Count Bassie Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 (edited) Does anyone who uses Trace Elliot cabs find them dark-ish sounding? I have a single 1153 and find it so, using it with my SMX250 head. Fender Jazz Bass w/ LaBella flats going in. The Series-6 715-S combo I'm using for rehearsals I find not nearly so 'closed' sounding. Will the 1153s 'open up' some if there are two of them? Or should I find something else if I want a more open sound- with a little more 'air' or top-end? Am I being pretty clear here?... Edited December 6, 2010 by Count Bassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 to be honest, I've listened to Mk II, IV, V, Series 6 and SMX range side by side and the sound gets progressivly worse. I really did not like the SMX at all, I found that it strangled the sound. I'm sure others will disagree but I lusted after one for years only to be disappointed at it. The Mark V is the best Trace amp I ever used and even the GP7 2x10" combo I had was good as well. I used a 1153 for years with a Gallien Krueger 800RB and loved the sound - I use quite a trebly sound and the cab was good at producing exactly what i was looking for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 [quote name='Delberthot' post='1049099' date='Dec 6 2010, 06:01 AM']to be honest, I've listened to Mk II, IV, V, Series 6 and SMX range side by side and the sound gets progressivly worse. I really did not like the SMX at all, I found that it strangled the sound. I'm sure others will disagree but I lusted after one for years only to be disappointed at it. The Mark V is the best Trace amp I ever used and even the GP7 2x10" combo I had was good as well. I used a 1153 for years with a Gallien Krueger 800RB and loved the sound - I use quite a trebly sound and the cab was good at producing exactly what i was looking for[/quote] I can see why you'd say that about the SMX, actually. I have a MK IV going to the shop, and when it gets back maybe it'll make a difference. Thanks for the comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 I played my 715-S combo at rehearsal last night, and finally had the stones to turn the Output Gain up! She broke up very nicely as I pushed the Jazz through with some muscle, and now I wish it had more speakers and a bigger power section! By contrast, the AH250SMX through the 1153 sounds, especially with the open E and A strings, a little like there's a blanket over it. Mid-neck, closed position, etc sounds pretty good, even a little bit 'toppy'. But it's doing something strange to the sound now with the Trace cab. When I had a pair of Bag End S15-Ds this wasn't really the case. I'm concluding that it's a side-effect of the famous Trace-Elliot 'color'. I've thought, for a long time now, that the speakers one uses are a notch up from the amp in order of importance to one's sound, and I like the 1153 cab better than the Bags- it goes deeper and has a nicer, more friendly, rounder sound to my ear than the Bag Ends. But I don't like what's happening now with the SMX powering it... I'll be trying out a few other things as opportunity presents itself I guess. Change something, open a can of worms. But I know that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 (edited) Had an hour or so with the SMX/1153 cab this evening, and after some extensive tweaking /returning to "square one" several times, I got it dialed in pretty good. It's just really been the ability to generate time for it that's gotten into my path- but now it sounds much better. It seems that using the pre-shape-1 button, doing [i]subtler boost/cut[/i] on the graphic eq, and having the graphic turned up only around half-way (instead of full-up) really brings out a less colored tone. Just getting to know the amp a little better is all I've really needed I guess. There will still be limitations, and it's possible that my ears are just a little fatigued after an hour or so of pushing sliders around. But every time I went through an eq path, I'd return all settings to "flat" and start over in a slightly different direction. Finally got it pretty nailed I think, the sound is full and clear, and has plenty of depth, without the muffling 'blanket' that I had over it previously. Just took some patience and a little tenacity. Here's the settings, just for whatever edification it may provide: I'm still getting my old GK 400RB back from a friend I sold it to a few moths ago. Well, work was sucky and I needed bread! At least I sold it to someone who'd sell it back to me! Edited December 12, 2010 by Count Bassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 I used an 800RB with a 1153 for years - that was when I was happy with my gear before the days of Talkbs and Basschat poisoned my mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 [quote name='Delberthot' post='1055779' date='Dec 12 2010, 05:48 AM']I used an 800RB with a 1153 for years - that was when I was happy with my gear before the days of Talkbs and Basschat poisoned my mind[/quote] I'm hearing that- I had some awesome gear and then sold it... won't even say what it was. It wasn't talkbass, etc- it was before that. But I still feel it. Luckily, I'm feeling pretty good about what I've got now. It's taken some time and a repentant heart! Be strong, man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 [quote name='Delberthot' post='1055779' date='Dec 12 2010, 10:48 AM']I used an 800RB with a 1153 for years - that was when I was happy with my gear before the days of Talkbs and Basschat poisoned my mind[/quote] I had the 800rb + 1153 and 2103 (the early vinyl covered models with the 10's and the 5's), nice little rig which I'd not turn my nose up at even now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='1056114' date='Dec 12 2010, 10:42 AM']I had the 800rb + 1153 and 2103 (the early vinyl covered models with the 10's and the 5's), nice little rig which I'd not turn my nose up at even now. [/quote] I had a 2x10 cab years ago, the Trace, without the horn- never saw one with a 5" installed. But it was a nice cab, and I suppose I'd snag another if I ran into one. I'm really hoping to find another 1153 though. 15s are my favorite cabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 [quote name='Count Bassie' post='1056893' date='Dec 13 2010, 02:44 AM']I had a 2x10 cab years ago, the Trace, without the horn- never saw one with a 5" installed.[/quote] It was actually a pair of 10's and a pair of 5's. TE ran big ads with Mark King promoting them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='1056904' date='Dec 13 2010, 01:56 AM']It was actually a pair of 10's and a pair of 5's. TE ran big ads with Mark King promoting them.[/quote] Wow... TE has made some pretty nutty stuff, when you look into it! A 21" driver for Tony Levin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 18, 2010 Author Share Posted December 18, 2010 I'm now adding a 410 cab to the 1153. I'll run the AH250SMX along with a Crest power amp if I need to bring the power up for larger gigs. I'll write in again after some trial... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 24, 2010 Author Share Posted December 24, 2010 (edited) Here she is, maybe this'll be the answer... needs a little cosmetic/facade work, but it functions: Edited December 24, 2010 by Count Bassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etienne Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 Another thumbs-up for the 1153 here! I ran a pre-Gibson carpet-covered one for years and loved it- it was my first proper speaker cab, which I bought in '98 as an extension cab for my T-E BLX-130 combo back when I started gigging... When I switched to using heads, I bought a T-E 2103H cab to partner it, but nearly always ended up running the 1153 alone because it sounded better- just wish I knew then what I know now about speakers, as I would have bought a second 1153 instead and saved myself ££££'s over the following decade! I'm now running a pair of Barefaced Compacts which I'm very happy with, but I still think the 1153 is one of the best-sounding 15" cabs around! Really nice round tone, with plenty of top end for my varied tastes- most definitely not dark-sounding! I ran it pretty hard for the many years I owned it and it handled whatever I threw at it with aplomb. I eventually sold it along with the virtually-unused 2103H to another bass-playing mate of mine a couple of years back, who managed to fry the stock Celestions in both cabs within weeks... On that subject, did you replace the driver in your 1153 Count Bassie? Looks like you've got an Eminence 3015 (as fitted in the Compact) in it now... P.S. WHY am I on here writing this at this hour on Xmas Eve?!?! Haven't even finished writing my Xmas cards yet, ha ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 I'm a fan of mine too. I was going to trade it for an Orange OBC115, but it was the Orange that sounded too dark, not the Trace. That's definitely not the standard driver in there, and it does look like the 3015 as it's ribbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 25, 2010 Author Share Posted December 25, 2010 Yes that's the original in there... well, I think it is! You know- I've never looked! I'll do that next opportunity I get. After tomorrow though! I'm not going to be changing anything for a while now, I've found it takes me about 3-6 months to really get to know my gear, and moving stuff around before then either ends up in disappointment with what I get afterwards or I find out how good what I had was! So I'm sitting tight and using it until I have enough history to be able to either rave or rant. But I'll be back. Thanks for the words, replies, chiming-ins folks! Have a merry holiday, peace on you wherever you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.mcglassup Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 I've got a TE 1153, is it possible to tell what speaker is in it without dismantling it? It is a tolex covered cab -so could the driver be a Trace Celestion or an Emminence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassie Posted December 29, 2010 Author Share Posted December 29, 2010 I haven't looked into my 1153 cab yet to see what speaker is in there, but I brought the 1153 w/ the AH250SMX to rehearsal earlier this evening, and it's a nailer. Sat in the mix like it belonged there, and as if it had been mastered into place by Bob Clearmountain. I tried the 1153 on top of the 1048 the night before that, and it was sonically like being run upon by a very large armor-plated animal wearing a big yellow "Happy Face" mask. Really, it was. I do really dig my Trace stuff. Happy as a pig in a bubble-bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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