Trace Elliot - Solid & Valve Pre

[shine182]

Please can anyone advise what version of Trace bass heads featured the blendable solid and valve preamp? And what wattages were available? 

Thanks 

 

[thodrik]

Well, I had an SMX and it had a 'blendable' solid state and valve preamp. However the 'valve' preamp is really just a single preamp tube placed in front of the solid state preamp and in my view was such a suble change that you could barely notice the difference in the mix. SMXs were available in 300, 400 and 600 watt versions I think. Really good heads and one of the classic Trace Elliot amps.

I think that the 12 band series from the Peavey re-launch had a tube in the preamp as well and a tube as part of the footswitchable drive. 

Edited August 29, 2020 by thodrik

[Deedee]

As @thodrik has said the valve pre on the SMX is extremely subtle. Hopefully others who are more familiar with the later heads will be along soon to advise you on those.

[shine182]

Yes I had a trace combo years ago featuring a blendable pre and compressor if I remember correctly. I thought it was a lovely amp but the enclosure was just a little constrained at volume. Recently picked up an old trace 1153, i.e.the smaller ported 1x15, to help get down to the correct ohmage for a peavey alpha bass head I picked up and thought I might look into a trace head for a more gigable option! 

[40hz]

Another yep for the GP12 SMX. It had the blendable valve on the front end. Made the tone ever so slightly thicker but no real difference otherwise.

[Lfalex v1.1]

I had an SMX, and always wondered if a different valve would make a difference. It uses an AX7. The "OD" valve in my Ampeg SVP-Pro is an AU7 and can be properly driven,  as can the AX7 in the input stage.

I know next to nothing about valves, but I wonder if a different valve could be substituted which could be driven more easily?

[stewblack]

I've had several Trace heads over the years and the SMX is the absolute king. So many astonishingly useful features.

The valve pre is probably the least of these. @Lfalex v1.1 raises a question I've often asked myself.

My favourite valve pre was in the Ashdown ABM. Subtle but not subtle like the SMX. It had a gradual impact on the sound which felt 'real' like others sometimes don't. 

[shine182]

I thought the difference between the ss and valve pre was certainly noticeable, but not for coaxing driven valve sounds etc. I'll keep an eye out for one of these amps as I think, although my abdominal muscles would rejoice if I turned to a class d amp, there's just something I'm missing from them... Not sure why! 

[4000]

I had an SMX and used an SMX combo too but IMO neither came close to my very early 11 band AH150, although both were very good. The AH150 was just the nuts tonally. 

Edited September 9, 2020 by 4000

[shine182]

1 hour ago, 4000 said:

I had an SMX and used an SMX combo too but IMO neither came close to my very early 11 band AH150, although both were very good. The AH150 was just the nuts tonally. 

Very interesting, can you describe the difference at all? Thanks