What happened to Trace Elliot?

[Artie]

I seem to remember them having a pretty nice selection of acoustic products, including several really nice acoustic combo amps, that were also usable as electric guitar amps. A friend brought one over that had a curved front panel. Four Celestion speakers above the control panel, and another four below. It sounded killer with electric guitar. Now they have one acoustic preamp pedal. Then they also have one micro bass head, one bass pedal, two small passive cabs, and two small active cabs. All bass. That's their entire product line. I also see that they appear to be under the Peavey banner. I guess that's just the nature of business these days.

 

[Mincer]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I think they were owned by Kaman, who owned Ovation. They sold the brand to Gibson, who, like all the brands they own, ran it into the ground. It was then sold to Peavey.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

Way too big Neon Green logo :lmao:

 

[Artie]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I wonder if Peavey will try to bring it back. On a side note, how does a little 2x8 cab cost $500?

trace-elliot-elf-2x8-400-watt-bass-cabinet

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I wonder if Peavey will try to bring it back. On a side note, how does a little 2x8 cab cost $500?

trace-elliot-elf-2x8-400-watt-bass-cabinet

I doubt it, unless some nostalgia wave of some great player who used them catches fire.

TE was good stuff, -I used to run a big 2x15 in the early 90s, but now there's enough options on the market, these conglomerates don't want to waste time effort and money of relaunching brands that ultimately compete with their already well oiled product line. Trace Elliot would have to fill a hole they aren't serving to make sense re-launching.

I mean, what did a Trace Elliot product offer in functionality or price point that Ampeg, Orange, Peavey, Fender, Blackstar, or Hartke doesn't have covered? or what could it offer now?

SO I guess I don't we'll be seeing them anytime soon. In business, the guitar and bass amplifier market would be considered a "Red Ocean" and a bloody one at that.

 

[Artie]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

Yeah, I get what you're saying. It's just a shame. The amps of this style were killer clean amps.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

Yeah, I get what you're saying. It's just a shame. The amps of this style were killer clean amps.

View attachment 98540

Thats cool lookin' . I never had anything that compact and understated by them -it was always giant and with a huge logo,

 

[Jeffblue]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

The real shame is Trace Elliott stopped making the tube guitar amps. I own a Trace Elliott Bonneville 4X10 and I love this amp. I swapped out the 2 lower Celestion speakers for Weber Alnico California speakers and the combination of the Ceramic and Alnico speakers sound superb.

 

[Mincer]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I have to say, their acoustic amps sounded really good. I hadn't used their bass amps, though.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

Way too big Neon Green logo :lmao:

In today’s market we call that “iconic”.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

The guys behind original Trace Elliot started Ashdown and Hayden amps, didn't they?
The HQs are in the same town, not far from me.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I have to say, their acoustic amps sounded really good. I hadn't used their bass amps, though.

From my memory, most all of their stuff was on the higher end -and most of their products were bass and PA related -I think the guitar and acoustic amps came later -so I wouldn't doubt that they made a killer acoustic amp - I think they were competing with Eden, Gallien Kruger, Hartke and the other brands that were higher end back in the 80s and 90s.

It's a shame that there are more variety out there now -but globalization has essentially sucked everything into conglomerate supply chains.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I think they were owned by Kaman, who owned Ovation. They sold the brand to Gibson, who, like all the brands they own, ran it into the ground. It was then sold to Peavey.

I knew that Gibson killed it but I did not know Peavey bought it. Good news to me. I have nice memories of Trace bass amps.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I thought York picked them up for a bit? Maybe the PA stuff...And yeah - the bass stuff was pretty nice, as was the Acoustic. See some pedals now and again on the Bay.


And the Gibson Goldtone amps:

Were flat-out stole from T/E's Velocette:

 

[chadd]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

The new Transit A and B pedal boards have been on my radar since they were announced, but I have never had the chance to actually play one.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I thought York picked them up for a bit? Maybe the PA stuff...And yeah - the bass stuff was pretty nice, as was the Acoustic. See some pedals now and again on the Bay.


And the Gibson Goldtone amps:

Were flat-out stole from T/E's Velocette:

You mention York. They make pound for pound dollar for dollar the best Bass gear there is IMO. Their solid state bass gear hangs neck and neck with any GK and Ampeg gear. -and for 2/3 the price.

Of course it can't hurt that they used to be Traynor -which made some all time stuff.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

Yeah - Gibson totally bought up and rebranded those TE Velocettes for their Goldtone series, which were totally adored by the world. Because they ARE awesome amps.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

Way too big Neon Green logo :lmao:

I saw that on some of their bass gear the other day. Well, probably easier to find on a dark stage...

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

I saw that on some of their bass gear the other day. Well, probably easier to find on a dark stage...

I either removed the logo or sharpied over the big Trace Elliot logo on my bass gear in the mid 90s -can't remember which. I figured they ought to be paying me money for such an obnoxious billboard on stage. :lmao:

In fact none of my cabinets have their grill logo on them right now, Marshalls, Fenders, Vox, Standel, Peavey, etc --but mainly because I didn't want any possibility of rattling when recording them.

 

[Jeffblue]

Re: What happened to Trace Elliot?

Years ago I traded a 1958 Fender Tweed Deluxe for a Trace Elliott Bonneville 4X10 and it is still a magnificent guitar amp. 50 watts, 3 variable preamp, triode/pentode switch, 6L6/EL34, bias pots, series/parallel effects loop, etc.

I removed the bottom 2 Celestions for a pair of Weber Alnico Californias and the combination of the Alnico and Ceramic magnets sound amazing.