Teddy_Hitch Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 (edited) Hey everyone, I am soon to upgrade my setup but I need some assistance! Basically I need a new amp, we are playing bigger gigs now and my current one just won't go loud enough! I currently run an old Trace Elliot head at 130 watts into a Ashdown ABM 1x15 cab, it sounds lovely and I sort of want the same tone as im currently getting, but the old trace elliots are hard to find.... Anyway I have come up with a list of amps I think look good, but I have no idea of what they are like in comparison to the trace! Looking to spend around the £500 mark, here's the list: Eden Nemesis EN400 Ampeg B2RE Orange bass Terror Peavey tour 450 Ashdown ABM500 EVO3 I hear good things about the peavey and the orange, but the others are almost a mystery! I would go for a new trace elliot but they are so very expensive! Hoping someone can push me in the right direction? Cheers! Edited August 5, 2010 by Teddy_Hitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardi100 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 [quote name='Teddy_Hitch' post='915484' date='Aug 4 2010, 11:13 PM']Hey everyone, I am soon to upgrade my setup but I need some assistance! Basically I need a new amp, we are playing bigger gigs now and my current one just won't go loud enough! I currently run an old Trace Elliot head at 130 watts into a Ashdown ABM 1x15 cab, it sounds lovely and I sort of want the same tone as im currently getting, but the old trace elliots are hard to find.... Anyway I have come up with a list of amps I think look good, but I have no idea of what they are like in comparison to the trace! Looking to spend around the £500 mark, here's the list: Eden Nemesis EN400 Ampeg B2RE Orange bass Terror Peavey tour 450 Ashdown ABM500 EVO3 I head good things about the peavey and the orange, but the others are almost a mystery! I would go for a new trace elliot but they are so very expensive! Hoping someone can push me in the right direction? Cheers![/quote] If you're willing to fo second hand, you should be able to find trace gear around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 (edited) I can +1 to the Orange, it's a true beast. But you should think about upgrading your Cab aswell, that ashdown cab doesn't go that loud, and as it's 300w at 8 ohm you'll reach it's usable limit pretty quick. I dunno about the specs of your trace, but 130w seems strange. Do you know what it's outputs are at the relevant ohmage? Edit: scratch that. If it's the head I think it is it does 260w at 4ohm. So I would either suggest you buy another 8ohm cab rated similar to the abm1x15 or sell you current cab and look for a much better one rated 4ohm. Edited August 5, 2010 by Prime_BASS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 £500 is a good budget, but to get the best value you should buy used. You could spend it on a complete replacement rig or on an amp and save up for a new cab. On the first 2 pages of the BC for sale forum there is a Hartke stack, several Ashdown amps, Several Ampeg amps, and Matamp, Eden and Epifani 410 cabs. I'd get the Epifani and save for a 500watt amp to go with it. It's a very sensitive cab which will make your current amp sound a bit louder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy_Hitch Posted August 5, 2010 Author Share Posted August 5, 2010 [quote name='Prime_BASS' post='915694' date='Aug 5 2010, 10:27 AM']I can +1 to the Orange, it's a true beast. But you should think about upgrading your Cab aswell, that ashdown cab doesn't go that loud, and as it's 300w at 8 ohm you'll reach it's usable limit pretty quick. I dunno about the specs of your trace, but 130w seems strange. Do you know what it's outputs are at the relevant ohmage? Edit: scratch that. If it's the head I think it is it does 260w at 4ohm. So I would either suggest you buy another 8ohm cab rated similar to the abm1x15 or sell you current cab and look for a much better one rated 4ohm.[/quote] I forgot to mention I will be getting a 4x10 to go with this new amp when the money allows it! The current Trace Elliot I have is a GP7SM 130 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umph Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 out of your list i'd go for the bass terror Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 [quote name='Teddy_Hitch' post='915750' date='Aug 5 2010, 11:19 AM']I forgot to mention I will be getting a 4x10 to go with this new amp when the money allows it! The current Trace Elliot I have is a GP7SM 130[/quote] Talk to alex over at Barefaced bass, he I a kind chap and replies to emails pretty quick. Personally, if you like your trace tone, then upgrading your cab to a larger one at 4ohms or buying another 8ohm will make it go quiet the bit louder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nostromo Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Have you thought about simply adding a second cab to your set up ? I think your cab is 8 ohms, add another and you'll be presenting a four ohm load to your amp which should be fine - you'll move more air and should keep a very similar sound ? I'd try that first - especially if I was happy with my sound. Its so easy to make an impulse buy after short listening tests and then realise its not what you want when its too late ! Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy_Hitch Posted August 6, 2010 Author Share Posted August 6, 2010 Thanks for the advice guys, I will look into getting a new cab before the amp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy_Hitch Posted August 10, 2010 Author Share Posted August 10, 2010 Hello, thought I would let you all know that I ended up buying a brand new Trace Elliot AH-500, I know it's probs not as good as the old stuff but at £439, I couldn't say no! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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