd like it to be versatile and sound right for me no matter what situation/band im practicing with. I dont really want to be shelling out on a new head before i've tried everything. Thanks Paul

[quote name='Mr.T' post='719515' date='Jan 20 2010, 08:16 PM']80 quid, used notes in a brown envelope? [/quote] Meet me in Padstow, at Rick Steins place at half seven tonight?

[quote name='Mr.T' post='718758' date='Jan 20 2010, 09:41 AM']Old Trace gear.... naaaa mate.... no call for 'em! Tell ya wot, I'll do yer a fava. Take it of yer 'ands for wot it cost ya. .... an I'm robbin meeself.[/quote] go on then

Hey, as you may have read from a previous thread i own a Trace Elliot AH300SMX. i managed to aqcuire this amp off a friend as it was broken and he had already replaced his entire rig with GK stuff. only paid 80 quid to get it fixed, good deal or what?! i'm cosidering upgrading my head at some stage with something else but was just wanting to know what kind of reputation my Trace has, is it worth keeping? Thanks Paul

That's the thing, i'm in two bands, and both are poles apart in terms of the sound i am looking for out of my rig. I play first and foremost in a thrash metal/crossover band, so the tone i'm looking for when playing this type of music is something quite grindy and aggressive, something not so different from Municipal Waste for example, i know there bassist uses Ampeg gear along with a Music man bass. My other band however, is a simple "pub rock" band where we play various covers for pubs. I can get a better tone out of my head for use with this band as i think it suits the classic/pub rock style. So i guess i can say i am looking for versatility, something that can achieve both results i am looking for no matter who i am playing with. Where would be the best places to find used SVT Valve heads? i've had a quick look on ebay, and all seem to be so far away to justify me travelling for a simple "try out" Thanks Again. Paul

Hello! I'm looking to buy myself a new head to accompany my Ampeg SVT410HLF cab. I currently own a Trace Elliot AH300SMX made in 1996 and am not sure if i am happy or not with the tone i am getting, i've been dialling in various different settings on the EQ and each time i'm managing to achieve various different results but i am beginning to think that maybe TE's are not "the amp" for me. To put it simply, i am looking for a few amp head recommendations from people that may or may not use the same cab as i do. I quite like the look of the Orange Terror Bass. Has anyone put one of those through an Ampeg cab? I'm looking to keep my overall spend around the £500 - £700 mark. Thanks for your time/recommendations in advance. Paul