Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Based on the comments of a few well respected OFCrs, I picked up Trace Elliott TA100R acoustic amp off the Bay a week ago. Hooked it all up in the studio this weekend and spent about four hours comparing it side-by-side to a Fender Acoustasonic Jr. I played them clean and with each’s built-in effects set on as similar a selection and level as possible. Both contain many desirable features including an XLR input for the vocals channel. One big difference is the trace has 4 five inch speakers compared to the Acoustasonic’s 2 eight inchers.
The Trace has a few advantages. It is smaller, slightly lighter, and easier to transport to gigs. It has what I believe are superior connectivity options to sound reinforcement systems as well as slightly superior EQ fine tuning capability. In addition, and this may be the all important factor for some of you, it provides what I believe might be a slightly more true acoustic tone. It also has a unique and more comfortable carrying handle made out of web belt material that fastens to each side of the amp with what appear to be Dunlop straplocks. I find myself not trusting these straplocks, although they never failed me while I was carrying the unit up and down stairs. If the handle locks fail, particularly on cement stairs, the amp will suffer a catastrophic and very likely fatal crash. The handle is easy to disengage, and must be in order to remove the custom fitted amp cover. Two disadvantages include inconvenient placement of the on-off button on the backside bottom corner, and no tilt-back feature.
However, my clear choice between the two is the Fender Acoustasonic Jr. It provides a superior (to my ears) tone when played clean, perhaps a little more ringing and pick-like than the Trace, which I personally prefer, although maybe not so purely acoustic, has a lot more bottom end (probably because of its larger speakers), and the effects are both more numerous and better labeled. The volume and power of the Acoustasonic is also more superior, although the Trace is rated at 100 watts while the Acoustasonic is only rated at 80, which is somewhat baffling to me. I tired each by itself, then with sound reinforcement. The Trace continued to sound thin without sound reinforcement. The quality and tone of the Acoustasonic’s effects are also noticeably superior. The Acoustasonic is a newer model and is more readily available on the used market for about $100 less than the Trace TA100R, which is no longer made. The Trace I purchased is in excellent shape and cost me $125 more than the Acoustasonic.
I finished the comparo by maximizing the guitar’s stereo output feature with a Y chord split into two Acoustasonics with stereo sound reinforcement. If you have haven’t heard your stereo Ovation or Adamas played in this manner, you are missing out on enjoying your guitar’s full tonal capabilities.
If in Denver sometime, you're welcome to come by and do a tone comparison test yourself! |
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | ProfessorBB,I just sold my Fender A-JR, i was in need of a PA. I have always loved the Fenders (i`ve owned four) and i have talked them up on this board, but i had a chance to use a Roland AC60 this week and even though i have not had them side by side,it may be as good are better than the Fender! I think i may sell the PA to buy the Roland. |
Trace Elliott TA100R vs. Fender Acoustasonic Jr.
