Product: Trace Elliot GP7sm 250 combo
Price Paid: GBP 100
Submitted
08/12/2006
at
03:07pm
by
RobRocks
Features
:
9
Manufactured 1995
front panel controls.
passive/active switch
input & output controls
pre shape switch - 2 settings
7 band EQ
EQ balance control
graphic level control
Effects loop
line output
D.I
peak overload LED
mute switch
black panel with green graphics
At the rear...
tuner output
ext speaker 8ohms
power switch
ground lift
kettle plug socket
15" celestion speaker
2 round horns
thick black tolex covering with a sturdy metal grill
2 fold away handles in each side
overall size roughly
W-60 H-50 D-30 (cm)
weight approx 30kg
Sound Quality
:
9
i mostly use an epiphone E-Bo (1969) as well as a cheaper modern version. at times i play a squier P-bass.
The amp is used to gig with a band, playing british indi/rock/blues.
I'm new to bass so i find it hard to describe my sound. Kinda' mellow, smooth grooves with trouser flapping volume and occasional punch. Deep, growling solid riffs laced with delicate runs and fills. Id love to slap and pop but after about 10 years of playing guitar my hands are too lazy!
I found the 7 band Eq to be brilliant, sometimes it can be a headache to find your tone but its ace when u got it. Or you can switch it off compleatly and play with the basic pre shape and enjoy the natural tone of your guitar.
At rehearsals and gigs i play against a loud drummer, a Fender Hot-Rod Deville (60w valve combo) and a Vox AC30 (30w valve combo). As u know these are great guitar amps with bags of tone and volume. My Tracy can cut through brilliantly, even without an ext cab.
usually rehearsing i have the input set around 6 with my Epiphones, slightly higer with the P-bass. Output is then cranked to around 6-8.
I'v never needed it to be higher, At gigs its set a little lower,its usually mic'd up and the P.A does the work.
It always sounds great, never struggles.
Reliability
:
8
so far its been compleatly reliable. i purchased it off e-bay, collected it off the bloke and gave it a good clean. I Slid the amp out to have a look inside and found a sticker with Nov 1995, im guessin' thats the manufacure date?
The outside is mega durable, its only suffering from slight dings & scrapes. The only problem is a crackly mute button and a missing ring around the input.
I have no idea of its history but it works well and hard, gigging roughly once a week, and rehearsing often, as well as being played quietly at home.
Customer Support
:
10
i got my amp second-hand off ebay, i wanted to know a bit more about it, so i e-mailed Trace asking were could i find an instruction manual. Within days the E-mailed a full PDF version.
they offer a full service relativly cheaply and by all accounts its done well and quickly.
Overall Rating
:
9
Iv been playing guitar about 10 years, i played bass on and off, but recently joined a band playing bass full time. For the first few months of gigging i always used other peoples amps, mostly rubbish!
Although i rocked an Ampeg valve with a HUGE cab and a super tasty Ashdown setup in the past.
I was looking at getting something like a new Ashdown Mag combo, however this amp came up locally and for a good price. I was in need of an amp and im glad i got it. Its the perfect size for my car, packs enough punch and looks pretty cool with is iconic/retro vibe.
I would get another if i could find one. It fits my needs perfectly, and im well pleased for now. However, as we all know the temptation to go for something bigger, badder, louder is always there.
