Trace Elliot AH300-7

It's a bass amp head with transistors of 300 watts. Unlike some amps, here you can smell pass the 300 watts! I played with for a year and at every concert I must limit myself volume level (despite a guitarist stripper!).

Connectivity at the back there are two female jack plugs to attach the head to either a 4 ohm cabinet or two 8 ohm speakers. In front there is a line output jack (female), an integrated DI (3-pin DIN) switchable, effects loop (a female jack input and output) and finally two input jack for the bass: an active and passive. Basically I think there is anything that a head should have. A small footswitch for preshape, EQ and compressor would still be welcome ...

Adjustments are made through the 7-band equalizer preamp GP7: This amp gives a wide range of sounds very good without too many adjustments. In addition, the EQ is switchable by a switch.
There are famous button Preshape "well known from Trace Elliot: it creates a hollow in the midrange which boosts the sound of music more current (big bass and clear highs). Once you find it is disabled + vintage sounds very useful to have a grain typed: jazz, motown, etc.. (Depending on the setting of the EQ).
Finally there is a two-stage compressor with an on / off switch and a potentiometer to adjust the% activation: on this point is a master stroke, I would never find any fault it is excellent, the best compressor I've tried (and not only).

UTILIZATION

With the 7-band EQ settings are simple and very effective.
For sounds + current dock must necessarily turn on Preshape and after playing with the compressor as needed.
For sounds + typed, disable preshape and play with the EQ to set the sound character.

So if you find the complicated settings and you can not find your sound in less than 5 minutes, put you on the harmonica!

The amplification MOSFET creates a warm sound, but do not dream of a sound lights anyway!

SOUNDS

I used this head for different formations: the big rock to big band jazz, to harmonies, folk ...
I never regretted this purchase: there's always a discoverable in 30 sec. for any style, and 300 watts under the left foot (unless you often park princes!).

I use it with a Jazz Bass U.S. Godin A5 fretless and a: that happiness.

OVERALL OPINION

I think it's a great value for money and power.
Good sounds easy and true potato without problem.
For me, given the secondhand price must not hesitate (relative to the heads or Hartke ashdown I find that there is no contest: many + character).

Some say that Trace Elliot is not reliable, apart from some unlucky most types who smoke Trace does not know simply adjust the input gain of the head (though there is a super simple LED indicator ): they are still in the red or nearly surprised after the result. Once you gain the proper level is not touched, if you want a potato is the Volume button on the right it should turn (the only limit being the saturation of HP). It's been 10 years that I am like that with Trace Elliot and 0 problems even pushing the beast.

I put 8 / 10 because to my taste there is a whole head lights do better, but this is the banker who will do the mouth!