Trace Elliot TA50R

I bought this amp new in 1994.
It's main strongpoint is size-or should I say lack of it.
2 channels plus D.I. input /output.I would have liked a volume control on the d.i. input to help balance the levels when using a drum box and a seperate d.i output socket,ideally xlr.
The digital effects are usable but a separate level control for each channel would be an improvement.The effects level control is not very well configuered,(at least on mine anyway)anything above 2 on the knob and the sound is swamped with it.Maybe mine's been fitted with the wrong potentiometer or something.
The strap handle which it came with, I removed immediatly.I just didn't like the look of those guitar strap buttons.I fitted a leather strap from Maplin which looked better and more trustworthy.Trace did this anyway later on.I also fitted a speaker ext socket while I had the chassis out of the case as I sometimes use the amp for low level bass playing in an acoustic combo and putting a small extension cab under it gives it a bit more 'depth' than it's own small speakers are capable of.
The phantom power facility,I have never yet had use for,nor has any one of the countless number of gigging muso's I've known or worked with found any use for it. On an amp this small,Why did they bother?

I use several guitars through this amp depending on the gig,Martin HD28 fitted with Fishman transducer, a 1960 Levin Goliath fitted with a Fishman Rare Earth pickup,a Takamine ef360c,a Gibson Chet AtkinsSST.
I also use (AND RECOMEND!)an AWARD SESSION GG10 pedal which lightly applies a touch of compression and irons out many harsh overtones that can occur if strumming with mucho gusto.This amp handles most guitars and styles I play through it comfortably inc folk,blues jazz,bluegrass,cajun.
Another great use I find for it is as an onstage vocal moniter when using a PA.
Using a microphone through it gives satisfactory results but as I've said,there's no adjustment of effects between channels.

The only problem I've had with it was a bad contact on the send/return sockets which are switched jacks.The popping and banging
was just unbelievable,I am suprised the speaker cones survived.Easily cured though(once i'd sussed it!!)with a quick squirt of contact cleaner.

I phoned Trace to ask about fitting the speaker ext socket on the back of the chassis regarding speaker resistences etc and they were very helpful.

I have been playing guitar for 31 years and performing live for over 20.When I bought this back in 94',it was simply the best acoustic amp that I could find,although the Galleon-Kruger was very good.A fellow band mate bought the G-K and he's still using it.Another amp I tried at the time was the Carlsbro Sherwood which I just did'nt get on with.
The Trace came as a breath of fresh air after it.
If it were stolen,I would not buy another simply because the world of acoustic amps has moved on and many other similar but better products are now available from the likes of AER,Roland,Crate etc but I will continue to use it for the time being because it's reliable,makes noises I need it to make,and it's paid for!

Easy to use and get a good sound out of. Slider graphic EQ is awkward, difficult to reproduce
settings. Other than that, it's pretty straight forward -- just knobs, you know.

I use this acoustic amp with a standard under-the-saddle pick-up and dynamic vocal mic on the second
channel (very convenient for small coffee house gigs). The sound quality isn't bad, but it isn't the
greatest either. Reverb is pretty noisy at higher volumes. The overall sound is a bit "muffled" for my
taste -- not enough high end response and the twin 8" drivers don't give you much bass impact either.
The "shape preset" is nice, however -- just pull out the gain knob to get an exaggerated crystalline
sound (though a bit hissy). The notch filter is also nice and easy to use.

Very reliable -- in ten years of use, only a burned-out LED.

Never dealt with them.

I've played acoustic guitar for ten years, folk and folk-rock styles, fingerpicking and full strumming.
This amp does a nice job on the fingerpicking, but hard strumming sounds brash and overly strident.
If it were stolen, I would probably buy something else. I love the portability -- it's really small and
reliable -- but if you're a perfectionist about tone, check out Pendulum Audio's SPS-1 two-channel
acoustic pre-amp (1200 bucks but definitely worth the money). To be fair, my Trace Elliot is ten years
old and at the time it was the best thing around. If you want more info, feel free to e-mail me.

My amplifier was made in 1998. This amplifier has the "most true" acoustic sound I have heard in an acoustic amplifier. I have tried the Fender acoustasonic jr. and the 30 watt Crate acoustic amp. I play a Daryl Perry classical guitar with a Fishman Natural pick-up (pre-amp powered) The amp is versatile and certainly has enough p[ower. I use it in concert settings as a stage monitor and plug it direct to the P.A. from post-e.q. out. I find the basic craftsmanship of the body terribly lacking. The vinyl cover is coming unglued and the basic carpentry looks like it was done in an occupatioal therapy workshop by a beginner. This is, so far, my only complaint.

The first amp I received was not functioning properly. The reverb system did not work. I had to wait three weeks for a replacement amp.

I've been playing for 26 years. I work in childrens'/family entertainment, with a three piece blues/folk/roots music group, and accompany four singers in a church group.

High Z channel, Piezo/lo level input, Active/hi level input. This is useful if you have a electric acoustic and a sound hole pick up. Has a low Z channel with one std. jack and one xlr socket.(amplify vocals, or instrument). Phantom power on channel 2 for condenser style mic's. Graphic equalisation. 16 bit digital reverb, 16 settings and level control for depth. Optional foot switch for reverb. Notch filter for eliminating feedback. Shape switch. 1/4" jack for post eq. Effects loop. Link facility for connecting two Trace amps. I also use a chorus pedal which sounds great. Usage is mostly at home but friends have used it in clubs and it has plenty of power. I rarely top #3 on master vol. It goes up to 14!

Great sound, clean, at all levels. When my guitar vol is maxed there is a small amount of buzz. Otherwise at midrange on guitar, amp maxed you get clean undistorted sound. I have a Guild F4ce, with a fishman pickup, and a Washburn dobro that I use a Dean Markely sound hole pick up. I play mostly fingerstyle, with occassional strumming and picking.

I would definitely buy this amp again. The small size, great sound, and cool reverb settings. If I could change one thing it would be the price. But being the amp of the year, I figured it would be a lifetime purchase.